All Things Streaming (VOD, OTT)

[MisterPenguin]

Warner Bros. Discovery Takes $9.1 Billion Balance-Sheet Hit for Massive Drop in TV Network Values

Warner Bros. Discovery reported its Q2 earnings Wednesday, which included a $9.1 billion charge related to the devaluation of its TV networks.

variety.com

Warner Bros. Discovery Takes Massive $11.2 Billion In Write-Downs & Charges In Q2 After Losing NBA

Warner Bros. Discovery is taking the hefty non-cash charge at linear television amid uncertainty in advertising and sports rights renewals.

deadline.com

Sony Pictures Entertainment Profit Slides Down To $73M In First Quarter

Sony Pictures Entertainment posted first quarter operating incoming of $73M, down over 36% year-on-year on a U.S. dollar basis.

deadline.com

Roku Launching Live Sports Streaming Channel Aug. 12 - Media Play News

Roku Aug. 7 announced the pending (Aug. 12) launch of Roku Sports Channel, a free ad-supported channel that combines all of the platform’s sports content into a dedicated platform. Featured … Continue reading "Roku Launching Live Sports Streaming Channel Aug. 12"

www.mediaplaynews.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

 

[MisterPenguin]

Lionsgate Reveals Staggering Extent Of Overall & First-Look TV Deal Cuts Post eOne Acquisition

During Lionsgate's Q1 FY2025 earnings call, CEO Jon Feltheimer disclosed that the final number of the eliminated pacts was 70%.

deadline.com

Lionsgate Revenue Down 8% in Quarter Amid 500K Subscriber Drop at Starz - Media Play News

Lionsgate Aug. 8 reported first-quarter fiscal 2025 revenue of $834.7 million, operating income of $18.8 million, and a net loss attributable to Lionsgate shareholders of $59.4 million. Adjusted net income … Continue reading "Lionsgate Revenue Down 8% in Quarter Amid 500K Subscriber Drop at Starz"

www.mediaplaynews.com

Starz & BritBox Launching New Bundle, Lionsgate On Track To Split By Year End, CEO Says After Mixed Earnings Report

Starz and BBC Studios’ BritBox are launching a new bundle, said Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer, as the company is set to split in two by year end.

deadline.com

Sling TV Adds 78,000 Q2 Subs to End Quarter With Almost 2 Million - Media Play News

EchoStar Communications Aug. 9 reported that its online television subscription streaming service Sling TV added 78,000 paid subscribers in the second quarter ended June 30, to up its sub tally … Continue reading "Sling TV Adds 78,000 Q2 Subs to End Quarter With Almost 2 Million"

www.mediaplaynews.com

Paramount Global Cutting 15% of U.S. Workforce Following $5.98 Billion TV Asset Write-Down - Media Play News

Paramount Global is cutting 15% of its U.S.-based staff as the media company grapples with the media-wide declining linear television business and related advertising business. The media giant disclosed the … Continue reading "Paramount Global Cutting 15% of U.S. Workforce Following $5.98...

www.mediaplaynews.com

Paramount's Other and Licensing Segment, Which Includes Home Entertainment, Posts 9% Revenue Drop - Media Play News

Paramount Global Aug. 8 reported a 9% decline in second-quarter (ended June 30) revenue to $534 million in its “license and other” business segment, which includes retail distribution of movies … Continue reading "Paramount’s Other and Licensing Segment, Which Includes Home Entertainment, Posts...

www.mediaplaynews.com

Paramount Streaming Turns Q2 Profit, Loses Subs - Media Play News

Paramount Global Aug. 8 announced that its direct-to-consumer business segment, led by the Paramount+ subscription streaming VOD service, posted operating income of $26 million on revenue of $1.88 billion. That … Continue reading "Paramount Streaming Turns Q2 Profit, Loses Subs"

www.mediaplaynews.com

Plex's FAST Channel Launch Count for 2024 Grows to More Than 300 - Media Play News

Global streaming media company Plex, which claims to be the largest independent streaming media platform, says it launched 92 more free FAST channels worldwide in July to bring its total … Continue reading "Plex’s FAST Channel Launch Count for 2024 Grows to More Than 300"

www.mediaplaynews.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Once a Cash Cow, Cable TV Is Now Roadkill. Is a Fire Sale Next?

As Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery take massive hits to their businesses, executives will need to make difficult choices on managing the decline.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

S&P Puts Warner Bros. Discovery on Negative Credit Watch

The ratings firm cited a linear TV decline for revising its outlook to negative, from stable, while affirming the 'BBB-' rating.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

Directors UK Urges Residuals From Streamers & Threatens Action If They Don’t Come To The Table

Directors UK has urged residuals From Netflix, Amazon, Disney and others in a letter written to the big US streamers.

deadline.com

Streaming Services Struggle With Churn Despite Continued Growth As Even Buzzy Shows Can’t Keep Subscribers Around

A new report from Samba TV shows that churn is a big issue for streamers

deadline.com

Cartoon Network Website Shut Down, Now Redirects to Max

Cartoon Network's original website has shut down as they focus on media where fans are most engaged

comicbook.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

WBD Eyeing $8.5 Billion Las Vegas Studio Investment Pending State Tax Credits - Media Play News

Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly set to spend $8.5 billion over 17 years producing movies and TV shows in a newly branded production studio in Las Vegas if the state … Continue reading "WBD Eyeing $8.5 Billion Las Vegas Studio Investment Pending State Tax Credits"

www.mediaplaynews.com

Horowitz: 66% of TV Content Viewers are Using FAST Platforms Monthly - Media Play News

Two in three TV content viewers are using free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) platforms in a typical month, according to new data from Horowitz Research. Fox’s Tubi, Paramount Global’s Pluto … Continue reading "Horowitz: 66% of TV Content Viewers are Using FAST Platforms Monthly"

www.mediaplaynews.com

Sky’s Content Boss Addresses Future Relationship With Incoming UK Streamer Max: “Remember We’re Both A Platform And Broadcast Business” — Edinburgh

Sky Studios' CEO has said there is "no scenario" in which its UK pay-TV customers will not have access to content from Max when it launches.

deadline.com

Edgar Bronfman Jr. Sweetens Bid For Paramount To $6 Billion

Edgar Bronfman Jr has sweetened his bid for Paramount to $6 billion as he attempts to pry the company from its merger agreement with Skydance.

deadline.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Paramount+ Is Now Free for Charter’s Spectrum Select TV Select Customers

Charter is making Paramount+ Essential free to all Spectrum TV Select and Mi Plan Latino packages nationwide.

variety.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Paramount Stock Has Down Day As Edgar Bronfman’s Exit Dashes Hopes Of Bidding War

Shares of Paramount Global are softer Tuesday after Edgar Bronfman Jr. exited the Paramount fray on August 26.

deadline.com

Paramount Board Special Committee Confirms Skydance Merger Will Close In First Half Of 2025, Says “Go-Shop” Period Has “Concluded”

After a late bid led by Edgar Bronfman Jr. fizzled, Paramount's board confirmed that a planned merger with Skydance will close in the first half of 2025.

deadline.com

NBA Seeks Dismissal of Warner Sports-Rights Lawsuit

The NBA seeks to dismiss an eyebrow-raising lawsuit by Warner Bros. Discovery for a lucrative package of basketball games now earmarked for Amazon

variety.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Flaws in Guilds’ Success-Based Streaming Residual Already Clear

Resolution of Hollywood's 2023 strikes gave TV workers a first-ever bonus based on viewership, so why are entertainment creatives not reveling?

variety.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Hub: Major Streaming Services Top Linear TV as Primary Home Entertainment Option - Media Play News

As the legacy pay-TV market continues to shrink, new data from Hub Entertainment Research finds that the major subscription streaming VOD services combined now surpass live TV as the primary source of home entertainment. In an August survey of 1,600 U.S. consumers with broadband, ages 16-74, who...

www.mediaplaynews.com

Netflix vs. YouTube: The Post-Streaming Wars Era’s Archrivalry

With the subscription streaming wars transitioning into engagement wars, YouTube is now Netflix’s most formidable opponent

variety.com

In Major Deal, Max and Discovery+ Will Join Charter Video Bundle as Warners Makes Big Move

It marks the first time that HBO programming will be available in a standard cable bundle, and not sold as an add-on.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Ampere: Max Streaming Service Reaches 11 Million European Subscribers - Media Play News

Following launches across Latin America earlier in the year, Warner Bros. Discovery’s flagship Max subscription video-on-demand service has now started service in 25 European markets. With Max operating in five of Europe’s 10 largest SVOD markets and available to almost 30% of European SVOD...

www.mediaplaynews.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

YouTube Plans Major Revamp of TV App After Overtaking Netflix, Streaming Rivals (Exclusive)

The platform will let creators organize their videos around episodes and seasons, while adding cinematic "immersive previews" and other functionality.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

Amazon Prime Video and MGM Studios Join Motion Picture Association

Amazon joins Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, The Walt Disney Studios, and Warner Bros. Discovery, and Netflix in the entertainment policy group.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

Who’s Really Going to Run Paramount?

David Ellison will soon take over as the entertainment giant’s CEO — but his mogul father, Larry, put in the $6 billion to buy it. So which Ellison will be boss?

www.hollywoodreporter.com

Report: Netflix's Streaming Cost Nearly Double Following Seven Price Hikes - Media Play News

Netflix is the largest and most-profitable subscription streaming service in the world. Fueling the streamer’s bottom line is the fact that the service’s basic monthly fee has nearly doubled to $15.49 since bowing as a $7.99 standalone option in 2011. Only Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max basic...

www.mediaplaynews.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

ComScore: Hulu Dominates All Streamers in Connected TV Ad Market - Media Play News

In the push to establish ad-supported streaming platforms, Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video get most of the media attention due to their overall subscriber numbers. But new data from Comscore finds that Disney-owned Hulu and Fox’s free ad-supported streaming TV service Tubi dominate all other...

www.mediaplaynews.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Fubo Testing Multi-View Screens on Roku Streaming Devices - Media Play News

Online sports-themed subscription streaming TV service Fubo Sept. 26 announced the launch of its “Multiview” feature in beta on select Roku devices. The feature, which affords users access to multiple content screens, is expected to launch on additional Roku devices in the coming weeks. Fubo...

www.mediaplaynews.com

TV’s New Big Four: Netflix, YouTube, Disney and Amazon Dominate as Streaming Wars Enter New Phase

Netflix, YouTube, Amazon and Disney are the Big 4 of streaming platforms, and each have their own advantages, guest columnist Hernan Lopez writes.

variety.com

Omdia: Streaming Bundles Need Common Platform for Major Growth - Media Play News

With the rise in bundled subscription streaming video services, spearheaded by Disney’s Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu offering, new data from research firm Omdia finds that consumer confusion about accessing multiple streaming services on one platform with a single monthly bill is undermining the...

www.mediaplaynews.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Warner Bros Discovery Slams Comcast-Owned Sky For Trying To Gain Contract “Leverage” With ‘Harry Potter’ TV Series Suit; WBD Ignored Deal, Euro Pay-TV Service Claims – Update

Comcast's Sky UK has sued Warner Bros Discovery over a dispute with the upcoming 'Harry Potter' series. See the latest updates here

deadline.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

DirecTV to Acquire Dish and Sling TV, Creating Largest U.S. TV Provider

The merger of EchoStar's video businesses and DirecTV will also coincide with TPG agreeing to buy out the 70 percent of DirecTV that it does not own from AT&T.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

Lionsgate Offering Employees Voluntary Severance Amid “Disrupted Business Environment”

Lionsgate is offering its U.S. employees a voluntary severance and early retirement program amid a contracting media and entertainment landscape that’s resulted in widespread industry layoffs.

deadline.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Sony Pictures Shake-Up: CEO Tony Vinciquerra Stepping Down, Ravi Ahuja Named Successor

Ahuja had been president and COO of the company, which owns the Sony film and TV studios.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Analyst: CTV Driving Advertising Migration From Linear TV to Streaming, Led by Amazon - Media Play News

The ongoing migration of TV ad dollars from legacy broadcast to internet-connected television streaming got real this year when Amazon reportedly generated $1.8 billion in upfront marketing commitments for Prime Video — just nine months after it launched paid ads on the streaming platform. In a...

www.mediaplaynews.com

It Just Got a Lot Harder to Watch Some of Cartoon Network's Top Shows

Thanks to Max, it just got a lot harder to stream some Cartoon Network classics.

comicbook.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Charter Spectrum Cuts Carriage Deal With NBCUniversal, Adding Peacock to Pay-TV Packages

With the new deal, Spectrum TV customers will get $65 worth of streaming services included with their subscription.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

Philippines to Impose 12% Tax on Foreign Streamers – Global Bulletin

The Philippines is to impose a 12% tax on foreign streamers, Jia Zhangke heads to Vesoul.

variety.com

Amazon Completes Deal For Indian Streamer MX Player

AMazon has acquired MX Player and launched combined streaming service Amazon MX Player.

deadline.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Comcast Chairman/CEO Brian Roberts Says Peacock Fiscal Losses Peaked in 2023 - Media Play News

The fiscal losses for NBCUniversal’s Peacock subscription streaming service peaked in 2023, despite costs associated with this summer’s Paris Olympics and next year’s National Basketball Association media rights deal, according to Brian Roberts, chairman and CEO of parent Comcast. Speaking Oct...

www.mediaplaynews.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

The Biggest Players in the Global TV Market Ride Waves of Blockbuster Shows But How Long Can It Last as Hollywood Struggles?

The biggest players in the global TV market ride waves of blockbuster shows but how long can it last as Hollywood struggles?

variety.com

Starz, BritBox Bundle Up for 25% Discounted Combo Deal

Starz and BritBox are coupling on a price-discounted streaming bundle, joining the industry's growing move to form cross-company packages.

variety.com

Amazon Scores Highest Monthly Growth Among Streamers Thanks to ‘Thursday Night Football,’ ‘Rings of Power’

Amazon Prime Video received a 12% bump in streaming viewership from August, thanks to 'Thursday Night Football' and 'Rings of Power.'

variety.com

The CW Shake-Up: Dennis Miller to Exit, Brad Schwartz Expected to Lead Broadcast Network

Miller has led the Nexstar-owned network since 2022, with Schwartz previously leading its programming.

www.hollywoodreporter.com