All Things Streaming (VOD, OTT)

[MisterPenguin]

I think the split is for the better as these attempts at content to consumer verticals haven't faired well.

Also, Starz is dead streamer walking since its only sure source of new content was Lionsgate Studios and there was no way that would be enough content.

Starz will be eaten by a bigger fish. And Lionsgate can go back to just making content for theatrical release or for streamers looking to buy content. Both have a 'for sale' sign on them.

 

[Disney Irish]

Also, Starz is dead streamer walking since its only sure source of new content was Lionsgate Studios and there was no way that would be enough content.

Starz will be eaten by a bigger fish. And Lionsgate can go back to just making content for theatrical release or for streamers looking to buy content. Both have a 'for sale' sign on them.

If Disney wasn't still fighting with Comcast over Hulu's value I could see Disney making a play for Starz, they already have a number of partnerships including in Latin America.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Amazon Could Distribute Max In UK, Germany And Italy After Sky’s HBO Output Deals Expire, Warner Bros. Discovery’s JB Perrette Says

With HBO distribution in the UK, Germany and Italy uncertain past 2025, a top Warner Bros. Discovery executive suggested Amazon could succeed Sky as a key distributor.

deadline.com

Max Password-Sharing Crackdown Looms, Warner Bros. Discovery Streaming Chief Says

Warner Bros Discovery's streaming chief said Tuesday that Max soon will begin start "some very early, gentle messaging” to subscribers about sharing passwords.

deadline.com

Walmart Closes Deal For Smart TV Firm Vizio For $2.3B, Altering Streaming Ad Landscape – Update

Retail giant Walmart has acquired smart TV maker Vizio for $2.3 billion in a deal that will alter the streaming advertising landscape.

deadline.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

HBO’s Cable Channels Begin Streaming on Max

Some subscribers will be able to watch simulcasts of the premium outlet's programming.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Top Comcast Exec Calls Warner Bros. Discovery Distribution Deal “Huge Win” That “Checked A Lot Of Boxes For Both”

A top Comcast exec called a new distribution agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery “a huge win” for media giant in terms of economics and flexibility.

deadline.com

Warner Bros. Discovery, Comcast Ink Distribution Deals Across Xfinity & Sky; Peacock Parent To Package Max, Discovery+ In Streaming Bundles

Comcast (and Warner Bros. Discovery have inked long-term agreements that will deliver WBD’s extensive portfolio of content to Xfinity and Sky UK and Ireland customers using Comcast’s global technology platform across linear television, apps, and streaming services.

deadline.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

YouTube TV Raises Price of Monthly Rate to $82.99

The last price increase came in March 2023 and the new rate will kick in on Thursday for new members.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

Warner Bros. Discovery Takes Step Toward Separating TV Channels From Studios Business

The new corporate structure aims for “strategic flexibility” and greater shareholder value.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Max & HBO Wind Down Deal For ‘Sesame Street’ Original Episodes, Retaining Some Library Rights

A television staple is looking for a new home. "Sesame Street" original episodes will no longer air on HBO or stream on Max, though some library titles remain.

deadline.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

CNBC Seeks $14.99 Per Month for New CNBC+ Streaming Service

CNBC will seek $14.99 per month, or $99.99 per year, for a new streaming service called CNBC+

variety.com

PGA Tour Seeks More Control Over Media With New Studios Launch

PGA Tour launches massive new production facility in Florida to give it more control over media output when rise of streaming create new demand

variety.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Amazon’s Aggressive Upfront Move Will Crowd Fox, Telemundo

Amazon will move its 2025 upfront presentation to Mondays, putting it in conflict with events already held that day by Fox and NBCU's Telemundo

variety.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Discovery+ Latest Streamer to Get Price Hike, Cost Raised by $1 Per Month

The ad-supported tier will now cost $5.99 per month, with the ad-free tier rising to $9.99.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

Wall Street’s Hollywood Dealmaking Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

Finance experts outline scenarios for the potential coming M&A merry-go-round.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Letterboxd, Indie Cinema’s Secret Weapon, Hit 17 Million Members — Here Are Their Top 2024 Films

Letterbox, the cinephile social platform that’s become a highly effective tool for indie films in a landscape where moviegoers have been hard-to-reach, hit 17 million members in 2024.

deadline.com

Comcast NBCUniversal’s Cable “SpinCo” Fills Out Exec Roster; Val Boreland Gets Top Entertainment Role

The executive ranks of the cable network entity spinning off from Comcast/NBCUniversal later this year have been filled in with a handful of appointments.

deadline.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Parks Announces 'Top Five Takeaways' From Its Broadband Market Tracker - Media Play News

At CES Jan. 9, Parks Associates announced the “Top Five Takeaways” from its Broadband Market Tracker, which launched in 2024 to provide quarterly insights reports of key market trends, competitor moves, and partnerships. The Broadband Market Tracker provides estimates for residential home...

www.mediaplaynews.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Report: Subscription Growth Cooled to 2.8% in 2024 as Subscriber Retention Dominates Market Strategy - Media Play News

The growth of subscription-based businesses, including video streaming, declined to 2.8% from 4.1% in 2021, according to new data from Recurly, a digital subscription management and billing platform. About 20% of subscriber acquisitions included returning subscribers. More than $200 million in...

www.mediaplaynews.com

Hub: 30% of Consumers Spend $100 or More on TV Each Month - Media Play News

Over the past several years, consumers have sought to reduce their expenditures on television through various means — cord cutting or shaving, moving to skinnier vMVPD bundles, switching to lower priced ad-supported SVODs, and “serial churning” in and out of streaming services. But through all...

www.mediaplaynews.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

‘Narnia’ Imax Release Not A Change To Netflix’s Theatrical Strategy, Ted Sarandos Says

Greta Gerwig’s Narnia is getting a two-week run in Imax theaters, but don’t think it's a change to Netflix’s stance on theatrical runs for its movies.

deadline.com

Netflix Smashes Estimates, Adding Nearly 19M Subscribers In Q4 To Hit 301.6M Worldwide

Netflix added TK million subscribers in the fourth quarter, reaching TK million globally, thanks to a wave of marquee programming in the final weeks of 2024.

deadline.com

Netflix Increasing Prices for Subscribers Again (Including the Version With Ads)

Netflix is raised its prices for U.S. subscribers on Tuesday, January 21st, effective immediately. According to a report by Variety, the streamer broke the news in its quarterly letter to investors alongside announcements of its earnings in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2024, which included its...

comicbook.com

Trump Signs Order Designating Brendan Carr Chairman of FCC - Media Play News

President Donald Trump formally signed an order that designates Commissioner Brendan Carr as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Carr, who has been a commissioner at the FCC since 2017, replaces former chair Jessica Rosenworcel, who resigned on Jan. 20, and was the first woman to...

www.mediaplaynews.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Another Sobering Snapshot of Hollywood’s Production Decline

A Luminate report finds the total number of TV episodes produced in 2024 fell by nearly 5,000 compared to just two years earlier as streaming and broadcast networks curb spending.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Oh. So *now* cable wants to be monetarily competitive rather than just jacking up costs like the pseudo-monopoly that they were.

Great timing.

Comcast Launches $70 per Month Sports and News TV Streaming Package, Pitched as Cheaper Than YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV

Comcast's new Sports & News TV package includes 50-plus live news, sports and broadcast channels for $70 per month.

variety.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Paramount Board’s Special Committee Says It Is “Bound” By Merger Pact With Skydance; “There Will Not Be Any Engagement” With Rival Bidders

Paramount Global's board committee says its "binding" merger agreement with Skydance Media means a rival, 11th-hour offer won't be considered.

deadline.com

Lionsgate Nears Separation Of Studio And Starz

Lionsgate filed an amended registration with the SEC taking into account changes requested by the Commission and moving closer to a split of Studios and Starz.

deadline.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

Prime Video Cuts Deal with Lionsgate for Exclusive Window on Theatrical Films - Media Play News

Prime Video on Jan. 29 announced a multi-year agreement with Lionsgate for an exclusive window on the studio’s theatrical slate, beginning in 2026. Prime Video’s window follows Starz’s exclusive first-run window. The streamer also gets a package of films from Lionsgate’s 2025 theatrical slate...

www.mediaplaynews.com

Cineverse Ups Fubo TV Content Partnership Adding Three FAST Channels - Media Play News

Cineverse Jan. 29 announced expanded partnership with Fubo TV, the sports-themed live TV streaming platform, to distribute Cineverse’s newest channels. Through this deal, two Cineverse free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels — “Dog Whisperer With Cesar Millan” and “Go Pro...

www.mediaplaynews.com

Comcast, Apple Bow New Integration Feature for Upcoming MLS Season Pass - Media Play News

Comcast and Apple Jan. 29 announced plans to offer Xfinity subscribers easier access to the upcoming 30th season of Major League Soccer through Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass subscription. MLS Season Pass costs $14.99 per month during the season, or $99 for the full season. Customers can sign up for...

www.mediaplaynews.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

YouTube Q4 Ad Sales Hit Record $10.5 Billion, Parent Alphabet Projects $75 Billion in 2025 Capex Spending Amid AI Arms Race

YouTube's Q4 2024 ad revenue grew 13.8% to top $10 billion for the first time as Alphabet expects to invest $75 billion in capital spending in 2025.

variety.com

Fox Corp. Expects to Launch New Stand-Alone Streamer by End of 2025

Fox Corp. expects to launch a new subscription-based streaming outlet by end of 2025, citing desire to reach younger consumers who don't have cable

variety.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

YouTube Viewing on TV Now Surpasses Mobile, Desktop in U.S.

YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, in his annual letter to the YouTube community, characterized the platform as a core player in media and entertainment.

variety.com

Lionsgate Ups Q3 Home Entertainment Revenue Nearly 11% to $219 Million - Media Play News

Lionsgate reported home entertainment revenue of $218.9 million in the third-quarter ended Dec. 31, 2024, which was up 11.3% from revenue of $194.2 million in the previous-year period, according to a new regulatory filing. The home entertainment business includes distribution of both proprietary...

www.mediaplaynews.com