Fubo Sues The Walt Disney Company, Fox Corp., Warner Bros. Discovery, and Affiliates for Antitrust Practices

Fubo filed an antitrust lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company, FOX Corp., Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. and their affiliates today, alleging that the vertically-integrated media companies have engaged in a years-long campaign to block Fubo's innovative sports-first streaming business resulting in significant harm to both Fubo and consumers. The complaint alleges that the forthcoming launch of a sports-streaming joint venture steals Fubo's playbook and is the latest example of this campaign.

Ad Tiering Pays Off as 36% of Subscribers Level Up to Avoid Ads

Landmark study of 5,000 American subscribers shows the impact of ads, bundling, and password-sharing crackdowns on the US subscription economy

For Loss-Making Paramount+ and Peacock, a Merger Makes Sense—but not Necessarily with Each Other

After courting WarnerBros. Discovery and AppleTV, Paramount is now eyeing up Comcast for a potential union of its streamer Paramount+, in this case with Peacock. Or it could be the other way around: Paramount Global has some hot properties making it attractive to rival streamers in a bid to compete better with Disney and Netflix.

The End of NDI As We Know It?

NDI runs the risk of fumbling the ball on the 20-yard line—squandering the nearly decade lead they have in IP video by not enforcing that licensees integrate all of the standard. I write this in the hope that they re-establish what the NDI standard means: that to license NDI, and display the NDI badge, a product must be 100% compatible.

The ESPN/Fox/WBD Mega-Bundle and the Vegas-ization of Live Sports Streaming

In Super Bowl week, when interest in sports in the U.S couldn't be higher--and when the clash between the Chiefs and the 49ers is likely the biggest single-game betting event in US history--old media titans Disney, Fox, and WarnerBros. Discovery are having one last throw of the dice.

New Report Shows Only 13% of Consumers are Opposed to Ad Tiers in Streaming

A new report from CX platform DISQO examines in detail how consumers are currently feeling about ad-supported streaming tiers. Their findings offer an insightful backdrop for the unexpected growth of Netflix subscriptions in tandem with Amazon Prime's limited advertising launch. David Grabert, DISQO's VP of Brand and Communications, answers questions by Streaming Media's Tyler Nesler about the specifics of the report and what it says about today's competitive CTV advertising market.

How to Optimize Family Co-Viewing, Create Dynamic Partnerships, & Know When to go IO or Programmatic

What are some of the best approaches for advertising strategies that incorporate both direct and programmatic partnerships, and how can advertisers looking to expand their reach best optimize the rising trend of co-viewing experiences? Jennifer D'Alessandro, Head of Ad Sales and Marketing at Future Today, a leading CTV monetization solutions provider, provided some key insights into these current trends in the streaming marketplace.

Best of CES 2024

Streaming Media's Nadine Krefetz recounts media tech highlights from CES 2024

Entertainment Industry Enters Age of Austerity

More than 260,000 global technology-sector employees were laid off in 2023 from 1186 companies, some 100,000 more than in 2022. The most recent is Amazon, which has announced job cuts in Prime Video and MGM Studios divisions together with 500 staff, a third of the total, from gaming platform Twitch. 

Progress Towards Giving the Gift of Streaming: Help Me Stream’s 2023 Research Highlights

Year full of research preps significant 2024 acceleration to give "the gift of streaming" globally

Live-Streaming Technology Trends 2023 Survey Brief Launches

New survey results show shift in codec, latency, and bandwidth trends

From Verizon/Netflix/Max to Apple/Paramount, Bundling Is the New/Old Method to Keep Subscribers Happy

Seasonal gifts have arrived early for viewers of streaming TV but the discounts on offer are not just for Christmas. Recent deals which have seen Verizon customers get a discounted package of Netflix and Max content and reports of a similar union between Paramount+ and AppleTV+ are the latest attempts by streaming service providers to stem churn and drive profit that will continue and spread throughout the industry well into the New Year. 

Fubo Launches Fubo Radio, a FAST Channel Radio Experience Powered by Super Hi-Fi

Fubo has partnered with Super Hi-fi to launch Fubo Radio, a suite of 10 custom audio FAST channels. Launched as part of Fubo's base channel plan, Fubo Pro, Fubo Radio is the first radio experience created from the ground up for an OTT service, with a TV-first interface and music programming specifically created for Fubo's U.S. audience. But will this new service stand out from other streaming radio platforms and build its own unique audience? FAST industry experts Chris Pfaff and Jonathon Barbato provide some insights.

State of Streaming Autumn 2023 Survey Report Launches

Newest version of twice-annual report expands on "pain points" and growth patterns, available for download now.

New Hub Research Findings: Old Shows Are New Again as Consumers Navigate Streamers and Strikes

This year's edition of Hub Research's annual "Conquering Content" report confirms that audiences remain happy with their wealth of viewing choices, despite the delays in new production due to the recent major Hollywood strikes. Almost two-thirds of viewers say their current favorite show is older and has existed for several seasons, a finding that is up from 54% in 2021. Some critical moves that should be made now include improving programming discoverability and focusing on licensing and syndication.

Evan Shapiro Holds the Spin Doctors Accountable in the M&E Third Quarter Earnings Reports

Evan Shapiro pulled no punches in his opening keynote for Streaming Media Connect 2023, digging deep into the Q3 earnings call data to hold the spin doctors accountable and providing an unvarnished view of the industry you won't see anywhere else. Read Part Two of our highlights from his presentation.

Evan Shapiro Separates Fact From Fiction in the M&E Third Quarter Earnings Reports

Major media and entertainment companies' quarterly earnings calls ought to pull back the curtain on what's really happening in the industry, but they routinely bury unflattering numbers in expert spin, and the press on hand rarely ask questions tough enough to draw out the real story. M&E industry cartographer Evan Shapiro pulled no punches in his keynote for Streaming Media Connect 2023, digging deep into the Q3 earnings call data to hold the spin doctors accountable and providing an unvarnished view of the industry you won't see anywhere else.

UX Evolution in Live Sports Streams

On a panel at the recent NAB NY show, Rick Allen from ViewLift, Scott Morris from Agilis Quantum, and Lawrence Chan of LiveLike discussed the state of UI and UX for live sports and engagement, with a focus on the importance of low latency and reliability in streaming services, the need for high-quality streams, dynamic content, and personalized experiences for fans.

Netflix Intensifies Dive Into Gaming Landscape

Netflix is making substantial moves in the video game industry. The streaming powerhouse is using the influence it has gained from recent studio acquisitions to develop a wide range of titles based on popular TV programs and films, along with a focus on higher-end games that are manufactured for seamless streaming on both PCs and TVs. This places Netflix in a unique position as a direct competitor with industry giants like Microsoft and Sony. Executives from BrightLine and Future Today provide their analysis of this development.

Next is NOW - Part Two of Evan Shapiro's NAB NY Keynote Address

Read Part Two of our breakdown of media cartographer Evan Shapiro's in-depth NAB NY analysis of the existential threats that the M&E industry is facing. Evan used his unique way of viewing the data flowing through the media and entertainment industry's ecosystem to present a distinctive understanding of what's occurring and where things are headed.