Platform strategy now spans four business models at once: OTT, SVOD, AVOD, and FAST. This category covers recommendation engines, content discovery, CTV app experience, player SDKs, and the subscriber engagement data that tells you whether a feature actually worked.
Creator Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast) hosted a streaming event titled "50 YouTubers Fight for $1,000,000," which involved 50 streamers competing in a series of challenges for a $1 million prize. According to the article, the video achieved 70 million views in its first 24 hours. The piece highlights the event's success on platforms like YouTube and also discusses the role of the Kick streaming platform, where many participants, including MrBeast, maintain a presence.
Screen Daily has compiled a list of high-end television and film productions currently shooting in the UK and Ireland. The list provides details on projects for major streamers including Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+, and HBO, alongside titles for traditional studios. For each production, the report includes information on shooting schedules, locations, producers, distributors, and key cast members.
Fubo announced it is expanding its user-configurable Multiview feature to select LG smart TVs, allowing subscribers to watch up to four live channels at once. The feature will be rolled out to 2024, 2025, and newer 4K and 8K LG TV models, with completion expected before the start of the 2026 American football season. Fubo aims to be the first vMVPD to offer this type of customizable multiview on the LG platform, expanding beyond its prior availability on Apple TV and select Roku devices.
Netflix is increasing its monthly subscription prices, effective March 2026. The Standard With Ads plan will rise to $8.99 (+$1), the Standard Without Ads plan to $19.99 (+$2), and the Premium plan to $26.99 (+$2). The article notes that Netflix plans to spend approximately $20 billion on content in 2026 to justify the increases, while also referencing subscriber criticism over content quality.
Netflix has removed the James Bond film catalog from its U.S. service as of April 21 following the expiration of a temporary licensing agreement. The entire series, from "Dr. No" to "No Time to Die," had been on the platform for a few months. The article suggests the franchise will likely return to Prime Video, as it is owned by Amazon.
The article analyzes the competitive landscape for anime streaming, identifying Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video as the dominant 'Big Three' in 2026. The report details Crunchyroll's 17 million subscribers and deep studio integration, Netflix's massive audience with 8.9 billion anime hours watched in 2025 and exclusive production deals like its partnership with MAPPA, and Amazon Prime Video's strategy of securing global distribution rights and localized content. The analysis highlights increased investment in original anime production from all three platforms as a core pillar of their future content strategies.
South Korean telecom operator KT has launched a new bundle plan that includes YouTube Premium Lite, which provides ad-free YouTube viewing without access to YouTube Music. The plan offers subscribers a choice between a Genie Music subscription or a Millie’s Library subscription. The move is viewed as a key test of whether unbundling YouTube Music from the core ad-free video offering can help domestic music streaming services regain market share from the dominant YouTube Music.
Disney+ has launched a promotional pricing event in the UK for new subscribers signing up before May 6, 2026. Under the offer, the Disney+ with Ads plan is reduced from £5.99 to £3.99 per month. The Standard plan is discounted to £6.99 and the Premium tier to £9.99 per month.
ABC News has launched 'What You Need to Know', its first original daily news show created exclusively for Disney+. Hosted by James Longman and Rachel Scott, the short-form series provides a news roundup in under 10 minutes. New episodes are released on weekdays and Saturdays on the streaming platform.
France Télévisions has formed a strategic partnership with YouTube to expand the digital distribution of its news content as part of a streaming-first strategy. The French public broadcaster will make thousands of hours of news and current affairs programming available on the platform, with its ad division, France TV Publicité, directly selling the advertising inventory. The two companies will also collaborate on tools to counter misinformation, including support for YouTube's Likeness ID system for detecting AI-generated content.
According to a new Omdia report, emerging TV operating systems like VIDAA, Titan OS, and TiVo are projected to capture 30% of the European TV OS market by 2030, up from an expected 21% in 2025. This growth is driven by their open revenue-sharing models for advertising, lightweight software performance, and the brand control they offer TV manufacturers, challenging Google TV's current market leadership. Omdia forecasts the combined shipments of these platforms will reach 12.4 million units in Europe by 2028.
A TVREV analysis argues that the technical capabilities of ATSC 3.0 ("NextGen TV") could enable a successful version of the hybrid broadcast/subscription model attempted by the failed service USDTV in the mid-2000s. The piece suggests a model using the standard's IP delivery and encryption to offer a free, ad-supported tier of channels alongside premium, subscription-based packages. This approach would also leverage IP capabilities to support targeted advertising on the broadcast layer.
Beginning in 2026, all LA Galaxy and MLS matches will be included with a standard Apple TV+ subscription, removing the requirement for a separate MLS Season Pass. National broadcasts will remain on FOX and FS1, which are available on vMVPDs like Fubo and YouTube TV, and on a new FOX One standalone streaming service. Spanish-language rights are held by TelevisaUnivision, with games available on TUDN and ViX.
This article outlines the broadcast and streaming schedule for the 2026 NBA Playoffs, illustrating how games are distributed across multiple platforms in the U.S. Linear channels ABC, ESPN, and NBC will carry games, while Amazon's Prime Video and NBC's Peacock will have exclusive streaming rights for specific matchups. The schedule details which games are assigned to each service, with Prime Video carrying several exclusive weekday first-round games and Peacock streaming select games on weekends and weekdays.
An article detailing the hypothetical 2026 NBA Playoffs schedule highlights a new, fragmented media rights landscape. A landmark deal is described as splitting broadcast and streaming rights between ESPN/ABC, NBC/Peacock, and Prime Video. Under this model, the Play-In Tournament moves exclusively to Prime Video, early-round games are distributed across all three partners, and the NBA Finals remain exclusively on ABC.
Walmart's US e-commerce sales have surpassed $100 billion, fueled by its Walmart+ membership program attracting more affluent households previously loyal to Amazon. The article details how Walmart is leveraging its 4,700-store footprint for fast grocery delivery and using benefits like a bundled Peacock subscription to compete with Amazon Prime. While Amazon's e-commerce dominance remains, Walmart's strategy has resulted in 11 consecutive quarters of double-digit e-commerce growth, with households earning over $100,000 accounting for 75% of recent market share gains.
NBCUniversal and Roku have reached a new agreement to make Peacock's ad-free tier, Premium Plus, available through Roku Premium Subscriptions. Priced at $16.99 per month, the tier allows downloads and access to local TV stations and is slated to launch on the platform in the coming weeks. The deal expands on previous collaborations and follows recent Peacock distribution agreements with Amazon Prime Video Channels and YouTube PrimeTime Channels.
Streaming platforms are increasingly using live sports and esports to retain subscribers, a trend now evident in markets like South Korea. CJ ENM's Tving has seen a 30% year-over-year viewership increase from streaming the Korea Baseball Organization league, while Disney+ is focusing on esports with events like the KeSPA Cup. The article also notes global moves, such as Netflix acquiring exclusive rights for the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Japan.
Scripps Sports and Ally Financial have partnered with the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) to facilitate the league's first US national television broadcast. The March 28 game will air on Scripps' ION network, which is available over-the-air and on pay TV, connected TV, and free, ad-supported streaming platforms, reaching a potential 126 million US households. Ally Financial will be the presenting sponsor for both the game and the broadcast.
The WNBA has announced that all 44 of the Indiana Fever's games for the 2026 season will be broadcast live on national television. Attributed to the popularity of player Caitlin Clark, the games will be distributed across a wide range of partners. The schedule includes broadcasts on ABC/ESPN, USA, Amazon Prime Video, ION, NBC/Peacock, CBS, and NBA TV.
The OTT rights for the film 'Dhurandhar 2' have reportedly been sold to JioHotstar for approximately Rs 150-155 crore, one of the largest digital acquisitions for a Hindi film. This represents a platform shift from Netflix, which streamed the first installment, as co-producer Jio Studios aims to drive subscriber growth on its own service. The film is expected to debut on the platform in late May or early June 2026.
Netflix has announced the broadcast team for its first live MLB game. The on-air talent will include host Elle Duncan, play-by-play announcer Matt Vasgersian, reporter Lauren Shehadi, and analysts CC Sabathia, Hunter Pence, Albert Pujols, and Anthony Rizzo. Comedian Bert Kreischer will also be a contributor, and the article speculates Barry Bonds may be a special guest.
Prime Video announced its full on-air talent roster for its "WNBA on Prime" coverage, adding Hall of Famers Cynthia Cooper and Kara Lawson to the team. The announcement is part of an 11-year rights agreement under which Prime Video will stream 30 WNBA regular-season games, the Commissioner’s Cup championship, and select playoff series, starting this season. The deal also makes Prime Video a third-party digital distributor for WNBA League Pass.
Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos has secured a deal to broadcast the Copa del Rey final on his YouTube channel, which has over 15.9 million subscribers. The broadcast is reported to be a first for a Copa del Rey match on YouTube and will run in parallel with the traditional linear broadcast on Spain's RTVE network. The agreement was brokered by the Peak Sport Media agency, the international rights sales partner for the competition.
Digital media outlet Front Office Sports is launching a daily 30-minute nationally syndicated broadcast television show, “Front Office Sports Tonight,” slated to premiere on September 14, 2026. The program will cover the business, cultural, and entertainment stories in sports and has secured clearance in over 85% of the U.S. on station groups including Fox, Hearst, and Nexstar. The venture is backed by majority owner RedBird IMI, with its CEO Jeff Zucker serving as chair of Front Office Sports' board and an executive producer for the new show.
The WNBA announced a record 216 national broadcasts for the upcoming season across seven distribution partners: ESPN/ABC, CBS/Paramount+, Prime Video, Ion, NBC/Peacock, USA Network, and NBA TV. As part of its distribution strategy, all 44 games featuring the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark will be aired nationally. The schedule combines broadcast, cable, and streaming, with partners like Prime Video carrying 31 games and Peacock streaming 12 games.
The WNBA announced a record 216 nationally broadcast games for the 2026 season as part of a new media rights deal. The Indiana Fever will become the first team in league history to have its entire 44-game regular-season schedule broadcast nationally. The deal includes the return of NBC as a broadcast partner, joining a lineup of linear and streaming platforms that includes ESPN/ABC, CBS Sports/Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, USA, ION, and NBA TV.
UK broadcaster 5 announced its streaming service experienced the fastest growth among public service broadcaster (PSB) platforms in Q1 2026, with Barb data showing a 25% year-on-year increase in viewing hours. The growth, attributed to a slate of UK original dramas, outpaced declines at BBC iPlayer (-8%) and ITVX (-1%), and growth at 4 Streaming (+17%). The performance follows the broadcaster's strategic relaunch under the unified 5 brand in March 2025.
Jomboy Media and Fubo have launched The Jomboy Media Channel, a 24/7 linear streaming network available to all Fubo subscribers as of April 15. The channel will feature content produced entirely by Jomboy Media, including series such as We Got Ice and The Warehouse Games. As part of the partnership, select Jomboy programs will also stream on the Fubo Sports Network FAST channel.
In the German market, DAZN currently holds the primary broadcast rights for the UEFA Champions League until 2027, with Amazon Prime Video streaming the exclusive Tuesday headline game. For the subsequent 2027/28 to 2030/31 cycle, Paramount+ will take over as the main broadcaster. Amazon Prime Video will continue its role in the new cycle, showing the Wednesday headline match.
Fubo is reportedly pursuing the local media rights for 13 NBA teams previously affiliated with Main Street Sports Group's regional sports networks. The vMVPD is proposing a “hybrid direct-to-distributor and direct-to-consumer model” that would pay teams fees around $10 million for the upcoming season, with an opt-out clause. Fubo is seeking a commitment from a majority of the 13 teams, or it will withdraw its offer, which competes against proposals from DAZN and Victory+.
ESPN's first live linear broadcast of WWE's WrestleMania 42 averaged 1.72 million viewers across simulcast windows on ESPN and ESPN2. The first hour of Night 2 on ESPN averaged 1.82 million viewers, higher than a typical WWE Smackdown episode on USA Network. These figures do not include viewers on the ESPN Unlimited streaming service, for which WWE events are considered a key driver for new subscriptions.
Telefónica Deutschland will launch a revamped O2 TV portfolio on May 6, 2026, combining live television with bundled streaming services. The new subscription tiers (Classic, Smart, and Premium) will package over 150 HD channels with integrated access to Netflix and Disney+, depending on the plan. This move is intended to reduce complexity and simplify billing for customers, with prices ranging from €4.99 to €24.99 per month.
According to new research from Parks Associates, the US connected TV platform market remains concentrated, with Roku OS accounting for 28% of usage and Samsung’s Tizen OS representing 23%. The data shows Amazon Fire TV, LG webOS, and Vizio SmartCast in mid-tier positions, reinforcing the role of a few key operating systems as the primary gateway for streaming. The report highlights that control of the platform layer is critical for competition, influencing content discovery, advertising delivery, and monetization strategies.
Sling TV has introduced short-term subscription passes, offering access for a day, weekend, or full week, with prices starting at $4.99. The new plans, which coincide with the start of football season, are designed to appeal to sports fans and others who want to access programming for specific events without a monthly commitment. The passes can also be customized with Sling's 'Extra' channel packages for an additional fee.
YouTube TV subscribers are reportedly unable to authenticate on the ESPN app to watch WrestleMania 42 due to technical issues, forcing them to pay a $30 fee for the premium live event. The article, citing Sports Business Journal, states that Google is working on the authentication problems and they are expected to be resolved before SummerSlam 2026. This follows a carriage agreement between YouTube TV and Disney, with full integration of ESPN Unlimited content into the YouTube TV app still on an unknown timeline.
ESPN and The Walt Disney Company announced multi-platform coverage plans for the 2026 NFL Draft, adding Disney+ and Hulu as streaming outlets for the first time. This sets a record for the most platforms carrying the event, with presentations also occurring across ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, the ESPN App, and ESPN Deportes. The three-day coverage will feature distinct telecasts on ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network for the first round, supported by more than 60 commentators and extensive studio programming from Pittsburgh.
Racing TV has launched a new free-to-view channel, Racing TV Play, on the Samsung TV Plus platform in the UK and Ireland. The FAST channel, described as the first dedicated horse racing and equestrian channel on the service, will offer a curated archive of races, festival coverage, and magazine-style programming.
Podcast network Crooked Media is launching a new Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) channel called SANEtv (Save America News & Entertainment Television). The 24/7 channel, which will feature video versions of shows like "Pod Save America," is debuting on Amazon Prime Video as its first distribution partner. The company stated its intention to expand to other FAST and streaming platforms in the future.
In an interview at the 2026 NAB Show, Amagi's Dan Marshall stated that future growth in the FAST market will rely on live programming to increase CPMs and engagement. He also identified trends including platform consolidation, pay-TV operators integrating FAST channels into their program guides (a practice he calls "front porching"), and the need for more sophisticated ad monetization. Marshall noted that Amagi has launched agentic AI-powered tools, like Newspulse, to help content owners manage costs and automate workflows at scale.
For the 2025/2026 FA Cup season, a new commercial deal makes TNT Sports the main pay-TV broadcaster in the UK, with streaming on HBO Max, reducing the BBC's free-to-air coverage to 14 games. ESPN Select is the exclusive rights-holder in the US. In Australia, Stan Sport has taken over the rights from the start of the season.
Political media company Crooked Media is launching a free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel called SANEtv. The 24/7 channel will feature video from its podcasts, including "Pod Save America," and will initially be available on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Fire devices. According to the company, platform partners will manage advertising sales.
Sling TV launched a new $20 per month package called "Essentials," which includes ESPN, ESPN2, and Disney channels, targeting over-the-air antenna users seeking a low-cost supplement to free broadcast TV. The new tier is positioned as a cheaper alternative to ESPN's standalone service and larger vMVPD bundles. The article also criticizes Sling's companion AirTV hardware for integrating antenna channels, describing the 2020-era devices as outdated, unreliable, and difficult to purchase.
YouTube TV has updated its multiview feature, which now allows users to select any four channels to watch simultaneously on a single screen. This customizable option expands on the previous version of the feature that was limited to preselected combinations, primarily for sports. According to the report, the feature is rolling out and supports all channels available on the service.
Charter Communications has made its Spectrum TV App available on Google TV and other devices running Android TV OS 10 or later. The expansion, which includes brands like Hisense, Philips, Sony, and TCL, provides access to live TV, Cloud DVR, and On Demand content. The article analyzes this move as a strategy to increase the stickiness of Charter's pay TV and broadband bundles amid rising competition, while also noting the company's high debt load as a key risk for investors.
YouTube TV subscribers will not gain authentication access for ESPN's Unlimited tier in time for WWE's WrestleMania 42 due to ongoing technical integration issues. According to a Sports Business Journal report, the delays are on Google's end and prevent subscribers from accessing content that is part of their carriage agreement with Disney. Access is now anticipated to be available by WWE's SummerSlam in August.
According to a report, producer Namit Malhotra has rejected a Rs 700 crore (~$84M USD) offer from an unnamed OTT platform for the combined digital rights to the upcoming two-part film 'Ramayana'. Malhotra is reportedly seeking at least Rs 1000 crore (~$120M USD) for the rights. This strategy involves holding back the streaming rights in anticipation of the film's theatrical success justifying a higher valuation.
Producer Namit Malhotra has reportedly rejected a Rs. 700 crore (~$84M USD) offer for the streaming rights to the two-part film 'Ramayana', which is described as the highest ever offer for an Indian film. According to an unnamed source, Malhotra is seeking a Rs. 1000 crore (~$120M USD) deal from an OTT player for the project, which has a combined budget of Rs. 4000 crore (~$480M USD). The producer is holding back all digital, satellite, and music rights in anticipation of higher offers as more footage is released.
An analysis of the Indian OTT market in early 2026 identifies five key original series from Netflix and Prime Video that dominated viewership, citing data from Ormax Media. The article highlights the success of crime thrillers like Prime Video's 'Matka King' for challenging Netflix's viewership dominance, and recurring hits like 'Kohrra' and 'The Great Indian Kapil Show' for maintaining audience and advertiser value. The collective performance of these titles underscores the strategic importance of a balanced content portfolio for streaming platforms in the region.
The animated film 'The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender' will premiere on Paramount+ after its theatrical release was cancelled, according to the article. Director Lauren Montgomery announced production has wrapped and stated the move to streaming was not related to the film's quality. The article notes the film's theatrical release date had been delayed multiple times, from an initial October 10, 2025 date to October 9, 2026, before the decision was made to move it to streaming.
