YouTube TV and NBCU's carriage disputes show the fragmentation of the skinny bundle space: This is only one of many disputes YouTube TV and other vMVPDs have faced, many of which hinge on sports channels.
In the US, Netflix is the top video streaming platform on connected TV devices, drawing 26% of all viewing time via devices like smart TVs and game consoles in June 2021.
Gaming is a key component of Netflix’s lofty franchise goals: On its own, gaming can help Netflix increase time spent. But it’s especially valuable in its push to build popular properties into full-fledged multimedia “universes.”
Netflix is betting big on original content and foreign markets for future growth: The streaming service has lost big shows to new streaming services and is now betting on its own pop culture hits.
Amazon looks to compete internationally with new Prime Video Channels in India: The streaming service has a remarkably small footprint in India compared with services like Disney+.
Disney+ weighs ads to reinvigorate user growth: A cheaper subscription tier could help broaden its audience domestically and internationally—and give marketers access to its strong brand and wealth of viewer data.
YouTube is the most popular platform for non-TV video content in the US, with 65% of the country’s short-form video viewers using the service to watch user-generated content, video game livestreams, and the like.
Netflix ups the ante against other streamers with Roald Dahl IP acquisition: This could also help the platform branch out from streaming and into games, publishing, and more.
Twitch’s deal with the National Music Publishers’ Association must be the first of many: The platform will need to ink deals that actually let streamers use copyrighted music in order to fend off competitors and support its growing music community.
Cable is getting in on the CTV rush: Comcast is planning to launch its own line of CTVs to attract cord-cutters and advertisers alike.
Digital video viewership passed 3 billion people worldwide in 2020 as growth outpaced pre-pandemic expectations. By year-end 2021, that number will hit 3.26 billion, but growth is expected to slow.
HBO Max takes a big financial risk—but consumer data is worth it: The service is offering half off its ad-free subscriptions for six months after it leaves Amazon Prime Video Channels, but accessing consumers directly instead of via Amazon will be a huge boon.
Streaming services hit highs and lows at this year’s Emmy Awards: While Netflix and Apple TV+ swept categories and broke records, Paramount+ users struggled to simply watch the event.
Instagram wants users to turn their Stories into Reels: The biggest influencers already post videos to their Stories more often than smaller accounts, making them perfect to promote Instagram’s TikTok competitor.
Disney sets exclusive theatrical windows for the rest of 2021: The switch in strategy between “Black Widow” and “Shang-Chi” demonstrates the challenge of balancing box office and streaming subscriber revenue.
Apple’s 1TB iPhone would tap high-quality video demand but likely won’t come cheap: The company is reportedly adding a 1TB storage option for the top-line iPhone of its new fleet.
In North America, TV is the dominant screen for viewing OTT video content, accounting for 82% of time spent on the activity in Q2 2021.
TikTok star Addison Rae’s deal with Netflix shows how brands will find their next collaborator: The multifilm agreement demonstrates the importance of partnering with creators who have built-in followings.