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As more viewers leave traditional TV packages for streaming alternatives, there is a heightened interest in how much money is being spent on video subscriptions and which companies are benefiting from changes in consumer viewing patterns.

On today's episode, we discuss free, ad-supported video: Who are the major players, how do these services fit into people’s media diets, and how do they attract advertisers? Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer senior forecasting analyst Eric Haggstrom and forecasting analyst at Insider Intelligence Nazmul Islam.

On today's episode, we discuss Twitter's "Super Follows" and "Communities" features, what annoys online shoppers, whether a foldable iPhone is coming, if Paramount+ can fit into people's media diets, Instagram's new Live Rooms offering, where to find a true wonder of the world, and more. Tune in to listen to the discussion with eMarketer principal analysts Jillian Ryan and Yoram Wurmser, and analyst at Insider Intelligence Blake Droesch.

The rest of the world is waking up to the potential of shoppable livestreams, but it’s old news to China’s short-form video players and ecommerce platforms. Short-video leaders Douyin (TikTok’s sister app) and Kuaishou (known outside of China as Kwai) have been expanding their social commerce operations, not just to sell products, but to provide services and other forms of content as well.

Disney's pivot to streaming is ramping up: Streaming is beginning to perform better than both its theatrical and TV segments, which makes it very likely that the company will focus more heavily on streaming in the future.

On today's episode, we discuss whether Disney+ can overtake Netflix as the top streaming service and how important subscription bundles will be in the future. We then talk about which of the streaming platforms is winning the "original" and "exclusive" content battle, Netflix's free content strategy, and AT&T's plans for DirecTV. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer senior analyst at Insider Intelligence Ross Benes.

Streaming gains for all: AMC Networks announced it had topped 6 million streaming subscribers at the end of 2020, surpassing initial projections.

YouTube lets parents guide their kids' video exploration: The video platform's new controls will give parents the ability to specify what's appropriate or not based on three tiers tied to age groups.

The pros and cons of Paramount+: The ViacomCBS streamer has a massive content library and good brand recognition, but its basic tier needs to offer a good enough experience to attract advertisers and new users, especially as the pandemic-induced streaming boom dwindles.

US consumers continue bulking out their SVOD subscriptions: New data suggests that consumers may be more interested in taking up streaming services than cutting the cord at the moment, but the decline in cable and satellite subscriptions will continue.

Roku soared in Q4—and it’ll keep soaring: Though much of Roku’s revenue growth was driven by increased time spent during lockdowns, demand for CTV advertising is so high that we think the company’s strong growth will persist.

After the COVID-19 shock of H1 2020, everyday life in China has gradually returned to the pre-pandemic norm, and economic activities have been on the rebound.

eMarketer principal analyst at Insider Intelligence Debra Aho Williamson discusses Snapchat's latest earnings, what stands out, and how this year will look. She then talks about which alternative social media platforms are most likely to rival the giants in the near future and why.

Disney+ hit its subscriber goal four years ahead of schedule: It hit 94.9 million subscribers at the end of last quarter as original content drove viewership in the US and cricket boomed in India.

Instagram Reels will limit the spread of TikTok reposts: That could hamper the feature, as a good chunk of its content is still recycled from TikTok. But Reels' popularity with influencers could incentivize them to follow Instagram's wishes to post more original content.

YouTube's brand safety strides have paid off: It became the first company to be accredited under the Media Rating Council's brand safety guidelines, the culmination of years of work to make its platform safer for advertisers.

It looks likely that apps and other service providers will pursue more varied monetization strategies this year. Traditionally, apps mostly pursued two strategies: in-app purchases and in-app advertising. Over the past couple of years, many developers have combined the two, but we’re increasingly seeing them use subscription-based models, as well as coupons or other incentives for viewing advertising, such as rewarded video. This shift will continue into 2021.

YouTube's living room ambitions: YouTube is rolling out a new hub for premium sports content and expanding the geographic reach of its YouTube Select offering in a bid for CTV ad budgets.