Ask Skip breaks down why the HBO Max and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME rebrands weren’t just marketing blunders, but signs of deeper leadership issues. The HBO Max-to-Max switch erased brand equity without a clear rationale, while Paramount’s naming mess was more…

Nielsen’s June Gauge report showed streaming jumped to 46% of total TV usage, led by Netflix, which accounted for 42% of the category's monthly growth and surged 13.5% on titles like Ginny & Georgia, Animal Kingdom, and Squid Game. Peacock…

Deltatre has announced its acquisition of Endeavor Streaming, expanding its position as a fully-integrated OTT and digital platform provider. This move continues an industry-wide shift toward bundling tech infrastructure, UX, and services into unified stacks as the streaming market matures.…

Consumers are demanding more comprehensive bundles that go beyond streaming to include lifestyle services like fitness, smart home, and niche subscriptions. New research from Horowitz and Bango reveals frustration with subscription complexity, pointing to growing interest in platforms that centralize…

The Eighth Circuit Court has struck down the FTC's proposed "click-to-cancel" rule, a regulation that would have required subscription services to make cancellations as simple as sign-ups. This decision allows streaming platforms and other subscription-based businesses to continue using dark…

Flutter Entertainment has acquired full ownership of FanDuel in a $1.76 billion deal, buying out Boyd Gaming's 5% stake and simplifying their long-term partnership. Boyd walks away with a war chest and clean balance sheet—potentially setting the stage for a…

Basics of Streaming breaks down how Netflix is using AV1-powered Film Grain Synthesis (FGS) to preserve artistic film grain while significantly improving compression efficiency. This technology denoises video, models grain behavior, and reconstructs it in real-time during playback, reducing bitrates…

Luma AI is launching Dream Lab LA, a new creative studio in Los Angeles aimed at integrating its generative video tools into Hollywood production workflows. The lab will serve as both an experimental space and educational hub, helping filmmakers explore…

Disney+ and ITVX have announced a reciprocal streaming initiative, offering curated content rails from each other’s platforms beginning July 16. The partnership leverages their distinct audience demographics — younger for Disney+, older for ITVX — to expand reach and engagement.…

From the Archives revisits how Amazon used Freevee to test and scale its ad-supported streaming ambitions before folding it into Prime Video. Launched in 2019 and rebranded multiple times, Freevee built a solid audience and slate of originals but never…