Business

Kirby explores the idea that ESPN Unlimited may not have been designed primarily as a direct-to-consumer service, but instead as a modernized carriage play. The strategy mirrors ESPN’s historical use of new networks to gain leverage in distribution negotiations—only this…

In a strategic move to push for a potential merger, Sinclair Broadcast Group revealed that it has taken roughly an 8% stake in E.W. Scripps. The disclosure hit Monday, and the market went into full popcorn mode. Scripps shares spiked…

Warner Bros is leveraging immersive experiences to rejuvenate its Harry Potter franchise, partnering with Cosm to debut a shared reality version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in dome venues starting in 2026. This move complements a theatrical re-release…

Kirby says control is the new currency in streaming, and Apple, NBCUniversal, and Fox are showing exactly what that looks like. Apple is collapsing barriers by making MLS a core Apple TV feature. NBCU is reviving NBC Sports Network to…

Disney and YouTube TV have resolved a two-week carriage dispute, finalizing a multi-year deal that restores Disney’s channels and integrates ESPN Plus and the forthcoming ESPN Unlimited into YouTube TV. The agreement reflects a strategic pivot toward aggregation, positioning ESPN’s…

Basics of Streaming breaks down how interactive advertising is reshaping monetization in the OTT space. By letting viewers choose, shop, or engage directly within streams, platforms like Amazon, Hulu, Roku, and YouTube are turning ads into active experiences that drive…

Apple is folding MLS Season Pass into its standard Apple TV subscription starting in 2026, making every match available at no extra cost. This shift ends the paywalled approach and puts MLS in front of a global audience as the…

Starz reported a wider Q3 loss of $52.6 million as linear subscriber declines outpaced OTT gains, pulling revenue down 8% to $320.9 million. U.S. OTT subs grew by 110,000, but total U.S. subs still fell by 130,000, showing digital traction…

Disney ended fiscal 2025 with strong streaming gains, up 39% in DTC income and record Hulu growth, but its longest-ever blackout with YouTube TV exposed deep structural risks. The standoff underscores a bigger problem: Disney’s streaming momentum can’t offset the…

NBCUniversal is reviving NBC Sports Network on November 17 via YouTube TV, reinforcing a hybrid strategy that blends linear and streaming to maximize control, reach, and monetization of live sports. The move protects NBCU’s brand visibility and bargaining power as…