Business

Apple has rebranded Apple TV Plus as "Apple TV," creating confusion with its existing TV device of the same name. The quiet change may hint at an ad-supported tier in the future, but without a UI update, pricing restructure, or…

Streaming services are no longer chasing subscribers, they’re chasing behavior. Netflix’s latest moves, including “Last Chance to Watch” prompts, natural language search, and TV-based party games, all aim to boost frequency of use and reduce friction. As product strategy shifts…

Netflix is allegedly testing a new “Last Chance to Watch” category that surfaces titles scheduled to leave the platform. While not formally announced or widely available, the feature could reduce viewer frustration, increase session time, and drive higher-value engagement by…

Basics of Streaming reframes streaming as a curation business, where personalization engines, not just great shows, determine viewer engagement, retention, and profitability. Today’s streaming giants deploy advanced AI and machine learning to fine-tune everything from recommendations and thumbnails to subtitles…

Netflix is launching TV-compatible party games that allow subscribers to play with their phones as controllers, starting with titles like Boggle Party and LEGO Party. This marks Netflix's first move beyond mobile-only gaming and reflects a broader strategy to integrate…

From the Archives revisits Azubu’s, an esports-first streaming platform. Backed by $40 million in funding and exclusive streamer deals, Azubu aimed to rival traditional sports broadcasting but faltered due to inconsistent funding, missed tournament payouts, and the loss of key…

Ask Skip unpacks the chaos that could follow if Trump’s proposed 100% tariff on foreign-made films becomes real policy. While the logistics of taxing globally-produced, digitally-distributed content are unworkable, the threat highlights Hollywood’s deep reliance on international production. Such a…

CTV is underperforming not because of the medium itself, but because marketers are applying outdated, performance-driven strategies that ignore the brand-building nature of TV. Despite claiming brand awareness as a primary goal, most campaigns are optimized around click-throughs and conversions,…

Paramount has acquired Bari Weiss’s media startup The Free Press for $150 million and named her editor-in-chief of CBS News. The move gives Weiss control over CBS News while she continues to run The Free Press as an independent brand.…

Kirby breaks down the "IP Yield Era," where the focus is on extracting maximum value from intellectual property across every possible platform and format. Instead of relying solely on exclusivity, companies are working their content across SVOD, AVOD, FAST, merchandise,…