Business

Streameast, the world’s largest illegal live sports streaming platform, was dismantled following a year-long investigation by Egyptian authorities and ACE. The operation shut down a network of 80 domains that amassed over 1.6 billion visits, offering free access to major…

John Malone and Rupert Murdoch held serious discussions in 2024 about merging Warner Bros Discovery and Fox Corporation, but the deal collapsed over the incompatibility of CNN and Fox News. While the merger would have combined major strengths in sports,…

Walmart is expanding its Walmart+ membership by adding Peacock Premium as a streaming option alongside Paramount+ Essentials. Members can now choose between the two services and switch every 90 days. This move strengthens Walmart’s position in the subscription and video…

YouTube TV and Fox Corp. reached a multi-year distribution deal just hours before a potential blackout, preserving access to Fox’s broadcast and cable channels for the platform's 9.5 million subscribers. The agreement includes key sports and news networks and avoids…

From the Archives revisits the rise and fall of Struum, a streaming startup launched in 2020 that tried to tackle subscription fatigue with a credit-based, ClassPass-style model. Backed by Disney and Discovery vets and investors like Michael Eisner, Struum built…

Ampere Analysis reports U.S. sports rights spending hit $30.5 billion in 2025, a 122% jump from 2015, far outpacing total TV revenue growth. This underscores live sports’ growing dominance as the primary engagement and monetization tool for broadcasters and streamers…

Disney has sued Dish Network’s Sling TV, alleging its new $5 Day Pass, Weekend Pass, and Week Pass offerings breach distribution agreements by including ESPN and Disney networks without approval. The lawsuit comes as Sling seeks to offset subscriber losses…

Kirby takes over Ask Skip this week to call out how today’s TV ratings miss huge swaths of audience behavior. Popular metrics like Nielsen’s The Gauge and eMarketer’s stats don’t account for mobile, global, or short-form viewing—leaving out platforms and…

ESPN is in alleged talks to acquire UFC Fight Pass, aiming to integrate the MMA content hub into its new $29.99/month direct-to-consumer app. The move would fold legacy fight libraries and regional live events into ESPN’s ecosystem, expanding its combat…

YouTube TV may drop Fox channels if a deal isn’t reached by Wednesday, with Google accusing Fox of demanding above-market rates. Fox countered by calling Google’s negotiating tactics exploitative. The standoff highlights growing friction between streamers and programmers as cord-cutting…