Entertainment

Cineplex has integrated Rokt’s AI into its digital checkout, inserting third-party offers during ticket purchases to unlock new revenue without raising prices or altering the flow. This move monetizes millions of annual transactions and offloads operational complexity to Rokt, while…

Netflix has struck a new multiyear global Pay-1 licensing deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment, making Netflix the exclusive first streaming home for Sony’s theatrical releases worldwide after their initial windows. The deal replaces Sony’s fragmented regional licensing with a unified…

From the Archives shows how Patreon pioneered the “subscribe to a person” model, giving creators a sustainable alternative to ad-based platforms. By turning fandom into recurring revenue, it reshaped the creator economy. Even as it faced growing pains, the core…

Apple TV ended 2025 with record-breaking engagement, up 36% in total viewing hours year-over-year, driven by Pluribus, F1, and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Despite continued silence on subscriber counts, Apple positioned Apple TV as a core part of its growing…

From the Archives revisits the Ellen Digital Network as a pioneering example of a creator-first broadcast model long before the TikTok and YouTube Shorts era. Ellen DeGeneres turned viral daytime TV clips into a full-fledged digital media network that blended…

Basics of Streaming breaks down how the creator economy has become foundational infrastructure for the streaming industry. What began as individual talent has evolved into programmable distribution networks that drive engagement, discovery, and retention. From short-form content and live video…

From the Archives revisits the meteoric rise and fall of Maker Studios, the original poster child of the MCN era that promised to reinvent Hollywood through digital creators. Maker rapidly scaled to become YouTube’s largest independent network, but its dependence…

From the Archives revisits the Slingbox, the pioneering device that redefined personal TV access by allowing users to stream their home television from anywhere in the world. Created by Blake and Jason Krikorian, Slingbox helped establish the concept of place-shifting,…

Basics of Streaming breaks down the FAST channel supply chain, showing how a once-niche format has become a core revenue engine for the streaming industry. FAST works by blending traditional linear TV programming with OTT flexibility, powered by sophisticated content…

From the Archives revisits Microsoft’s early attempt to make the Xbox a digital media hub with the launch of the Xbox Live Video Marketplace in 2006. Long before streaming took over, Microsoft pushed digital ownership through its ecosystem of Xbox,…