Paramount won DOJ approval for its proposed $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition, giving management momentum around its September 30 closing target. The harder work now shifts to Europe, the UK, and possible state AG litigation, where delays could raise…
Basics of Streaming explains how CTV ad fraud turns fake impressions, spoofed devices, app impersonation, and weak SSAI workflows into premium-priced inventory. Fraud prevention’s become a core monetization issue because advertisers need verified supply, cleaner paths, and trusted measurement before…
From the Archives revisits Netflix's $1 million Netflix Prize competition, which challenged researchers to improve its recommendation algorithm and helped accelerate breakthroughs in machine learning and personalization. The contest reinforced a principle that still shapes streaming today: helping users discover…
YouTube’s rolling out invite-only in-app messaging for users 18+, letting viewers share and react to videos, Shorts, and livestreams without leaving the app. The move helps YouTube turn sharing into a retention loop by keeping the video, conversation, notification, and…
Skip argues that retail media networks are becoming an ad tech bubble, not because the underlying business is flawed, but because too many companies assume first-party data alone is enough to build a successful media business.
Antenna's latest data shows ad-supported streaming has become the industry's primary growth engine, but subscriber growth alone isn't enough to build a successful advertising business. As audiences fragment across services and plans, the next challenge for streamers is creating the…
The U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority has launched a formal review of Paramount Skydance's proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, examining whether the combined company could reduce competition across U.K. television, streaming, advertising, sports rights, and content licensing…
Apple's new App Store subscription bundling framework gives developers the ability to partner with other developers and offer discounted subscription packages, extending a strategy that's long been used across streaming to improve retention and increase customer lifetime value. The addition…
Netflix is doubling down on its streaming-first film strategy, with Dan Lin saying the company won't work with filmmakers who require traditional theatrical releases. Netflix is instead prioritizing mid-budget comedies, rom-coms, and literary adaptations that fit subscription-driven economics. While select…
Streaming leverage is shifting toward companies that control discovery, identity, billing, ad infrastructure, measurement, and the customer relationship. Content still matters, but it’s becoming less powerful without demand control, especially as ad-supported plans, bundles, AI, creator platforms, and cross-platform IP…
