Skip explains that Netflix’s growing presence in Washington, D.C. reflects the company’s shift from disruptive outsider to core infrastructure within the global media ecosystem. As streaming intersects with areas like advertising, telecommunications, labor, and media consolidation, policymakers are paying closer…
TikTok and Apple Music are connecting music discovery directly to monetized streaming with a new “Play Full Song” feature that lets Apple Music subscribers launch full tracks from within the TikTok feed. The integration reduces friction between viral discovery and…
OpenAI is launching its advertising business using external partners before building its own internal ad stack, mirroring the strategy used by Netflix. Early discussions with Criteo and The Trade Desk would give OpenAI immediate access to advertiser demand, measurement and…
YouTube generated an estimated $62B in 2025 revenue, surpassing Disney’s $60.9B media segment, according to MoffettNathanson. The milestone highlights a structural shift in media where distribution scale and the ability to aggregate global audience attention are becoming more powerful than…
Walmart has begun integrating Vizio SmartCast user accounts into Walmart logins following its $2.3 billion acquisition of Vizio, forcing new TV buyers to either merge their Vizio profile with a Walmart account or delete it. The move connects SmartCast viewing…
Allen Family Capital has acquired a 10.7% stake in Starz Entertainment through a $25 million private transaction with Liberty 77 Capital, transferring shares previously held by Steven Mnuchin’s investment firm. The purchase introduces Byron Allen as a new shareholder in…
Basics of Streaming explains how video and audio manifests act as instruction files that tell streaming players where to retrieve video segments, audio tracks, subtitles, and bitrate profiles. The piece outlines how manifests enable adaptive bitrate streaming and multi-language playback…
Netflix has acquired InterPositive, the AI filmmaking startup founded by Ben Affleck, bringing its 16-person team and production-focused technology in-house while installing Affleck as a senior advisor. The move signals Netflix’s shift toward owning production infrastructure, giving the company proprietary…
Marc DeBevoise has been named president of OverDrive and will join the company’s board as it looks to expand its global digital library distribution platform. DeBevoise brings experience from leadership roles at Brightcove, CBS Interactive and Paramount, where he helped…
Skip examines a Netflix exec's recent claim that Paramount’s $6B in projected merger synergies are “code for job cuts,” arguing the framing is designed for regulatory and competitive impact rather than financial precision.
