Tag: vMVPD

From the Archives revisits FilmOn X’s attempt to use remote antennas and cloud delivery to stream broadcast television without traditional carriage agreements. FilmOn X’s legal strategy briefly opened a path to cable’s compulsory licensing system, which could’ve lowered the cost…

Disney is paying $50 million to settle a class action lawsuit over live TV bundling practices, but the agreement leaves its distribution strategy unchanged. The case reinforces ESPN’s leverage as a must-have asset that continues to anchor bundle pricing across…

Nexstar closed its Tegna acquisition, creating a broadcast giant reaching ~80% of U.S. TV households and significantly increasing leverage in distribution, advertising, and local news. The deal matters because FCC waivers effectively loosen ownership caps, paving the way for more…

From the Archives revisits Sling TV’s 2015 debut, when Dish Network launched a $20 internet-delivered bundle that kickstarted the skinny bundle era. By pairing major networks like ESPN with modular add-ons, Sling reset how live TV was packaged and distributed,…

YouTube TV has begun rolling out lower-priced, genre-based bundles that give subscribers multiple downgrade paths without sacrificing core product features. The new Sports, Sports plus News, Entertainment and Family plans highlight YouTube TV’s growing leverage with programmers and its focus…

Fubo ended Q4 2025 with 6.2 million North American subscribers, about 100,000 fewer than before its Hulu + Live TV merger. The company posted a $96.3 million pro forma loss on $1.5 billion in revenue, with individual performance hidden by…

Kirby explores the idea that ESPN Unlimited may not have been designed primarily as a direct-to-consumer service, but instead as a modernized carriage play. The strategy mirrors ESPN’s historical use of new networks to gain leverage in distribution negotiations—only this…

Antenna reports that Specialty SVOD services grew 12% year-over-year in Q2 2025, down from 22% the previous year, as non-Premium streaming categories begin to show signs of market maturity. Approximately one-third of U.S. SVOD users now engage with Specialty platforms,…

Fubo forecast a narrowed net loss of $8 million and its first-ever quarter of positive adjusted EBITDA, despite slightly lower North American revenue. Subscriber and revenue figures exceeded previous guidance. The company suspended future guidance and withdrew its 2025 profitability…

Roku reported strong Q1 results with $1.02 billion in revenue, up 16% YoY, driven by platform revenue growth and increased streaming hours. The standout move was its $185 million acquisition of Frndly TV—not for its content, but for its business…