HBO Max was the most downloaded US mobile entertainment app in 2021, with 46.0 million downloads and a monster growth rate of 101%. Second-place Netflix saw downloads drop by 15% year over year to 38.0 million.

Ad-supported video is the new streaming gold rush: Disney, HBO, Discovery, and even Netflix have toyed with or launched ad-based viewing channels

On today's episode, we discuss whether Disney+ is back on track, how to read HBO Max's numbers, and whether Paramount+ can keep up. For "In Other News," we talk about why folks are cutting the cord today and why there's been a boost in ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) ad spending. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Ross Benes.

On today's episode, we discuss how close Disney+, HBO Max, Paramount+, and Peacock are to catching up with Netflix. "In Other News," we talk about the biggest takeaways from this year's upfronts and NewFronts events and how much waste is taking place in linear TV ads. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Ross Benes.

Netflix is practically synonymous with video streaming in the US, with 76% of US teens and adults surveyed using the platform. Amazon Prime Video is the next most popular service, used by 64%, while Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max round out the top five.

Netflix is the top US streaming service when it comes to original content, with 38% of the country’s adults agreeing the platform offers the best selection of original shows and movies. Amazon Prime Video comes in second, trailing by a sizable margin with 11%, while Hulu and HBO Max rank third and fourth.

The note cited competitors like HBO who were able to “maintain strong brands while offering an ad-supported service,” according to the Times. Looking forward: The big remaining question mark for Netflix centers on how the consumer experience will be affected by ads. How frequently will ad-supported viewers have content interrupted, and for how long?

(Historically, HBO has been devoid of advertising. Its streaming service only adopted ads in spring 2021.). Analytics company Antenna produced similar results in its 2021 “The Year in Streaming” report. It estimated that 8% of HBO Max, 59% of Hulu, 63% of Paramount+, and 72% of Peacock subscribers used ad-supported tiers.

The more that Netflix, Disney, Paramount, and HBO tailor their services to Brazil’s audiences, partner with local players, and create new local content, the more those audiences discover and embrace sub OTT overall. A virtuous cycle has ensued. Spotlight on Netflix: Our Worldwide Viewer Forecast for the Sub OTT Industry Leader.

Among major streaming video platforms, Peacock is the one where US subscribers are most likely to have the ad-supported version. Just 20% of Peacock subscribers shell out for the ad-free tier.

Peacock made audience gains as the streaming space gets more crowded.

US linear TV ad spending will hit $68.35 billion this year and fall to $64.94 billion in 2026. Despite that decline, ad spending on linear and connected TV (CTV) combined will increase from $87.24 billion this year to more than $100 billion in 2026 due to the surge in CTV viewing.

Warner Bros. Discovery will flex power in streaming, film, and measurement: The historic merger is set to be completed soon, reshaping the media industry.

CNN+’s rough launch shows consumers prefer entertainment-first streaming: Executive shakeups, distribution issues, and more have led to a tepid start.

Connected TV and programmatic video ad spending continues to exceed expectations in the US.

Key developments to watch in 2022 include the evolution of in-store retail technology; hotter competition in the paid-for video marketplace; the revival of digital out-of-home ads; and ongoing issues with digital privacy and security.

In addition to people accessing HBO via linear TV, there was HBO Go (which required a pay TV authenticated login), HBO Now (a standalone streaming service featuring just HBO-produced content), people who received HBO via Prime Video Channels, and HBO Max (the newest streaming service from the company, which includes a broader content library from its parent company WarnerMedia.)

With growing subscription and advertising revenues, digital video’s future remains bright. But there are numerous questions that will affect its development.

Netflix and other streamers are doubling down on Japanese animation: Half of Netflix’s 222 million subscribers watched anime last year.

On the low end, HBO Max’s ad-supported tier has 2 minutes of ads per hour. By comparison, TV networks feature about 13 minutes of ads each hour, per MoffettNathanson. Costs per thousand (CPMs) for streaming services owned by TV networks are around $25 to $35, according to Glewed TV. Streaming live sports CPMs are over $40, per Glewed TV. Different services can also charge different rates.

Subscribing to Crave is one of only two ways to get access to HBO and Starz in Canada (the other is via cable subscription), and its growth seems to be driven by those premium cable channels. Crave’s YoY growth in viewers dropped from 78.7% in 2018 to 13.3% in 2019 when “Game of Thrones” came to an end. Pay TV Households and Cord-Cutters.

Verizon’s new streaming subscription hub resembles cable bundles of old: Streaming services are fighting tooth and nail to get ahead in a congested field.