Disney+ gets out in front of Netflix: When it comes to launching and announcing pricing for its ad-supported tier, that is.

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.

YouTube isn’t just for the smallest screens as more viewing takes place on other connected devices and mobile use declines. Streamers are taking in more upfront ad dollars. Netflix is shaking things up after subscription drops.

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.

Following a few turbulent years, upfront TV ad spending will maintain momentum from last year.

Close to 8 in 10 branding professionals plan on allocating upfront spending to Hulu, per a survey from iSpot.tv. Peacock and YouTube TV are also major upfront spend magnets with 52% and 49% of branding professionals dishing ad dollars to those platforms, respectively.

Our latest forecasts for ad spending in Canada, which include our first-ever estimates for Google and Meta, show strong growth overall and an accelerated shift to digital.

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

Watching subscription over-the-top (sub OTT) video has become one of the most popular activities in the world, and the worldwide user numbers for sub OTT have become commensurately huge. Netflix remains a driving force in this digital transformation.

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

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.

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.

The streaming subscription may be at a turning point: As CNN+ pricing and launch strategy comes into focus, there’s a question how much content consumers will pay for.

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.

Disney pivots to a streaming-first strategy: Strong subscriber growth and theme park revenues helped the entertainment company overcome higher expenses and flatlining revenues from linear television.

Telemundo’s new streaming brand thins the barrier between English- and Spanish-language content: NBCUniversal and Comcast hope Hispanic viewers will turn Peacock’s luck around.

On today's episode, we discuss some very specific 2022 predictions: Why Amazon is looking to expand into sports media, why TikTok will force YouTube to do something reckless, why Clubhouse might not last the year as a standalone company, how Disney might reposition Hulu, how Apple will re-enter the streaming wars, and more. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer principal analysts at Insider Intelligence Debra Aho Williamson, Paul Verna, and Andrew Lipsman.

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

Hulu’s 2021 ad revenue outpaces competitors, but troubles loom: The streamer’s reliance on partners like NBCUniversal to provide content could hamstring further growth.

About two-thirds of the US population are monthly connected TV (CTV) users. Young people are more likely to use CTV than older people. Four in 10 US senior citizens are CTV users—whereas CTV usage is about double that, more than 80%, among those ages 25 to 54.