TV networks rely on Netflix for distribution: A deal between Netflix and French broadcaster TF1 is a clear sign of how video power dynamics have shifted.

The news: Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) plans to split into two separate public companies by 2026, one focused on streaming and studios and the other on global cable networks, the company announced. Its streaming company will include HBO Max and WBD’s movie properties, while the global networks company will include TNT Sports, Discovery, and CNN. Our take: WBD’s move emphasizes that sticking with a one-size-fits-all model is no longer viable given traditional TV declines and the rise of streaming. Managing decline while pursuing growth requires two fundamentally different playbooks.

NBCU looks to secure MLB rights after ESPN backs out: The deal would position NBCU as a one-stop shop for sports, enhancing its value for advertisers.

FAST shows no signs of slowing down: From the Roku Channel to Tubi, FAST continues a path of acceleration that will be bolstered by economic uncertainty.

Studio and linear remain a dark cloud for WBD and Paramount: Revenues were down YoY for both companies, but streaming remains a beacon of hope.

Video's near-future trends are taking shape—as digital pay TV loses its momentum, livestreaming ecommerce is gaining traction.

There won’t be a Dish-DirecTV merger: Debtholders quashed the deal, which would have helped buy time to stave off linear’s decline.

There won’t be a Dish-DirecTV merger: Debtholders quashed the deal, which would have helped buy time to stave off linear’s decline.

Comcast looks to free streaming biz from linear’s decline: The company is separating cable and digital assets in a move that others will mimic.

Digital live sports viewers have surpassed traditional pay TV live sports viewers in the US, per EMARKETER forecast. This trend will continue next year, when 114.1 million people will watch sports via digital while 82.0 million will watch via TV.

The pivot to streaming won’t include everyone: Millions of consumers will remain without streaming in coming years. Here’s how brands can reach them.

105.3 million people in the US will watch live sports via digital this year, up from 95.5 million last year, per our September 2024 forecast.

DirecTV and Dish Network attempt to claw back linear TV’s power: A proposed merger would create a pay TV giant that could help it in carriage negotiations.

VideoAmp could gain an edge in Paramount, Nielsen fallout: Though Nielsen has weathered tough Upfront seasons, its latest dispute could deal a major blow.

Total media time is holding steady in Germany, thanks to traditional media’s dominance and growing digital usage. The balance won’t tip toward digital within our forecast horizon, but this shift is inevitable.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss how the time we spend with media is changing—a double milestone for digital and mobile, when time spent watching CTV will catch up with linear TV, and why social media time will fall for the first time ever. Tune in to the discussion with host Marcus Johnson, director of forecasting Oscar Orozco, and forecasting writer Ethan Cramer-Flood.

Total media time spent is falling slowly in France—it won’t drop below pre-pandemic levels until 2026. Meanwhile, digital’s proportion of total media time is gaining as traditional media falls out of favor.

Total media time is on a steady slide in the UK. By 2026, it will drop to below 10 hours per day, the lowest level in a decade. Digital media—particularly digital and social video—is picking up some of the slack, but it won’t halt the decline.

CTV is still one of the fastest-growing channels in advertising, fueled by Netflix, Disney+, Max, Amazon Prime Video, and more adding ads to their platforms. But the previously skyrocketing channel has matured, leaving a new TV landscape where advertisers must contend with balancing ads between linear and CTV and buying inventory even as volume shrinks. Here are five key stats advertisers should know about CTV.

As the TV and streaming landscape becomes increasingly fragmented, the terms used to describe different ways to watch are multiplying. We’ve already broken down the difference between connected TV (CTV) and OTT. With subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) platforms becoming ad-supported SVODs, and ad-supported video on demand (AVOD) platforms building out free ad-supported TV (FAST) platforms, it’s difficult to keep track of what cord-cutters are actually watching. Here’s a breakdown.