Sports fuels streaming catalogs: SVOD sports titles jumped 77.5%, giving marketers premium digital arenas.

Netflix hits the gas on advertising: The company secured a slew of NFL games, but its bet on podcast and vertical video ads is less certain.

Disney’s results show consumers are still spending: The company’s high-demand streaming services are keeping viewers on board despite economic shocks.

Amazon's 71.8% catalog share and 132.7 million ad-supported viewers make Prime Video hard to ignore.

Samsung's Amazon Ads integration and AI targeting bring shoppable, full-funnel capabilities to Samsung TV Plus.

A new partnership combined with TikTok's short-form clips and creators help brands reach mobile-first sports fans beyond game day.

Streaming sports programs soared 52% YoY in Q1 2026, forcing brands to chase growth beyond linear with balanced media planning.

Asia-Pacific is the engine driving global digital video consumption, but growth is diverging. Mobile-first markets are scaling fast, while mature markets lean on connected TV (CTV) and subscriptions, forcing brands to rethink reach, engagement, and monetization.

Market power drives Senate scrutiny for good reason; a combined Netflix–HBO Max would concentrate premium CTV buying without expanding total market size.

After a 20% jump in streaming subscription prices, when will consumers cut back?

Netflix’s 2026 ad plans revolve around WBD: The mega-merger would give the burgeoning ad business a major boost for years to come.

Video consumption behaviors are shifting across generations, according to a Deloitte study. Over one-third (35%) of overall consumers spend more time watching video on social media than streaming platforms. For cohorts like Gen Z, that figure is even greater: 58% of their time with video is spent on social media. Advertisers must adjust their definition of “TV” to account for different preferences for digital video consumption and adapt budgets accordingly.

Netflix advertising chief Amy Reinhard claimed the streaming service has 190 million monthly active viewers (MAV) worldwide—a new advertising metric the company shared after it stopped reporting subscription numbers earlier this year. Netflix wants to help advertisers more clearly understand an ad’s potential reach and ROI. Low churn, high-value content, and maturing ad offerings means Netflix will be an attractive option for brands for years to come—but the picture is about to get more complicated.

Netflix has secured exclusive streaming rights in Japan for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, its first live sports play in the country. The deal covers all 47 games live and on-demand, expanding on Netflix’s MLB collaborations. Japan’s WBC viewership dwarfs US levels—the 2023 finale drew Super Bowl–level shares and over 30 million viewers for most Japan games. Netflix, already strong in regional SVOD revenue, faces tough youth competition from U-NEXT, d-anime, and Abema Premium. By betting on baseball, Netflix is testing whether national sports passion can drive subscriber growth, retention, and cultural relevance in one of its toughest markets.

The news: Disney announced that it will merge Disney+ and Hulu in 2026, a move that could save it $3 billion. The news came after a mixed Q3 FY25 that beat expectations thanks to high spending at Disney theme parks and growth in streaming, but saw advertising revenues fall short of analyst estimates. Our take: Disney’s future success depends on whether merging its core streaming offerings boosts advertiser appeal and a successful sports push that can compete on a similar level as rivals with access to tentpole live events like the Super Bowl.

The trend: Gen Z is opting out of both traditional pay TV and ad-supported streaming tiers, signaling deeper changes in viewing behavior. Just 42% of Gen Z subscribers use ad-supported SVOD, while less than half of all US households now maintain a pay TV subscription. Our take: Streaming’s future depends on reaching the next generation, but current models—especially ad-supported tiers—aren’t meeting Gen Z where they are. With only 1.3 hours of streaming and 0.8 hours of traditional TV per day, Gen Z prefers social video, gaming, and music. To stay relevant, platforms must prioritize native formats, interactivity, and creator integration over legacy ad models.

The news: Rewards app Fetch and measurement platform Kochava teamed up to offer loyalty rewards to streaming users, per Marketing Brew. Loyalty+ users can earn points from streaming movies or series, watching specific episodes, or downloading streaming apps. Video on demand (SVOD) services can offer incentives based on their chosen KPIs. Our take: Little treats from big streamers can add up and boost loyalty, provided the incentives are worthwhile and requirements aren’t burdensome. Watching TV for several hours for a fraction of a Starbucks drink, for example, won’t likely improve platform stickiness.