The CNN streaming era re-begins--and we're still trying to figure out how TV news adapts to the streaming era. Also: Netflix makes a franchise bet on Zach Snyder, but is it shooting itself in the foot? And are streaming sports rights worth the high cost? This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Factor : Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Callsheet : Find information about your favorite movies and shows, without constant login prompts, ads, auto-playing videos, and other junk...
Aug 25, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 51
Disney alters the deal--pray they don't alter it further. But is Disney suffering from franchise fatigue, and is aggressively bunding Hulu with Disney+ the solution? Also: Jason's sad about Apple's failed college football deal. This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Callsheet : Find information about your favorite movies and shows, without constant login prompts, ads, auto-playing videos, and other junk. Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Disney ...
Aug 11, 2023•49 min•Ep. 50
Did Netflix lure the rest of the streaming industry into quicksand? We explore the difference between being an entertainment retailer and wholesaler. Then it's time to talk about the man, the legend, the human topic: Disney's Bob Iger. This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Factor : Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback How Hollywood Drove Its Business Model Off a Cliff - Plain English with Derek ...
Jul 28, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 49
In a tale as old as time, we try and fail to understand the Emmy Awards. Also: Breaking down Netflix's new ratings math. Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Netflix’s New Math & HBO’s Pivot - Puck
Jul 12, 2023•29 min•Ep. 48
CNN rises to the top of the conversation again, Netflix gets the ball back, Paramount sells some crown jewels, Sports Corner travels to Utah, and we answer four listener letters! Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Raiders of the Lost Art - Puck CNN Makes Plans to Go Live on Max Streaming Service - Bloomberg Warner Bros. Discovery In Talks To License HBO Originals To Netflix – Deadline Netflix’s New Math & HBO’s Pivot - Puck Utah Jazz will have ‘en...
Jun 30, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 47
The head of CNN is out, but the larger issue is: what's the future of TV news in the age of streaming? Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Zaz’s CNN Streaming Conundrum - Puck In The Room
Jun 16, 2023•23 min•Ep. 46
Subtitle: Introducing Downstream+ The Max launch and prioritizing tech stacks; Netflix's ad viewers and the future of ad-free streaming; and in Sports Corner the regional sports network collapse has begun. Also, we announce our own plus--Downstream+! Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Max Credits Display Changes Irk Creatives Amid Labor Standoff – The Hollywood Reporter We Need to Talk About Netflix’s Ad Numbers - Puck Cord-Cutting Q1 2023: Pay-TV Ops...
Jun 01, 2023•53 min•Ep. 45
Julia's back at last, so we blast through discussing HBO Max becoming Max, Hulu going inside the Disney+ app, the WGA's "streaming strike", the NFL's Peacock playoff game, and ESPN plotting its inevitable over-the-top service. Links and Show Notes: Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback HBO Max Renamed Max With Discovery+ Merger; Price and Launch Date - Variety Disney CFO Reveals More Details On Hulu Being Added Into Disney+ – What's On Disney Plus The Iger-Hulu Flip-Flop ...
May 19, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 44
Jason's former co-host from another TV podcast, Tim Goodman, drops by to discuss his decision to be a TV writer at the very end of the Peak TV era, the challenges of TV criticism, and his return to writing about TV on his own terms via Substack. Guest Starring: Tim Goodman Links and Show Notes: Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback...
May 02, 2023•46 min•Ep. 43
Sitcoms are one of the most popular genres of television, yet streaming services tend to do better repurposing someone else's catalog rather than creating their own. What's behind this trend, and what will the future hold? Links and Show Notes: Recorded April 4, 2023. Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback The Streaming Book Brandon Katz tweet...
Apr 18, 2023•56 min•Ep. 42
Marvel hits the brakes, Apple embraces theatrical releases, Netflix can make anything a hit, two combat sports combine forces, and Major League Baseball keeps fans confused about when you're allowed to watch a ballgame. Links and Show Notes: Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback Apple to Spend $1 Billion a Year on Films to Break Into Cinemas (AAPL) - Bloomberg Netflix & the Most Valuable Real Estate in Hollywood - Puck Endeavor’s UFC, WWE to Merge; Vince McMahon Named...
Apr 03, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 41
HBO has another hit, Jason Kilar has some advice for Bob Iger about the future of Hulu, and Sports Corner returns to discuss the ongoing saga of regional sports networks bankruptcies and the future of streaming sports. Links and Show Notes: Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback Disney Weighs Fate of Hulu Amid “Very Tricky” Streaming Environment – The Hollywood Reporter Hulu M&A Hunger Games - Puck ‘Iger is stuck’: Disney chief debates future of Hulu and ESPN The Launc...
Mar 21, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 40
Jason returns from New Zealand as a better wizard, just in time for Zaz to announce new "Lord of the Rings" films. Has it been done, or can you not keep a good Hobbit down? Also, Netflix explores lower prices, and there's Sports Corner, too. Links and Show Notes: Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback Lord of the Rings New Movies Set at Warner Bros - Variety Creators, Creativity, and Technology with Bob Iger | a16z Podcast Netflix’s Growth Play & Zaz’s New Era - Puck M...
Mar 07, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 39
Susan Wojcicki steps down as YouTube CEO, what will her legacy be? Ant-Man performs well at the box office, but do reviews indicate 'Marvel Fatigue'? And guest-host Myke Hurley quizzes Julia on why he has to wait for shows to premiere in the UK. This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: SnapStream : Get 10 free recording hours with an annual subscription. Guest Starring: Myke Hurley Links and Show Notes: Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki S...
Feb 21, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 38
Disney's first financial results of the Iger II era make us consider the future of Hulu and ESPN. Discovery+ pulls a fast one, Showtime can't dodge its fate, Peacock looks surprisingly robust, and Netflix's password crackdown is stuff you already knew! This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: SnapStream : Get 10 free recording hours with an annual subscription. Links and Show Notes: Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback Warner Bros Discovery Abandons Plan To Merge HBO ...
Feb 09, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 37
Netflix shows Disney how CEO transitions happen, as Reed Hastings is elevated to chairmanship and Greg Peters becomes co-CEO. Julia has analysis of Netflix's earnings report, we discuss streaming Oscar nominees, and we answer your amazing letters! This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: SnapStream : Get 10 free recording hours with an annual subscription. Links and Show Notes: Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback Iger’s $27.5 Billion Hulu Question - Puck Restore The ...
Jan 25, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 36
It's a new year, so it's time to consider the lessons of 2022 and make some predictions for streaming trends in 2023. Plus: was "Glass Onion" a success for Netflix? Is your next workout coming from Netflix? And to Julia's delight, Sports Corner is back! Links and Show Notes: Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback Amazon Has Discussed a Stand-Alone Sports App as Andy Jassy Doubles Down on Prime Video — The Information Netflix’s Peloton Pivot - Puck The Real ‘Knives Out’ Mys...
Jan 10, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 35
In a very special (and silly) end-of-year episode, Julia and Jason create tier lists for everything with a plus. Happy new year! Links and Show Notes: Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback
Dec 27, 2022•27 min•Ep. 34
What's the point of HBO Max if it doesn't have all the HBO shows on it? Julia ponders the strange goings on at HBO and WarnerMedia. We also discuss Jason Kilar's predictions for the future of streaming, the BBC, and how studios handle self-dealing. This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: MasterClass : This holiday, give one annual membership and get one free! Click this link now. Links and Show Notes: Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback Julia's HBO twitter thread 'W...
Dec 13, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 33
Bob Chapek is out and Bob Iger is back in! What does this mean for the future of Disney? We don't have the answers, but we have lots of questions! Links and Show Notes: Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback How Did AT&T’s $100 Billion Time Warner Deal Go So Wrong? - The New York Times...
Nov 29, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 32
Disney's latest financial results lead us to ponder where we are in the dramatic change from old-school media to the streaming world. Also, Warner Bros. Discovery claims to have all its franchises in order, but that doesn't seem remotely realistic. This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: MasterClass : This holiday, give one annual membership and get one free! Click this link now. Links and Show Notes: Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback Bob Chapek’s New Streaming Mo...
Nov 15, 2022•58 min•Ep. 31
Peacock pivots, Netflix gets to know itself, "Doctor Who" is on the move, "Andor" teaches some important lessons, and Sports Corner returns! Links and Show Notes: Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback Peacock’s ‘Girls5eva’ Renewed for Season 3 — at Netflix – The Hollywood Reporter Hallmark Channel on Peacock in New Streaming Deal, Includes Live Channels – The Hollywood Reporter 'Doctor Who' Heads to Disney+ Internationally - Variety Disney’s Star Wars Streaming Puzzle - P...
Nov 01, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 30
Is "Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" the real winner of this fall's battle between Dragons and Elves? Also: Netflix opens itself up to ratings, Sports Corner covers Apple's negotiations with the NFL, and we discuss the merits of Paramount and Hulu. Links and Show Notes: Edited by Steven Schapansky. Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback
Oct 18, 2022•59 min•Ep. 29
An accidental Sports Corner, understanding Peacock's slow growth, EPIX becomes MGM+, a "House of the Dragon" / "Rings of Power" check-in, Apple's "Luck", Julia and Parrot provide data to creators, and a listener explains Canadian TV quirks. Links and Show Notes: Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback The Town - The Ringer Epix Takes MGM+ Name in January, Timed to Godfather of Harlem Season 3 - Variety Apple’s Pixar Fantasy - Puck Julia's Parrot deal tweet Disney will buy t...
Oct 04, 2022•57 min•Ep. 28
Julia's under the weather, so Jason asked our editor, Steven, to join him to talk about Amazon's NFL broadcast, Apple TV+ exclusivity of MLB record-breaking games, the insolvency of Bally Sports, and the mystery of NFL Sunday Ticket. Guest Starring: Steven Schapansky Links and Show Notes: Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback...
Sep 21, 2022•37 min•Ep. 27
"The Rings of Power" has arrived, but do Amazon's viewing numbers mean anything? Also: Netflix's weird identity crisis, NBC might give up its 10pm time slots, the difficulty of making sitcom hits, and your letters! This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Sofa : Organize your downtime. Download now. Links and Show Notes: Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback Kasey Moore, Author at What's on Netflix Netflix’s Catch-22 Milestone - Puck The Tendo Exit and the New Netflix ...
Sep 06, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 26
We discuss what the House of the Dragon premiere means for HBO, how Netflix judges the success of "The Sandman" and other shows, the business reasons behind Warner Bros. Discovery's cuts, and why Sony is sitting pretty without its own streaming service. Links and Show Notes: Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback House of the Dragon Premiere Ratings: 9.99 Million Viewers - Variety DC After 'Batgirl': 'Joker 2' Paydays, the Search for New Kevin Feige - Variety Zaslav’s Disa...
Aug 25, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 25
The big story in streaming is Warner Bros. Discovery and David Zaslav's cuts, cancellations, and the merger of HBO Max with Discovery+. Julia and Jason break it all down. Links and Show Notes: Edited by Steven Schapansky. Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback
Aug 09, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 24
Jason and Julia answer your letters. So many questions! We discuss live TV on Apple channels, merger mania, niche streaming, valuable hot-dog streaming rights, "it's just an eight-hour movie", and tactical release times. Links and Show Notes: Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback
Jul 26, 2022•58 min•Ep. 23
How do the creators of TV shows know how well their shows are doing when their streaming services won't share meaningful data? Is the Marvel Cinematic Universe tired, or getting creative? And which streamer ranked tops in Vulture's survey? Links and Show Notes: Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback Kasey Moore((@kasey__moore) on Twitter ‘I Don’t Know How My Show Is Doing’ Skam (TV series) - Wikipedia Frank Pallotta on Marvel CinemaScores The Hottest Streamer (Right Now)...
Jul 12, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 22
