VideoNuze Posts

Netflix is getting closer to achieving parity revenue on subscribers to its ad-supported tier compared to subscribers to its ad-free. Colin shares his detailed analysis outlining the numbers. Then we discuss updates in the TV OS world including The Trade Desk inking a deal to bring Ventura OS to DIRECTV and Amazon launching Vega OS, which will replace Android on its Fire TVs. Last we explore the benefits of Fubo’s new deal to ingest ESPN content into its app.  

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New data from Wurl shows encouraging signs about FAST adoption, but accompanied by ongoing monetization challenges. The number of monthly active households watching FAST channels increased by 12% (though Wurl doesn’t disclose how many MAUs that translates to). In addition, average daily hours of viewing per household increased by 16% (again Wurl doesn’t share how many hours that is). Combined Wurl says the increase in total hours of viewing was up 29% in the past 12 months. 

But while viewership is up, monetization remains challenged. In particular, Wurl reported that ad fill rates continued their downward trend. As we discuss, monthly fill rates were down in six of the first eight months of 2025 vs. 2024, after having declined in 11 of the 12 months of 2024 vs. 2023.

Content choices are exploding, distribution platforms are proliferating and people are watching more content for free. All that is creating disequilibriums in FAST monetization.  

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Disney has raised prices for its streaming services again, by up to 20%. Following past increases CEO Bob Iger has said that subscriber retention held up well. But Disney+ and Hulu are now the highest-priced premium SVOD services and consumers are budget-conscious as always. Further, at the new price of $12 per month, Disney+ and Hulu are now 50% more expensive than Netflix’s Standard plan with ads. 

Meanwhile, as Colin notes the aggregate cost of the top SVOD services ad-free tiers has soared from $78 per month to $102 per month in the past two years, far surpassing the inflation rate. 

As we discuss, all of this adds up to heightened subscriber retention risk going forward. 

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Antenna reported that ESPN and Fox One gained one million subscribers in their first 10 days, with ESPN gaining the majority. Colin and I discuss whether that’s a lot, or not. We continue to be challenged to understand just how big the target market is for these two sports streaming services. Antenna also said 60% of Fox One’s subscribers came in via Amazon, underscoring its importance to the ecosystem. 

Meanwhile YouTube held its annual “Made on YouTube” event, where it disclosed it has paid out a whopping $100 billion to creators in the past four years. We wonder how that compares to what TV networks and studios have paid out to their creators over the same period? YouTube also shared a number of product updates. 

Last, we delve into ongoing innovations at Amazon and - given its aggressiveness and heft - speculate on whether Super Bowl LXXV in 2041 will actually be known as “Amazon Super Bowl LXXV” (not that far-fetched).

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YouTube said it had 17 million viewers for last Friday’s global livestream of the Chiefs-Chargers game from Brazil. YouTube said that was a new record for livestream. While the game was a one off license, the success of the livestream suggests YouTube’s appetite for more international streaming of NFL game could be whetted. And that the NFL will be further incented to create international rights packages. All of that would add to the considerable momentum behind digital players’ involvement with sports. 

Elsewhere, we discuss Bending Spoons’ acquisition of streaming stalwart Vimeo for $1.4 billion, Paramount Skydance’s efforts to resuscitate MTV’s cultural relevance, and the news from Google that Gemini is being built into a TCL smart TV. 

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On the last podcast we did a deep dive interview with The Trade Desk’s SVP of Ventura TV OS Matthew Henick. Because we both believe this initiative has real potential to impact the CTV/streaming industry, this week we’re circling back to share our key takeaways from the interview.

At a high level, we agree with Matthew’s situation analysis of the TV OS market and the pain points for all constituents (TV OEMs and retailers, advertisers, streaming service providers and viewers). We also agree with The Trade Desk’s initial focus on TV OEMs and retailers.

However, we observe these are challenging deals to get done given entrenched TV operating systems and inertia, company politics and all-too-often hesitation to adopt new technology, irrespective of its potential superiority to incumbents. 

Nonetheless Ventura offers key competitive advantages, and the pain points appear to be getting more acute, thereby enhancing Ventura’s opportunity. We also discuss the advertiser, streaming service provider and viewer benefits. Add to all this The Trade Desk’s successful track record of creating software at scale and its extensive industry relationships and Colin and I agree it’s going to be a lot of fun to watch Ventura develop. 

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Colin and I are excited to welcome The Trade Desk’s SVP of Ventura TV OS Matthew Henick to the podcast for a deep dive interview about the company’s entrance into the ultra-competitive TV OS industry. Matthew explains why the Ventura OS is strategic to The Trade Desk’s core Demand-Side Platform, intended to drive more transparency in the CTV ad supply chain. 

Matthew’s perspective is that current operating systems’ lack of transparency creates pain points across the CTV industry, for advertisers, streaming providers, TV manufacturers, retailers and importantly viewers. For The Trade Desk the keys to resolving these pain points are enabling TV manufacturers with a sustainable, recurring business model while empowering streaming providers to optimize the value of their inventory. With a transparent TV OS, The Trade Desk’s DSP can further leverage its clients’ CTV ad spend. 

Matthew gets into the fine details of Ventura’s competitive advantages and how it will be distributed to traditional TV manufacturers, retailers and hardware providers, plus new segments like hospitality, airlines and others. Last but not least, Matthew asserts The Trade Desk’s commitment to objectivity means that unlike other TV OS providers, it will never build its own CTV, start its own streaming service nor present at a NewFront. 

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