Podcasts

SVOD subscriber additions are cooling, and even as the industry leans into engagement metrics, growth still drives valuations.

That's the setup for our conversation with Rahul Patel, Principal Analyst at Ampere Analysis in London, who joins us exclusively on Inside the Stream for the first time to dig into his new report on why global SVOD services might launch free, ad-supported tiers (note, not necessarily a conventional FAST service per se).

Rahul walks us through why streamers have a history of successful "big swings" - original content, password-sharing crackdowns, lower-priced hybrid ad-supported models - and where free tiers fit. He breaks down the motivations and benefits, the risks, and his predictions for which geographies are most likely to see this happen and when.

Colin and I agree free tiers are one of the biggest areas of untapped potential for SVODs, and we expect to see real movement here soon.

Listen on for this engaging interview (32 minutes, 38 seconds)

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There were a lot of new streaming dynamics that unfolded this summer, including YouTube’s growing dominance and budding rivalry with Netflix, two movies from YouTube creators that have generated a combined $900 million+ at the box office, Comcast splitting off NBCUniversal, Fox acquiring Roku, sports migrating to streaming, the ongoing Paramount-WBD saga and much more. 

We discuss the top stories we covered over the summer and what’s on tap for a busy Fall. 

Listen on to learn more (35 minutes, 28 seconds)

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First up this week we talk about new data from Ampere Analysis showing that the growth in SVOD price increases is moderating. But the gap in pricing between ad-free and ad-tiers is getting bigger. Colin and I have a somewhat different take on the consequences of this price gap growth. From my vantage point it seems like the SVOD services are testing the commitment ad-free subscribers have to avoiding ads by paying evermore to do so. But I acknowledge everything has a limit.

We then shift to talking about YouTube. Research from Attest shows that 90% of Americans are now accessing YouTube daily, ahead of streaming and live TV. And time spent with YouTube and other social video tops streaming and live TV. 

YouTube also continues making moves to boost creator monetization and deepen creator loyalty. These include shortening up view time required to monetize a video, embedding Amazon tags to drive affiliate revenue, and potentially paying large sums to top creators to keep their content exclusive to YouTube for defined windows. 

Listen on to learn more (26 minutes, 52 seconds)

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We’re pleased to welcome Antenna’s VP, Strategy Brendan Brady back to Inside the Stream for an exclusive interview about the firm’s new State of Subscriptions research focused on specialty SVOD services. 

Antenna’s research found that specialty SVOD (streaming services targeted to specific audiences and focused on content niches) continue to thrive, with 1.8 million net subscriber additions in Q2 ’26. Specialty SVOD’s growth is outpacing the broader SVOD category. Howdy (owned by Roku) and Wonder Project have emerged as particular specialty SVOD winners.

Amazon Channels plays a dominant role in specialty SVOD, accounting for 67% of net subscriber additions in Q2. As Brendan explains, Amazon Channels is the de facto “front door” to specialty SVOD sign-ups. While Roku and YouTube Primetime Channels have made some inroads, they are still far back. We also discuss whether there’s a play for Disney and Netflix in this space. 

As we move into the final part of 2026, and the all-important holiday season, Brendan says YouTube is worth watching closely, to see if it can leverage its massive user base to become a meaningful player in specialty SVOD distribution.

Listen on to learn more (31 minutes, 38 seconds)

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Tubi’s latest results, including key engagement metrics, suggest it is firing on all cylinders, validating its place as a winner in the evolving FAST space. Meanwhile, YouTube is upping its game, both by pursuing a major design/UI overhaul, and also by raising the minimum threshold for creators to earn money on the platform. 

We discuss all, as well as implications for the broader streaming industry. 

Listen on to learn more (31 minutes, 7 seconds)!

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Warner Bros. Discovery reported its Q2 ’26 earnings this week, revealing continued healthy growth in its Streaming segment, but significant declines in revenue and earnings in both its Studios and Global Linear Networks segments. 

As we discuss, the new report further illustrates how WBD’s value continues to slide compared to February, 2026 when the Paramount deal was announced. As such, lenders and equity contributors to the deal should be re-evaluating their participation and terms with a fresh set of eyes. 

Further, in light of a trial that won’t even start until March, 2027, Larry Ellison, who has by far the biggest financial exposure on the deal, would benefit from reconsidering whether this deal, particularly on its current terms, is still worth pursuing. We reiterate that we see no better than a 25%-30% chance the deal will actually close. 

We then turn our attention to Disney, which struck a partnership with TikTok this week and appears to be considering launching some type of free streaming service. We discuss the merits of both of these moves. 

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Peacock Premium will be bundled with and integrated into YouTube Premium beginning in 2027. The deal is intriguing to Colin and me for a variety of reasons. As we discuss, we’re particularly interested in the cannibalization risk to Peacock, along with how the economics of the deal work, including the upside potential for Peacock. 

Then we shift to explaining why believe there’s no better than a 25%-30% chance that the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery deal will ever close. Last week’s decision to delay the closing well into 2027, subsequent to an antitrust trial, will, in time starkly reveal the declining value of Warner Bros. Discovery, making the already stretched acquisition price even harder to justify. 

Coupled with the particular economics of the deal, we believe there are powerful incentives for Larry Ellison to pay the breakup fee and walk away. 

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The World Cup’s success flowed through to streaming, with Fox One adding 2.8 million subscribers in June and Peacock adding 2 million in Q2. Peacock also turned its first profit in Q2, of $189 million, though management warned results will vary by quarter. 

YouTube also benefited, with over 1.7 billion unique viewers globally watching World Cup related video. That helped drive ad revenue to $11.1 billion in Q2, up 13% year-over-year. YouTube is also pursuing a range of ad enhancements and AI features that will grow engagement and ad revenue going forward.  

Listen on to learn more! (29 minutes, 52 seconds)

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Netflix management quashed viewer engagement concerns on its Q2 ’26 earnings video call yesterday. Recent reports about a falloff from season 1 to season 2 among some of Netflix’s important originals sparked worries that Netflix’s business may be slowing. 

But as Colin and I discuss, management forcefully stated that season 1 to season 2 viewership in the aggregate remains stable. Management also shared views on revenue and profitability growth, programming strategy and spending, the role of live content, the popularity of its gaming initiatives, and importantly, how AI is already being leveraged throughout the lifecycle of content production. 

Listen on to hear our key takeaways (29 minutes, 32 seconds)

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Amid viewership challenges, Netflix continues to diversify into creator and short-form content, video podcasts and more. Is Netflix trying to YouTube-ify itself, and if so, will it work? We discuss all the angles. 

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Comcast is splitting off NBCUniversal, 13 years after it was acquired. While the general theme is that media and distribution do not belong under the same roof, Comcast’s missteps in streaming video are also key contributors, as we discuss. 

Peacock has lost at least $11 billion since its launch and has never had a profitable quarter. As we discuss in detail, NBCU came to the streaming party very late and has had various strategies with Peacock over the years. These missteps have led to a subscale service in a crowded industry in which giants like YouTube, Netflix and Disney+ set the pace. 

In Comcast/NBCU’s case, the results are especially unfortunate because at the beginning of the streaming era the companies had numerous inherent advantages. 

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In a surprise move, Fox is acquiring Roku, for $22 billion cash and stock. Is it a good deal, bad deal or something in-between? We discuss from all angles. 

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Vionlabs Founder and Creative Director Arash Pendari joins us on this week’s podcast to explain how AI-enhanced metadata boosts the value of video assets, fits into business workflows, and improves viewer engagement. 

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Two horror movies created by young YouTubers are dominating the box office. Both were made for small sums by Hollywood standards and are attracting overwhelmingly young audiences. Is this the start of a trend for YouTubers going Hollywood, or more of a one-off?

Next, TV OS’s continue to gain in their role of driving viewers to content, according to TiVo’s new Video Trends report. Other new research shows FASTs are still growing revenue, even as ad-supported premium SVOD gains a larger share. 

Last, the NFL’s media rights deals are coming under scrutiny from Congress. Commissioner Roger Goodell was asked to testify about the various streaming deals the NFL has struck, but declined to appear.
    
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On this week’s Inside the Stream we discuss:

• Netflix and Spotify luring podcaster Jay Shetty’s "On Purpose" to their platforms from YouTube and iHeartMedia
• YouTube’s new AI tagging initiative
• Comcast enabling YouTube TV sign-up and billing for Xfinity subscribers
• Roku’s new home screen

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This week we discuss new research from Omdia, Hub and Antenna, all of which underscores the growing importance of advertising for streaming, across FASTs and premium SVOD. 

Omdia forecasts global CTV ad revenue will increase to $81 billion in 2030, up from $44 billion in 2025, with Google, Amazon and Netflix accounting for nearly half the total. Hub said 55% of TV viewers have used at least one FAST service, with free viewing being the biggest draw. And Antenna found, among other things, 110 million ad-supported premium SVOD subscriptions at the end of Q1 ’26, up from 53 million two years ago.  
    
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Disney reported quarterly earnings this week. While it no longer shares specific Disney+ subscriber numbers, new CEO Josh D’Amaro spelled out how Disney+ will expand from a traditional streaming service to become a central place in the relationship Disney fans have with the company. The role of Disney+ will span businesses including parks and experiences, and will also incorporate interactivity. 

In today’s episode we discuss this approach why we think it’s uniquely beneficial for Disney to pursue. 
    
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YouTube’s Q1 ad revenue approached $10 billion, up 11% vs. last year and around 25% vs. two years ago. YouTube said that both direct response and brand advertising were strong. However, subscriptions were the fastest growing part of the business, with YouTube Premium and Music performing best, recording their largest increase in non-trial subscribers. 

Meanwhile Antenna estimates that Roku’s Howdy has hit 1 million subscribers less than one year following its launch. At $2.99 per month Howdy is a relatively low cost SVOD service that appears to have high stickiness. The gains speak to Roku's promotional clout. Roku also reported a strong Q1 for ad revenue. 
    
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Netflix reported more steady growth in Q1 ’26 as it transitions to maturity. But from advertising to gaming, and live sports to video podcasts, Netflix is innovating and staying opportunistic. 

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Roku announced that it now reaches 100 million households, up from 90 million in Q1 ’25 and 80 million in Q4 ’23. Related, Hub found in a survey that among households that stream monthly 55% have a Roku smart TV or streaming media player. Roku has become a strong player in aggregation, with 26% of Hub respondents citing Roku as their source for streaming subscriptions, behind Amazon with 54%. 

We discuss all on this week’s podcast, plus  Sony’s plan to remove over-the-air features from certain Bravia TVs, and a protest letter sent by Hollywood celebrities who are against the Paramount-WBD deal. 

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