#video-streaming-evolution
#video-streaming-evolution

Television

The best streaming deals right now: Hulu, Disney+, Paramount+, and more

Paid streaming for cheapskates is having a moment

Streaming services have raised prices significantly in 2025, prompting consumer backlash and cancellations, while Roku's budget-friendly Howdy service at $2.99/month targets price-sensitive viewers with older catalog content.

fromEngadget

Disney+ gets its own time-sucking vertical video section

Disney+ launches Verts, a vertical short-form video feed similar to TikTok and YouTube Shorts, designed to increase user engagement and compete with social media platforms.

fromZDNET

The 4 streaming services I swear by - and my bill is just $40 a month

90% of US households have a paid subscription to a video-on-demand service, averaging $71 for four services.

Streaming Platforms Are Embracing Vertical Video. But At This Point, Is It Worth It? | AdExchanger

Streaming services are adopting vertical video features to enhance content discovery, but currently lack advertising opportunities.

fromZDNET

Television

The best streaming deals right now: Hulu, Disney+, Paramount+, and more

Paid streaming for cheapskates is having a moment

fromEngadget

Disney+ gets its own time-sucking vertical video section

Disney+ launches Verts, a vertical short-form video feed similar to TikTok and YouTube Shorts, designed to increase user engagement and compete with social media platforms.

more#streaming-services

#connected-tv

fromTelecompetitor

Television

Roku and Samsung continue leading the connected TV platform sector: Report

Television

The future of TV. Interactive, connected, and...ad free?

fromTelecompetitor

Television

Roku and Samsung continue leading the connected TV platform sector: Report

Television

The future of TV. Interactive, connected, and...ad free?

more#connected-tv

#ai

Media industry

Reed Hastings says the entertainment industry will be the least affected by AI

fromThe New Yorker

Social media marketing

A.I. Is Making Influencing Even Faker

Reed Hastings says the entertainment industry will be the least affected by AI

Entertainment jobs may be less vulnerable to AI disruption due to the human element in storytelling and performance.

fromThe New Yorker

A.I. Is Making Influencing Even Faker

A.I. enables users to create and monetize alternate identities on social media, reshaping influencer culture.

New Study: CTV Content Adjacency Drives 4X Brand Lift in Key Categories

Contextual relevance significantly enhances brand perception and can quadruple brand lift compared to industry averages.

Privacy professionals

fromDigiday

Future of TV Briefing: The ambitious and alarming proposal fix to TV and streaming's identity crisis

Identity Infrastructure 2.0 aims to improve identity mechanisms in TV and streaming but raises significant privacy concerns for viewers.

Podcast

fromThe Atlantic

How Short-Form Clips Took Over the Internet

Short video clips from long-form content have become the dominant unit of online media, surpassing traditional promotional roles.

fromVulture

Apex Feels More Like a Real Movie Than Your Average Netflix Joint

Ben muses about what's behind their shared love of extreme activities, suggesting that while some seek perfection or a thrill, 'personally, I think the wiring is just messed up.' This insight foreshadows the darker elements of the story as he hunts Sasha with a bow and arrow.

Independent films

fromTNW | Opinion

Business intelligence

How web intelligence is powering the next wave of AI Infrastructure

The web intelligence industry is evolving to support AI's growing demands for multimodal data processing, particularly in handling video content.

Why Not Just Read AdExchanger?; Tubi Or Not Tubi | AdExchanger

Marketers struggle to differentiate ad tech vendors, creating opportunities for companies like CartographAI to provide neutral vendor reviews.

Film

fromwww.theguardian.com

Gen Z to the rescue! Zoomers are ditching doomscrolling and saving cinema

Generation Z is leading a cinema revival, with 2026 projected to be the best year for global box office since the pandemic.

YouTube ads surface in subscriptions feed as side-by-side ads hit more live content

YouTube is rolling out side-by-side ads and ads in the subscriptions feed, changing user experience significantly.

fromFast Company

Meet your favorite new way to watch YouTube

Channel Surfer transforms YouTube viewing into a classic TV experience with a grid-based channel guide and minimal distractions.

Online marketing

Google confirms side-by-side ads are here for YouTube mobile

YouTube has introduced side-by-side ads for livestreams on mobile, muting audio during ad breaks to maintain video visibility.

Ads are the worst thing about YouTube livestreams, but Google may have (loudly) fixed them

YouTube is testing a new mobile livestream ad format that plays below the video, allowing users to watch while ads play.

fromEMARKETER

5 days ago

When kids want to watch their favorite creators, they go to YouTube

YouTube is the leading platform for US children across all demographics.

Online marketing

from9to5Google

YouTube ads surface in subscriptions feed as side-by-side ads hit more live content

YouTube is rolling out side-by-side ads and ads in the subscriptions feed, changing user experience significantly.

fromFast Company

Meet your favorite new way to watch YouTube

Channel Surfer transforms YouTube viewing into a classic TV experience with a grid-based channel guide and minimal distractions.

Online marketing

Google confirms side-by-side ads are here for YouTube mobile

YouTube has introduced side-by-side ads for livestreams on mobile, muting audio during ad breaks to maintain video visibility.

Ads are the worst thing about YouTube livestreams, but Google may have (loudly) fixed them

YouTube is testing a new mobile livestream ad format that plays below the video, allowing users to watch while ads play.

fromEMARKETER

5 days ago

When kids want to watch their favorite creators, they go to YouTube

YouTube is the leading platform for US children across all demographics.

Forget Generic Gaming Plays: 3 ETFs Reveal the Real Digital Entertainment Divide

Digital entertainment, including video games and esports, is a major consumer category with diverse investment opportunities and varying fund performances.

#netflix

Business

Netflix Is Being Misunderstood By Investors - Again. Why the 9% Dip Looks More Like an Opportunity Than a Warning

fromTheregister

3 weeks ago

Independent films

Now even Netflix has its own video AI

Television

Netflix embraces vertical video with major mobile app update

fromCNET

Television

Netflix Is Introducing Vertical Video to Mobile App This Month

fromwww.benzinga.com

Media industry

Netflix Eyes TikTok-Style Feed To Capture 'Snackable' Viewing - Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX)

from9to5Mac

Television

Netflix ruined its Apple TV app by switching to a custom video player - 9to5Mac

Business

Netflix Is Being Misunderstood By Investors - Again. Why the 9% Dip Looks More Like an Opportunity Than a Warning

Netflix's stock dipped despite decent quarterly results, driven by a softer guidance and investor concerns about future growth.

Independent films

fromTheregister

3 weeks ago

Now even Netflix has its own video AI

Netflix's VOID model allows filmmakers to alter scenes by removing objects and generating new content without reshooting.

Netflix embraces vertical video with major mobile app update

Netflix will launch a redesigned mobile app with a vertical video feed at the end of April 2026.

fromCNET

Netflix Is Introducing Vertical Video to Mobile App This Month

Netflix will introduce vertical video feeds to its mobile app by the end of April to enhance user engagement.

fromwww.benzinga.com

Netflix Eyes TikTok-Style Feed To Capture 'Snackable' Viewing - Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX)

Netflix reported strong first-quarter earnings but anticipates lower second-quarter revenue and earnings, while preparing to launch a vertical video feed for mobile engagement.

from9to5Mac

Netflix ruined its Apple TV app by switching to a custom video player - 9to5Mac

Netflix replaced the native tvOS video player with a custom player, causing user frustration and loss of Apple TV features.

more#netflix

Artificial intelligence

fromeLearning Industry

6 days ago

Cut The Cable

AI should be the finishing layer in educational tools, not the foundation, to reduce costs and improve reliability.

Apple

Intellectual property law

Apple's CEO change has analysts wondering about its future in Hollywood

John Ternus must decide the future of Apple TV amidst Apple's focus on hardware and core business strengths.

fromArs Technica

6 days ago

Clarifying HEVC licensing fees, royalties, and why vendors kill HEVC support

HEVC implementation faces challenges due to licensing complexities and recent support removals by companies like Dell and HP.

fromVulture

The 10 Best Movies and TV Shows to Watch This Weekend

Anne Hathaway stars as a pop star reconnecting with a friend in the film Mother Mary, featuring music by notable collaborators.

Marketing

Vevo Refines Upfront 2026 Strategy

Vevo introduces a tailored strategy for the 2026 Upfront season, focusing on bespoke brand solutions and innovative offerings like 'Artist Franchise'.

Video games

fromFuturism

Google Exec Says Your Favorite Video Games Are Secretly Made With AI

AI is widely used in game development, with 90% of developers acknowledging its role in creating popular games.

Film

fromwww.theguardian.com

Widow's Bay to Should I Marry a Murderer? The seven best shows to stream this week

Widow's Bay aims to become a tourist destination despite its gloomy atmosphere and sinister myths.

fromVogue

Will AI Kill the Creator Economy?

AI-generated influencers like Aitana Lopez are reshaping the fashion and beauty industries, blurring the lines between reality and digital creation.

fromBusiness Matters

The Digital Shift: How Consumer Habits Are Forcing the UK Entertainment Sector to Innovate

UK consumers now abandon apps that take longer than three seconds to load, reflecting a significant shift in expectations across various sectors.

Internal Paramount presentation reveals its 2026 streaming goals and how much viewership has grown

Paramount aims for significant growth in streaming services, targeting double-digit revenue increases and a merger with HBO Max.

Marketing

fromWorld Economic Forum

The Future of Media: A New Framework for Valuing Content

Media companies must adapt to digital consumption trends and innovate to enhance user experiences.

KeyBanc Lifts Roku Price Target to $140: Is the Streaming Stock Finally Turning the Corner?

KeyBanc raised Roku's price target to $140, indicating strong confidence in its Q1 performance and resilience in ad revenue.

Netflix can't seem to follow-up its biggest shows

Stranger Things: Tales From '85 is an insubstantial spinoff lacking the original series' appeal.

Film

fromWIRED

The Best Movies to Stream This Month

April brings a mix of horror films and documentaries, including 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and Louis Theroux's Inside the Manosphere.

fromCGMagazine

The Living Room Is Tech's Next Battleground

The living room is evolving into a strategic digital space, with TVs becoming integrated platforms for media, commerce, and user engagement.

NBCU's Peacock Is Officially On Its Way To Profitability | AdExchanger

NBCUniversal's 'Legendary February' generated $2.2 billion in ad sales, driving significant revenue growth for Comcast and Peacock.

fromNeil Patel

Connected TV Advertising Explained

CTV advertising offers precise targeting and measurement, with streaming now dominating ad-supported TV viewing.

fromThe Hollywood Reporter

6 days ago

Microdramas Platform Verza TV Shifts Strategy Just 4 Months After Launch (Exclusive)

Verza TV is evolving to include horizontal videos and user-generated content while maintaining a focus on mobile entertainment.

fromFuturism

Chinese Netflix Competitor Opens Floodgates to AI Slop

iQIYI plans to shift to primarily AI-generated content within five years, transforming its platform into a social media destination.

How Streaming Platforms Use Algorithms and Recommendation Engine Systems to Personalize Content

Streaming algorithms and personalization systems transform content discovery and consumption, ensuring unique user experiences through a complex content pipeline.

The Stack: Streaming Shake-Up

Streaming platforms are evolving with new technologies and partnerships, indicating significant shifts in the entertainment industry landscape.

fromTech Times

How Streaming Platforms Use Algorithms and Recommendation Engine Systems to Personalize Content

Streaming algorithms and personalization systems transform content discovery and consumption, ensuring unique user experiences through a complex content pipeline.

The Stack: Streaming Shake-Up

Streaming platforms are evolving with new technologies and partnerships, indicating significant shifts in the entertainment industry landscape.

How native CTV is solving the channel's attention problem

CTV has entered a performance era, focusing on results and effective formats that turn viewer attention into action.

MrBeast is plotting a move into 'AI-native entertainment'

MrBeast seeks a leader to create AI-native productions, making AI the foundation of content creation at Beast Industries.

fromMarTech

A whole new way to think about TV advertising | MarTech

Television advertising is evolving with AI-driven product placements, addressing viewer engagement and improving return on ad spend.

fromVariety

TV's Next Upfront Really Isn't About TV: Where Will Ad Dollars Go?

Traditional TV ad spending is declining as streaming services gain popularity and advertisers shift focus.

fromDigiday

Why live streaming is a borderless $4 billion global opportunity

The shift to streaming platforms is transforming live event viewing, requiring advanced programmatic advertising solutions for global audiences.

#media-consolidation

fromwww.aljazeera.com

Media industry

Warner Bros and Paramount merger could reshape US media landscape

Concerns arise over media consolidation and partisan shifts with the Warner Bros-Paramount merger, facing regulatory scrutiny and potential political influence.

Shifts in Streaming: Competition, Collaboration, and Consolidation

Paramount's $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros creates a streaming giant with 200 million subscribers, consolidating major entertainment assets and reshaping the competitive TV landscape.

fromwww.aljazeera.com

Warner Bros and Paramount merger could reshape US media landscape

Concerns arise over media consolidation and partisan shifts with the Warner Bros-Paramount merger, facing regulatory scrutiny and potential political influence.

Shifts in Streaming: Competition, Collaboration, and Consolidation

Paramount's $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros creates a streaming giant with 200 million subscribers, consolidating major entertainment assets and reshaping the competitive TV landscape.

more#media-consolidation

fromEMARKETER

Brands advertising on 9 streaming platforms command a third of US streaming TV ad spend

Advertisers running on all nine streaming platforms account for 34% of US streaming TV ad spending, according to a March report from MediaRadar.

Marketing tech

European startups

fromInfoQ

QCon London 2026: From DVDs to Global Streaming How Netflix's Commerce Architecture Actually Evolve

Netflix evolved its commerce architecture from real-time US-based billing to a hybrid global system supporting 130+ countries through pragmatic incremental changes driven by regional payment method differences.

fromCBR

Say Goodbye to a Major Streaming Service as Prime Video Phaseout Begins

Prime Video replaces its Ad Free plan with a new, improved Ultra plan featuring higher pricing and enhanced streaming options.

Music

fromBusiness Matters

Scaling the Charts: A Business Case for Accelerating Digital Streaming Momentum

Online music platforms increase access and tracking, while consistent releases, strategic promotion, and audience engagement drive sustained chart success and revenue growth.

Gadgets

Stealing cable has evolved: the new face of TV piracy

SuperBox devices enable inexpensive access to pirated live TV and sports through a network of resellers and Chinese makers, bypassing cable and streaming subscriptions.

fromThe Atlantic

Is Binge-Watching TV Really a Pastime?

Binge-watching television has become a prevalent pastime in America, but it can lead to negative psychological effects like anxiety and depression.

Apple

fromTheankler

Video Pods Are Eating TV. Apple Wants In

Apple adds web‑streamed video, adaptive playback, and dynamic ad support to its Podcasts app, entering video and ad markets to better compete with YouTube and Spotify.

fromMoney Digest

4 weeks ago

The Popular Streaming Platform You Didn't Know Was Part Of Amazon's Portfolio - Money Digest

Amazon's acquisition of Twitch in 2014 has significantly impacted its growth and consumer offerings, enhancing its position in the live-streaming market.

fromPCMAG

11 years ago

Netflix Dominates Web Traffic as Cord Cutters Gobble Data

Netflix accounts for 34.21 percent of peak downstream Internet traffic in North America, far exceeding other streaming services.

The Best Way To Embrace Convergent TV? Break Down The Silos Between Linear And Streaming | AdExchanger

Marketers must adopt convergent TV strategies that blend linear and streaming approaches rather than debating programmatic versus direct buying methods.

fromEngadget

You'll now have to fork out for an additional subscription if you want to watch 4K content on Prime Video

Amazon rebrands its ad-free Prime Video tier to Ultra at $5/month, removing 4K streaming from the standard tier and requiring the paid upgrade for UHD content.

fromKotaku

Amazon Prime Removing 4K Streaming Access, Locking Behind It New Extra Paywall

Amazon Prime is removing 4K streaming from standard Prime membership and requiring a new $5/month Ultra tier to access it, further reducing the value of the base Prime subscription.

fromDigiday

Future of TV Briefing: WTF is server-guided ad insertion?

Server-guided ad insertion enables low-latency, targeted ad delivery in live streaming by combining client-side flexibility with server-side cushioning to minimize buffering and delays.

What can brands learn from the changing television landscape?

High-quality, platform-agnostic television content attracts diverse audiences across traditional and OTT platforms, creating opportunities for producers and brands to engage viewers in new ways.

Netflix Has No Rivals

Netflix remains financially strong with 17.6% revenue growth and 12-14% projected 2026 growth, while media headlines exaggerate minor AI deals as competitive threats.