Downstream

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77: TV Show Movies Sep 06, 2024

Show notes

Larry Ellison's ownership of Paramount and what it might mean for CBS News; why Netflix and Apple just don't get movies; Hallmark's new streaming service; the rise of Tubi and FAST; and streaming's lack of curation.

This episode of Downstream is sponsored by:

Trakt.tv: Track shows and movies you watch. Discover what's hot and where to stream it. Get 50% off your first year.

Guest Starring:

Josef Adalian

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Larry Ellison Will Control Paramount After Skydance Deal Closes

Hallmark+ Is Launching the Company Into the Streaming Wars

Chiefs' Hallmark Christmas Movie Gets Debut Date, First Look Photos

Tubi’s Free Streaming Explodes in Popularity, Outranking Max and Apple TV+ - The New York Times

Apple Rethinks Its Movie Strategy After a String of Misses - The New York Times

Edgar Bronfman Jr. Drops Pursuit of Paramount - The New York Times

76: Defund the Bundle Aug 23, 2024

Show notes

A judge puts a stop to the launch of Venu, bringing the entire economics of the cable bundle into question. [Downstream+ subscribers also get: Paramount's sale complication, Disney+ success metrics, Olympics wrap-up, and theatrical's revival.]

Guest Starring:

Josef Adalian

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Venu Sports launch temporarily blocked following Fubo’s legal challenge - The Athletic

Legal Headaches for the Venu Sports Streamer - Puck

Venu Trial: Is the New Sports Streaming Service in Trouble? - Puck

Live & On-Demand TV | Frndly TV

75: Playing the Long Game Aug 09, 2024

Show notes

Meg James of the Los Angeles Times joins Jason to discuss Paramount and WBD results, the WBD/NBA conundrum, Peacock and the Olympics, Venu's price, the NFL dodging the antitrust bullet, a Disney price hike, and the high cost of prestige TV.

This episode of Downstream is sponsored by:

Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door.

Guest Starring:

Meg James

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Paramount Global takes $6-billion write-down, announces layoffs - Los Angeles Times

Warner Bros. Discovery Hits $107M Streaming Unit Loss, 103.3M Subs

Warner Bros. Discovery's David Zaslav's struggles extend to a lost NBA contract - Los Angeles Times

Warner Bros. Discovery sues NBA for not accepting its matching offer | AP News

Warner Bros. Discovery-NBA lawsuit proceedings to drag into October

How David Zaslav Killed the NBA on TNT - Puck

Forget retirement or new network. Charles Barkley is staying with TNT - Los Angeles Times

Roger Goodell’s $5 Billion Triumph & Michael Rubin Blowback - Puck

Crunchyroll Officially Surpasses 15 Million Subscribers - Crunchyroll News

74: The Infinite Stadium Jul 18, 2024

Show notes

Sportswriter Will Carroll joins Jason for an all-Sports Corner edition. We discuss the NBA TV deal, the NFL lawsuit, and the future of sports broadcasting. [Downstream+ members also get: the post-RSN world, Netflix and live sports, and more.]

Guest Starring:

Will Carroll

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73: Must-Stream TV Jul 11, 2024

Show notes

Vulture's Josef Adalian returns to discuss the ramifications of the sale of Paramount, and where the company might go next. We also once again consider that classic streaming question--to binge or not to binge?

Guest Starring:

Josef Adalian

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Vox Media: Podcast Network | Land of the Giants

RedBird’s Gerry Cardinale on the Next Steps for Paramount - Puck

David Ellison Reveals Plans for Paramount - Puck

Why Streaming Services Keep Screwing Up Binge-Watching | WIRED

When 'The Bear' Release Strategy Is Working, Why Would Hulu Go Weekly?

72: Harpoon Gun Salvaged from the Wreckage Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

TV critic Tim Goodman guests to discuss the WBD and Paramount messes and give an update about what he's been up to over at his Substack. [Downstream+ subscribers get to hear us talk about a very weird New York Times article about media moguls on a yacht.]

Guest Starring:

Tim Goodman

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CNN Reportedly Exploring Digital Subscriptions as News Gets the Streaming Treatment | PYMNTS.com

'Harry Potter' HBO Series Hires Writer, Director

Dish Bundles Netflix for Free With New Two-Year Offer

Paramount Chiefs: We're Cutting $500 Million in Costs After Profit Drop

Shari Redstone's Paramount Sale Options: Who's In the Mix Now?

Kanopy - Stream Classic Cinema, Indie Film and Top Documentaries

hoopla | streaming audiobooks, music, video & ebooks

Hoopla, Kanopy and the Most Obvious Thing You're Not Doing Ever.

71: Mountain of Mishegas Jun 15, 2024

Show notes

Vulture's Josef Adalian joins Jason to discuss the fate of Paramount after the latest deal has fallen through, Warner Bros. Discovery moves to plan B on sports rights, and Joe walks us through his Vulture streamer rankings.

This episode of Downstream is sponsored by:

Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door.

Guest Starring:

Josef Adalian

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Josef Adalian Author Archive

So What Happens With Paramount Now?

Why Shari Redstone Killed the Paramount-Skydance Deal - Puck

It’s the End of Paramount+ As We Know It (and That’s Fine)

Warner Bros. Discovery Lands US Broadcast Rights to the French Open

The 2024 Streaming Power Rankings: Best and Worst Services

The Comfortable Problem of Mid TV - The New York Times

70: They Stole Your Brain May 30, 2024

Show notes

Other strategies for WBD if it loses the NBA, we answer a bumper crop of listener letters, and Julia has some big career news. [Downstream+ subscribers also get to hear us discuss Netflix potential sports futures and the changing face of broadcast TV.]

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If the NBA on NBC Returns, Could Charles Barkley Defect? - Puck

David Zaslav on TNT Without the NBA, and the Disney-Max Bundle

Maybe TNT Doesn’t Need the NBA After All - Puck

"Like the X Games"

69: Pay the Gatekeeper May 18, 2024

Show notes

Why the "great rebundling" isn't the return of the cable bundle; recalibrating how talent is paid for streaming shows; Paramount twists in the wind; Spulu gets a real name; the NFL makes a deal with Netflix; and Diamond Sports meets with skepticism.

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M4 iPad Pro Review: Here we go again – Six Colors

Is the new Max/Disney+ Bundle Just Cable 2.0? Not Really - Puck

Apple, Netflix Amazon Want to Change How They Pay Hollywood Stars - Bloomberg

Netflix Reconsiders Its Massive Talent Paydays - Puck

Shari Redstone’s Ticking Clock - Puck

Netflix and the N.F.L. Sign a Three-Season Deal - The New York Times

John Mulaney’s ‘Everybody’s in L.A.’ Was a Live TV Miracle

MLB attorney: Loss of Comcast as TV carrier 'devastating' - ESPN

NBA, NHL join MLB as skeptics of Diamond Sports reorganization

68: Gentle Hum May 03, 2024

Show notes

We revisit the philosophy of binge drops versus weekly releases--because it's complicated. [Downstream+ members also get to hear us discuss the future of Paramount, complicated NBA rights negotiations, and more RSN drama.]

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