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The streaming industry is in an awkward, crowded spot. Consolidation might help.

Feb 28, 2024
An abundance of options and services means some streamers struggle to turn a profit.
“The equilibrium can’t be 10 different streaming services where I can’t remember which one has 'Big Bang Theory,'" said Michael Smith at Carnegie Mellon.
Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images

When it comes to live sports, consumers show streaming services the money

Jan 23, 2024
Sports content "drives eyeballs," and advertisers know it.
Jalen Ramsey of the Miami Dolphins, right, and the Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce (aka Taylor Swift's boyfriend) tussle at an AFC Wild Card game. About 23 million people watched on Peacock — the biggest exclusively live streamed event ever.
David Eulitt/Getty Images

Netflix crackdown on password sharing pays off

Jul 20, 2023
The company added nearly 6 million paid subscribers last quarter, almost three times what Wall Street expected.
Netflix's successful crackdown on password sharing may be adopted by other streaming services.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

What's next for streaming, after it surpasses cable?

Aug 19, 2022
In July, people spent more time streaming than watching cable TV for the first time. But streaming firms still have obstacles ahead.
Nearly 90% of U.S. households have a subscription to a streaming service, but not all areas have the bandwidth to support high levels of streaming.
Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images

Netflix saw subscribers drop post-lockdown. But Disney+ might not face the same fate

Aug 10, 2022
Disney's streaming service has price and structural advantages, analysts say.
Could Disney+ run into the same issues as Netflix when it comes to losing subscribers?
ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

Pandemic darlings try to get past "the party's over"

Jul 20, 2022
Peloton, Netflix and others have to predict how their customers will behave. But amid pandemic disruption, it's an uphill battle.
Business has declined at some companies that flourished during COVID-19 lockdowns, like Netflix.
Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images

How Netflix is adapting as the streaming boom stalls

Jul 19, 2022
Selling ads and spacing out episodes for shows are a couple of methods the service is trying.
Netflix is trying a couple of different things to hold on to its subscriber base.
Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

Is the TV industry facing a showrunner shortage?

May 10, 2022
In the writers room and elsewhere, showrunners play key roles in TV production, but changes in the entertainment industry could make them harder to find.
Shonda Rhimes, showrunner and creator of "Grey's Anatomy."
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for WGAW

Streaming services are embracing cheaper, ad-supported tiers

Apr 19, 2022
Netflix has held out, in part because it fears damaging relationships with subscribers, one expert ways.
While other streaming platforms offer subscriptions with ads, Netflix has been holding out. People in the United Kingdom are canceling subscription services amid inflation fears.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

Netflix to test crackdown on freeloading viewers

Mar 17, 2022
It's adding a small fee to accounts with extra users, focusing on Latin America. In a competitive industry, it has to tread lightly.
Netflix will charge accounts small monthly fees for users outside their households, focusing on Chile, Costa Rica and Peru. Other streaming platforms will be watching how it plays out.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images