Downstream
68 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day ago - ★★★★★ - 77 ratingsJulia Alexander and Jason Snell break down the business of binge-watching in the era of the Streaming Wars. Hosted by Jason Snell and Julia Alexander.
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Episodes
67: Paramount, Peacock, Peas in a Pod
April 18, 2024 20:00 - 1 hour - 31.8 MBIs this phase of the streaming wars reaching an endgame? We discuss the fates of Peacock and Paramount+, and consider Max after a year under its new name. Also, we share more listener streaming suggestions! Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback The clock is ticking on Disney’s streaming strategy. - The Verge Peacock’s M&A Endgame - Puck The Paramount Sale: Gerry & The Jeffs Come for Shari’s Baby - Puck It’s Not HBO, It’s Max - ...
66: What We Want Hasn't Changed
April 04, 2024 23:30 - 40 minutes - 18.9 MBIs it time for a Disney pep talk? We discuss what's working and not working, and how Disney's ready for streaming success if it's willing to change. Plus, streaming advice! [For Downstream+ subscribers only: Disney/Apple bundling and Baseball streaming.] This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback The Story of Disney+ - Puck A WWE B...
65: More Serotonin
March 28, 2024 20:30 - 1 hour - 41.7 MBLots of Disney this time! We talk Disney's big succession question, Taylor Swift's Disney+ numbers, and Disney's deal in India. Also, a quick Sports Corner on NFL streaming rights, Spulu, and ESPN as a streaming aggregator. This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Good Chop: High-quality American meat & seafood. Get $120 off your first 4 boxes with code downstream120. Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback No One Is Ever Ready to...
64: Still Do Everything
March 06, 2024 00:00 - 28 minutes - 13.7 MBSomeone new is in charge of Netflix's film output, which lets us ponder the company's past and future film strategy. [Downstream+ members get: Max's new Harry Potter approach, and lessons we could learn from The CW's mid-budget approach to superhero TV.] Links and Show Notes: Video version of the show is on YouTube. Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Dan Lin to Replace Scott Stuber as Netflix Film Boss Walt Disney Movie President Sean Bailey Exits; D...
63: Everyone Loves a Bundle
February 23, 2024 01:00 - 1 hour - 31.2 MBFallout from the "Spulu" announcement from Disney, Fox, and WBD continues; picking apart HBO's "Last Week Tonight" YouTube strategy; and what does Peacock have in common with the New York Jets? This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Good Chop: High-quality American meat & seafood. Get $120 off your first 4 boxes with code downstream120. Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Fubo sues Fox, Disney, and Warner Bros. to block thei...
62: Spulu
February 09, 2024 23:15 - 49 minutes - 23.1 MBDisney, Fox, and WBD come together to create a sports streaming joint venture, but what does it all mean? [Downstream+ subscribers also get to hear us discuss Disney's Epic investment, Sports Corner updates, and the most streamed originals of last year.] This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback ESPN, Fox, WBD to team up ESPN, Fox...
61: A Collector of Sports
January 18, 2024 22:00 - 1 hour - 51.2 MBSubtitle: Sports Pentagon After some Apple Vision Pro opinions, it's time for a veritable Sports Pentagon of topics, including: Regional sports streaming alliances, the NFL cozying up to ESPN, Amazon cozying up to Diamond Sports, and the value of Peacock's streamed playoff game. Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Julia uses Vision Pro NFL in advanced talks with ESPN to acquire equity stake in network: Sources - The Athletic T...
60: You Heard It Here First
December 29, 2023 00:00 - 46 minutes - 32.6 MBThe fate of Paramount Global hangs in the balance, and our favorites of the year. [Downstream+ subscribers get an extra half hour, including RSN collapses and potential streaming solutions, and our predictions for 2024.] This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Links and Show Notes: Favorite movies: "Godzilla Minus One" (JA) and "Oppenheimer" (JS) Favorite TV shows: "Succession" (JA) and either "The Bear" or "Stran...
59: Netflix's Spreadsheet
December 14, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 37.4 MBIt's finally happened: Netflix has made its viewing data public... via an Excel spreadsheet? Also: Disney+ and Hulu get connected in the U.S., it might be the endgame for Paramount Global, and your letters! Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Pixar's Soul, Turning Red, Luca Coming to Theaters in 2024 Netflix’s Data Bomb & Iger’s Hulu Wish List - Puck Netflix’s Data Drop, Power Laws, Netflix’s Motivations – Stratechery by Ben Th...
58: Christmas Is the Franchise
December 01, 2023 01:45 - 33 minutes - 15.9 MBThe holiday season is peak streaming season, too! We discuss the seasonal opportunities for streamers, plus: letters! [Downstream+ subscribers also get: Amazon's Black Friday NFL experiment, YouTube & Sunday Ticket, and the coming sports/RSN implosion.] This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback The Christmas Streaming Miracle - Puck...
57: Challenging! But Fun
November 17, 2023 00:15 - 1 hour - 32.2 MBDisney's going to own all of Hulu. Does this uniquely position them to be the most legitimate challenger to Netflix? We also discuss the power of platforms, Apple's "Napoleon" opportunity, and Disney's Marvel experimentation. This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Memberful: Best-in-class membership software for independent creators, publishers, educators, podcasters, and more. Get started now, no credit card required. Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss ...
56: "The Crown" Presented By Crown Royal
November 02, 2023 01:30 - 27 minutes - 13.3 MBNetflix adapts to selling ads, and your letters! [Downstream+ subscribers also got: Apple TV+ cancelling Jon Stewart and raising prices, YouTube's news challenge and the value of YouTube culture, and Jason Kilar's big idea.] This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Get Downstream+! - No ads and extra content every other week. Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Netflix, Pushing Into AVOD Fray, Plans New Ad Formats, Sponsorship...
55: It's Netflix 2013 again
October 20, 2023 00:45 - 1 hour - 36.1 MBNetflix (which is still top dog) reports results and makes price hikes. Also: Disney+'s value proposition, the complexity of selling ads for streaming, Marvel discovers TV, and your letters. This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Memberful: Best-in-class membership software for independent creators, publishers, educators, podcasters, and more. Get started now, no credit card required. Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback ‘Da...
54: NIRP
October 06, 2023 23:45 - 40 minutes - 28.1 MBThe WGA strike is over, so what does it mean? Also, your letters! [Downstream+ subscribers also get: Don't blame the writers for the end of Peak TV, Max gets interesting, Amazon adds ads, and Disney ♥️ Charter.] This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Electric: Unbury yourself from IT tasks. Get a free pair of Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones when you schedule a meeting. Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Writers Guild Tentat...
53: I'm Living With a Criminal
September 21, 2023 16:00 - 45 minutes - 21.3 MBWe break down the arrival of Mark Thompson as CNN's new boss. Also, there's a mega letters segment! [This episode was recorded September 7. See you in two weeks!]
52: Defying Gravity
September 07, 2023 23:15 - 39 minutes - 18.6 MBDoes the battle between Disney and Charter augur the end of the cable business model as we know it? Is the entertainment industry going bankrupt slowly, then all at once? It's time for an all-Sports Corner episode of Downstream! (Downstream+ listeners also get to hear about Fox and Comcast's post-linear possibilities, and our predictions about if Netflix will ever consider doing live sports.)
51: Cool, Man, But What Happened After?
August 25, 2023 00:00 - 1 hour - 32.6 MBThe CNN streaming era re-begins--and we're still trying to figure out how TV news adapts to the streaming era. Also: Netflix makes a franchise bet on Zach Snyder, but is it shooting itself in the foot? And are streaming sports rights worth the high cost?
50: Platform Chess
August 11, 2023 03:00 - 48 minutes - 22.7 MBDisney alters the deal (namely the price of its streaming services)--pray they don't alter it further. But is Disney suffering from franchise fatigue, and is aggressively bunding Hulu with Disney+ the solution? Also: Jason's sad about Apple's failed college football deal. [Downstream+ members also got to hear us discuss Paramount+ changing its programming philosophy, Disney's prodigal princes returning, whether Apple might buy Disney, and Max getting into sports streaming.]
49: Selling Shovels
July 28, 2023 00:15 - 1 hour - 34.5 MBDid Netflix lure the rest of the streaming industry into quicksand? We explore the difference between being an entertainment retailer and wholesaler. Then it's time to talk about the man, the legend, the human topic: Disney's Bob Iger.
48: "The Bear" Is Not a Comedy
July 12, 2023 22:00 - 28 minutes - 20.3 MBIn a tale as old as time, we try and fail to understand the Emmy Awards. Also: Breaking down Netflix's new ratings math. (Downstream+ subscribers get an extra 30 minutes about the up and coming world of free ad-supported streaming services and why Prime Video is like CBS.)
47: My Phantom Limb
June 30, 2023 01:30 - 1 hour - 31 MBCNN rises to the top of the conversation again, Netflix gets the ball back, Paramount sells some crown jewels, Sports Corner travels to Utah, and we answer four listener letters!
46: The Chris Licht Conundrum
June 16, 2023 03:45 - 23 minutes - 11.1 MBThe head of CNN is out, but the larger issue is: what's the future of TV news in the age of streaming? (Downstream+ subscribers also heard: YouTube is still top dog, the age of consolidation brings the need for better content discovery, a Bob Iger check-in, and Netflix falls into Sports Corner.)
45: I Wasn't Surprised
June 01, 2023 23:45 - 52 minutes - 24.7 MBThe Max launch and prioritizing tech stacks; Netflix's ad viewers and the future of ad-free streaming; and in Sports Corner the regional sports network collapse has begun. Also, we announce our own plus--Downstream+!
44: Max Headroom Made a Fortune
May 19, 2023 00:30 - 1 hour - 33.8 MBJulia's back at last, so we blast through discussing HBO Max becoming Max, Hulu going inside the Disney+ app, the WGA's "streaming strike", the NFL's Peacock playoff game, and ESPN plotting its inevitable over-the-top service.
43: The Two-Episode Test
May 02, 2023 22:00 - 46 minutes - 21.7 MBJason's former co-host from another TV podcast, Tim Goodman, drops by to discuss his decision to be a TV writer at the very end of the Peak TV era, the challenges of TV criticism, and his return to writing about TV on his own terms via Substack.
42: The Sitcom-Industrial Complex
April 18, 2023 16:00 - 55 minutes - 26 MBSitcoms are one of the most popular genres of television, yet streaming services tend to do better repurposing someone else's catalog rather than creating their own. What's behind this trend, and what will the future hold? Also, College Sports Corner and more letters!
41: I've Never Heard of This Movie
April 03, 2023 22:30 - 1 hour - 28.9 MBMarvel hits the brakes, Apple embraces theatrical releases, Netflix can make anything a hit, two combat sports combine forces, and Major League Baseball keeps fans confused about when you're allowed to watch a ballgame.
40: The Reckoning
March 21, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 30.3 MBHBO has another hit, Jason Kilar has some advice for Bob Iger about the future of Hulu, and Sports Corner returns to discuss the ongoing saga of regional sports networks bankruptcies and the future of streaming sports.
39: Renancelled
March 07, 2023 21:00 - 1 hour - 32.3 MBJason returns from New Zealand as a better wizard, just in time for Zaz to announce new "Lord of the Rings" films. Has it been done, or can you not keep a good Hobbit down? Also, Netflix explores lower prices in some markets, Sports Corner ponders the Bally Sports bankruptcy, and we answer some of your questions!
38: Aggressively Fine
February 21, 2023 20:00 - 1 hour - 28 MBSusan Wojcicki steps down as YouTube CEO, what will her legacy be? Ant-Man performs well at the box office, but do reviews indicate 'Marvel Fatigue'? And guest-host Myke Hurley quizzes Julia on why he has to wait for shows to premiere in the UK.
37: ESPN Minus
February 09, 2023 20:30 - 1 hour - 33.6 MBDisney's first financial results of the Iger II era make us consider the future of Hulu and ESPN. Discovery+ pulls a fast one, Showtime can't dodge its fate, Peacock looks surprisingly robust, and everyone's mad about Netflix cracking down on password sharing--but Downstream listeners learned all about it nearly a year ago.
36: Commercial Inception
January 25, 2023 01:00 - 1 hour - 28.5 MBNetflix shows Disney how CEO transitions happen, as Reed Hastings is elevated to chairmanship and Greg Peters becomes co-CEO. Julia has analysis of Netflix's earnings report, we discuss streaming Oscar nominees, there's some Hulu follow-up, and we answer an amazing crop of your letters!
35: Streaming Scrooge
January 10, 2023 21:00 - 1 hour - 32 MBIt's a new year, so it's time to consider the lessons of 2022 and make some predictions for streaming trends in 2023. Plus: was "Glass Onion" a success for Netflix? Is your next workout coming from Netflix? And to Julia's delight, Sports Corner is back!
34: Rating The Pluses
December 27, 2022 17:00 - 27 minutes - 12.9 MBIn a very special (and silly) end-of-year episode, Julia and Jason create tier lists for everything with a plus. Happy New Year!
33: So Thirsty for Content
December 13, 2022 20:45 - 1 hour - 29.8 MBWhat's the point of HBO Max if it doesn't have all the HBO shows on it? Julia ponders the strange goings on at HBO and WarnerMedia. We also discuss Jason Kilar's predictions for the future of streaming, the BBC, and how studios handle self-dealing.
32: Disney Bobs
November 29, 2022 21:15 - 1 hour - 33.9 MBBob Chapek is out and Bob Iger is back in! What does this mean for the future of Disney? We don't have the answers, but we have lots of questions! Also discussed: "Strange World" and the future of Disney animation, whether Disney should buy Hulu, and Netflix's strange "Glass Onion"s strategy.
31: Yeah, Disney's Fine
November 15, 2022 21:15 - 57 minutes - 26.8 MBDisney's latest financial results lead us to ponder where we are in the dramatic change from old-school media to the streaming world. We discuss "Hocus Pocus 2" as the ultimate direct-to-streaming movie, and why "Glass Onion" makes sense going to theaters before Netflix. Also, Warner Bros. Discovery claims to have all its franchises in order, but that doesn't seem remotely realistic. (And yeah, this means we have to talk about J.K. Rowling again.)
30: I'm Fun to Have Drinks With
November 01, 2022 19:15 - 1 hour - 30.5 MBPeacock pivots, Netflix gets to know itself, "Doctor Who" is on the move, "Andor" teaches some important lessons, and Sports Corner returns!
29: Let the Sharks Feast and Fight
October 18, 2022 17:00 - 58 minutes - 27.4 MBIs "Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" the real winner of the battle between "House of the Dragon" and "Lord of the Rings"? Also: Netflix opens itself up to viewership ratings in the UK, Sports Corner covers Apple's negotiations with the NFL, and we discuss the merits of Paramount's content library and Hulu's overall value as a streaming service. Plus plus plus, your letters!
28: SimSub
October 04, 2022 20:00 - 56 minutes - 26.5 MBAn accidental Sports Corner, understanding Peacock's slow growth, EPIX becomes MGM+, a "House of the Dragon" / "Rings of Power" check-in, Apple's "Luck", Julia and Parrot provide data to creators, and a listener explains Canadian TV quirks.
27: Sports Corner
September 21, 2022 20:45 - 36 minutes - 17.3 MBJulia's under the weather, so Jason asked our editor, Steven, to join him to talk about Amazon's NFL broadcast, Apple TV+ exclusivity of MLB record-breaking games, the insolvency of Bally Sports, and the mystery of NFL Sunday Ticket. Yep, it's Sports Corner with a little bit of bonus Canadian content.
26: Everything Comes With Asterisks
September 06, 2022 19:45 - 1 hour - 30.9 MB"The Rings of Power" has arrived, but do Amazon's viewing numbers mean anything? Also: Netflix's weird identity crisis, NBC might give up its 10pm time slots, the difficulty of making sitcom hits, and your letters!
25: Hot Evil Blondes
August 25, 2022 19:00 - 1 hour - 31.3 MBWe discuss what the House of the Dragon premiere means for HBO Max, how Netflix judges the success of "The Sandman" and other shows, the business reasons behind Warner Bros. Discovery's cuts, and why Sony is sitting pretty without its own streaming service.
24: Caught in the Middle of an Ocean
August 09, 2022 18:30 - 1 hour - 31.8 MBThe big story in streaming is Warner Bros. Discovery and David Zaslav's cuts, cancellations, and the merger of HBO Max with Discovery+. Julia and Jason break it all down, including what's upsetting creators and the audience and why those weird PowerPoint slides exist.
23: The All-Letters Episode
July 26, 2022 16:15 - 57 minutes - 26.9 MBJason and Julia answer your letters. So many questions! We discuss live TV on Apple channels, merger mania, niche streaming, valuable hot-dog streaming rights, "it's just an eight-hour movie", and tactical release times.
22: When Success Isn't Success
July 12, 2022 21:45 - 1 hour - 46.7 MBHow do the creators of TV shows know how well their shows are doing when their streaming services won't share meaningful data? Is the Marvel Cinematic Universe tired, or spending its capital to do some creative experimentation? We discuss, and also look at Vulture's rankings of the hottest (and coldest) streaming services.
21: I Love Sports Corner
June 28, 2022 20:00 - 1 hour - 33.3 MBWe discuss the "Lightyear" box office and the future of Pixar, finding better ways to binge through smart software, and how streaming franchises are constructed. And then, once again, there's Sports Corner, as streaming RSNs multiply and Formula 1 turns up its nose at Amazon and re-signs with ESPN.
20: Entertainment Chess Move
June 14, 2022 20:15 - 1 hour - 32.1 MBWith the clash between "Stranger Things" and Star Wars, the summer streaming blockbuster season has begun! And we inaugurate a new segment, Sports Corner, as the path of sports on streaming media sports has begun to change dramatically.
19: Billionaires are Strange Creatures
May 31, 2022 20:30 - 1 hour - 31.5 MBWhat do "Stranger Things" and "Obi Wan Kenobi" tell us about the present and future of Netflix and Disney+? Also, Netflix's "The Gray Man" makes a very limited visit to theaters, the intellectual-property wanderings of "Daredevil" continue, and we answer your letters about churn, billionaires, and northern European dramas.
18: 10,000 Other Tentacles
May 17, 2022 19:45 - 1 hour - 54 MBAfter years watching the old Netflix cruise along as the top streamer, things are getting interesting as it shifts gears and engages the realities of today's streaming scene. We discuss reports Netflix might put its films in theaters and its attempts to find hit sitcoms more like what you'd find on a broadcast network. Julia also reviews the Disney financial results and what it means for that media giant's future direction. (If you've gotten the wrong episode, please delete and re-download ...