Downstream: Recent Episodes
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Julia 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.
The 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?
Disney 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.]
Did 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.
In 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.)
CNN 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!
The 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.)
The 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+!
Bob 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.
Disney'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.)
Peacock pivots, Netflix gets to know itself, "Doctor Who" is on the move, "Andor" teaches some important lessons, and Sports Corner returns!
Is "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!
An 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.
Julia'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.
"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!
We 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.
The 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.
Jason 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.
How 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.
We 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.
With 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.
What 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.
After 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 to get the right one! Sorry about that.)
We're sifting through the fallout of Netflix's trying times, pondering the future of ads on streaming services and trying to identify which shows benefit from binge-watching--and which don't.
Emergency podcast! Julia and Jason reconvene for a second time in a week to discuss Netflix's very bad quarterly results (and how, if at all, the company will change its behavior and strategy as a result) and the rapid but not entirely surprising death of CNN+.
Julia has some advice for David Zaslav as he takes the reins of Warner Bros. Discovery--mostly about the fates of CNN+ and the Harry Potter franchise. Plus, the rise of streaming sports.
Apple TV+ wins Best Picture, "Our Flag Means Death" is... a hit?, why being the fan of a baseball team is going to bring you pain, "Obi-Wan" takes on "Stranger Things" directly, and Jason subscribed to CNN+... for science!
Is Wall Street souring on the streaming wars? Is Netflix coming for your shared passwords? Both issues are way more complicated than they might seem. We also discuss TikTok marketing, Discovery+ and HBO Max getting folded together, and Netflix's cancellation of "The Babysitters' Club."
Disney inevitably embraces advertising, NBC inevitably takes its ball and goes home, and The Batman inevitably forces a discussion about the future of theatrical releases.
ViacomCBS changes its name, Peacock weathers the Super Bowl storm, the Disney brand continues to evolve, the culture of binge-dropping begins to fade away, Netflix is Doing Just Fine, and your letters!
The future of CNN+ is called into question, the Oscars recognize streaming services of all kinds, and did Peacock finally get the Olympics right?
Netflix's latest quarterly report makes us wonder: Is it a tech company or an entertainment company? Julia experiences live sports streaming success--and failure. HBO Max takes a victory lap. And why does Showtime still exist? Plus, your letters!
It's a new year! Disney has moved another Pixar movie out of theaters and onto Disney+. Why "Don't Look Up" was the perfect movie for Netflix. "Yellowstone" is a legitimate hit and yet nobody is truly happy about it. And we've got a Spider-Man box office check-in, HBO Max is doing all right by us, and we've got letters from listeners!
Jason and Julia are off for the holiday, but before they left, they took time to record this special episode featuring answers to listener letters! (Only two-thirds of the letters are from people named David.) We discuss ways that streaming interfaces could be more delightful and serendipitous, explain why the end of 22-episode TV seasons might be a good thing, and lament the death of collectible DVDs.
We dig into why CNN+ has to exist, even though it doesn't make a lot of sense. Also, the strange divisions between what's on HBO and what's on HBO Max, we talk a surprising amount about The CW (again), and Netflix has... a blog?
Diving into Netflix's brand new global and regional top 10 lists, and what they tell us about Netflix's self-promotional powers, its use of South Korean content, the drive to program for kids, and the potential fate of the binge drop. Also, ViacomCBS corrects its Star Trek mistakes, and your letters allow us to grouse about bad interfaces, skipping the credits, and why Netflix is bad at movies.
Disney+ came out of the gate strong, but its growth is waning. What does it need to do to reach a broader audience? It's all about the 'Hamiltons.' Also, we discuss ViacomCBS pulling the rug out from underneath international Star Trek fans, the obsessive search for more streaming franchises, Jason hasn't read "The Wheel of Time," and we make our plans to go see "Spider-Man: No Way Home."
What happens when a TV network has a potential big hit, but doesn't have a streaming strategy to find an audience? Are sports leagues in the U.S. finally going to risk their fat cable contracts in order to build a local streaming service? And what the heck is going on in Australia? All this, and Julia tries to envision Netflix's final form--or at least, what it will charge you to see its final form.
There's a lot going on right now at Netflix, which is trying to manage growth, changing how it reports viewership, and facing internal criticism for some of its programming. We also delight in how easy it is to cancel (and return to) a streaming service, answer your questions about service price increases and the true value of franchises, and consider what streaming services are the most desired by the people who make TV.
"Squid Game's" viral success makes us consider Netflix's international programming strategy and the difference between a hit and a franchise. And no conversation about "Squid Game" is complete without a conversation about "Law & Order," right? So Julia and Jason discuss the value of TV franchises and how their owners balance the desire to grow streaming revenue with the linear TV networks that pay the bills.
Also: "Venom" proves the movies are back (at least for the Marvel adjacent), "Many Saints of Newark" proves that not everything is a franchise, and Julia makes a list of the best streaming services for scary movies.
Downstream is a new podcast about the future of streaming media. Tech and entertainment companies are vying for our attention and money, all to see who will become the media giants of the 21st century. Julia and Jason tell you a little about their background and what they'll be covering on this podcast. And as a preview of what is to come, this episode also includes our entire test show from August.