Downstream

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 Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback 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

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 Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback

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 Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback 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?

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 Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback 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.

Journalist Josef Adalian discusses the fate of Paramount post-deal fallout, Warner Bros. Discovery's sports rights plan B, and his Vulture streamer rankings. Topics include the future of Paramount, challenging industry speculation, navigating complex deals, and insights on streaming service rankings.

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.] Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback 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"

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. Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback 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

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.] Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Baby Reindeer, Fallout & Binge Game Theory - Puck Welcome to the Entertainment Strategy Guy - Entertainment Strategy Guy TV Grim Reaper | Substack

Is 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 - Puck

Is 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 Business Smackdown With Nick Khan - The Ringer Dropout