The Streaming Wars - Vulture
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The Streaming Wars

Just as dramatic as anything you’ll find on TV.

the industry

The Binge Purge

 TV’s streaming model is broken. It’s also not going away. For Hollywood, figuring that out will be a horror show. By Josef Adalian and Lane Brown

Streamer Power Rank

  1. Who’s Winning the Streaming Wars Now? By Josef Adalian
  2. 2022’s Hottest Streamer By Josef Adalian
  3. 2021’s Hottest Streamer By Josef Adalian

More From the Front Lines

  1. buffering
    Why Disney+ Has Succeeded While Other Netflix Rivals StruggleTo one analyst, Disney’s streaming future looked inevitable back in 2016. Here’s what he thinks now.
    By Josef Adalian
  2. hard pivot
    Why Disney Plussed ItselfCEO Bob Iger knew the streaming wars were coming. He just couldn’t fight them without taking a massive risk.
    By Josef Adalian
  3. buffering
    ​​A Tale of Two KingdomsThis week’s quarterly earnings reports from Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery could not be more different.
    By Josef Adalian
  4. this! is! over!
    Pluto’s Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune Channels Have Quietly DisappearedWill another streamer snap up the 24/7 streams?
    By Josef Adalian
  5. the streaming wars
    You Can Get a Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle NowThe future is throupling before our eyes.
    By Eric Vilas-Boas
  6. for a dollar
    Paramount+ Is Asking for More MoneyUnless you’re an existing subscriber, sort of.
    By Savannah Salazar
  7. buffering
    Dial Acorn for (Cozy) MurderHow one streamer made a name for itself by delivering a very specific (and often British) kind of television.
    By Josef Adalian
  8. buffering x gold rush
    The Emmys in the Age of Gourmet CheeseburgersWhat will the awards show look like as the streaming era matures?
    By Josef Adalian and Joe Reid
  9. buffering
    Notes on L’Affaire ParamountWith Skydance out, what happens now?
    By Josef Adalian
  10. buffering
    It’s the End of Paramount+ As We’ve Known It (and That’s Fine)Why Paramount’s new streaming strategy makes a Peacock merger more likely.
    By Josef Adalian
  11. the industry
    The 2024 Streaming Power RankingsWe asked 29 critics, executives, agents, producers, and analysts who they think is winning the streaming wars — and who’s struggling to survive.
    By Josef Adalian
  12. the streaming wars
    This New Netflix, Peacock, and Apple TV+ Bundle Comes With a CatchStrings attached.
    By Savannah Salazar
  13. buffering
    The 8 Biggest Takeaways From Netflix’s Latest Ratings DumpNo one watched your favorite prestige movie, but everyone ate up One Piece.
    By Josef Adalian and Eric Vilas-Boas
  14. buffering
    Netflix Has Finally Cracked the Talk-Show CodeThe streamer has figured something out with its John Mulaney experiment.
    By Josef Adalian
  15. streamliner
    Disney, Max, and Hulu Form a Streaming ThroupleA bundle is born.
    By Josef Adalian
  16. streamliner
    Your Housewives Streaming Habit Is About to Get More ExpensiveTwenty-four more dollars a year.
    By Josef Adalian
  17. buffering
    What’s Your Favorite Streaming Service’s Personality?Insights from a new national survey about streamers.
    By Josef Adalian
  18. buffering
    Can 400 Comedians Convince You to Keep Netflix?Talking to the streamer’s head of stand-up about live events, SNL, and Matt Rife.
    By Josef Adalian
  19. buffering
    What Show Airs Where? Inside the Hulu–ABC Programming Machine“For the Hulu customer, it’s a small difference between what’s a Hulu Original and an ABC show. They’re just watching shows.â€
    By Josef Adalian
  20. buffering
    Why CBS (Yes, CBS) Thinks It Can Survive the Streaming WarsNetwork boss George Cheeks talks Tracker, Star Trek, an unexpected new soap — and life alongside Paramount+.
    By Josef Adalian
  21. buffering
    Why Aren’t There More Game Shows on Streaming?It’s the $64,000 question, but the answer might soon change.
    By Josef Adalian
  22. streamliner
    Why Tubi Is Updating Its Whole Look (and Sound)The free streamer is doubling down on being weird.
    By Josef Adalian
  23. buffering
    Do Nielsen Ratings Really Reflect What People Want From Streamers?How many people are actually streaming Suits and Young Sheldon?
    By Josef Adalian
  24. buffering
    Made in Spain: How the Country Became Key to Netflix’s International Strategy“I couldn’t remotely imagine we could be where we are,†says Money Heist creator Ãlex Pina.
    By Josef Adalian
  25. buffering
    How Much Will People Pay for Just Sports?A newly announced streaming bundle aims to find out.
    By Josef Adalian
  26. vulture sports!
    A Big New Sports Streaming Service Is Coming This YearFox, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Disney are teaming up for a new Hulu-like bundle devoted to live sports.
    By Eric Vilas-Boas
  27. buffering
    The Week Netflix Put the Smackdown on Its RivalsCan you smell what Ted Sarandos is cooking?
    By Josef Adalian
  28. the streaming wars
    Netflix Looks to Kill Its ‘Basic’ Plan (Again)Prepare to pay up if you want a new ad-free account.
    By Eric Vilas-Boas and Savannah Salazar
  29. the streaming wars
    Netflix Snaps Up WWE’s RawWeekly live wrestling is coming to the platform in a deal worth more than $5 billion.
    By Eric Vilas-Boas
  30. layoffs
    Amazon Lays Off Hundreds Across Its Streaming BusinessesA rough 2023 for the industry has turned into a rough start to 2024.
    By Eric Vilas-Boas
  31. the streaming wars
    Hulu on Disney+ Is Finally LiveHere’s how the beta works … and how it doesn’t work.
    By Josef Adalian
  32. the write stuff
    Tubi to Be Home for Some Black List Movie ScriptsFive screenplays will be produced as Tubi Originals through the partnership.
    By Eric Vilas-Boas
  33. the $treaming wars
    Disney’s Officially Buying (All of) HuluThe Mouse House will pay at least $8.6 million for sole custody of the streamer.
    By Josef Adalian
  34. buffering
    5 Things to Hate (and Love) About Streaming Right NowTime to rant and rave.
    By Josef Adalian
  35. buffering
    Why Frasier Needs Longer Seasons (and a Network Home)Tossed salad and scrambled streaming strategies.
    By Josef Adalian
  36. streaming
    A Bunch of Classic TV Is Leaving HuluSubscribers will be parting ways with Ally McBeal, Arrested Development, Beverly Hills 90210, and more.
    By Josef Adalian
  37. the streaming wars
    Max Is Up at Bat for Live SportsA new add-on is coming to the Warner Bros. Discovery streaming service.
    By Josef Adalian
  38. buffering
    What If Everyone Won the Charter-Disney Dispute?A closer look at Disney’s deal with the cable company.
    By Josef Adalian
  39. the streaming wars
    AMC Shows Will Start Haunting MaxIn a new deal, certain AMC shows will find a home on Max. Could a bundle be near?
    By Josef Adalian
  40. buffering
    What We Love (and Hate) About Free Streaming in 2023An emergency discussion about our “no-commitment relationship†with FAST.
  41. buffering
    Could a True Streaming Bundle Be Upon Us?The idea is (slowly) gaining traction in some unexpected corners.
    By Josef Adalian
  42. buffering
    The Looming Catalog CrisisSuits is the hottest show on streaming right now. What does that mean?
    By Josef Adalian
  43. buffering
    Could These Suits Help End the Strikes?Meet the not-so-famous execs who might be able to break the impasse.
    By Josef Adalian
  44. buffering
    How a Strike Over Streaming Could End Up Killing Network TV“It almost feels like the networks are complicit in their own self-destruction.â€
    By Josef Adalian
  45. the streaming wars
    Netflix Being Rude About Passwords Seems to Be WorkingThe company added 5.9 million users.
    By Eric Vilas-Boas
  46. the streaming wars
    Yes, HBO Shows Are Going to NetflixInsecure was the first to show up on Max’s streaming rival.
    By Eric Vilas-Boas and Josef Adalian
  47. new money
    Is Netflix Preparing to Raise Prices Again?Let’s talk about our friends up north.
    By Eric Vilas-Boas
  48. buffering
    TCM Fans Are Right to WorryNo, the channel isn’t going away, but this week’s cuts will be felt by viewers.
    By Josef Adalian
  49. into it
    Netflix Envy Broke TelevisionIt’s a bad moment for TV. Blame the streaming platforms, the shareholders, but also, yourself.
    By Sam Sanders
  50. the industry
    The Binge PurgeTV’s streaming model is broken. It’s also not going away. For Hollywood, figuring that out will be a horror show.
    By Josef Adalian and Lane Brown
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