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. the streaming wars
    NBCUniversal’s Streaming Service Is Called Peacock and It’s Launching Next AprilIt’ll be the exclusive streaming home of The Office, Parks and Rec, and dozens of other NBC shows and original series.
    By Josef Adalian
  2. the streaming wars
    Seinfeld Will Switch From Hulu to Netflix in 2021When a Friends door closes, a Seinfeld window opens.
    By Jordan Crucchiola
  3. the streaming wars
    Apple TV+ Reveals Launch Date and Bargain-Busting PriceFive bucks a month, but it’s free for a year if you buy an Apple product.
    By Josef Adalian
  4. the streaming wars
    Netflix Is Losing U.S. Subscribers for the First Time in Eight YearsThough they’re expected to return this summer.
    By Josef Adalian
  5. the streaming wars
    Netflix Will Be Fine Without Friends or The OfficeThe streaming giant faces a big challenge, but there’s an underappreciated upside to losing its best Friends.
    By Josef Adalian
  6. tv
    NBC Has Jumped Into the Streaming News WarsThe Peacock joins ABC and CBS in targeting news consumers without a cable subscription.
    By Josef Adalian
  7. the industry
    How Game of Thrones Helped HBO Break Into the Streaming WorldIt’s been pivotal in shaping the network into a digital-programming powerhouse ready to take on the Netflixes of the world.
    By Josef Adalian
  8. the way we stream now
    The 6 A.M. Scramble to Watch Game of Thrones in IndiaHalfway around the world, TV’s biggest epic is a Monday morning ritual.
    By Siddhant Adlakha
  9. the streaming wars
    The Obamas Just Announced Their First 7 Netflix TV Shows and MoviesIncluding a doc about a blue-collar Ohio factory, a post-WWII period drama, and a preschool show from Drunk History’s co-creator.
    By Milan Polk
  10. the industry
    Netflix Got Beyoncé’s Homecoming by Paying So Much MoneyHow did the Beychella concert doc end up on Netflix? The same way everything else does.
    By Jackson McHenry
  11. the streaming wars
    Why HBO Isn’t Worried About Its Post–Game of Thrones FutureWarnerMedia boss Bob Greenblatt and HBO exec Casey Bloys open up about Thrones, TV tentpoles, and why “more is better.â€
    By Josef Adalian
  12. the streaming wars
    If You Want to Understand Disney+, Start by Thinking About DisneylandDisney’s strategy to win the streaming wars will play out on multiple fronts, not just the new Disney+ service.
    By Josef Adalian
  13. the streaming wars
    Disney+ Will Be The Exclusive Streaming Home of The SimpsonsThe cartoon family welcome its new corporate overlords.
    By Jordan Crucchiola
  14. bitch better have my money
    Artists Revolt Against Spotify in Open Letter: ‘You Have Used Us’Including Nile Rodgers, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and more.
    By Dee Lockett
  15. the streaming wars
    Stranger Things and OITNB Top Survey of Favorite TV Shows on NetflixFollowed by The Office and Friends, according to a new report by Wall Street analysts MoffettNathanson.
    By Josef Adalian
  16. the streaming wars
    We Learned a Lot About Apple TV+ Today, But Not How Much It’ll CostWith Disney and WarnerMedia rolling out their own streaming services, Apple’s choice to not reveal a price makes sense. For now.
    By Josef Adalian
  17. the streaming wars
    Apple’s TV Event: What We Know (And Don’t Know) About Its Streaming PlatformThe tech giant is making a billion-dollar bet to turn itself into a major player in the TV industry. Will it work?
    By Josef Adalian
  18. explainers
    Is Spotify Suing Songwriters? The Latest Legal Battle, ExplainedWhy all the big streaming companies are appealing a ruling that would force them to pay more to songwriters.
    By Chris Leo Palermino
  19. the streaming wars
    Spotify’s Latest Power Play? Giving You Hulu for FreeSpotify just challenged Apple’s big TV push before it’s even launched.
    By Dee Lockett
  20. the streaming wars
    Your Majesty, the BBC and Netflix Are Feuding About The CrownA BBC boss is aggressively claiming the show’s viewership isn’t large at all.
    By Devon Ivie
  21. the streaming wars
    The Disney Vault Is Going Online, Because Every Generation Must Sob at Bambi“The entire Disney motion picture library†will live on Disney+.
    By Josef Adalian
  22. the streaming wars
    Wrong Number? How AT&T’s WarnerMedia Shake-up Could Spoil HBO’s Winning RecipeIt’s a new era for the pioneering cable network. But will HBO lose what made it so successful in the first place?
    By Josef Adalian
  23. the streaming wars
    Just Like Netflix, a Lot of Amazon’s New Movies Will Skip TheatersAmazon Studios boss Jen Salke wants to release a lot more movies — and make the vast majority instantly streamable.
    By Josef Adalian
  24. tv ratings
    In FX’s Latest War With Netflix, Who’s Right and Who’s Wrong?FX boss John Landgraf called out Netflix for its misleading audience numbers, but his critique was just as misleading.
    By Josef Adalian
  25. behind the scenes
    Why Spotify Finally Let People Mute R. KellyAfter a failed first attempt at banning Kelly, Spotify has put the onus of holding him accountable on the consumer. Here’s why.
    By Dee Lockett
  26. hacks
    Were Spotify Accounts Hacked to Boost Streams for Fake Artists?Spotify confirmed that it “detected abnormal streaming activity†from allegedly fake artists.
    By Dee Lockett
  27. dun dun!
    Why Isn’t Law & Order Streaming Anywhere?It’s a pop-culture mystery worthy of Detective Lennie Briscoe.
    By Josef Adalian
  28. the streaming wars
    Hulu Is Boosting the Price of Live TV, But Its Cheapest Plan Will Get CheaperThe basic ad-supported service will drop to $5.99 per month, while Hulu with Live TV will jump to $44.99 monthly.
    By Josef Adalian
  29. the streaming wars
    You Is a Gigantic Hit for Netflix, According to NetflixNetflix is suddenly getting chatty about its viewing stats. Here’s why their numbers seem (mostly) legit.
    By Josef Adalian
  30. the streaming wars
    Netflix Is Raising Its Subscription PriceThe streaming giant is raising U.S. prices across the board, with its most popular plan jumping from $10.99 monthly to $12.99.
    By Josef Adalian
  31. the streaming wars
    NBC Launching a Streaming Service So Now You Have One More Account to ManageIt will be free for cable subscribers.
    By Jordan Crucchiola
  32. the industry
    Netflix Hires Ex-ABC Exec Channing DungeyIn Dungey’s big new job, she’ll oversee “a large and crucial portion†of Netflix’s original series.
    By Josef Adalian
  33. peak tv
    Almost 500 Scripted Shows Aired in 2018, But We Still Haven’t Hit Peak TVFor the first time in TV history, streamers like Netflix and Amazon had the biggest share of scripted production in 2018.
    By Josef Adalian
  34. the streaming wars
    Why Netflix Spent $80 Million to Keep Friends for Another YearBut even this “nuts†deal might not be enough to keep the sitcom forever.
    By Josef Adalian
  35. the streaming wars
    Friends Will Remain on Netflix through 2019, Definitely Not on a BreakThey’re far from over.
    By Jordan Crucchiola
  36. the streaming wars
    Why You Season 2 Jumped From Lifetime to Netflix“The stars have aligned,†says co-showrunner Sera Gamble.
    By Maria Elena Fernandez
  37. the streaming wars
    Disney Just Announced New Details About Its Streaming Service, Including a NameBob Iger has big plans for the Mouse House’s Netflix rival, which will launch late next year.
    By Josef Adalian
  38. explainers
    Spotify’s Direct Upload Feature, ExplainedWhat their new direct upload features means for you and the music business.
    By Dee Lockett
  39. HBO Must ‘Change Direction’ to Get More of That Sweet, Sweet Viewer Engagement“It’s going to be a tough year,†WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey told employees at a recent town-hall meeting.
    By Halle Kiefer
  40. explainers
    Everything We Know — and Want to Know — About Drake’s New AlbumWill he address the baby, his Pusha-T beef, or Rihanna breakup?
    By Dee Lockett
  41. the streaming wars
    In This Sick Sad World, at Least Daria Is Coming to HuluIt’s what we need.
    By Jordan Crucchiola
  42. the streaming wars
    Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s Joint Album Is Now on Spotify and Apple MusicTurns out, maybe they do care about streaming numbers.
    By Dee Lockett
  43. the streaming wars
    How to Hear Kanye’s Album TonightYou’ll have to download an app you probably don’t already have.
    By Dee Lockett
  44. the industry
    Report: Spotify Might Put XXXTentacion’s Music Back on PlaylistsReps for Kendrick Lamar allegedly called Spotify’s CEO and threatened to pull his music in response to the new policy change.
    By Dee Lockett
  45. What Spotify Removing R. Kelly and XXXTentacion From Its Playlists MeansThe streaming platform banned both artists from its playlists, but what does that mean for the music industry at large?
    By Dee Lockett
  46. the streaming wars
    Can YouTube Really ‘Frustrate’ People Into Paying for Music?If you watch a lot of music videos on YouTube, prepare for a barrage of ads.
    By Frank Guan
  47. How a Veteran R&B Singer Scored the Biggest Hit of His CareerTank’s “When We†is doing big numbers, and even he’s surprised.
    By Elias Leight
  48. What Ryan Murphy’s Massive Netflix Deal Means for HollywoodNetflix snagged Ryan Murphy with a $300 million deal. Which showrunner will get the next big payday?
    By Josef Adalian and Maria Elena Fernandez
  49. album review
    Migos’ Culture II Isn’t an Album, It’s a Data DumpNearly every song overstays its welcome.
    By Craig Jenkins
  50. the streaming wars
    Hulu Cracks 17 Million Subscribers, Thanks to Handmaid’s Tale and Network HitsIt’s a 40 percent surge since its last public tally in May 2016.
    By Josef Adalian
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