Jason Snell and a rotating group of experts break down the business of binge-watching in the era of the Streaming Wars.

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Latest Episodes

#50: Platform Chess

August 11th, 2023 · 48 minutes

Disney alters the deal--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.

#49: Selling Shovels

July 28th, 2023 · 74 minutes

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.

#48: "The Bear" Is Not a Comedy

July 12th, 2023 · 28 minutes

In a tale as old as time, we try and fail to understand the Emmy Awards. Also: Breaking down Netflix's new ratings math.

#47: My Phantom Limb

June 30th, 2023 · 66 minutes

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!

#46: The Chris Licht Conundrum

June 16th, 2023 · 23 minutes

The head of CNN is out, but the larger issue is: what's the future of TV news in the age of streaming?

#45: I Wasn't Surprised

June 1st, 2023 · 52 minutes

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+!

#44: Max Headroom Made a Fortune

May 19th, 2023 · 72 minutes

Julia'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 2nd, 2023 · 46 minutes

Jason'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 18th, 2023 · 55 minutes

Sitcoms 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?

#41: I've Never Heard of This Movie

April 3rd, 2023 · 62 minutes

Marvel 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.