Peacock

Distribution

Hollywood for Sale (Again): Political Favor, Regulatory Blindness, and the High-Cost Collapse of Legacy Media

November 29, 2025 FilmTake Comments Off on Hollywood for Sale (Again): Political Favor, Regulatory Blindness, and the High-Cost Collapse of Legacy Media

Warner Bros. Discovery is barreling toward its fourth ownership change in seven years, a span marked by extraordinary value destruction, unchecked executive churn, and an industry unwilling—or unable—to confront the structural failures hollowing out the U.S. media sector. Instead of stabilizing long-term businesses, these megadeals have become vehicles for a handful of executives, financiers, and political allies to trade century-old cultural institutions like poker chips.

Distribution

Paramount’s Identity Crisis: Massive Layoffs, Creative Exodus, and Strategic Uncertainty

November 5, 2025 FilmTake Comments Off on Paramount’s Identity Crisis: Massive Layoffs, Creative Exodus, and Strategic Uncertainty

What was sold as a revitalization appears to many, both inside and outside the company, as a high-risk restructuring that may strip Paramount of the very assets that once justified the deal. The comparison made by several veterans suggests that this has the makings of another Bronfman-era playbook: big promises, bigger checks, and a costly pursuit of scale that can leave the core business weaker.

Streaming

Streaming Growth Slows: How SVOD Platforms Are Shifting Strategies in 2025

October 30, 2025 FilmTake Comments Off on Streaming Growth Slows: How SVOD Platforms Are Shifting Strategies in 2025

Global streaming is shifting from rapid subscriber growth to a focus on retention, monetization, and diversified content delivery. With mature markets slowing and engagement slipping, SVOD platforms are expanding into lower-ARPU regions, testing ad-supported tiers, and forging partnerships like Netflix’s landmark TF1 deal, which blends traditional TV, live sports, and on-demand programming.

Distribution

Roku Bets on $2.99 Streaming: Disruptive Bargain or Unsustainable Streaming Gamble?

August 6, 2025 FilmTake Comments Off on Roku Bets on $2.99 Streaming: Disruptive Bargain or Unsustainable Streaming Gamble?

Roku’s entry into subscription streaming with Howdy is a striking counterpunch in an industry defined by rising prices and dwindling consumer patience. But at $2.99 per month, the economics of ad-free streaming are opaque, and only by pulling back the curtain on SVOD licensing deals can industry players gauge whether such a model is sustainable long term.

Distribution

Window Shopping: Why Holding Back Pays Off in Streaming Distribution

June 9, 2025 FilmTake Comments Off on Window Shopping: Why Holding Back Pays Off in Streaming Distribution

Studios are no longer tied to a single strategy for releasing films. Instead, each major player is now juggling theatrical, transactional, and streaming windows with increasing precision. Below is an examination of how studios like Universal, Sony, and Paramount are embracing staggered, platform-specific Pay-One strategies.

Streaming

Beyond Binge Watching: Ads, Sports, and Telecoms Are Steering Streaming Back to Cable’s Playbook

January 11, 2025 FilmTake Comments Off on Beyond Binge Watching: Ads, Sports, and Telecoms Are Steering Streaming Back to Cable’s Playbook

The U.S. streaming market is saturated, with 96% of households subscribed to services, prompting a shift from acquisition to retention strategies. Ad-supported models are gaining traction as affordability overshadows uninterrupted viewing. Live sports and telecom partnerships are key growth areas, while brand ecosystems are vital for subscriber retention in this maturing landscape.

Streaming

One Platform to Rule Them All: Aggregation Will Alter Streaming Markets in 2025

January 7, 2025 FilmTake Comments Off on One Platform to Rule Them All: Aggregation Will Alter Streaming Markets in 2025

Standalone SVOD services are experiencing a shift as consumers grapple with rising costs and subscription stacking. Many are turning to video aggregators, which simplify access but risk escalating prices. The market may soon consist of fewer standalone players alongside aggregators, highlighting the necessity for service bundling to reduce churn and enhance consumer convenience.

Distribution

2024 in Review: Netflix Reigns, Roku Rises, Theaters Falter, and Trends Shaping 2025

January 4, 2025 FilmTake Comments Off on 2024 in Review: Netflix Reigns, Roku Rises, Theaters Falter, and Trends Shaping 2025

In 2024, the media industry faced significant challenges, with domestic box office revenues falling sharply due to delays and a lack of original content. Contrarily, free ad-supported streaming platforms like Roku gained traction, indicating a shift towards cost-effective viewing. The industry grapples with evolving strategies amid ongoing mergers and the rise of library content.

Broadcast & PayTV

Splitting the Difference: Why Warner Bros. and Comcast Are Carving Up Their Empires

December 17, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off on Splitting the Difference: Why Warner Bros. and Comcast Are Carving Up Their Empires

Warner Bros. Discovery and Comcast are restructuring to separate their declining linear TV networks from streaming divisions, signaling the end of linear television’s dominance. This strategy, framed as a means to enhance value, highlights the sector’s collapse as advertisers and viewers shift to digital platforms. Mergers or sell-offs are imminent.

Streaming

SVOD Trends in 2025: International Variability, Advertising, and Pricing Adjustments

December 15, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off on SVOD Trends in 2025: International Variability, Advertising, and Pricing Adjustments

Content and pricing strategies are shifting as platforms focus on retaining subscribers with live sports and bundled services. Sports rights, such as those for the Champions League and NFL, have driven substantial growth for Paramount+ and Peacock—Prime Video benefits from integrating most major streaming services into one platform.

Streaming

Chasing Netflix: How the Major Media Companies Stack Up in Subscribers, Revenue, and Challenges [Part Five]

October 13, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off on Chasing Netflix: How the Major Media Companies Stack Up in Subscribers, Revenue, and Challenges [Part Five]

The following five-part article series looks at how the major streaming services compare in terms of financial performance, subscriber numbers, and the unique strengths and challenges each faces in the ever-evolving streaming industry, concluding with a review of wildcard streamers Prime Video, Apple TV+, and issues facing the streaming industry.

Streaming

Chasing Netflix: How the Major Media Companies Stack Up in Subscribers, Revenue, and Challenges [Part Four]

October 8, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off on Chasing Netflix: How the Major Media Companies Stack Up in Subscribers, Revenue, and Challenges [Part Four]

The following five-part article series looks at how the major streaming services compare in terms of financial performance, subscriber numbers, and the unique strengths and challenges each faces in the ever-evolving streaming industry, continuing with a review of the mid-tier streamers Paramount+ and Peacock.

Streaming

Chasing Netflix: How the Major Media Companies Stack Up in Subscribers, Revenue, and Challenges [Part Three]

October 6, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off on Chasing Netflix: How the Major Media Companies Stack Up in Subscribers, Revenue, and Challenges [Part Three]

The following five-part article series looks at how the major streaming services compare in terms of financial performance, subscriber numbers, and the unique strengths and challenges each faces in the ever-evolving streaming industry, continuing with a review of Netflix’s biggest competitors, Disney+ and Max.

Streaming

Chasing Netflix: How the Major Media Companies Stack Up in Subscribers, Revenue, and Challenges [Part Two]

October 1, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off on Chasing Netflix: How the Major Media Companies Stack Up in Subscribers, Revenue, and Challenges [Part Two]

The following five-part article series looks at how the major streaming services compare in terms of financial performance, subscriber numbers, and the unique strengths and challenges each faces in the ever-evolving streaming industry, continuing with a deep dive into Netflix.

Streaming

Chasing Netflix: How the Major Media Companies Stack Up in Subscribers, Revenue, and Challenges [Part One]

September 29, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off on Chasing Netflix: How the Major Media Companies Stack Up in Subscribers, Revenue, and Challenges [Part One]

The following five-part article series looks at how the major streaming services compare in terms of financial performance, subscriber numbers, and the unique strengths and challenges each faces in the ever-evolving streaming industry, beginning with a survey of the streaming market before reviewing the significant streamers.

Distribution

From Cord-Cutting to Cable 2.0: The Evolution of Streaming Looks Just Like Cable TV

September 25, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off on From Cord-Cutting to Cable 2.0: The Evolution of Streaming Looks Just Like Cable TV

The streaming revolution was once celebrated as the future of entertainment, promising viewers the flexibility, variety, and convenience that cable never offered. However, as streaming services evolve, it’s becoming evident that they’re repeating old patterns. With bundling deals, escalating subscription prices, and a growing reliance on ad-supported content, streaming mirrors the cable model it once created to disrupt.