Inside the Stream: YouTube’s Record Q1, Roku’s Howdy Hits 1 Million Subscribers
YouTube reported a record Q1, with ad revenue edging close to $10 billion—an 11% increase year‑over‑year and about 25% versus two years ago. Both direct‑response and brand ads performed strongly, but the fastest‑growing segment was subscriptions, led by Premium and Music. Meanwhile, Roku’s low‑cost SVOD service Howdy hit the 1 million‑subscriber mark in under a year, underscoring the platform’s promotional reach. Roku also posted a solid Q1 ad‑revenue run, reinforcing its dual‑revenue model.
Inside the Stream: Netflix Chugs Along, Growing Opportunistically
Netflix posted steady Q1 2026 growth as it moves into a more mature phase. The streamer added roughly 4.5 million new subscribers, pushing quarterly revenue up about 6% to $8.5 billion. Management highlighted opportunistic expansion into ad‑supported tiers, gaming titles, live‑sports rights and...
Inside the Stream: Interview With Wurl’s EMEA GM on Sports and FASTs
Wurl’s EMEA general manager Keith Bedford told the Inside the Stream podcast that free‑ad‑supported streaming TV (FAST) offers a sizable, untapped opportunity for live sports. He highlighted early success stories where European broadcasters and sports rights holders have launched FAST...
Inside the Stream: Apple Taps IMAX for F1, YouTube Expands in the UK, Colbert Streams
Apple has teamed with IMAX to broadcast five Formula 1 races across 50 U.S. IMAX theatres, extending its five‑year exclusive F1 rights on Apple TV+. In the United Kingdom, more than half of YouTube’s audience now watches the service on television sets,...
Inside the Stream: YouTube TV’s Skinny Bundles, AMC’s Streaming, Super Bowl Stats
YouTube TV is launching three lower‑priced "skinny" bundles that focus on sports, news, and entertainment, all priced below its $83 base tier. The move targets cord‑cutters and cord‑nevers while testing whether existing subscribers will downgrade. AMC reported that its domestic...
Inside the Stream: NFL-ESPN, Fubo-Hulu, YouTube Growth, Peacock’s Losses
The NFL finalized a partnership with ESPN, taking a 10% equity stake in the network while surrendering NFL Network, RedZone, and fantasy assets. The league is now poised to renegotiate its broader media contracts, signaling potential shifts in rights fees....