“We’re not just dying of natural causes, we’re being poisoned” - Jimmy Kimmel
When I first started in TV some 24 years ago, C-SPAN’s Peter Kiley showed me something that would shift my thinking on television forever: a mobile phone with TV clips on it. Soon enough, he said, people will be watching on computers and phones. What that means for TV as we know it will change, he told me.
But then for decades, TV kinda felt the same. Linear experiences, subscriber fees, ad breaks and UGC on the side as “not TV”! That is, until the pandemic accelerated change on all fronts.
Now, people spend the equivalent to a working day on a phone consuming, making, and sharing short clips in an environment where a second too long watching an ad assures you’re going to be stalked by that ad and ads like it. And TV is now a battle between next generation tech funded by Wall Street and traditional high quality programming.
Guess who is winning? A look at what we have in store this week answers that question for you.
If you’re going to Stream TV next week, be sure to check out the TVREV track on Tuesday!
TiVo: TV Viewing Hits Post-Pandemic Peak [Alan quoted in TVTech]
TL;DR: TV viewing has reached its highest level since the pandemic, driven largely by streaming's continued growth and stronger engagement across platforms, according to TiVo's latest Video Trends report.
Samsung TV Plus And Dhar Mann Partner, Debut Original Series [Adweek]
TL;DR: Samsung TV Plus is doubling down on creator-led originals, partnering with YouTube powerhouse Dhar Mann for its first-ever original scripted series, Unlikely Romances.
Ahead of World Cup, Roku offers aggregated Soccer Zone [StreamTV Insider]
TL;DR: Roku introduced Soccer Zone, a dedicated hub aggregating live matches, highlights, scores, and related content from across streaming services ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Disney is poised to ramp its already booming advertising business. Rita Ferro is behind the push [CNBC]
TL;DR: Disney’s Rita Ferro is becoming one of the most influential executives in media advertising as Disney prepares to host major events like the Super Bowl, Oscars, and Grammys in 2027, all key drivers of ad revenue.
FAST Content Isn’t Always ‘Premium,’ But That’s Where TV Ad Innovation Is Happening [AdExchanger]
TL;DR: While FAST content isn't always considered premium, advertisers and platforms are increasingly using FAST environments to experiment with new ad formats, targeting capabilities, and programmatic buying strategies.
Amazon Ads, LinkedIn Collaboration Focused on CTV [Demand Gen Report]
TL;DR: Amazon DSP users can now activate LinkedIn's professional audience data—including job title, industry, and seniority—for connected TV campaigns.
FAST Growth Among Younger Audiences - How Far Can It Go? [MediaPost]
TL;DR: According to the VAB analysis of an MRI Simmons study, 61% of FAST viewers are cord-cutters or cord-nevers, suggesting free, ad-supported streaming is becoming a primary viewing option rather than just a supplement to pay TV.
The Trade Desk Appoints Nate Olmstead CFO After a Year of Executive Turnover [Adweek]
TL;DR: The Trade Desk has appointed Nate Olmstead as CFO, bringing in a veteran finance executive as the company looks to stabilize leadership after significant executive turnover.
DirecTV and Scripps Locked in Retransmission Battle, as 54 Local TV Stations Go Dark on the Service Across 36 Markets [Variety]
TL;DR: DirecTV and Scripps are locked in a retransmission dispute that has taken 54 local TV stations off DirecTV across 36 markets.
ICYMI
- Tubi expands video podcasts with SiriusXM deal [Alan quoted in StreamTV Insider]
- Samsung: Free streaming apps achieving similar reach as broadcast TV [TheDesk.net]
- Amazon’s Media Empire Quietly Taps Outside Ad Sales Help [The Information]
- LG Radio Adds iHeartRadio’s Podcasts And Live Radio Streams. [PodcastNewsDaily]
- Congress invites NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to testify over league’s use of streaming services [NBC News]
- YouTube Leads Netflix In Global Daily Viewing [MediaPost]
- NFL Season Ad Spend Rises 7% To $5.9B [MediaPost]
- Nearly 70% of Americans Play Video Games for at Least an Hour Each Week, New Report Finds [Variety]
- Prime Video's NASCAR Coverage Is Driving Sales Results for Sponsors [EMARKETER]
- More Late-Night Ad Dollars? What Remains For Kimmel, Fallon [MediaPost]
- Midterm Ad Spend Soars, California Leads At $315M [MediaPost]
Hanlon’s Local Links
- Will Must-Carry Make It To NextGen TV? - Gary Arlen [TVTech]
- Charlie Ergen's SPAC Moves To Take Over HC2 Broadcasting - Jeff Baumgartner [Light Reading]
- MLB Salary Cap Proposal Would Centralize Local TV Revenue, End Blackouts - Sam Neumann [Awful Announcing]
- NBA Hires Matt Volk To Newly Created Local Media Position - Sam Neumann [Awful Announcing]
- Arizona’s Family Launches Single App For Suns And Mercury - Tom Friend [Sports Business Journal]
- Hubbard Radio Announces Rebrand Of ‘Media That Connects’ - John Mamola [Barrett Media]
- Axios Bets That AI Can Make Local News Pay, One Market At A Time - Mark Stenberg [Adweek]
- With Monitor Local, The Maine Monitor Expands To Civic News - Written By Local Residents - For Rural Counties - Sophie Culpepper [NiemanLab]
