After 21,417 cuts in 2023, 15,039 in 2024, and 17,163 in 2025, the business has reset to a smaller steady state. AI dominates the narrative, but consolidation, linear revenue erosion, streaming margin pressure, and distribution volatility continue to drive workforce contraction.
AI’s clearest impact so far is workflow compression and higher expectations for individual throughput.
'Premium' Streamers Outperform YouTube for CTV Co-Viewing, Attention
Read More
Registration Is Now Open: OTT.X Breakfast at NAB 2026
Read More
Apple TV Live Sports, F1 get Ingested by DirecTV, Distributed by EverPass
Read More
Roku Added 17 New Free Live Channels on Roku TVs & Roku Players in February 2026
Read More
Registration Is Now Open: OTT.X Advertising Roundtables - March 27
Read More
Media Labor Is Being Repriced and AI Isn’t the Primary Driver
After 21,417 cuts in 2023, 15,039 in 2024, and 17,163 in 2025, the business has reset to a smaller steady state. AI dominates the narrative, but consolidation, linear revenue erosion, streaming margin pressure, and distribution volatility continue to drive workforce contraction.
AI’s clearest impact so far is workflow compression and higher expectations for individual throughput.
The Take
Media labor now tracks direct economic contribution more closely than title or tenure.
Consolidation operates as an ongoing condition. Distribution volatility flows quickly into payroll decisions. AI increases output expectations and supports leaner staffing models, while balance sheet pressure drives execution.
“Important” work is not protective. Revenue adjacency determines durability.
Read the Full Analysis: The Streaming Wars
'Premium' Streamers Outperform YouTube for CTV Co-Viewing, Attention
YouTube has become a leading force on connected TV, but is the audience attention and engagement on par with what advertisers can expect from those touted as “premium" video streaming services?
While defining “TV” and YouTube’s role continues to entice debate among some in the industry, robust consumption of the Google-owned video platform on the living room’s largest screen is less of a question (as evidenced in part by YouTube’s consistent pole position among streamers in Nielsen’s The Gauge U.S. monthly TV time share tracker).
Consumers themselves may not care much about classifying YouTube videos watched on CTV as distinct from so-called premium streaming services, but marketers investing ad dollars across the CTV ecosystem may be more keen to understand if and how audience behavior compares between platforms, in part to help gauge which impressions are working hardest. As do streaming services that compete against the likes of YouTube for consumer time, attention and want to capture their share of marketer CTV ad investment, which is forecast to grow 13.8% in the U.S. this year.
To that end, on Tuesday the Video Advertising Bureau (VAB) released a commissioned study, fielded July 2024 to June 2025, by measurement and attention analytics provider TVision to examine CTV audience consumption habits on what it dubs as Premium Video Platforms compared to YouTube.
TVision’s study for VAB defines “premium video platforms” as hybrid AVOD/SVOD services, virtual MVPDs and free ad-supported streaming (or FAST) services.
Understanding different audience behaviors with YouTube viewing versus premium streaming platforms could also be useful to marketers at a time when some are feeling pressure to maximize and prove value of CTV investments as they work to figure out where ad budgets are best spent.
A separate report from Pixability last year showed how YouTube’s vast library of user-generated content alongside the evolving nature of its platform to incorporate more long-form and what could be considered “premium” content and growth on CTV meant the video platform had become a bit more of a puzzle for marketers since it no longer fits neatly into one box for video ad investments.
Read the Story: StreamTV Insider
Early Bird Registration Ends February 28th: OTT.X Breakfast at NAB 2026
Early bird registration for OTT.X Breakfast at NAB ends February 28—secure your discounted pass now and make plans to join OTT.X in Las Vegas on April 19th.
The annual OTT.X Breakfast at NAB brings together top executives from across broadcast, streaming, and CTV for an exclusive, executive-level gathering to kick off the week. Featuring candid conversations, forward-looking insights, and meaningful networking over a full breakfast, it’s a must-attend moment for those focused on the future of content, distribution, and monetization.
Confirmed programming includes a preview of the NAB Show Streaming Summit led by chairman Dan Rayburn, an AWS-led session on the infrastructure and architecture powering streaming at scale, and a research briefing highlighting the key market trends shaping this year’s show—providing valuable context to start your week informed and ahead of the curve.
Start your NAB week where broadcast meets its next evolution—and where the industry’s most important conversations begin.
Apple TV Live Sports, F1 get Ingested by DirecTV, Distributed by EverPass
Apple TV is expanding access and reach for its live sports offering, which this year includes existing MLS and MLB programming as well as the first year of rights for Formula 1 racing in the U.S.
Apple’s inaugural F1 season begins in March and the Major League Soccer season kicked off this past weekend, where Apple and MLS execs expect to drive viewership thanks to an earlier pivot that ended the standalone MLS Season Pass offer and makes all 2026 matches available as part of an Apple TV subscription (scroll down for more on that).
And this week saw separate moves with DirecTV and EverPass Media that make it easier for pay TV customers to access Apple TV’s live sports programming and expands out-of-home distribution.
First up, EverPass Media – the entity formed in April 2023 backed by RedBird Capital and others to aggregate and distribute streaming live sports and entertainment content in commercial venues like bars, hotels and restaurants.
Under a new agreement, Apple TV’s live sports, including F1, MLS and MLB with the Friday Night Baseball weekly doubleheader, are part of EverPass’ Core package for new and existing business customers at no extra cost. The live sports content from Apple joins others in the EverPass package, including Paramount+’s UEFA Champions League, Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football, the Peacock Sports Pass, ESPN+ and NFL Sunday Ticket.
“We are excited to partner with Apple and bring its premier content to EverPass, enhancing our ability to deliver must-have live sports to commercial audiences,” said Alex Kaplan, CEO of EverPass Media, in a statement. “From the continued growth of MLS and the enduring pull of MLB to Formula 1’s rapidly expanding global fanbase, Apple’s content strengthens and diversifies our library of premium offerings.”
Read the Full Story: StreamTV Insider
Roku Added 17 New Free Live Channels on Roku TVs & Roku Players in February 2026
Roku significantly expanded its free streaming offerings in February 2026 by adding a total of 17 new ad-supported channels available through The Roku Channel on Roku players and Roku TVs. This addition enhances the platform’s already extensive library of free content, providing viewers with diverse programming options across genres such as classic sitcoms, animated series, sports, action films, comedy, news, and lifestyle content without requiring any subscription fees.
The updates occurred in phases throughout the month. Early in February, Roku rolled out nine new dedicated channels, focusing on popular nostalgic and entertainment programming. These include dedicated streams for The Bernie Mac Show, featuring the comedian’s family-oriented sitcom from the early 2000s; Felicity, the late-1990s coming-of-age drama following a young woman’s college experiences; Blossom, the 1990s teen sitcom centered on family dynamics and personal growth; Cougar Town, the lighthearted series about middle-aged friendships and romance; America’s Funniest Home Videos, showcasing humorous user-submitted clips; Pokémon, delivering episodes and adventures from the long-running animated franchise; MeatEaters, a hunting and outdoor lifestyle program; FuelTV, dedicated to action sports and extreme activities; and Willow Sports, offering live and on-demand coverage of international cricket matches along with related highlights and analysis.
Later in the month, Roku added five more channels to further broaden its appeal, particularly toward international, wellness, and Spanish-language audiences. These include CNN Xpress (also referred to as CNN Express), a fast-paced news feed providing condensed headlines, breaking stories, and quick updates; Filmed Comedia (or Filmex Comedia), specializing in a continuous lineup of comedy films with a Latin American influence, ranging from rom-coms to classic humorous features; Filmex Accion (or Filmex Accion), focused on non-stop action cinema; SobreVivi (likely a wellness or sobriety-focused channel, possibly stylized as Sober IVvi), offering content related to recovery, healthy living, and motivational programming; and additional regional options like Telemundo Puerto Rico for Spanish-language entertainment and news from the island, Vas No Vas USA for game shows or competition formats, and Multi Camaras for multi-camera sitcom-style content.
Read the Full Story: Cord Cutters News
Registration Is Now Open: OTT.X Advertising Roundtables - March 27
Registration is now open for the OTT.X Advertising Roundtables on March 27—an exclusive, executive-level gathering focused on the future of advertising in streaming and CTV. Designed as a true working forum, this session brings together key decision-makers from across platforms, publishers, brands, agencies, and ad tech to engage in candid, solutions-oriented discussion. Attendance is limited to maintain an interactive environment, and early registration is encouraged.
As the advertising ecosystem continues to evolve, the roundtables will focus on the practical realities of monetization, measurement, addressability, and operational efficiency in a converging broadcast and streaming world. Participants will have the opportunity to share perspectives, compare approaches, and collaborate with peers facing similar challenges—helping to identify clearer paths forward for the industry.
This is not a traditional panel event, but a collaborative discussion designed to encourage participation and actionable outcomes. If you’re directly involved in CTV and streaming advertising, this is an opportunity to ensure your voice is part of the conversation.
Streaming Subscriber Revenue from Major Romance Reality Franchises
Presented By:
Understand the streaming landscape in this weekly data snapshot series from Parrot Analytics. The buzz around romance reality shows like “Love is Blind” or “Love Island” isn’t just hype, our Streaming Economics model shows how it’s translating into hundreds of millions in streaming revenue.
Key Findings
-
-
“Love is Blind” has become the most valuable romance reality series of the streaming era. Since 2020, the franchise has generated over $410M in global subscriber revenue for Netflix, beating out other heavyweights in the genre like “90 Day Fiance” and “Love Island”.
-
Across platforms romance reality has been responsible for a growing portion of platform subscriber revenue. The most dramatic example of this is Peacock where around 4.5% of streaming revenue from series was from romance reality (up from less than 1% in 2021).
-
Romance reality is a repeatable revenue engine with flexible formats, fresh casts, and built-in social buzz that platforms can replicate across spinoffs and markets. More importantly, with lower production costs than scripted series, these franchises are also one of streaming’s most efficient profit drivers.
-
In Case You Missed It
- Ask Skip: If Netflix or Paramount Acquires Warner Bros. Discovery, Does HBO Max Survive? The Streaming Wars
- Disney’s January Surge Shows Live Sports Still Decide the Score in Total TV Share. The Streaming Wars
- AWS Is Building the Production Layer for the Vertical Sports Economy. The Streaming Wars
- Subscriber Growth Fell 33%. Now Streaming Has to Prove It Can Run at Scale.. The Streaming Wars
- Ellison Turns Up the Heat as Warner Bros. Discovery Reviews a Sweeter Paramount Bid. The Streaming Wars
- The NFL Is Using YouTube to Prototype Its Next Media Rights Era. The Streaming Wars
- Price Discovery in Public. The Streaming Wars
- How Netflix Continues to Integrate Advertising Into Its Core Model. The Streaming Wars
- How Utah Is Trying to Rewire Film Production Economics With a $2 Million AI Bet. The Streaming Wars
Powered by
FOR B2B BRANDS DONE BLENDING IN.
43Twenty builds narrative clarity and content systems for media, SaaS, and streaming companies that need to matter to buyers.
We define your story, turn it into a repeatable content engine, and build authority where decisions are made.
-
No buzzwords.
-
No content spam.
-
No shortcuts.
If everyone else sounds the same, that’s your opening.
We help you take it.