Streaming Wars Heat Up

Netflix dominates H1 2026 most-streamed movies; Disney+ posts $712M operating income and explores free ad-supported tier, plus TikTok partnership. Apple TV and YouTube Premium bundle deals intensify competition. Peacock's Matt Strauss outlines sports-led strategy. WBD's streaming profits surged 60% to $512M in Q2, but linear ad revenue cratered 27% (NBA loss) and studio revenue plunged 39%, highlighting the streaming-vs-linear tension. Starz posted a $189M net loss in Q2, with linear subscribers fleeing and an output deal exit from Universal, signaling niche platform struggles.