streaming industry

Chinese robotics firm Unitree broadcast a live performance featuring what it calls the world's largest-scale demonstration of full-size humanoid robots, drawing over three million likes. The stream showed multiple humanoids moving in real time, fuelling online discussion about how far China's robotics industry has advanced and how quickly these machines are moving from lab demos to public showcases.

Apple Music is set to open a concert venue inside London's Battersea Power Station, adding a live music space to the landmark's growing retail and entertainment district. The move signals Apple's continued investment in music beyond streaming, following its radio stations and live sessions. Details on capacity, opening date and programming have not yet been confirmed.

Filmmaker and producer Shawn Levy has signed an overall deal with Disney's 20th Television, moving his production company's TV business after a long run at Netflix. Levy, whose credits include directing Deadpool & Wolverine and producing Stranger Things through 21 Laps, will now develop television projects under the Disney banner. The move marks a notable shift for one of Netflix's most prolific creative partners.

The Pentagon is preparing to buy electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, opening a new defense funding stream for the emerging eVTOL industry. Financial coverage is focused on which listed companies stand to benefit most from the military contracts, with investors weighing which stock captures the defense money.

YouTube is rolling out Shorts Series, a new format that arranges short-form videos into episodic, TV-style seasons. The feature lets creators package individual Shorts into ordered episodes, encouraging binge-style viewing on mobile. The move positions YouTube's short video product closer to traditional television, competing with TikTok and streaming services for audiences and serialized creator content.

David Ellison has emerged from a contentious fight for Warner Bros., and attention now turns to what he will do with the studio. Commentators note that winning the battle was the easy part: he must manage heavy costs, restore the studio's film slate, and compete with streaming rivals. Industry observers describe his path forward in Hollywood as daunting.

New research forecasts that embedded finance revenue will grow to US$617 billion by 2031, reflecting the rapid expansion of financial services integrated directly into non-financial platforms such as retail, software and marketplaces. Analysts expect payments, lending and insurance offered through these channels to become a major revenue stream for banks and fintechs as partnerships accelerate across industries.

A new report examines whether streaming platforms are becoming more reluctant to renew shows, amid ongoing cost-cutting across the industry. Industry observers say renewal decisions have grown more unpredictable, with series cancelled despite strong audiences. Creators and fans increasingly complain that cancellation decisions lack transparency, keeping the topic of streaming renewal practices in the conversation.

A DC film that underperformed in theaters has become the most-watched movie on HBO Max this week. The turnaround highlights how streaming audiences are giving a second life to titles that failed commercially on the big screen, a pattern increasingly common for superhero releases. Commentators note the gap between box office results and home viewing as studios weigh shorter theatrical windows.

Discussion around BBC iPlayer is being driven by renewed talk about the future of Britain's public broadcasters, with veteran television executive Wayne Garvie arguing that the BBC and Channel 4 should merge. The proposal has prompted debate about whether combining the two broadcasters, and their streaming services, would secure their finances or weaken pluralism in UK public-service broadcasting.

The Hollywood Reporter has published a complete guide to television premiere dates for 2026, laying out when major new and returning shows are expected to debut across broadcast, cable and streaming. The roundup serves as a scheduling reference for viewers and industry watchers tracking the year's lineup.

SES and Sky have agreed to extend their partnership on satellite capacity for the coming decade. The deal secures satellite infrastructure for Sky's broadcast distribution in Germany and beyond, ensuring continued signal delivery as the industry weighs satellite capacity against internet-based streaming. The agreement is drawing attention from media and telecom watchers tracking how pay-TV operators manage the transition to streaming.

PropNex, Singapore's largest listed property agency, is laying out plans to grow its business beyond its core residential brokerage operations in the domestic market. The company is reported to be plotting its next phase of expansion, with observers watching how it will diversify revenue streams and extend its reach as Singapore's housing market matures.

Euronews is holding its Travel & Tourism Summit in Brussels today, with proceedings streamed live online. The event brings together industry and policy figures to discuss the future of European travel and tourism. Little detail has been released about the speaker line-up or agenda beyond the broadcast itself.

Streaming service Fubo has added four NHL regional sports networks to its lineup for the 2026-27 season, expanding its hockey coverage for subscribers. The move, reported by Sports Video Group, strengthens Fubo's sports offering as streaming platforms compete to carry live regional games. Sports fans and industry watchers are tracking which platforms secure NHL rights as broadcast deals continue shifting toward streaming.

A federal judge has approved the antitrust settlement removing the final regulatory obstacle to the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, according to IndieWire. The deal, which would combine two of Hollywood's largest studios and streaming operations, had faced scrutiny over competition concerns and can now move forward. The ruling marks a major consolidation moment for the US entertainment industry.

Shawn Levy, the producer behind Stranger Things, is leaving Netflix to join Disney. Levy has been one of Netflix's most important creative partners, and his move to a rival studio is drawing attention as a significant shift in the streaming wars. Fans are watching what it means for the future of Stranger Things and upcoming projects.

Moneycontrol's Startup Conclave 2026 is underway, streamed live under the theme 'The Big Reset: AI Shift. Profitability. Valuation.' The event brings together founders and investors to debate how startups adapt business models as artificial intelligence reshapes operations, and how the industry balances growth against investor pressure for profits and realistic valuations.

Red5 published a blog post arguing that the MPEG-2 Transport Stream, a decades-old broadcasting format, remains relevant in modern streaming, including in emerging Media Over QUIC (MOQ) architectures. The piece contends that MPEG-TS's mature multiplexing and delivery capabilities continue to serve live streaming workloads alongside newer protocols. Engineers are weighing how legacy formats fit into next-generation media transport discussions.

A century-old independently owned movie theater is the subject of a new profile examining how it has managed to stay in business. The piece looks at the challenges facing small single-screen cinemas, including competition from streaming and large multiplex chains, and the strategies that keep this one's doors open after 100 years.

A judge has approved an $11 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros., a ruling that would combine two of Hollywood's biggest studios and reshape the entertainment landscape. The decision is drawing wide attention as people debate what the consolidation means for the film and television industry, competition, and the future of streaming.

Disney has agreed to license a lineup of films and television series to Netflix, including titles such as 'Ice Age' and 'Will Trent'. The deal marks a notable shift toward streaming partnership between the two rivals, as Disney continues balancing its own Disney+ platform with revenue from licensing content to competitors.

US lawmakers are moving to mandate AM radio in all new vehicles, over the objections of automakers who say the feature is outdated and adds cost as manufacturers increasingly drop it in favor of digital streaming. Supporters argue AM radio remains a vital channel for emergency alerts and weather warnings, especially in rural areas, and say safety concerns outweigh industry objections. The debate is drawing attention to how drivers receive critical public safety information.

A24 is bringing three new television series produced in the U.K. to Paramount+. The deal adds to A24's growing slate of prestige TV and gives Paramount+ another hook for subscribers. Details on the shows, cast and release dates have not yet been announced.

A new ranking names the five most important television showrunners of the 1990s, the decade that reshaped prestige drama and sitcom storytelling. The list is prompting debate among fans about who truly defined the era, with names associated with landmark series of the period dominating the conversation. It revives broader discussion of how showrunner-driven television transformed the industry and set the template for the streaming age that followed.

Grocery retailer Ahold Delhaize is deploying artificial intelligence to improve its retail media business, the advertising operation that sells brands placement and insights across its stores and digital channels. According to Grocery Dive, the company is using AI tools to make its retail media offering more effective and data-driven. The move reflects a wider push among grocers to build retail media into a major profit stream.

A debate is underway over whether live theater is a dying industry, with a long-form discussion examining falling audiences, rising production costs, and competition from streaming entertainment. Participants weigh the decline of theatergoing among younger audiences against signs of resilience, and viewers are responding in large numbers, suggesting many people share concerns about the art form's future.

MIA Market, the Rome-based film and audiovisual market, has announced its 2026 program and lineup with a focus on the digital era. The trade event, which brings together film, TV and digital content professionals, is shaping its upcoming edition around how the industry is adapting to streaming, new technologies and evolving distribution models.

Netflix has appointed Naomi Bulochnikov-Paul, a former Disney executive, as its new head of TV series communications. The hire, reported by Variety, signals the streaming giant's continued effort to strengthen its public relations leadership as competition in the streaming industry intensifies. It also adds to the ongoing movement of executives between the two entertainment rivals.

Liz Harris, the experimental musician behind the project Grouper, has given an interview to The Guardian discussing the music industry's dangers, including streaming scams and the pressures of virality, saying it is 'rational to fear' the industry. She also talks about her 'restorative' dream-pop trio, describing how the new band setup has influenced her recent work and outlook on making music outside mainstream structures.

Movie theater operators are committing $2.7 billion to major upgrades, including better screens, sound and seating, in a bid to draw audiences back after years of struggling attendance. The spending reflects an industry-wide push to make going to the cinema feel like a premium experience that streaming cannot replicate, though it remains to be seen whether moviegoers will return in sufficient numbers.

Film Threat examines the ongoing shift from cinema screens to phones and other small devices, arguing that mobile entertainment continues to expand as audiences grow accustomed to watching films and shows wherever they are. The piece explores what this trend means for traditional moviegoing and how studios and streaming services are adapting to viewers who increasingly watch on the go.