| Thanks for opening today's Inside Streaming! I think this Max / Disney+ / Hulu bundle idea poses an existential threat to essentially all of the other entertainment and media companies trying to maintain their own independent streaming services. Netflix and Amazon are safe. They've still got that early mover advantage, and such a chokehold on the marketplace and visibility, I don't think they're going anywhere any time soon. (Apple TV+ seems to be operating purely on vibes at this point. They're making high-quality expensive shows for seemingly a handful of people at a time. When they're not spending their billions on crushing beloved musical instruments and art supplies, that is.) But how can Peacock or Paramount+ or AMC+ possibly compete with a content juggernaut like Max, Disney+, and Hulu together? The only way I can conceive of this working is by denying them access to crucial live sports coverage. If NBC and CBS can grab enough must-see NFL and NBA games, then maybe at least die-hard fans will have no choice but to make room in their budgets for those corresponding platforms. But if Warner Bros. Discovery can hang on to Turner's NBA rights? That might be game over. Even a combined Peacock and Paramount+ might not be able to hold off that threat. Lon
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| 1 | | Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery announced plans to launch a combined streaming service, bringing together content from Disney+, Hulu, and Max. The new service is expected to launch this summer. More: - Though both ad-supported and ad-free versions of the bundle will be available, no specific pricing was announced.
- Currently, a monthly subscription to all three services would cost $48 without ads and $25 with ads; it's expected that the bundle will cost less.
- During Warner Bros. Discovery's Q1 earnings call on Thursday, CEO David Zaslav referred to the plans as a "generational disruption" to the streaming industry and a "restructuring" of how streaming consumers will find and access content.
- WBD announced a Q1 profit of $86 million for its Direct-to-Consumer unit, which includes both streaming and cable TV divisions; that's up from $50 million profit in Q1 2023.
- The company now has 99.6 million global streaming subscribers across all of its platforms, up from 97.7 million at the end of 2023.
- WB also used the opportunity to announce two new live-action "Lord of the Rings" films from original trilogy producers Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens; the first film comes from writer/director and star Andy Serkis and focuses on the further adventures of Gollum.
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| 2 | | A new report from The New York Times suggests that Sony and Apollo Global Management plan to break up Paramount, should they succeed in acquiring the media conglomerate. Sony and Apollo's plans apparently include selling off CBS and the company's cable networks while merging the Paramount Pictures studio into Sony's businesses. More: - Sony would apparently also hold on to Paramount's IP library, which includes the "Mission: Impossible" franchise, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, SpongeBob SquarePants, and other iconic characters.
- Sony and Apollo have made a non-binding $26 billion offer for Paramount; they have yet to outline a specific plan of action for Paramount's management team or advisers.
- Paramount was engaged in exclusive acquisition talks with David Ellison's Skydance, which remains interested in a potential deal, though the exclusivity window has now lapsed.
- Deadline reports that, should Sony and Paramount eventually merge, it would not impact the studios' overall theatrical output.
- The deal could spark regulatory concerns; foreign-owned conglomerates aren't allowed to own US broadcast networks, such as CBS.
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| 3 | | DAILY CALENDAR THURSDAY, MAY 9 PRETTY LITTLE LIARS: SUMMER SCHOOL: Max's "Pretty Little Liars" reboot -- previously subtitled "Original Sin" -- returns for a second season, in which Millwood High students deal with the usual stresses like extra classes and summer jobs along with a deadly new threat. Bailee Madison, Chandler Kinney, Zaria, Malia Pyles, and Maia Reficco co-star. [Max] THE GOAT: Debut reality competition series in which various reality TV veterans move in together and square off in a string of mental, physical, and social challenges, to determine which one is the Greatest Of All Time... at being on a reality show. Participants include Tayshia Adams of "The Bachelor," "Vamderpump Rules" vet Kristen Doute, CJ Franco of "FBoy Island," Paola Mayfield from "90 Day Fiancé," Da'Vonne Rogers of "Big Brother," and many more. Daniel Tosh hosts. [Prime Video] MAXTON HALL – THE WORLD BETWEEN US (DIE WELT ZWISCHEN UNS): Debut romantic drama series from Germany, based on the novel "Save Me" by Mona Kasten. When college student Ruby (Harriet Herbig-Matten) unwittingly learns a dark secret, arrogant heir James (Damian Hardung) sets out to silence her, but the pair soon find themselves drawn to one another despite their differences. Fedja van Huet, Andrea Guo, and Justus Riesner co-star. [Prime Video] MOTHER OF THE BRIDE: 2024 romantic comedy feature from "Mean Girls" and "Freaky Friday" director Mark Waters. Brooke Shields stars as a mom who travels to Thailand for her daughter's destination wedding, then discovers the groom's father (Benjamin Bratt) is an old flame. Miranda Cosgrove, Chad Michael Murray, and Rachael Harris co-star. [Netflix] BODKIN: Debut dark comedy-mystery series from the UK, starring Will Forte and Siobhán Cullen as podcasters investigating a string of strange disappearances in a small Irish town. Robyn Cara, David Wilmot, Chris Walley, and Seán Óg Cairns co-star; newcomer Jez Scharf created. [Netflix] THE GUARDIAN OF THE MONARCHS (EL GUARDIÁN DE LAS MONARCAS): Spanish-language documentary from Mexico profiling Homero Gómez, an environmental activist who raised awareness about endangered monarch butterfly populations in the forests of Michoacán before his mysterious disappearance and death. Emiliano Ruprah ("Nómadas") directs. [Netflix] THANK YOU, NEXT (KIMLER GELDI KIMLER GEÇTI): Romantic comedy series from Turkey, starring Serenay Sarikaya as an unlucky-in-love lawyer who finds herself in the middle of the "Divorce Case of the Year" when she agrees to represent a notorious womanizer's third wife. [Netflix] BLACK TWITTER: A PEOPLE'S HISTORY: Three-part docuseries from Onyx, inspired by Jason Paham's Wired article "A People's History of Black Twitter," examining the "Black Twitter" community and its lasting influence and impact on American culture. Prentice Penny ("Insecure") executive produced. The series debuted at this year's SXSW festival. [Hulu] KINGS OF BBQ: Food and travel series from A&E in which Anthony Anderson and Cedric the Entertainer travel across the US to learn secrets from the BBQ masters, as they prepare to launch their own culinary business. Season 1 aired last year on cable and hits Hulu in the US today. [Hulu] WITNESS TO MURDER: DIGITAL EVIDENCE: True-crime docuseries from A&E exploring how cutting-edge technology helps law enforcement to pursue homicide investigations and capture offenders. Season 1 aired last year on cable and hits Hulu today. [Hulu] LOVE UNDERCOVER: Debut reality dating series in which five internationally famous football stars pose as everyday guys and go on dates with single women in Los Angeles, where they're less recognizable. The athletes include Jamie O'Hara, Ryan Babel, Lloyd Jones, Marco Fabián and Sebastián Fassi. [Peacock] | | | |
| 4 | | Peacock renewed the fantasy-comedy series "Ted" for a second season. The show, a prequel to Seth MacFarlane's films about the adventures of a randy talking teddy bear, was originally billed as a limited series, but has proved a considerable hit for NBCUniversal's streamer. More: - According to Peacock, "Ted" is its most-watched original series to date.
- Earlier this year, "Ted" was the most-watched original streaming comedy series for two consecutive months, according to Nielsen data.
- The series follows Ted in the early 1990s, when he's living with a family in Framingham, Massachusetts; MacFarlane voices Ted while Max Burkholder plays his teenage best friend, John.
- MacFarlane created the series and also directs, produces, and showruns along with Paul Corrigan and Brad Walsh.
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| 5 | | According to Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch, Tubi now has 80 million average monthly viewers. That's up from 67 million in the same period last year. More: - Viewing time on the free ad-supported platform jumped by 36% in Q3, while revenue climbed by 22%.
- According to Murdoch, Tubi is the most-watched FAST platform in the US; it now controls a larger share of the US streaming market than rivals Roku Channel and Pluto TV along with subscription platforms Peacock, Max, and Paramount+.
- The streamer ordered its first-ever original live-action scripted series this week; Lauren Graham will executive produce and star in "The Z-Suite," a workplace comedy from creator Katie O'Brien ("The Santa Clauses").
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| 6 | | Paramount+ renewed the espionage drama "Lioness" for a second season. The series, previously titled "Special Ops: Lioness," comes from producer and "Yellowstone" vet Taylor Sheridan, as part of his overall deal at Paramount+. More: - The series is set within a CIA division composed entirely of female soldiers; Laysla De Oliveira stars as Sgt. Cruz Manuelos, a rookie on the team who, in Season 1, infililtrated a terrorist organization.
- Zoe Saldaña, Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, and Nicole Kidman co-star; Morgan Freeman, who made guest appearances in Season 1, has been upped to a series regular for Season 2.
- According to Paramount's internal figures, "Lioness" was viewed by around 6 million people in its first week across both Paramount+ and the Paramount Network cable channel.
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| 7 | | Netflix's live Tom Brady Roast comedy special drew around 2 million viewers during its Sunday debut. That was good enough to rank #6 on the week's chart of Netflix's most-watched shows, despite only being available for around half of a single day. More: - The roast was one of three live events streamed over the weekend by Netflix; John Mulaney's late night chat and variety series "Everybody's in LA" debuted on Friday night, while the platform streamed a live comedy special from Katt Williams on Saturday.
- According to Netflix executive Robbie Praw, who oversees the platform's comedy and stand-up formats, the Roast special was pitched to the streamer two years ago with Brady already attached; plans had to be delayed after he un-retired from the NFL.
- Praw suggests no specific jokes or topics were considered "off-limits" for the roasting comedians, and there were no prior discussions about red flags or subjects to avoid.
- Praw also told THR that the crowd booing presenter Kim Kardashian was edited out of the program as a creative decision, and was not done at the insistance of Kardashian or her representatives.
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| 8 | | Hulu ordered a pilot for "Downforce," a comedy series set in the world of Formula 1 racing. The series centers on an heiress who assumes control of her family's storied racing team, forcing her to make some tough choices More: - The show comes from "Silicon Valley" vets Alec Berg and Adam Countee; they'll write the first episode and serve as co-showrunners should it get picked up to series.
- Berg is a veteran of "Barry," "Seinfeld," and "Curb Your Enthusiasm"; this is the first project to emerge from his overall development deal with ABC Signature.
- Netflix's "The Crew," starring Kevin James, was another streaming comedy set in the auto racing world; it lasted just one season before being canceled.
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| 9 | | QUICK HITS - Following a week of conflicting reports, producer Bryan Fuller exited the "Friday the 13th" prequel series currently in development at A24 for Peacock, due to creative differences.
- "Doctor Who" vet Russell T. Davies said the BBC would have been more diligent than Netflix in protecting the privacy of real people who inspired the drama series "Baby Reindeer"; on Thursday, Piers Morgan will interview Fiona Harvey, who claims she was the basis for the stalker character, Martha.
- Marvel Studios collaborated with Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) on an immersive MCU-themed AR and VR experience, produced exclusively for Apple's Vision Pro headset; "What If...? An Immersive Story" was inspired by the animated Disney+ series, and invites the player to explore alternate MCU timelines and realities.
- The comedy series "Unprisoned" returns to Hulu for a second season on July 17; all eight episodes will debut simultaneously.
- Michael Peña is the latest actor to join Taylor Sheridan's West Texas oil industry drama "Landman"; the Paramount+ series co-stars Billy Bob Thornton, Ali Larter, and Demi Moore, and will feature guest appearances from Jon Hamm and Andy Garcia.
- CBS is the first major TV network to announce its fall 2024 schedule.
- Netflix's upcoming Spanish-language medical drama series "Breathless" comes from "Elite" creator Carlos Montero; the series centers on doctors and residents at public Valencia hospital Joaquín Sorolla.
- After a slow 2023, a new report indicates that the Southeast Asian streaming market is headed for a rebound; the region saw record new streaming sign-ups in Q1 and got a major boost to subscription revenues.
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 | Writer | | Lon Harris is the writer and editor of Inside Streaming and was the very first person to ever write an Inside newsletter. He lives in Los Angeles, California, and also writes about TV and film for Fandom, Screen Junkies, Rotten Tomatoes, Gamma Ray and others. Plus he has a Game of Thrones podcast called "Casterly Talk" and competes on The Movie Trivia Schmoedown as "The Professor." | | This newsletter was edited by Lon Harris | |
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