Roku exceeds revenue goal / Peacock losses / "Suits" sets record / Xfinity Series to CW

Plus the weekend calendar, Glover Bros. take on "Lando," NASA+ details, MLS Season Pass sets record, and more

Inside Streaming For July 28, 2023

Happy Friday everyone! In today's issue, we've got some promising new numbers from Roku, and some added context on Peacock's performance over the last quarter. I'm also very intrigued by how well USA Networks' "Suits" is performing on both Netflix and Peacock; the legal comedy-drama series set a new viewership record in late June and early July, with around 3.1 billion minutes in just a week. That's a HUGE number, far above the previous record holder, which was NBC's "Manifest." Streamers just don't seem capable of producing a show like "Suits," an amiable comedy-drama that ran for 9 seasons. (It's worth noting that the show featured now-Duchess Meghan Markle as a regular, which may have added to the public's curiosity factor when it popped up on Netflix and Peacock.) It's the kind of safe, pleasant "comfort TV" people enjoy having on in the background while they do other stuff. Though these kinds of shows are the lifeblood of streamers, the platforms themselves seem far more comfortable with developing big attention-grabbing event shows. They're very good at "Stranger Things" and "Wednesday." But you still kinda need broadcast and cable networks to pull in "The Good Doctor" and "Suits." At least for now. Enjoy today's issue and have a great weekend! Lon p/lon-harris

1 Roku exceeded Wall Street's expectations in the second quarter of 2023, hitting revenue of $847.2 million, along with a net loss of $107.6 million. That's an 11% increase over the same period in 2022. More: Expenses were up 8% over the same period in 2022, at $504 million, but down from the first quarter of 2023, when they hit $550 million. Roku added 1.9 million new active accounts in Q2, and now has 73.5 million overall; that's a 16% year-over-year increase. Roku projects net revenue of $815 million for Q3, and anticipates lower spending on both media and promotion due to the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.

2 Revenue is Up: According to Comcast's most recent quarterly earnings report, Peacock revenue hit $820 million in Q2 o fthis year. That's an 85% jump over the previous year. That's partly thanks to a boost in subscribers; Peacock added around 2 million in the quarter, jumping from 22 million to 24 million overall. Most of these subscribers signed up just before the recent price increase, which bumped up the streamer's ad-free cost by $2 a month and the ad-supported plan by $1 a month. Comcast reports that most of those 2 million sign-ups were Comcast Xfinity customers who were previously getting Peacock for free, but switched over to paid subscriptions when their complimentary plans expired. Still, The Streamer is Losing a Lot of Money: Nonetheless, the streamer's adjusted operating losses for Peacock in Q2 hit $651 million. That's around 40% more than Comcast lost on Peacock during the same period one year ago. NBCU executives have suggested that 2023 will be the streamer's peak year for losses, before finally turning things around. Comcast President Mike Cavanagh has predicted that Peacock's total losses in 2023 will add up to about $3 billion. Peacock is Proving a Strong Draw: Still, 24 million subs is nothing to sneeze at, and Peacock has experienced strong growth over the last few quarters, thanks largely to the platform's live sports content. Comcast also got recent boosts from the theatrical success of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" and its theme park division, as the opening of Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios in Hollywood helped contribute to a 22% year-over-year increase in revenue.

3 WEEKEND CALENDAR FRIDAY, JULY 28 THE BEANIE BUBBLE: Comedy-drama feature about the rise and fall of the Beanie Babies fad and the company behind it, Ty Inc., based on the 2015 book "The Great Beanie Baby Bubble" by Zac Bissonnette. Zach Galifianakis, Elizabeth Banks, Sarah Snook, and Geraldine Viswanathan co-star. "Futurama" vet Kristin Gore wrote the script and co-directed with her husband, Damian Kulash of the band OK Go. [Apple TV+] GOOD OMENS: The fantasy-comedy series returns this week for a second season, in which the demon Crowley (David Tennant) and the angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) reteam to take on another celestial crisis. Jon Hamm co-stars; Neil Gaiman created and writes episodes. While Season 1 was adapted from a novel by Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, the new episodes relate an original story. [Amazon] SOAP OPERA (NOVELA): Debut fantasy-comedy series from Brazil, starring Monica Iozzi as a screenwriter who dreams of creating her own TV soap, only to discover that her mentor (Miguel Falabella) has betrayed her and stolen her concept for himself. When she shows up to the premiere to complain, she somehow becomes trapped within the TV show's reality. [Amazon] HIDDEN STRIKE: Action-comedy film, set in the near future, starring Jackie Chan and John Cena as a pair of ex-special forces soldiers escorting a group of civilians to the safety of Baghdad's Green Zone, along a perilous stretch of road known as the "Highway of Death." "Need for Speed" and "Act of Valor" vet Scott Waugh directed. [Netflix] HOW TO BECOME A CULT LEADER: Tongue-in-cheek docuseries, presented as an instructional guide, looking at the rise and fall of six different cult leaders. The same team previously produced a similar series, "How to Become a Tyrant," and have another follow-up -- "How to Make a Mob Boss" -- on the way. Peter Dinklage narrates. [Netflix] CAPTAIN FALL: Debut adult animated comedy series from "Norsemen" vets Jon Iver Helgaker and Jonas Torgersen. Jason Ritter voices a good-hearted novice sea captain who finds himself running a smuggling ship for an inept international cartel. Christopher Meloni, Lesley-Ann Brandt, and Anthony Carrigan co-star. [Netflix] MIRACULOUS: LADYBUG & CAT NOIR, THE MOVIE: 2023 French animated musical superhero film about two very different Parisian teens who transform into superheroes and protect their hometown. The film is based on an animated series, which streams on Disney+ in the US. It's presented in English for US audiences. [Netflix] D.P. Military drama series from South Korea, based on a comic by showrunner Kim Bo-tong, about a young soldier assigned to a team that captures individuals attempting to desert the armed forces. Season 2 hits Netflix in the US this weekend. [Netflix] THE TAILOR (TERZI): Drama series from Turkey, loosely inspired by a true story, about the tangled web of lies connecting a renowned tailor (Çağatay Ulusoy), his disabled father's caretaker (Şifanur Gül), and his childhood best friend (Salih Bademci). Season 2 debuts today on US Netflix. [Netflix] A PERFECT STORY (UN CUENTO PERFECTO): Debut romantic drama series from Spain, starring Anna Castillo as an heiress who unexpectedly meets a free spirit (Álvaro Mel) while fleeing her own wedding. The series is based on a novel by "Valeria" author Elísabet Benavent. [Netflix] BIG NUNU'S LITTLE HEIST: Zulu-language action-comedy from South Africa, about an ex-soldier turned deliveryman who gets pressed into helping a bumbling gang pull off a daring heist. First-time filmmaker Andy Kasrils wrote and directed. [Netflix] THIS FOOL: Critically-acclaimed half-hour comedy series starring Chris Estrada as an everyman in his early 30s, living and working in South Central Los Angeles. Frankie Quiñones, Michael Imperioli, and Michelle Ortiz co-star. It's back for a second season. [Hulu] GOD'S COUNTRY: Indie thriller from co-writer/director Julian Higgins, based on the short story "Winter Light" by James Lee Burke, which premiered at last year's Sundance Film Festival. Thandiwe Newton stars as a lone Montana ranch owner who finds herself in a battle of wills against two hunters she finds trespassing on her property. Jeremy Bobb, Joris Jarsky, and Jefferson White co-star. [Hulu] THE DONOR PARTY: 2023 comedy feature starring Malin Akerman as a woman in her 30s who's desperate to get pregnant while she still can. Along with some friends, she hatches an elaborate scheme to pull off a "sperm heist" at a friend's birthday party. Robb Corddry, Jerry O'Connell, Erinn Hayes, Bria Henderson, and Ryan Hansen co-star; Thom Harp wrote and directed. [Hulu] HOW TO WITH JOHN WILSON: The unconventional HBO comedy series combines real footage shot extemporaneously on the streets of New York with voice-over narration, in the style of a tutorial. The third and final season debuts this week on HBO and Max. [Max] RESTORED: The Magnolia reality series follows preservationist Brett Waterman as he first learns the stories behind historic homes that have fallen into disrepair, then performs transformative renovations that bring them back to their former glory. Season 6 debuts this week on cable and Max. [Max] SUPERMAN & LOIS: Season 3 of the CW superhero drama series, based on characters from DC, aired earlier this year on TV and hits Max in its entirety today. The show has been renewed for a fourth season; it's now the final DC Comics adaptation left on CW's schedule. [Max] GOTHAM KNIGHTS: Action drama series from CW, based on DC Comics characters, about a group of young heroes who join forces to protect Gotham after the death of Bruce Wayne. Oscar Morgan, Navia Robinson, Fallon Smythe, Tyler DiChiara, Olivia Rose Keegan, and Anna Lore co-star. CW canceled the series after one season. [Max] HEELS: The sports drama series is set in the world of independent professional wrestling, and centers on two brothers (Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig) with a heated rivalry both in and out of the ring. Michael Waldron ("Loki") created and produces. It's back for a second season. [Starz] THE SLUMBER PARTY: Coming-of-age comedy film based on the book "The Sleepover" by Jen Malone. Three friends wake up the morning after an apparently wild slumber party with no memories of what happened the night before. Darby Camp, Emmy Liu-Wang, Valentina Herrera, Dallas Liu, Tituss Burgess, and Paula Pell co-star. The film debuts Thursday night on Disney Channel and comes to streaming on Friday. [Disney+] THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF MICKEY MOUSE: STEAMBOAT SILLY: The final cartoon in Disney's "Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse" anthology finds Mickey battling thousands of classic versions of himself who have escaped from old film reels. [Disney+] R.M.N. Drama feature from acclaimed Romanian writer/director Cristian Mungiu ("4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days"), inspired by a real 2020 incident, which screened at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. It centers on social unrest in a small Transylvanian village after a local bakery takes on two foreigners as new employees. Marin Grigore and Judith State co-star. [AMC+] SATURDAY, JULY 29 THE UNCANNY COUNTER: Korean action-fantasy series -- based on a popular comic by Jang Yi -- starring Jo Byeong-kyu as a disabled high school student who's enlisted to join a group of demon hunters, known as The Counters. Season 2 -- subtitled "Counter Punch" -- debuts on Netflix in the US this weekend. [Netflix] ASSASSIN: Direct-to-VOD sci-fi action film, featuring Bruce Willis's final film performance. Nomzamo Mbatha stars as the wife of a covert operative who takes her husband's place on a secret mission using futuristic tech that shields her true identity. Dominic Purcell, Andy Allo, and Mustafa Shakir co-star; first-time filmmaker Jesse Atlas co-wrote and directed. [Hulu] SUNDAY, JULY 30 DARK WINDS: The period mystery-drama series -- based on novels by author Tony Hillerman -- returns for a second season. The new episodes find Lt. Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) and his former deputy Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon), now a private investigator, both trailing the same killer. Graham Roland ("Jack Ryan") and John Wirth ("Hap and Leonard") created and showrun the series; George R.R. Martin and Robert Redford executive produce. [AMC+] NAKED AND AFRAID: CASTAWAYS: Debut reality competition series from Discovery Channel in which 9 competitors, formed into three teams, must attempt to survive on a remote and forbidding tropical island with limited tools and preparation. [Max] METAL MONSTERS: THE RIGHTEOUS REDEEMER: Behind-the-scenes special chronicling the creation of monster truck "The Righteous Redeemer" for Season 3 of HBO's "The Righteous Gemstones" by Metal Shop owner Rick Disharoon and his team. [Max] ALOHA HEART: Hallmark romantic comedy-drama tracking the relationship between a conservationist (Taylor Cole) visiting Hawaii for a wedding and a stressed-out island hotel owner (Kanoa Goo) working hard to save his family's business. [Peacock]

4 The USA Network legal comedy-drama series "Suits" set a new Nielsen viewership record for acquired programming in late June. "Suits" was viewed for about 3.1 billion minutes between June 26 and July 2, across both Netflix and Peacock. More: That's a 36% increase from the viewership of "Suits" the week prior, and the highest recorded viewership for any acquired series in a single week in streaming history. NBC's "Manifest" was the previous record-holder; it was viewed for around 2.5 billion minutes in a single week in June 2021. 75% of "Suits" viewership during this particular week was generated by the first three seasons; as "Suits" ran for nine total seasons, it will likely continue to perform well as viewers work their way through later episodes. FX's "The Bear," which streams on Hulu, was the week's third most-popular streaming series, up from #5 the week before; it's only the second Hulu original in history to pass the 1 billion minutes viewed threshold in a single week, after "The Handmaid's Tale."

5 The CW picked up the rights to NASCAR's Xfinity Series, the network's most significant push into sports media in history. The new seven-year deal kicks off in 2025 and runs through the 2031 season; CW will reportedly pay around $115 million per year for the broadcast rights. More: CW has also signed multi-year agreements to broadcast LIV Golf events and ACC college football and basektball games. The network also has sports-adjacent programming, such as "Inside the NFL" and various documentaries and specials. Xfinity races will air on the CW TV network; no word on whether or not any content will be made available to stream on the CW app and website. Nexstar purchased a majority share in CW back in October from previous co-owners Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount.

6 According to Variety, brothers Donald and Stephen Glover will take over creative control of Disney+' s "Lando" series. Filmmaker Justin Simien -- who helmed Disney's new "Haunted Mansion" theatrical film -- was originally attached to "Lando" but has exited the project. More: The series will center on the classic Star Wars character Lando Calrissian, originally played by Billy Dee Williams; Glover appeared as a younger version of the character in the 2018 prequel film "Solo." The Glover Brothers previously collaborated on FX's "Atlanta" and have an overall deal at Amazon. Glover spoke with GQ about the status of the "Lando" series in April, saying "I would love to play Lando again. It's a fun time, being him."

7 NASA announced plans for a free streaming service called NASA+. No specific launch date has been set, but the agency suggested NASA+ will likely debut later this year. More: At first, NASA+ will be available through NASA's website and upgraded mobile app, coming soon to both iOS and Android. Ultimately, there are plans to make the app available through a variety of streaming and Smart TV platforms, including Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV. A wide range of content will apparently be accessible through the new platform, including topical news updates, kids-focused educational content, and documentaries. Currently, NASA posts a 24/7 feed of news content to both its website and YouTube; this is also where it hosts streams of live events.

8 QUICK HITS Don't miss your chance to invest in Virtuix, one of the fastest-growing startups in the booming gaming market. Invest by 8/10.* According to Apple's internal figures, the streamer's top three most-viewed MLS Season Pass matches in history all streamed during the week of July 19-26; international superstar Lionel Messi made his debut with his new club, Inter Miami, on July 21. Paramount+ will stream full 90-minute versions of "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 15 episodes starting on August 9; Season 15 moved from VH1 to MTV, and on TV, the show dropped from a 90-minute to a 60-minute format. Netflix dropped a trailer for "Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop," a four-part docuseries looking back at the contributions of female artists to the musical genre; participating artists include Queen Latifah, Remy Ma, Tierra Whack, Latto, Roxanne Shante, MC Lyte, Da Brat, and many others. A new "Tom and Jerry" spinoff from Warner Bros. Animation -- which will air on Cartoon Network and stream on HBO Go throughout Asia -- will be produced locally and set in Singapore; this marks the first-ever international series from the classic cartoon duo. Veteran Hulu executive Lauren Tempest was promoted to general manager of the streamer, and will oversee all business strategy; she'll replace Joe Earley, who was named president of direct-to-consumer for Disney Entertainment in the spring. The CW pulled two recently-licensed shows -- "Down to Earth with Zac Efron" and "Fantastic Friends" -- from its primetime line-up; the network will replace the shows with repeats of "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" and "Whose Line is it Anyway?" A rumor first posted on Giant Freakin Robot suggests that Netflix may be developing an anime series based on the "Dark Souls" video game franchise. Say goodbye to inflammation, joint pain, dry eyes, and discomfort by adding this Antarctic "supernutrient" to your diet.* *This is sponsored content

Upcoming Events JUL 31 #TwoCents Discussion Community Challenge Virtual Register Here AUG 2 Join Vanta and VioletX and find out how growing startups should navigate the complex compliance space.* Virtual Register Here OCT 16 Meet Our Fund 5, Building and Investing in AI San Mateo, California Save Your Seat NOV 7 Join us for Strategic Marketing 2023 and meet 300+ CMOs and senior marketing leaders from the world's biggest brands.* Virtual Register Here * This is a sponsored event

Knowledge Hub Term of the Day Brand equity: Brand equity is the value of a brand that is associated with the product or service that it offers.  Read More Question of the Week What's your stance on unpaid internships: valuable experience or exploitation? Join the conversation

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Lon Harris 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 Eduardo Garcia

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