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Amazon鈥檚 Red One sets streaming records: 50 million viewers and $175 million in box office receipts validate the studio's hybrid theatrical-to-streaming strategy.

CNBC+ is the latest attempt to bring news networks into streaming: The streaming service will launch in early 2025 as Comcast prepares to separate linear, digital assets.

Streaming and theaters converge: Hybrid release strategies redefine holiday entertainment, with Amazon and Netflix building awareness through box office hits.

Each year, viewers spend more time with streaming services and less time with linear TV. This contributes to a drop in total inventory because streaming ad loads are lighter than linear TV, and many streaming viewers use ad-free plans.

SiriusXM struggles to pull off streaming: A low revenue forecast prompts the company to reexamine its strengths in a crowded field.

US Time Spent With Sub OTT Streaming 2025 (蘑菇AV subscription required). Note: Traditional distribution includes IPTV, cable, satellite, wireless carriers and fiber operators, multiple system operators (MSOs), multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs), and major TV broadcast and cable networks.

Netflix recently confirmed that it鈥檚 planning to move into the video podcast space as part of its broader effort to compete with YouTube for streaming dominance. Spotify expanded its Partner Program to nine new markets in March to remain competitive in light of YouTube surpassing it as the preferred platform for podcasts.

LinkedIn鈥檚 CTV Ads鈥攏ow available for buyers in the US and Canada鈥攄eliver four times better targeting than linear TV, according to iSpot, and now include expanded access to Paramount鈥檚 streaming inventory. New integrations with Adobe Express, Innovid, and Sprinklr simplify campaign creation and cross-screen delivery for video ads.

Warner Bros. Discovery ends new Sesame Street production deal: Show plans format changes as streaming platforms shift away from children's content.

Nearly 86% of digital video viewers, or 69% of the population, will watch fee-based streaming services in 2025. Ad-free and ad-supported sub OTT viewership are both extremely widespread. Over 233 million people will regularly watch sub OTT video this year. Concurrently, 196.3 million people will be AVOD viewers.

The rest will go to streaming radio from local and national broadcast stations, satellite services, and other online platforms that may offer ad-supported on-demand music and audiobooks in addition to more curated radio-like listening experiences. Click here to view our full forecast for US programmatic podcast ad spending.

This indicates a preference for a hands-free approach to music streaming鈥攁s opposed to Gen Zers鈥� highly curated one. General podcast adoption grows as video podcasts find their footing with younger listeners. Podcast listening continues to increase across all age groups, according to our forecast.

Podcasts represent a small, but growing, revenue stream for creators. Brands want in on creator-led podcasts, especially as video becomes a more crucial component of podcasting. But both sides face challenges over concerns related to scale, brand safety, and ad loads.

Connected TV is no longer a niche ad channel鈥攊t鈥檚 the new normal. With streaming platforms adding ad-supported tiers and Amazon flooding the market with inventory, CPMs are dropping while ad opportunities expand.

The news: Spotify鈥檚 Partner Program has opened new monetization paths for video podcasters, enabling MP4 uploads and revenue through ads and subscriptions. Creators like Ryth report earning over $55,000 per month, surpassing YouTube earnings. However, the model doesn鈥檛 support dynamic ads for premium subscribers, prompting networks to hold back. Why it matters: Nearly half of all digital media time is spent on video, and Spotify is betting big on that trend鈥攅specially among Gen Z, who increasingly prefer video-first podcast formats. Our take: Spotify鈥檚 approach may alienate ad-heavy networks for now, but video鈥檚 growth and creator enthusiasm suggest its long-term strategy is sound.

The news: Podcast ad spending intention will reach an 11-year high in 2025, and more advertisers are investing in the medium than ever, per a Cumulus Media and Signal Hill Insights report. Podcast ad spend intention reached 69% among agencies and advertisers surveyed, the highest in the eleven years tracked by Cumulus and Signal Hill. 78% are already investing in podcast advertising, five times higher than the amount investing in 2015. Our take: As listenership spikes, podcasts will continue being a key investment for savvy advertisers鈥攁nd those who know how to maximize the medium鈥檚 potential will come out on top.

The news: Baidu has launched MuseSteamer, an enterprise-only AI tool that converts images into 10-second videos using three output modes鈥擳urbo, Pro, and Lite鈥攚hile upgrading its core search engine to support multimodal inputs. The tool targets businesses looking for scalable, automated creative output. Our take: With nearly half of marketers and creators now using AI for video daily, Baidu is doubling down on the enterprise market. MuseSteamer distinguishes itself from consumer-facing tools by offering speed, reliability, and tight workflow integration. As video becomes the default for content, the winners will be platforms that deliver pro-grade output without creative friction.

Spotify is doubling down on podcast engagement: New features arrive as listenership and advertiser demand both hit record highs.

US consumers will spend 8.6 hours daily with digital media in 2025. How they divide that time across devices is evolving as video content drives strong growth in connected TV usage.

The news: Higgsfield鈥檚 Soul is the latest AI-powered image- and video-generation service that鈥檚 fine-tuned for 鈥渇ashion-grade realism,鈥� making the output resemble professional photos and videos without the plasticky, overprocessed feel of typical AI visuals. Our take: For less than $10 a month, freelancers and marketing teams can now fast-track campaign proposals and client pitches with high-quality visuals. As AI tools become more accessible, the advantage goes to creatives who learn to shape them strategically鈥攖hose are the ones who鈥檒l win the big contracts. Marketers should treat tools like Soul it as an accelerant, not a replacement. Use it to prototype fast, align on visual direction, and cut production waste.

Netflix and BBC team up for new podcast: While Netflix teases video podcasts on its own platform, work needs to be done to win over audiences.

96.3% of Gen Zers are digital video viewers, compared to 80.5% of the overall US population, per our May 2025 forecast.