Weekly Wrap: How 'bout them apples?

I’m Kirby, founder of 43Twenty and The Streaming Wars. Every week, I handpick the best news, insights, and analysis from our FAST-paced industry (yes, pun intended). My mission? To make all this industry chaos easy to consume, no fluff, no filler. If this was forwarded, you can grab the newsletter here.

In today’s edition:

• Disney+ and Hulu skip Apple’s in-app fees. Kirby explains why it matters
• Chick-fil-A Play debuts November 18th. We look at why you might give a cluck
• Jack demonstrates how CTV is the glue for unified ad measurement
• Remember Zediva? The video service let viewers stream DVDs remotely. Our latest From the Archives column explores the rogue startup

TSW SPOTLIGHT

Fubo launched a standalone subscription service, letting users sign up for NBA League Pass, Paramount+, and more without its core TV plan. The move positions Fubo as a “super-aggregator,” enhancing profit margins without direct content costs and reducing churn. The Streaming Wars

Disney+ and Hulu have ditched in-app subscriptions on Apple’s App Store, directing customers to their website to dodge Apple’s fees. Following Netflix and Spotify, Disney’s bypass underscores an industry-wide shift to direct sign-ups and full control over customer data according to Kirby. The Streaming Wars

Jack demonstrates how Connected TV (CTV) is the glue for unified ad measurement, bridging traditional TV and digital ad metrics. As viewer habits scatter across devices, CTV’s data-driven insights let advertisers measure campaign reach holistically, bringing clarity to audience engagement and conversion. The Streaming Wars

Chick-fil-A joins the streaming fray with Chick-fil-A Play, launching November 18. This QSR giant is following in LEGO’s and Red Bull’s footsteps, using streaming to deepen customer loyalty and open ad revenue. A new model for brands expanding into content. The Streaming Wars

Our latest From the Archives column explores Zediva, a rogue startup that let users stream DVDs remotely by leveraging the first-sale doctrine, undercutting competitors on pricing. Hollywood quickly killed the fun with a lawsuit, a reminder that disruptive ideas often collide with legal walls. The Streaming Wars

FROM THE FRONTLINES

Endeavor is selling On Location, Professional Bull Riders, and IMG to TKO Group Holdings for $3.25 billion, merging its sports ventures under TKO as it inches toward privatization. TKO gains clout in media rights, while Endeavor keeps a 59% stake in the action. Link

LG has launched a News Hub on its FAST service, LG Channels, aggregating live national and local news streams from major providers like CNN, NBC News, and ABC News Live. Link

Tubi is ramping up original content with four new fan-driven projects from Stubios, partnering with Issa Rae’s ColorCreative. Highlights include TikTok star Kelon Campbell’s feature film, a docuseries on rapper Lady London, and new comedy projects. Link

The DOJ is preparing to support an injunction blocking the launch of Venu Sports, the streaming JV by Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery, over concerns that its "skinny bundle" plan is anti-competitive. Link

Chicago Sports Network and Comcast are in a face-off over carriage fees, leaving fans of the Bulls and Blackhawks unable to watch via Comcast. Antennas are now the only way for a million households to view the games. Link

Titan OS and Sony are teaming up to launch Sony One FAST channels on Sony Android and Philips Smart TVs across Europe, bringing eight genre-focused channels to over 9 million households. Link

Netflix has shut down its Southern California AAA game studio before any game releases as part of a cost-saving strategy amid a continued push into gaming content. Link

Rakuten TV is launching a B2B offering, Rakuten TV Enterprise Services, to help content owners globally launch and monetize FAST channels and video apps. Link

43TWENTY

The only reason I’ve been able to expand The Streaming Wars beyond its newsletter format is because of my team of subject matter experts at 43Twenty – many of whom are deeply embedded in the streaming industry.

Since 2018, 43Twenty has built an A+ team of content strategists and digital marketers who don’t just know the industry and its zillions of acronyms, but we live and breathe it every day. We’re in the trenches, solving the challenges you face.

That’s why B2B companies in the OTT and CTV space trust 43Twenty to elevate brand awareness, generate leads, and drive revenue with custom marketing strategies that work.

What we do:

• Content Strategy & Development: We create high-quality content—blogs, gated assets, newsletters, webinars—that boosts visibility and establishes your brand as a thought leader, driving leads and conversions.
• SEO: Our comprehensive SEO strategies boost your online visibility, driving organic traffic and improving your rankings to attract and convert customers.
• Paid Media: We leverage Google Ads and LinkedIn to generate high-quality MQLs with targeted ad campaigns that increase traffic, engagement, and conversions.
• Digital PR: We amplify your brand through strategic media outreach and partnerships that captivate audiences and drive meaningful media coverage.

We’re your dedicated OTT and CTV marketing agency—whether working independently or alongside your existing team. We’ve got you covered. Learn more.

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

Kirby highlights the frustration of media companies over platform fees and lost customer control to platforms like Apple and Roku. Disney’s recent ditching of Apple’s in-app billing is part of a larger strategy to reclaim revenue and customer data as Wall Street pressures companies for profit boosts via direct billing and bundling. Link

A Parks Associates study reveals that 57% of subscribers to the eight leading streaming services, including Netflix and Disney+, now opt for ad-supported tiers as prices for premium, ad-free services rise. Despite complaints about long, repetitive ads, these ad-supported tiers are more profitable for businesses. Link

IAB Tech Lab predicts CTV ad revenue will top $40 billion by 2027 but warns that ad format standardization is crucial for this growth. Through its "Ad Format Idol" project, IAB seeks scalable ad formats to unify the fragmented CTV ad market. Link

Media Partners Asia forecasts Japan’s video market to reach $34.1 billion by 2029, with online video capturing 45% of the market. SVOD leaders like Netflix and Prime Video benefit from Japan’s love for anime, which drives a third of premium VOD engagement. Link

But wait, there’s more

• As Kids TV Ratings Crater, Studios Struggle to Pivot to an Online Future. Link
• Why Streamers Are Teaming Up With Delivery Apps. Link

ICYMI

MLB Commish Rob Manfred aims to end local blackouts and bring baseball to a national streaming audience as Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) struggle. By reclaiming rights for teams like the Guardians, Brewers, and Twins, Manfred is paving the way for nationwide streaming via MLB or partner platforms like ESPN. Link

Variety details how Tony Vinciquerra reimagined Sony Pictures Entertainment by avoiding generalist direct-to-consumer streaming and focusing on content partnerships and niche platforms like Crunchyroll. Link

ShoBizzy, a networking app for entertainment industry freelancers, has gained 6,500 signups since its launch. The app allows freelancers to showcase their skills and connect with potential employers without traditional job applications. Link

These weekly wrap ups will drop on Linkedin every Tuesday. If you'd like them 3 days sooner, plus our Daily Wrap, some original insights and curated job listings, consider signing up for The Streaming Wars newsletter directly.