Streaming Into the Void - July 12, 2026 - Is Free the Future of Streaming?

This week, streamers are exploring ways of beefing up subscriber numbers and engagement, and free - with ads - may be the path forward. Nielsen Ratings Show Notes Disney is exploring adding a free tier to Disney+ as YouTube draws TV viewers Netflix Is Exploring Live TV and Bundles as It Struggles to Keep Viewers Hooked - WSJ Netflix wants to buy Letterboxd, the last good social media site Film Lovers Should   Own Letterboxd - Film and Storytelling | Seed&Spark Netflix Viewers Are Abandoning Shows After One Season - Bloomberg Netflix Is Exploring Live TV and Bundles as It Struggles to Keep Viewers Hooked - WSJ Warner Discovery boss is again among highest-paid CEOs in America More Romance Novels Than Ever Being Adapted For Streaming, Research Finds EA Removes College Football 27 Microtransactions After Player Boycott EA Sports pulls microtransactions from CFB 27 modes after community outrage - The Athletic College Football 27 to remove microtransactions after player backlash, though EA maintains they were only added to 'give players more choice' | PC Gamer Michael Bublé, Drew Scott Team for ‘Hometown Giants’ Hockey Docuseries 'Egg Baby': Ariana Greenblatt Movie Lands At Amazon For Streaming ‘Every Year After’ Renewed for Season 2 at Amazon; Will Focus on Charlie’s Story From ‘One Golden Summer’ Sequel Book Prime Video's Obsessed Fest Recap: Highlights, Connections & More Nat Geo Spins Off ‘Tucci in Italy’ With ‘Tucci in Great Britain’ (Exclusive) Dylan O'Brien To Headline Hulu Comedy Pilot 'Lex' ‘Dutton Ranch’ Renewed For Season 2 At Paramount+ Tom Hardy Returning To 'MobLand' For Season 3 (Exclusive) Morgan Spector in Talks to Play Robert Langdon in Netflix Series From Carlton Cuse, Dan Brown Netflix Wins 'Sesame Street' Movie Rights Netflix Snaps Up ‘Bad Bridgets,’ Irish Period Thriller Starring Emilia Jones and Alison Oliver From ‘Kneecap’ Director (EXCLUSIVE) Colin Farrell, Steve Coogan, Charlie Heaton, Domhnall Gleeson and More Join Emilia Jones and Alison Oliver in Netflix’s Irish Period Thriller ‘Bad Bridgets’ Millie Bobby Brown, David Harbour To Star In 'Spy In the Blood' Series What We've Been Doing Dropout Game Changer: The Drinking Game Ready or Not 2: Here I Come Dispatch