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Houston Comets on TV: WNBA games will be on KHOU, KTBU, Space City
Good news for WNBA fans: You won't have to subscribe to a streaming service or even have cable to watch Houston Comets games when they return to play next year.
Toy Story 5, Backrooms and The Breadwinner Vie to Become the Second Biggest Film This Year...
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) Often, people blame “data” for ruining Hollywood, when I’d argue that hype (which can often be debunked by data) is often worse, as you can see in these two headlines. To use a common meme, here’s how it started: and how it’s going: Earlier this year, I read countless (and I mean countless) articles (in almost every mainstream media outlet) about how Heated Rivalry was a huge hit and that it “heated” interest in hockey. But Heated Rivalry wasn’t a huge viewership hit compared to the hype: [ ](https://entertainment.substack.com/p/you-cant-eat-buzzdid-heated-rivalrys) [ You Can’t Eat Buzz…Did Heated Rivalry’s Buzz Translate into Actual Viewership? ](https://entertainment.substack.com/p/you-cant-eat-buzzdid-heated-rivalrys) Entertainment Strategy Guy · Jan 22 [ Read full story ](https://entertainment.substack.com/p/you-cant-eat-buzzdid-heated-rivalrys) In this case, the hype (Heated Rivalry is really popular) belied the data (It didn’t make the top ten charts, meaning it wasn’t a huge hit.1) Even worse, every time I write about this, I get a lot of negative feedback, hence why I only sparingly mention the show these days or add lots of caveats when I write about it, but this just further cements the hype. But companies, and the executives leading them, have to determine strategy based on reality, not media coverage. The NHL committed real marketing dollars to a campaign that didn’t work. Sure enough, the latest NHL season opened to under a million viewers. At some point, you have to focus on what the data says, because real dollars are at stake. And that’s why we have the Streaming Ratings Report! To provide and analyze cold, hard data. Luckily, this week, I can be positive and take a look at a huge opening on streaming, along with a very buzzy horror film that customers kind of like, but don’t really love. And a comedy that tried to rebound on streaming. Today, I’m covering two weeks—21-Sep and 28-Sep—so we have a lot to discuss (nearly 5,000 words worth), including a series of film misses for Netflix, another argument for weekly-released TV shows on streaming, another sitcom tries to avoid the comedy curse, Netflix has two new game shows (one powered by AI), Reacher falling off the charts after a huge run, Prime Video tries its hands at the romcom game**,** a look at the WNBA’s big season, a big night for the VMAs on CBS and MTV, all the flops, bombs and misses, and a whole lot more. (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of September 14th to October 4th, 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Film - Two Hits and a Miss Come to Streaming… Three very interesting films came to streaming in one week, and I like comparing them since they show the range of theatrical films. One was a huge blockbuster, one was popular, and one was neither. One is a horror film, a buzzy genre; one is a comedy, a struggling genre; and one is an animated family film, the king of the box office. One went to a tiny streamer (HBO Max), one went to a second-tier streamer (Disney+), and one went to the biggest (Netflix). So… If you just went by box office, you’d expect Backrooms—the $197 million grosser, and partner of Obsession for “YouTube Horror Summer”—to dominate on streaming. If you read this report, though, you know that horror films don’t do great on streaming, and that’s the case again. Backrooms opened at 3.8 million hours according to Nielsen, and had 3.9 million hours in its second week. Here’s how that stacks up to other HBO Max films: We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… ...why I don’t buy Backrooms budget… …two new games shows arrive on streaming… …another sitcom struggles… ...another argument for putting out shows weekly on Netflix... ...and a whole lot more, nearly 5,000 words more... ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. If you want an idea of just how much content you’d get in a full issue, check out this older issue. Coming Soon! Next week, I’ll be taking a look at the eighth season of Hulu’s The Kardashians, answering the question: will this show ever make the charts? If Mormon wives can make it, surely one of social media’s most popular families can as well. Also, Prime Video has a new horror show based on popular IP, Carrie, Netflix has a horror show starring Josh Hartnett, Below, and Apple TV has a UK import, Small Prophets. Plus a bunch of movies like Disclosure Day heading to Peacock, The Housemaid coming to HBO Max, Ben Affleck’s latest on Apple TV, Animals, and Matchbox the Movie on Apple TV, a John Cena action comedy inspired by Hasbro’s toy cars. The week after is even busier! I’ll look at another IP-based horror show, Crystal Lake, a new MCU show on Disney+, VisionQuest, season two of The Lowdown on FX/Hulu, the fourth seasons of The Diplomat on Netflix and Tulsa King on Paramount+, another season of Love is Blind, and four straight-to-streaming films: Netflix’s Sacrifice (starring Chris Evens, Anya-Taylor-Joy, Vincent Cassel, John Malkovich, Salma Hayek. Charlie XCX), Apple TV’s Tenzing (starring Tom Hiddleston and Willem Defoe), Prime Video’s Love of Your Life (Margaret Qualley) and Masterplan (Stanley Tucci) and a whole lot more, somehow. Long term, here’s some huge IP news: a Game of Thrones movie is coming to theaters, Game of Thrones: Aegon’s Conquest in 2029, while Jon Watts (who helmed three of the most recent Spider-Man movies) is directing the next Star Wars trilogy, to be written by Simon Kinberg. I’m cautiously optimistic for both. It feels obvious to say that making good movies matters, but for bets this big (Star Wars is on a swoon, Game of Thrones hasn’t been to theaters yet), the quality has to be there.
Bay Area sports calendar, Oct. 19-20
Cecilia Zandalasini and the Valkyries will face the Dream in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center at 5 p.m. Monday. (USA CNBC E!)
Angel Reese all business with first WNBA Finals pre-game fit, Chanel bag
Check out Angel Reese's pre-game fit for Game 1 of the WNBA Finals.
Obituaries: RJ Mitte, Lucian Piane, Heidi Burge Horton, Alan Mandell
Notable deaths also include a "Breaking Bad" mainstay, a former WNBA player and a music producer for "RuPaul's Drag Race."
Saturday Sports: Brewers advance, Guardians lead in MLB; WNBA finals tip off
NPR's Scott Simon and sportswriter Howard Bryant talk MLB playoffs and the WNBA Finals tip off.
Alanis Morissette, Rita Moreno among Valkyries Finals performers
The Golden State Valkyries have assembled a Bay Area-heavy entertainment lineup for their first two WNBA Finals games at Chase Center in San Francisco.
WNBA Superstar A’ja Wilson’s Next Big Play? Building A Business Empire
Beyond her $1.4 million Aces salary, Forbes estimates Under 30 alum A’ja Wilson will earn more than $5 million from sponsors including Nike, Chase and AT&T.
Tennis Legend Chris Evert Sends Strong 6-Word Message to WNBA in Support of Caitlin Clark
Caitlin Clark’s influence on women’s basketball has drawn praise from another sporting legend after a fan revisited her place on a Forbes ranking. Tennis great Chris Evert joined the conversation with a brief message about how the WNBA should treat the Indiana Fever star.
E! AND USA SPORTS ANNOUNCE LIVE FROM THE ORANGE CARPET: WNBA FINALS HOSTED BY LILLY SINGH
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Basalt to host business roundtables for community
The town of Basalt is inviting local business owners to join Basalt Town Manager Gloria Kaasch-Buerger and Basalt Chamber President and CEO Kris Mattera for an open dialogue about the business climate and local economy.
NBA, WNBA To Air PSAs On Gambling Issues
The NBA and WNBA have partnered with the National Council on Problem Gambling in hopes to educate fans on the risks of gambling.
NBA and WNBA to launch new responsible gaming campaign to reinforce risks of sports betting and prediction markets
The campaign will educate fans, particularly young adults, about the risks associated with sports betting and prediction markets.
WNBA gives Cheryl Reeve another award after playoff collapse and years of outspoken left-wing politics
Cheryl Reeve won WNBA Executive of the Year for a third time, but the Lynx's historic first-round playoff sweep raises questions about the honor.
Good health has been more than good luck for the Valkyries
akase's intentional approach to rest and depth gives Golden State a full roster heading into the WNBA Finals.
Caitlin Clark finishes behind surprising rookie in WNBA MVP voting
Thje Fever guard was not the runner-up in WNBA MVP voting.
Is a ‘blue tsunami’ going to wipe out Republicans in the midterms?
Jonathan Freedland speaks to David Nir of the Downballot about why Democrats are feeling so hopeful in deep red states
A'ja Wilson named WNBA MVP for third consecutive year, fifth time overall as Aces star extends all-time record
Golden State Valkyries become first women’s sports team to top $100m in annual revenue
The second-year WNBA franchise have become the first women’s professional sports team to surpass $100m in annual revenue, according to Sportico
TV and streaming viewing picks for October 4, 2026: How to watch MLB Postseason, NFL Week 4 and WNBA Semifinals
All Times Eastern College Field Hockey Stanford at Louisville — ACC Network/ESPN Unlimited, noon College Football ACC Huddle: Final Score — ACC Network, 8 a.m. SEC Football Final — SEC Network, 8 a.m. The Final Drive — Big Ten Network, 10 a.m. Inside College Football — CBS Sports Network, 11 a.m. College Football Final —…
Now that the WNBA is mainstream, culture wars have come with it
The league’s growth has made its politics more visible while giving its critics a bigger target.
Valkyries to face defending-champion Aces, questions in semifinals
The Golden State Valkyries are the highest seed left in the WNBA playoffs, but Las Vegas was 3-0 in regular-season meetings between the teams. Can Natalie Nakase's team stop the star-studded Aces?
Saturday Sports: Major League Baseball playoff time; WNBA
NPR's Scott Simon and sportswriter Howard Bryant discuss the WNBA and MLB playoffs.
Sophie Cunningham’s playoff presence draws attention beyond the court
Sophie Cunningham turned heads before the WNBA playoffs with a striking all-white look featuring a mini dress, dark sunglasses and strappy heels. The Indiana Fever guard’s fashion statement added another memorable moment to her growing reputation for standout pregame tunnel style.
Bay Area sports calendar, Oct. 2-4
The Valkyries look to advance in the WNBA playoffs with a win over the Dallas Wings in Game 3 of their first-round series on Friday night at 6 p.m. (ESPN2)
Caitlin Clark and the strange phenomenon of puking sports stars
The WNBA star delivered a match-winning performance after being ill at halftime Wednesday, but is far from alone
Jordin Canada Takes Over Fourth Quarter as Dream Sweep Mystics
Jordin Canada scored 13 of her 19 points in the fourth quarter as the Dream beat the Mystics 93-75 to complete a first-round sweep.
October sports watch guide: World Series, WNBA Finals, NBA and ‘A Bears Love Story’
Here's what to watch across a glorious and busy month, which includes the Oct. 26 sports equinox.
October is already fun, plus poll results
The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Extend your series today. Coming up: ‼️ A WNBA playoff thriller 📈 Three MLB teams advance 🔁 Late-night NFL trade We are in the midst of a beautiful time, and not just because it’s officially October (more on that in a bit). This week, we get to enjoy a three-game-playoff-series bonanza, in which every game really, really matters. The MLB and WNBA postseasons started days ago; multiple teams are already heading to exit...
WNBA playoffs live updates, Valkyries-Wings score: Postseason continues with Game 2 from Dallas after Dream eliminate Mystics
Atlanta Dream advance to WNBA semifinals
The Atlanta Dream are now just one series away from the WNBA Finals.
How The Golden State Valkyries Built A WNBA Business Powerhouse
The Golden State Valkyries built a WNBA business powerhouse in two seasons, driving record attendance, 12,000+ season ticket holders and a No. 2 playoff seed.
WNBA turns in best regular-season viewership since 2000
The WNBA continues to bring in new fans.
8 seeds to beat a 1 seed in WNBA: Complete history of biggest first-round playoff upsets
The Liberty made history with their first-round upset over the Lynx.
Tuesday’s chaotic TV schedule proves that it’s harder than ever to be a sports fan
On its face, Tuesday was an awesome day for sports fans to sit back, relax, and watch compelling action all day long. All four MLB Wild Card series began with Game 1, staggered across the day beginning at 2 p.m. ET. We had two elimination games in the WNBA playoffs, with Game 2 of both…
Breanna Stewart's longevity training plan: carbs, Pilates, naps
WNBA icon Breanna Stewart has dialed down her training and recovery routine to the core essentials — Pilates, naps, carbs, and post-game weights.
USA SPORTS DELIVERS VIEWERSHIP RECORDS AND MILESTONES IN INAUGURAL SEASON OF WNBA COVERAGE AHEAD OF WNBA FINALS ON USA NETWORK THIS OCTOBER
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Fever’s Stephanie White admits mental health impact of toxic WNBA discourse
White and the Fever have had an especially trying season. Little of which has had to do with basketball.
Angel Reese Is Becoming a PROBLEM for the WNBA
Remember when people questioned whether Angel Reese could become a legitimate WNBA superstar? That conversation looks ridiculous right now. Reese has been dominant in her first season with the Atlanta Dream, averaging 16.4 points and 12.1 rebounds while rewriting the record books. She became the first player in WNBA history to grab 500 rebounds in…
Bay Area sports calendar, Sept. 27-28
Veronica Burton (22) and the Valkyries will face Dallas in a WNBA first-round playoff game at 6 p.m. Sunday. (USA, CNBC)
2026 WNBA season reaches all-time high with insane demand
Don't sleep on the WNBA after the league's insane growth during the 2026 regular season.
Paige Bueckers steps onto WNBA playoff stage as next step in growth
She's ready for her WNBA playoff debut Sunday against the Golden State Valkyries.
Can the WNBA’s biggest star just play basketball? Let’s ask Caitlin Clark
"“Everybody wants her to be something." But what does Clark want to be?
WNBA playoffs 2026 tracker: Standings, clinch scenarios, schedule, playoff bracket and more
WNBA Playoff Seeding: Everything to Know Entering Final Night
The Valkyries, Aces, Fever and Mystics all have playoff seeding at stake on the final night of the WNBA regular season.
Jessica Shepard secures another triple-double and Wings beat Storm 103-91
Dallas (27-16), which won just 10 games last season, set a WNBA record for the best single-season turnaround in league history with a 17-win improvement.
Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham compares herself to Patrick Mahomes
WNBA star Sophie Cunningham invoked Patrick Mahomes after the Indiana Fever’s latest win.
Without Olivia Miles, Lynx lose to Fever, need rematch win to clinch No. 1 seed
Indiana can't slide lower than the sixth seed in the postseason with Tuesday's win.
Jessica Shepard's breakout season with the Dallas Wings doesn't surprise her
Shepard is a first-time All-Star and sudden triple-double machine, tied with career WNBA leader Alyssa Thomas of Phoenix for the most this season with five while helping the Wings reach the playoffs.
A Geico Holiday Special? Insurance Giant’s New CMO Widens Spotlight on Entertainment
Geico’s famous animated Gecko used to turn up only in TV commercials. He recently enjoyed guest-star billing on a podcast. The cartoonish figure with the sophisticated accent appeared in June on WNBA ...
TV and streaming viewing picks for September 22, 2026: How to watch WNBA on ESPN
All Times Eastern College Basketball ACC Network Basketball Podcast — ACC Network, 5 p.m. College Football Florida Atlantic Weekly Press Conference — ESPN+, 11:45 a.m. Cincinnati Football Press Conference — ESPN+, noon Oklahoma Football Press Conference — SEC Network, noon Iowa State Football Press Conference — EPSN+, 12:55 p.m. B1G Live: Football Coaches Press Conferences…
The Giants’ season is already in danger, plus an early NHL preview
The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Talk to your friends about EPA today. Coming up: 🔀 Vibe shift in L.A. 🤓 The WNBA’s spectacle 📕 We’re all football nerds Football season can be so fickle. Vibes can turn on a dime. Last week, we marveled at how the new-look Giants dominated the Cowboys in primetime. We wondered if New York’s ceiling could be higher than previously thought under coaching legend John Harbaugh. And we wondered if the Rams’ dream season...
GEICO signs WNBA star Napheesa Collier amid sports marketing push
The deal follows GEICO's recent Minnesota Lynx partnership and its wider advertising comeback
Isabelle Harrison leads Toronto in rebounds against New York
Former Lady Vol Isabelle Harrison leads Toronto in rebounds against New York in the WNBA.
Angel Reese announces new shoe release after 30-point game
Angel Reese had plenty to celebrate after helping the Atlanta Dream secure a comfortable win over the Connecticut Sun in her return to WNBA action
Meet Allison Howard, the woman bringing the WNBA back to Cleveland
Allison Howard, the former president of Kansas City's NWSL team, is leading Cleveland's new WNBA franchise, the Sirens, set to tip off in 2028 with 12,000 season ticket deposits already sold.
Sophie Cunningham Gets Pulled Into Adam Silver’s WNBA Commissioner Search
The WNBA is approaching a major change at the top after Cathy Engelbert announced she will leave the commissioner’s office at the end of 2026. With the league entering its next phase, the search for her replacement has already started reaching the players themselves. That became clear when Sophie Cunningham revealed that Adam Silver had [...]
ESPN Announces 4-Part Toronto Tempo Docuseries ‘Setting the Tempo’
ESPN announced “Setting the Tempo,” a four-part docuseries centered on the creation and inaugural season of the Toronto Tempo.
USA SPORTS PRESENTS PUSH TO THE PLAYOFFS WITH NINE WNBA GAMES IN EIGHT DAYS
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WNBA Union Rips NBA for Exclusion From Betting Letter
Five men’s sports leagues sent a memo to regulators about betting-related harassment.
3 WNBA Teams Under the Most Pressure Down the Stretch
The Liberty, Dream, and Fever face major playoff-seeding pressure as the WNBA returns from its World Cup break with four games remaining.
Caitlin Clark Calls Out Reporter Over Angel Reese Question
Caitlin Clark called out a reporter over an Angel Reese question.
Kansas candidates for governor used the State Fair debate to call each other extremists
At the State Fair debate, Democrat Cindy Holscher tied Republican Ty Masterson to former Gov. Sam Brownback, while Masterson compared Holscher to national Democrats. Both hope to court independent voters.
Election 2016 Transgender Politics
FILE - A woman holds a sign supporting trans people during a rally before a WNBA basketball game between the Portland Fire and the Indiana Fever in Portland, Ore., July 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer, File)
How the WNBA became a political prop in the culture wars
Despite record viewership and attendance, and amazing talent across the league, the WNBA has been caught up in the national conversation about the culture wars. Sportswriter Sabreena Merchant says, “everything in the WNBA seems to take on a political lens far beyond what is actually happening on the court.” Merchant spoke with Fresh Air guest interviewer Sam Fragoso (host of Talk Easy) about the expansion of the WNBA, the race and gender politics consuming the narrative, and the departure of commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Merchant writes for The Athletic, from the New York Times.Also, film critic Justin Chang reviews Practical Magic 2. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter Follow us on Instagram Subscribe to our YouTube channel Check out the Fresh Air Archives
How the WNBA became a political prop in the culture wars
Sports journalist Sabreena Merchant says culture war issues related to race and trans athletes threaten to overshadow exceptional play on the WNBA court.
How the WNBA became a political prop in the culture wars
Sports journalist Sabreena Merchant says culture war issues related to race and trans athletes threaten to overshadow exceptional play on the WNBA court.
Sophie Cunningham finally gets milestone birthday celebration during Fever break
Sophie Cunningham’s family delivers delayed surprise during WNBA hiatus
What Cathy Engelbert’s successor owes WNBA players
The players aren’t a problem the next commissioner must solve. They are the answer to unlocking the league's full value.
We Need to Have a Conversation About Angel Reese
Angel Reese gets treated like a superstar. But are we sure she actually is one? Nobody can deny the rebounding. Nobody can deny the production. Reese is averaging 16.1 points and 12.4 rebounds this season, which is objectively impressive. But the WNBA is becoming increasingly loaded with elite players, and the bar for being called…
What to Chase in 2026 Panini Donruss WNBA
The 2026 WNBA trading card season is officially in full swing, and collectors are already hunting down the most coveted pulls in the new Panini Donruss WNBA set.
Arena for 76ers, Flyers marks 'new era for Philadelphia sports'
The 76ers and Flyers have unveiled renderings of their new fully privately funded arena in South Philadelphia, which is targeted to open before the WNBA season in 2030.
Arena for 76ers, Flyers to open in 2030, marks 'new era'
The 76ers and Flyers have unveiled renderings of their new fully privately funded arena in South Philadelphia, which is targeted to open before the WNBA season in 2030.
The Minnesota Lynx just signed a potential game-changer
Aari McDonald, who last played for the Indiana Fever, has joined the best team in the WNBA.
Sophie Cunningham autograph event gets new date during WNBA pause
Sophie Cunningham’s rescheduled autograph event will give Fever fans a chance to connect with her before Indiana resumes its playoff push.
Duke alum takes role as WNBA general manager
A former player personnel consultant for Duke has landed a job as the general manager of the Los Angeles Sparks.
“Health Will Always Be The Focus”: Satou Sabally Faces Crushing Blow Just Days Before FIBA World Cup
Satou Sabally will no longer play in the remainder of this WNBA season after her second concussion. Sabally had a nasty head injury during a matchup against the Aces, after she was hit in the head by NaLyssa Smith. Sabally exited the game for a while but then returned, which made fans believe that she [...]
76ers executive departs team for WNBA Front Office role
76ers' executive Ariana Andonian is making her move to the WNBA.
Chicago Sky owner calls Enes Kanter Freedom’s lawsuit ‘meritless and frivolous’
"Freedom was removed for his conduct, not his speech," the Sky's statement reads. "We look forward to the truth prevailing in court."
Cathy Engelbert will be remembered as the commissioner who made the WNBA deeply political and divisive
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced her retirement after 2026, but her seven-year tenure was defined by player clashes and political controversy.
Cathy Engelbert built the WNBA into a sports powerhouse. Her successor will inherit a league at a crossroads
After Engelbert’s tenure as WNBA commissioner, the league is more valuable and popular than ever—but her successor will inherit a league facing tensions.
Wanda Sykes and the 'Philly Sisters' bring women’s sports to Philadelphia
They brought the WNBA to Philadelphia, they launched the first women’s tennis tournament there in 20 years, and they’re just getting started. The “Philly Sisters” want to make Philadelphia the next hub for women’s sports. NBC News' Andrea Mitchell reports.
What Box Office Bomb Crushed Obsession on Streaming?
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) Before we get into this week’s issue, let me ask you for some suggestions. At the risk of coining too many names for too many things (hence my dictionary of terms...), I need a name for straight-to-streaming films that are too expensive to justify a straight-to-streaming release, but not big enough to justify a theatrical release. Like some of the films I highlighted in last week’s tally of the biggest film flops of 2026 so far: Hulu’s Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, Pizza Movie or Never Change! They don’t feel like “made for TV movies” (think Hallmark and Lifetime movies, cheap Netflix romcoms, or Disney Channel Original movies, for example) but they don’t feel big enough for the big screen. They’re not “cinematic” enough, so to speak. As I wrote... “I still need a name for this middle zone of film that’s too expensive to go straight-to-streaming but too small to justify a theatrical release (with all the PR, distribution, marketing and whatnot costs that go along with it), the Goldilocks zone of streaming film death.” Friend of the newsletter Brandon Katz has suggested the “Bermuda Budget Triangle”, “The Platform Gap” and “The Distribution Deadzone”. I love that first one. I’d offer up the much wordier “The Streaming Budget Dead Zone” or “the Goldilocks Zone of streaming film death” but that last one isn’t accurate since, unlike Goldilocks’ porridge, these films are the opposite of “just right”. That’s the problem! Anyway, if you have any suggestions, let me know! On to today’s Streaming Ratings Report. As you can tell by today’s headline, things are going to be spicy! I’m looking at a box office bomb that did really, really well on streaming, somewhat challenging a few different narratives. And another Netflix series declined in its second season. All that, plus Wicked: For Good switching streamers, The Hawk continuing its strong run, _The Bear’_s finale season finally dropping off the charts, the WNBA posting a big viewership number, “shallow libraries”, a sitcom spinoff failing to launch, more big budget IP flopping on Paramount+, all the flops, bombs and misses, and a whole lot more. Let’s dive right in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of July 20th to July 26th, 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Film - The Latest Theatrical Success Story on Streaming In the latest edition of “Flops, Bombs and Misses of the First Half of 2026”, I made a crucial change: I started including theatrical films with the streaming misses. The streamers have collectively—including Netflix, but not to as big of an extent—stopped making a lot of straight-to-streaming films, and the ones they do make aren’t as expensive as in the heyday of the streaming bubble. After the following two films bombed in theaters, you’d guess that they’ll be included in my next collection of flops, bombs and misses six months from now: Masters of the Universe on Prime Video (only $64 million domestic box office) Mortal Kombat II on HBO Max ($79 million domestic) But you’d be wrong! Masters of the Universe, a reboot of the He-Man franchise, a toy from the 1980s, came to streaming on 22-July and did great! This long-gestating project—it’s been at every studio for years, and came close to getting a greenlight at Netflix—then finally came to theaters in June, and showed up on streaming less than two months later. (I don’t love this short theatrical window.) It surprisingly grabbed nearly 20 million hours on its debut: That means, wait for it, Masters of the Universe is currently the eighth biggest film on streaming through two weeks. My rough bar for “hit” is shows or films in the top 15%. Ergo…Masters of the Universe is a legit, streaming hit! (One quick caveat: if it falls out of the top ten next week, it will move to 13th overall, just on the edge of the top 15.) Of course, that’s the data for just 2026. Here’s how it stacks up to Prime Video’s theatrical films: That drop into its second week is typical for Amazon films, but also a worrying sign. I have a feeling interest in this film is front-loaded and we’ll see it drop off after this. As for Mortal Kombat II, in this case, the viewership numbers roughly match the theatrical outing, with only 4.1 million hours in its first week. Here’s how it stacks up to other HBO Max films: The best defense of this number is that, as a relatively violent rated-R film, Mortal Kombat II never had a good chance at breaking out. So now it’s time for a little big of “Entertainment Nuance Guy”: First, yeah, my headline is obviously facetious, since Masters of the Universe besting Obsession says more about horror as a genre than it does that film. Second, I read and listened to quite a few “nobody wanted this IP” takes about Masters of the Universe, and that’s not really true. At least enough people wanted it to power a 20 million+ hour debut! Third, both this film and Mortal Kombat II were considered “average” by viewers, but not great films, with a 6.4 and 6.3 respectively on IMDb. That’s just shy of the level needed to be a word-of-mouth hit. Fourth, in the olden days, strong word of mouth could transform a box office miss into a cable/DVD hit, like Austin Powers or The Shawshank Redemption. We haven’t seen a lot of examples of that on streaming, though. And there are far fewer ways to monetize the post-theatrical life of a film these days. Fifth, Prime Video has shown an ability to push their own titles well, likely because they control the Amazon Fire TV ecosystem. Add it all up, and here’s my nuanced take on Masters of the Universe: it was a box office bomb, but, shockingly, a streaming hit. Unfortunately, while being a theatrical hit saves your film financially, being a streaming hit does not. Both Masters of the Universe and Mortal Kombat II had big budgets and needed to make more money in theaters to justify them. So…Straight-to-Streaming or Theaters? We’ve hit a really fun point in the streaming calendar, since the films that came out in theaters in April, May, and June are now arriving on streaming. So the “Do theatrical releases help streaming performances?” question is gonna get a fresh round of updates nearly every week. No single week will answer the question, but we may get some insights. For example, so far in 2026, it looks like theatrical films are lasting longer on the weekly Nielsen film charts. Here’s a list of films that have made the charts in their fourth or fifth week of release, separated by “for kids” and “general entertainment”: It certainly seems like theatrical films are lasting just a pinch longer on the charts, with Project Hail Mary being the current five-week champion. One Battle After Another did well for HBO Max too, and even The Sheep Detectives made it four weeks. The only exception to this trend? Obsession, which only lasted two weeks on the charts. You might tempted to overreact to this news. Don’t. Obsession is a huge horror hit, but horror just doesn’t do as well on streaming. By the way, here’s the Google Trends for various theatrical and stremaing films: Plus, when it comes to Netflix in four months, Obsession may have another big boost. Quick Notes on Film Note that when I write, “the streamers have pulled back on straight-to-streaming films” that doesn’t mean “abandoned” because Netflix is gonna Netflix. On 24-July, they released 72 Hours, a Kevin Hart comedy. Along with Eddie Murphy, Mark Wahlberg, John Cena and Adam Sandler, Kevin Hart is a streaming film star now. Did this latest one work? Not really. It only garnered two weeks of 13.2 and 12.2 million hours on its debut, well below the 20-million-hour hit threshold. It also was poorly received critically—a 44 on Metacritic—and by customers—a 5.4 on IMDb on 21K IMDb reviews. We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… The latest Netflix true crime doc to pop on the charts… How The Bear finished its run… Netflix’s latest Western to return to streaming… What Paramount+ animated film flopped… And what sitcom also missed… All the flops, bombs and misses… And a whole lot more… ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. Coming Soon! I’m behind by a week, so we’ve got two issues coming your way this week, including one in a couple of days or so, then we’ll be all caught up**.** Next issue, inspired by The Super Mario Galaxy Movie coming to Peacock, I’m going to take a look at the workhouse of streaming TV: kids films. Plus The Devil Wears Prada 2 continues theatrical films’ big run on streaming. All that, plus another surprise hit on Hulu, Lioness on CBS, and a whole lot more. Long term, LeBron James is filming his own “Last Dance”-style docu-series, surprising no one. But as I’ve been writing about a lot this summer, this genre is really overrated, so whoever ends up buying it (reportedly ESPN) really shouldn’t pay too much for it.
September sports watch guide: NFL kickoff, Kiffin vs. Ole Miss, WNBA and MLB playoffs
Here's our comprehensive guide to live sports and TV premieres for the crowded month ahead.
Politics Unplugged Podcast: Headline roundup with Jim Small
Arizona Mirror editor Jim Small joins us to talk about new poll numbers, and shenanigans with candidates running under the Green Party name. Then Dennis and Colin talk about the weird political attacks on the WNBA.
Politics Unplugged Podcast: Headline roundup with Jim Small
Arizona Mirror editor Jim Small joins us to talk about new poll numbers, and shenanigans with candidates running under the Green Party name. Then Dennis and Colin talk about the weird political attacks on the WNBA.
Rep. Crockett says she’ll be campaigning ‘downballot’ instead of with Talarico
The congresswoman, who lost the primary Senate race to state Rep. James Talarico, did not mention him by name.
Conflicting ideas of fairness in women’s sports fuel transgender participation debate
Recent controversy in the WNBA has reignited the debate about transgender participation in women’s sports, with advocacy groups split over differing ideas of fairness.
Sue Bird claims WNBA players wanted to 'shut up and dribble' despite leading 2020 political push
Sue Bird now claims WNBA players wanted to "shut up and dribble" in 2020, but her own words from that era openly contradict her revisionist stance.
‘They might get’ – WNBA fans aren’t loving the Atlanta Dream signing DeWanna Bonner after buyout
Two-time WNBA champion and veteran star DeWanna Bonner has left the Phoenix Mercury after a buyout. She has since signed with the Atlanta Dream, and fans feel some type of way about it.
SEC joins Big Ten in banning players who've signed pro contracts from returning to college
SEC joins Big Ten in banning players who've signed pro contracts or been drafted by the NFL, NBA or WNBA from returning to college sports.
SEC joins Big Ten in banning players who've signed pro contracts from returning to college
SEC joins Big Ten in banning players who've signed pro contracts or been drafted by the NFL, NBA or WNBA from returning to college sports.
Angel Reese Fires Back At Reporter With Bold Claim After Historic WNBA Rebounding Night
Angel Reese continues to rewrite the WNBA record books. Just two days after posting a career-high 31 points in a road win at Phoenix, the Atlanta Dream forward delivered another statement performance against the Los Angeles Sparks on Monday night. This time, her big night on the glass was not the only story out of Los [...]
SEC draws rule to stop NFL, NBA, WNBA players from returning
After the Big Ten passed a rule stopping players returning from the NFL from playing at its schools, the SEC followed suit, but took it further, adding basketball in announcing a policy forbidding members from rostering anyone from the NFL, NBA and WNBA.
SEC announces rule to ban players from returning after signing with NFL, NBA, WNBA teams
The SEC joined the Big Ten in enacting a rule to prevent players from returning to college sports after having signed with pro teams.