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WNBA games today: Schedule, times, how to watch for Aug. 1
Here's the full WNBA schedule for Aug. 1, including game times, TV channels, scores and how to stream.
UFC Belgrade Start Time, Full Fight Card Details
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is headed to Belgrade, Serbia, for the first time ever TODAY (Sat., Aug. 1, 2026), staging UFC Belgrade from inside Belgrade Arena, streaming live on Paramount+. Headlining the event will be a Welterweight fight between Uros Medic vs. Daniel Rodriguez. In the Light Heavyweight co-main event, former division champion, Jan Błachowicz, […]
Lamont Roach vs William Zepeda: Live streaming results and highlights!
We’ve got a world title doubleheader tonight on DAZN and TNT, with Lamont Roach Jr and William Zepeda fighting for the vacant WBC lightweight title in the main event. That will follow the IBF lightweight title bout between Raymond Muratalla and Robson Conceicao, plus two more bouts on the main card this evening! We’ll have […]
The Streaming Bubble Keeps Popping
(Welcome to the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a newsletter on the entertainment industry and business strategy. I write a weekly Streaming Ratings Report and a bi-weekly strategy column, along with occasional deep dives into other topics, like today’s article. Please subscribe.) One of my rules is “never bet against PE [private equity]”. This isn’t to say that I agree with their methods or tactics or strategies or financial innovations (aka shenanigans). Just that in the long arc of financial history, they’ve tended to return very good returns to their shareholders. That said, their forays into entertainment have left me...skeptical. I’ve written before about PE’s production company/celebrity production company roll ups, and those haven’t really worked out. Some PE groups tried to “roll up” an industry that isn’t “roll-up-able” for lack of a better term—since the barrier to entry for starting a production company is very low—often paying top dollar for celebrity production companies at the height of streaming valuations. So yeah maybe we can bet against PE when they venture into filmed entertainment. I’ve also noted that studio lots seemed to be a bubble back in 2022. Sure enough… Yikes! That sure sounds like some private equity guys lost some money. The only caveat being that holding a lot of land in Los Angeles is always valuable. But that wasn’t the pitch and likely real estate investment companies overpaid for said land. I mean, Goldman Sachs had to repossess it after all. (Technically, I’m not sure these buyers were traditional private equity, but PE was buying LA studio lots earlier this decade.) All to say: I call out bubbles when I see them, and they often pop. Anywho, my most famous bubble call was the “streaming bubble”, specifically that the major streamers were making too many shows and films. And that it could all come crashing down. Notably, I made this call before the strikes of 2023, but those strikes potentially accelerated the popping. And now it has indeed popped. One of my most popular articles of last year made that exact case. A year later, it’s time to update that analysis. The bottom line is that the streaming contraction continues. Credit where credit is due, Luminate—an analytics company whose data I use weekly in my streaming ratings report—called this out in a recent report I saw highlighted in both Bloomberg and The Hollywood Reporter. But I’m adding my data to their look, including streaming films and kids TV shows. I’ll also provide some other data that all tells the same picture. Let’s dive in! Subscribe The Number of Streaming TV Shows, Films and Specials Is Declining AGAIN in 2026 Let’s get right to the data, starting with my dataset. Specifically, each week I track every “notable” title to come out on streaming. I try to grab every title on every major streamer, meaning if it’s a first run or original or exclusive, I track it. This helps me call out the “dogs not barking” and the misses/flops each week. So that will be our first series of charts, my weekly collection data. Let’s start with the raw TV show, film and special data, by week. Note: As the years have gone by, I have actually added more sources (going from just one source to five sources) to find new titles, meaning that this data collection is, likely, more accurate now than in the past. Which means my team and I are more likely to have undercounted titles in the past rather than today. I like to cut the data several different ways. Here’s that same look, by quarter, to more sharply show the trends: And here’s the data just looking at the first half of each year. That’s the same data, just cut three different ways with three different time periods. Note that films, TV shows, and specials are all down by 25%, 42% and 17%, respectively, from 2022. The good news is that the number of films and specials actually increased year-over-year from 2025 to 2026, but not enough to offset the 25% decline in TV shows. Now, I also look at kids shows, and here they are pulled out on their own: And here’s that by quarter: This really seems to be a notable area of pullback by the streamers. Kids shows are down 80% from 2022. This reflects some formerly Disney+ shows going to cable TV first, but also pullbacks from HBO Max, Prime Video and Netflix. I also categorize the TV shows by English language and non-English language, and that also reveals a lot of where the drop comes from: And here is by the half-year: In this look, the good news is the drop for English language shows seems to have stabilized in the last year. But the bad news is the long term decline from the 2022 peak. Other Data So I wasn’t the only person to notice this decline in the number of shows. I have a few other data sources for this, though most only go through the end of 2025. As I said, Luminate beat me to the punch, so let’s look at their data. 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… What TV loss streaming didn’t make up for... How Netflix has changed their programming slate over time… Ten more images charting the decline of production... What type of films aren’t being made anymore... The good news (for movie theaters)… And more... ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support.
‘Project Hail Mary’ and More Science Fiction Movies to Stream Now
From the Ryan Gosling hit “Project Hail Mary” to the psychosexual alien rom-com “Touch Me,” explore this month’s eclectic picks.
New movies to watch this weekend: See 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' in theaters, rent 'Supergirl,' stream 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' on Disney+
"Spider-Man: Brand New Day," "I Want Your Sex" and "The Devil's Mouth" are out now. Are they worth watching?
DirecTV Will Carry NFL Sunday Ticket for Bars, After All
DirecTV and EverPass announced a multiyear agreement Friday, allowing for bar owners to continue showing NFL Sunday Ticket via satellite or streaming, after months of discussion about the league’s out-of-market package for commercial establishments. The agreement goes beyond Sunday Ticket, making DirecTV the go-to sales, marketing and distribution partner for all of EverPass’ content, including …
NFL SUNDAY TICKET AVAILABLE ON DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS THROUGH NEW AGREEMENT WITH EVERPASS
/PRNewswire/ -- DIRECTV today announced a new multi-year agreement with EverPass Media to distribute NFL Sunday Ticket via satellite and streaming to bars,...
BP Puts Its North Sea Drilling Business Up for Sale
The plans are part of the energy giant’s efforts to streamline operations, but BP has deep roots in the region.
August sports streaming guide: ‘Ted Lasso’ returns, new Premier League season, CFB Week 0
Soccer seasons start. Engines rev from the Dutch Grand Prix to Daytona. The U.S. Open is back, and so are "Ted Lasso" shenanigans.
FDA clears RadNet’s breast ultrasound AI solution
The product works by automating lesion detection, characterization and reporting, helping streamline workflows for both radiologists and sonographers.
Makers of unreleased Nicolas Cage movie sue Netflix for $105 million after theft of film
The filmmakers behind an unreleased Nicolas Cage movie have sued streaming giant Netflix for $105 million, after a copy the company had been given to screen was stolen.
What is Disney?
Founded in 1923, Disney operates theme parks, film studios, and streaming services across more than 40 countries
A&S Earth Sciences Professor Honored as 40 Under 40 Rising Star
Tao Wen has been recognized for his innovative, data-driven research on water quality, open environmental data, community engagement and policy-relevant environmental science.
Brooklyn Nets Streaming Shifts From Gotham to DAZN
Brooklyn Nets fans will soon have a new way to stream local games. YES Network and MSG Networks are moving from the Gotham Sports App to DAZN, marking another major shift in the changing regional sports media landscape.
First look: Gemini could soon help you set up your new Android phone
Google is testing a Gemini AI setup assistant to streamline onboarding for new Android devices. Check it out in action!
Global sports streaming service eyes Charlotte Hornets coverage
According to the Sports Business Journal, DAZN is interested in streaming Charlotte Hornets coverage beginning during the 2027-28 campaign.
What to stream in August 2026: ‘Ted Lasso,’ ‘Lanterns,’ ‘Michael’
Here's what's coming to Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Prime Video, Peacock, Paramount+ and other streaming services in August.
Get a LOTT out of Summer at the WET Science Center in Downtown Olympia
Visit the LOTT Clean Water Alliance WET Science Center or wade in the stream at East Bay Public Plaza with fun August activities for kids.
What's new to streaming this week? (July 31, 2026)
What’s new on Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and more? We've got you covered.
Live shopping startup Whatnot eyes massive $20 billion valuation
Whatnot, a live shopping startup, aims for $20 billion valuation in financing talks, driven by livestream sales in fashion and collectibles.
Netflix and AMC Global Media Announce Global Streaming Licensing Agreement for All Series in AMC’s The Walking Dead Universe
Netflix and AMC Global Media announced a multi-year global licensing agreement for The Walking Dead series and all six spin-off series that make up The Walking Dead Universe.
Fans celebrate death of ‘horrid’ Gotham Sports App: ‘Rest in hell’
The bane of many New York sports fans’ existence is soon to be no more, with YES and MSG Networks abandoning the Gotham Sports App for DAZN. With DAZN set to acquire local broadcast rights for several NBA teams next season, it will also overtake the joint streaming venture known as the Gotham Sports App,…
Google TV is reportedly the #3 streaming OS in the US
According to new data, Google TV is apparently the #3 streaming platform in the US market, barely behind Fire TV.
DAZN replacing Gotham Sports as YES Network, MSG streaming home
DAZN will replace Gotham Sports as the streaming home for YES and MSG Networks beginning this fall.
Young entrepreneurs turn sports card collecting into charitable business
Cards2Tuff founders plan charity livestreams benefiting Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties
YES, MSG Networks Will Move Their Streaming Sports to DAZN
YES, MSG Networks Will Move Streaming Sports to DAZN
YES Network, MSG Networks to exit Gotham app for DAZN streaming service
The regional sports networks that air games for local New York and New Jersey teams, including MLB's Yankees and NHL's Rangers, will have a new streaming home.
Beyond Content Creation: How Wizstar Helps Enterprises Scale AI Across Business
As AI adoption continues to expand across enterprises, businesses are seeking more efficient, intelligent, and scalable ways to create content and streamline operations. Addressing these evolving needs, Wizstar provides a comprehensive AI digital human solution covering AIGC video generation, real-time interactive avatars, and AI-powered live streaming. Designed for marketing, customer service, training, and live commerce, the platform helps organizations improve content production efficiency, e
Seattle’s Michelle Barboza-Ramirez a host on PBS’ new ‘Eon’ series
Seattle educator Michelle Barboza-Ramirez is one of four hosts on PBS’ “Eons: Life and Death on Pangea,” streaming its first episode Wednesday.
Seattle educator used cosplay to help explain science. Then PBS called
Seattle educator Michelle Barboza-Ramirez is one of four hosts on PBS’ “Eons: Life and Death on Pangea,” streaming its first episode Wednesday.
How to watch 'Jurassic Sharks' online – stream 'Shark Week' 2026 from anywhere
The "Shark Week" special brings prehistoric predators to life with the power of CGI
The CW Network and ESPN set Aug. 4 launch date for CW Sports live streaming on the ESPN App
The CW Network and ESPN have set an Aug. 4 launch date for CW Sports live streaming on the ESPN App for ESPN Unlimited subscribers.
15 years ago, 4 letters changed Magic forever — and one new ability backfired
Magic 2012’s designers reveal how “dies” streamlined the game and why hexproof eventually gave way to ward
The CW Network, ESPN set August 4 launch for CW Sports live streaming on ESPN App
The CW Network and ESPN today announced that their highly anticipated streaming agreement to bring CW Sports’ live events to the ESPN App will officially launch on Tuesday, August 4.
The CW Network and ESPN set August 4 launch for CW Sports live streaming on the ESPN App
The CW Network and ESPN today announced that their highly anticipated streaming agreement to bring CW Sports’ live events to the ESPN App will officially
A single sauna session sends immune cells surging
A single 30-minute sauna session may briefly put the immune system on higher alert. Finnish researchers found that sauna heat, paired with a short cold shower, increased every type of white blood cell circulating in the bloodstream, including key infection fighters such as neutrophils and lymphocytes.
'Michael' movie to get exclusive streaming, TV debut
"Michael," the film that takes the audience on the rise of the "King of Pop," is making an exclusive streaming debut.
Our expanded partnership with NBCUniversal: Redefining the modern entertainment subscription
YouTube Premium is expanding its partnership with NBCUniversal to give subscribers access to ad-supported Peacock Premium streaming.
How to watch Lollapalooza live from home: Stream Charli XCX, Olivia Dean, Smashing Pumpkins, and more
Catch sets from Charli XCX, Olivia Dean, The Smashing Pumpkins, Lorde, and more without leaving your house.
Alukunyang Named Track Runner of the Year at HBCU Sports Awards
CROSS ROADS, Texas – North Carolina Central standout Aaron Alukunyang was named the 2026 Men's Track and Field Runner of the Year at the third annual HBCU Sports Awards, which were streamed online Saturday afternoon.
Business briefs, July 27
New CMS voting memo sparks concerns over resident assistance in nursing homes … Initial jobless claims decline 22K week over week, falling to a seasonally adjusted tally of 187K … House Energy and Commerce Committee passes package to streamline Medicare Advantage prior authorization … 1 in 4 US workers sticking with a job strictly for health insurance … Fitch Ratings affirms Greenwood Village South at BBB-; outlook stable
Splash and Science Day Camp III—new location at Buttonwood
Kids can splash in the stream and learn about local waterways during a summer day camp offered by Buttonwood Nature Center. The Splash & Science day camp will be offered […]
SCC, Appalachian Ink Health Science Agreement
By Kaylie Simmons Southeastern Community College Southeastern Community College students pursuing careers in healthcare now have a new pathway to earn a bachelor’s degree through a transfer agreement with Appalachian State University. A memorandum of understanding between Appalachian State and participating North Carolina community colleges creates a streamlined transfer option for eligible SCC graduates to continue their education…
Collectable popcorn buckets are big business for movie theaters
Theaters that are always in search of revenue streams have clearly hit upon a winner in those very lucrative collectable popcorn buckets that seem to be ubiquitous with blockbuster movies. KTLA's David Lazarus explains.
TV and streaming viewing picks for July 26, 2026: How to watch Yankees-Phillies
All Times Eastern Baseball Banana Ball World Tour Game 3, Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL Savannah Bananas vs. Firefighters — ESPN/ESPN Unlimited/Disney+, 4 p.m. Basketball Big3 Week 6, Toyota Center, Houston, TX DMV Trilogy vs. Miami 305/Houston Rig Hands vs. Dallas Power — CBS, 1 p.m. The Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals Alumni Semifinal, Memorial Coliseum, University of…
AI’s getting all up in our business travel
From reimbursements to booking trips, companies are turning to AI to streamline the process of heading out of town.
Duke-Michigan rematch scrapped over broadcast rights
The rematch was slated for Dec. 21 and was supposed to be streamed on Amazon Prime as part of Duke's three-game deal.
WNBA games today: Schedule, times, how to watch for July 25
Here's the full WNBA schedule for July 25, including game times, TV channels, scores and how to stream.
Roku Is Increasing Prices Across Its Hardware Range
Roku’s streaming devices got a price hike, and it’s reportedly because of industry-wide memory shortages.
Where to watch AVP beach volleyball today: TV schedule, channel, live stream for 2026 East Hampton tournament
Here's everything you need to know about AVP beach volleyball today, including TV channel and streaming options for the East Hampton tournament.
When is 'Mother Mary' streaming? How to watch the A24 horror at home.
Stream one of our favorite movies of 2026 (so far) at home.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Movie slumps are the worst. You know when you’re looking through the titles on your streaming services, but nothing sounds quite right? And as you continue to look with little success, you get
Arkansas basketball Bahamas games to be streamed by FloSports
FloSports is a monthly subscription service that can be canceled after the four games. Razorbacks radio broadcaster and former assistant coach Matt Zimmerman will be on the call alongside Chris Sylvester.
Roku raises streaming stick prices by up to 60 percent
Roku blames RAM shortage after CEO called it "great" for business in May.
#paramount #streaming #entertainment
Paramount Skydance isn't waiting around for its planned merger with Warner Bros. Discovery to bolster its flagship streaming service. Paramount's streaming leaders have told employees that they're planning major upgrades to Paramount+ in the coming weeks. An internal presentation, which was unveiled during a streaming town hall this week and viewed by Business Insider, shows "Product Priority Highlights" for Paramount's streaming business this quarter. These initiatives are part of Paramount CEO David Ellison's plan to improve the tech of a 114-year-old media company that trails Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney in streaming subscribers. Buying WBD would help Paramount catch up quickly and give it over 200 million streaming customers, the company has said. Read more about Paramount’s streaming projects on Business Insider: https://lnkd.in/eKfn9wyH (Credit: Getty Images) #paramount #streaming #entertainment
Tomb Raider Chronicles - AMAZON GAME STUDIOS REPORTEDLY DELAYS TOMB RAIDER CATALYST TO 2028
Amazon Game Studios has reportedly delayed Tomb Raider Catalyst until 2028, according to comments made by Amazon Games boss, Jeffrey Gattis, during an interview with The Game Business on the topic of Amazon's cloud streaming service, Luna, coming to Prime Video.
Sweeping, strafing and suppression: Total War: Warhammer 40,000 threatens to blow up Total War's combat fundamentals
Creative Assembly show off Total War: Warhammer 40,000's ranged combat and unit behaviour in detail in a new livestreamed battle.
HSBC to Sell Singapore Insurance Business to Allianz for $2.1 Billion
HSBC has been undergoing a broad revamp, cutting costs and streamlining operations as it accelerates its pivot to Asia, where it generates the bulk of its profits.
Hunter hunting.
Amazon’s Blade Runner streaming series has been in the works for ages, but it’s starting to feel a little more real. Entertainment Weekly just dropped the first images from the show, featuring stars Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer, while also confirming that Blade Runner 2099 is expected to come out this year. [Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/Hunter-Schafer-as-Cora-in-Blade-Runner-2099-Credit-Clay-Enos-for-Prime-2763-07172026-146c1bfb01944712ae548b76600b0ab4-1.webp?quality=90&strip=all]
Top Horror Movies Streaming This Week
Fans paid tribute to one of horror's greatest actors in thetop horror movies on streaming this week. Sam Neill, the universally beloved actor who starred in several classic scary movies, passed away l...
The Athletic brings video content to Fubo in expanded partnership
The Athletic is partnering with Fubo to bring the outlet’s video content to a streaming platform for the first time. The announcement expands on an October 2024 agreement which named Fubo as The Athletic’s first streaming partner by integrating the service into live game blogs and other content on The Athletic’s website. This time, the…
Xbox Is Now Testing Its Free, Ad-Supported Streaming Tier
'Up to two' minutes' worth of ads in exchange for an hour of gaming
Amazon puts Luna cloud-streamed games like Fallout 4 inside Prime Video
Watch Fallout, then play Fallout.
Amazon and Microsoft pivot cloud gaming strategies to target different players
Amazon is bringing Luna to the Prime Video streaming service, while Microsoft will test an ad-supported streaming of titles that people own.
Xbox Tests Ad-Supported Game Streaming
Xbox is rolling out a test for ad-supported cloud gaming that will be available for a limited time on a voluntary basis for members of its fan-testing community, Xbox Insiders.
Microsoft is testing free, ad-supported cloud gaming for Xbox Insiders
Would you watch ads to stream your games for free?
Microsoft Launches Test for Ad-Supported Xbox Game Streaming, Promises the Ads Will Not 'Interrupt the Flow of Gameplay'
Ad-supported Xbox game streaming is here, Microsoft has said. Here's how it works and how you can try it out.
Critics Choice Association launches Creator Awards to honor podcasters, streamers, and digital storytellers
The new ceremony will celebrate podcasters, digital series, and social creators, with the first winners revealed in April 2027.
What's new to streaming this week? (July 24, 2026)
What’s new on Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and more? We've got you covered.
FloSports Launches Free Streaming Channel on Prime Video in the U.S.
The FloSports Channel To Showcase Entire FloSports Portfolio Of More Than 25 Sports To Passionate Fan Communities.
AMC Entertainment CEO says one long-running entertainment debate is finally over
For six years, the entertainment industry has been locked in a debate that touched everything from studio strategy to real estate valuations to the future of a 106-year-old American institution. The question was simple and existential: did streaming permanently replace movie theaters? July 20, AMC ...
On the Move: Laureano-Rikardsen Takes Sphere Entertainment Post
Sphere Entertainment Co. names Karen Laureano-Rikardsen global head of corporate marketing and communications.
Trinity Group Strengthens Nevis Business Solutions Through Strategic Collaboration with Hamilton Reserve Bank
Supporting international entrepreneurs through Nevis company formation and offshore bank account opening within 24 to 48 hoursDUBAI, United Arab Emirates, July 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trinity Group has entered into a strategic collaboration with Hamilton Reserve Bank to support international entrepreneurs and businesses, establishing a Nevis International Business Company (IBC) with a streamlined pathway from company formation to international banking. Through the collaboration, eligible cl
Business in Oak Creek Canyon worried about impact of flooding threat
Last week’s flooding turned Oak Creek dark as water carried charred debris downstream after the Pocket Fire. Forest Houses Resort says floodwaters rose about 5 feet at its crossing, leaving it impassable until crews cleared sediment. Owners say continued flash flood concerns have prompted guest cancellations, even as their private property remains accessible. Businesses say open trails, restaurants and other attractions still give visitors reasons to come to Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon.
Patty Garcia responds to allegations of machine politics after opponents removed from ballot
‘The Point’ airs on WGN and streams on WGN+ each weeknight at 6:45 p.m. CT.
Apple raises prices on some streaming services as licensing costs climb
Apple Music individual plans rise to $11.99 and family plans jump to $19.99 as the company cites rising licensing costs for the subscription hikes.
AI and the rise of the universal entertainment app
Over the past decade, streaming platforms competed by dominating individual formats like music, video, podcasts, or audiobooks. Now, as AI makes it easier to create, organize, and recommend content, those distinctions are fading, pushing companies like Spotify, Netflix, YouTube, and TikTok to become all-purpose entertainment destinations instead.
AI and the rise of the universal entertainment app
Over the past decade, streaming platforms competed by dominating individual formats like music, video, podcasts, or audiobooks. Now, as AI makes it easier to create, organize, and recommend content, those distinctions are fading, pushing companies like Spotify, Netflix, YouTube, and TikTok to become all-purpose entertainment destinations instead.
Hailup Is Building the Digital Future of the Caribbean Entertainment Industry
ATLANTA, Georgia , July 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hailup Influencers Inc., founded by Byron Aris, is transforming how Caribbean influencers, artists, and creative professionals connect with fans and generate income worldwide. Designed exclusively for Caribbean talent, Hailup enables creators to monetize their brands through personalized video messages, premium fan experiences, live streaming, and exclusive digital content while strengthening authentic connections with audiences across the Car
What to stream: ‘The Dink,’ ‘Stuart Fails to Save the Universe’
Charli xcx's new album and a pickleball movie starring Jake Johnson are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Songs of the Past Reveal Date Confirmed
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Songs of the Past will be revealed at gamescom 2026 during Opening Night Live, CD Projekt has announced.
2026 FIFA World Cup
2026 FIFA Men's World Cup news, live scores, schedules, live streams, stats, standings, bracket and more from NBC Sports
Sight & Sound\'s productions will stream on Prime Video through Wonder Project
There will soon be yet another way to watch Sight & Sound's films and filmed productions from the comfort of your own home.
£100,000 of TikTok sales in a day: The business of live shopping
Buying on social media livestreams is fast becoming regular consumer behaviour for many.
UFC Freedom 250 Fails to Knock Out The Ratings
(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.) If UFC fans wanted one image to say, “Hey, Paramount+ is crushing it with their UFC rights deal,” I could provide that image. Here it is: (Reminder: this is my creation of the Nielsen Top 30, since Nielsen doesn’t combine the lists or include sports. I take all three lists and combine them. Some streaming TV shows probably have higher ratings than many of the films on this list.) Look at that! UFC Freedom 250 is number one! It topped the Nielsen “Top 30” list for shows and films that made the top ten the week of 15-June. So if you’re a UFC fan or supporter of Paramount+, that’s the good news for you this week. This program topped the ratings charts for one week. Everything else is bad news, or at least a huge caveat to that story, which I’ll explain today in the first part of this week’s Streaming Ratings Report—for the weeks of 8-June and 15-June—which is a double issue since I’ve been writing on a bunch of topics recently. UFC Freedom 250 is one of the biggest streaming events of the year, and super relevant to Paramount+’s strategy, so it merited its own article. Let’s dive 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 June 8th to June 21st 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Check Out My Interview on UFC 250 at MMA Draw After you read this article, if you want even more thoughts on UFC and Paramount-Skydance/Paramount+, I did a written interview with MMA Draw. They asked me to answer some questions about UFC Freedom 250, and I was happy to chat with them. Find it here: [ The MMA Draw Newsletter Did Paramount really overpay for the UFC? What the data tells us so far If you know the history of American television, you also know that combat sports is often a leading indicator of the future… Read more a day ago · 10 likes · 1 comment · Nate Wilcox and Zach Arnold ](https://www.themmadraw.com/p/did-paramount-really-overpay-for?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web) I never thought I’d need a combat sports newsletter in my life, but the good folks at MMA Draw publish an excellent one on UFC, MMA, pro wrestling, boxing and more, analyzing both the sports themselves and the politics, economics and antitrust issues that impact them. Check the article and their newsletter out! Paramount+ Has Its Best Sporting Event of All Time…But Was It Worth It? Before we look at the UFC Freedom 250 data in particular, let’s talk about what we can’t say. Namely, let’s start with the lack of comparisons. First off, I’d love to put a chart out comparing this fight to past UFC fights on Paramount+…but we don’t have the data. This is the first time we’ve gotten Nielsen data about a Paramount+ UFC fight. As far as I can tell, Paramount provided data for the first fight, but it was a proprietary datecdote (saying it had “an average minute audience” of 5 million “views”) and then, for two fights, we got the linear viewership numbers when they aired on CBS, but no streaming data. Everything else was crickets. We also can’t compare this fight to other fights/combat sports on streaming, in particular the MMA and boxing, because Netflix also didn’t use Nielsen to track those events, opting for TVision and VideoAmp, respectively. (This isn’t Paramount’s fault, but does still suck.) We also can’t compare to UFC’s fights that used to be on ESPN+, since we don’t have any data for that, plus Disney+ didn’t have marquee fights. The comparisons would not be apples-to-apples. Can we compare to past Pay-Per-View fights? Absolutely not. The comparisons would absolutely NOT be apples-to-apples. That didn’t stop Paramount+, though, who bragged that their UFC events have reached drastically more people than past PPV fights. Duh. Sorry, but I gotta make this point again. A basic tenet of economics is that the cheaper something becomes, the more people consume or buy it. That’s Econ 101. (Sometimes pundits call things “Econ 101” that are actually like Econ 210 or even PhD-level economics, but no, this is really like first or second class basic economics.) Yet I still see one analytics firm consistently say that more people watch films on streaming than PVOD proves streaming which means that the streaming window is more valuable than the PVOD window. No, it’s not! Same thing here. Pay-Per-View events back in the day could be really, really, really expensive! So whole groups of people pitched in to buy them. That increased the perceived value of, say, the Mike Tyson fight. Or a UFC numbered event. So yes, the fact that Paramount+ makes numbered UFC fights essentially “free” if you’re already a Paramount+ member means consumption will go up. Obviously. Same for Netflix and their boxing matches. They’re talking about fights that used to cost consumers, in some cases, $50 in 1996…which is over $100 in today’s dollars. Over 1.6 million people paid that to watch the Tyson-Holyfield fight! Again, streaming is essentially “free”. Or $10 to $20, depending on what streamer we’re talking about and what tier you’re on. No wonder more people are “watching”. (Plus, Nielsen’s out-of-home viewing also helps these numbers.) UFC Freedom 250 Did Well…But I Have A Lot of Worries So what can we compare the fights to? Well, the good news is Nielsen put out that the fight averaged 7.0 million viewers for UFC Freedom 250, which is a solid number for a fight. We also know the length, at roughly 4 and a half hours. (I saw different run times, but this seems to be the consensus considering it started at 8 pm, had a delay and then finished after midnight on the East Coast. If you assume a shorter run time, then yes, the total hours viewed would go down.) That means I have the two numbers needed to add this to my Nielsen database. And then…I can compare this viewership to the NFL: And, uh, not great. But also within striking distance, mainly because the runtime for this event was so long. I’d also add that this event had viewership equal to a regular season NFL game on streaming, but if anything, it was more comparable to an NFL playoff or Super Bowl-esque event. And you can compare viewership to the top football games on broadcast, cable and streaming, and it’s not impressive at all: We can also compare it to other sports that week, including the NBA Finals and start of the World Cup: Again, not great. The NBA generated roughly four times as many average viewers each game for its NBA Finals. The World Cup has similarly big numbers. Also, that’s just a tiny fraction of the 25 most watched sporting events each week. The NBA, NHL and FIFA World Cup had many, many more games racking up hours. We could also compare this to other streaming programs to get an idea of “is this a good investment?” and here is how it ranks compared to other top Paramount+ programs: The worry here? Well, unlike scripted programming, which has rewatchability, older fights/sporting events have very little library value. Very, very few people are rewatching these fights, especially years from now. Paramount has also released datecdotes bragging about their subscriber numbers. Earlier this year, they claimed that the first UFC fight on Paramount+ brought in 1 million subscribers. Then, in their quarterly earnings report, they only ended up with 700K subs. Not great! They claimed they dropped lower-value international subscribers, but that’s why I tend to discount subscriber additions when they’re leaked to the press.1 I expect we may see a bump again for UFC Freedom 250, but I’d caution using subscriber growth so soon after these events to judge the success, since new subs with high churn (see Peacock) aren’t great either. Also, analysts often want to attribute all subscriber growth to their favorite/pet show, and that just doesn’t make sense. The biggest caveat for UFC Freedom 250 and Paramount’s very first UFC marquee event is that these could be high watermarks for the sport. UFC Freedom 250 had an incredible amount of earned media coverage compared to most UFC fights. I mean, it had wall-to-wall national news coverage in the lead up to the event. (The first fight also had a lot of promotion from Paramount since it was first.) Other fights could reach this bar—say the Conor McGregor return to the Octagon—but they’ll be fewer and far between. Was This Deal Worth It? All to ask: is this Paramount deal worth it? In this case, I think the UFC Freedom 250 numbers are more distracting than helpful. This fight did well and compares well to other top sporting events. But we know that the first marquee event was at least a third smaller, if Paramount’s own data is to be believed. And it’s likely the other fights are much, much, much smaller. And then you get to the paycheck that Paramount-Skydance paid. FIFA’s World Cup cost about the same for Fox, but clearly generated multiples more total viewership. (Though it’s only every four years.) The NBA is much more expensive, but until the playoffs, they likely didn’t pay for itself. Even still, Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon Prime Video likely overpaid. So, in that context, the NBA may be an overpay that makes the UFC look not so bad. But two overpays don’t make an underpay, to paraphrase the old cliché about wrongs and rights. And looking at UFC Freedom 250 as the likely ceiling of MMA on Paramount+, Paramount-Skydance likely paid too much. Share 1 I would love regular reports on subscriber additions by programs, but as is, it’s mostly leaked or rumored in haphazard ways.
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