If consumers increasingly have no favorite 'brands,' what does this mean for streaming platforms? Are brands really just about the show?

Many believe CTV cannot drive direct business-outcome results the same way that search and social media do.

Leading streamers added 18% more ad minutes on average for the top 9 premium platforms in August vs. January 2026. Growing interest in ad-supported streaming tiers has not gone unnoticed:

The investigation is focused on CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox News Channel after they temporarily declined to provide press pool coverage of the Trump press conference and other coverage, according to reports.

Some high-producing creators have moved to Netflix on a non-exclusive basis. YouTube execs warned they could receive less promotion or lose their brand deals, according to reports.

Proponents of the move say it would give the biggest TV station groups massive control - perhaps to compete with local digital media and social media and gain more control of local ad markets.

Companies like Netflix and Walt Disney still spend around $20 billion on TV and film production per year, with others spending at least $15 billion.

The overall television ad marketplace is stagnant. But isn't streaming/CTV still a rapidly growing business?

Skydance has confirmed that CBS News Editor in Chief Bari Weiss and CNN Worldwide Chairman/Editor in Chief Mark Thompson will remain, running separate operating news platforms.

Disney executives are frank about the tough market conditions, which took down CBS' 'Late Show with Stephen Colbert' earlier this year, according to senior network execs.