Jason Snell and a rotating group of experts break down the present and future of television.

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Latest Episodes

#98: You Couldn't Pay Me To Go Camping

June 27th, 2025 · 69 minutes

Why American sports is so dominated by gambling content, DAZN and the Club World Cup, TNT gets spun off but may still bid for sports rights, Netflix gets into French broadcast TV, the NFL faces an existential crisis in court, and our TV picks.

#97: Brand Destruction

June 16th, 2025 · 44 minutes

Zaz splits WBD, the neverending Paramount sale, listener letters, and TV picks! [Downstream+ subscribers also get: Apple TV stasis, Clooney on CNN, and the Great Netflix User Migration.]

#96: Hollywood Rabbit Hole

May 30th, 2025 · 55 minutes

The dominance of YouTube, Disney grabs more kids content, TV's mumbling problem, Amazon's identity, the fate of SpinCos, and our TV picks.

#95: Inside Baseball About Football

May 16th, 2025 · 38 minutes

The rise of sports as a driver in streaming, NBC's big 2026, and Netflix's live reality moves. Plus: our TV picks. [Downstream+ subscribers also get: ESPN and WB's solid branding decisions and Fox's smart strategy.]

#94: Soft Power

April 30th, 2025 · 54 minutes

Shōgun gets another season, Match Game re-revived, binge behavior calculated, bonus content promoted, Netflix results parsed, Apple TV+ losses pondered, and our TV picks explained.

#93: Profitable on Day One

April 15th, 2025 · 39 minutes

Will Carroll joins Jason to discuss MLB's big television plans, the ratings challenge for the NBA Playoffs, and our TV picks. [Downstream+ subscribers also get: Vision Pro at Yankee Stadium, made-for-TV leagues, threats to MLS, and Zombie Vin Scully.]

#92: I Just Want to Blog

April 3rd, 2025 · 69 minutes

Netflix and Amazon prepare to celebrate NFL Christmas, the PVOD vs. Theatrical debate rages on, Gunsmoke is having a moment, Max rebrands again, Jason watched some Netflix ads, and did we mention that Julia is back?

#91: Commissioner of Television

March 21st, 2025 · 30 minutes

MLB is trying to open up local streaming, but it doesn't solve the problem of reaching casual fans. Also: a weird café in Korea and our TV picks. (Downstream+ listeners also get: British TV vs. streamers, deep programming thoughts, and Looney Tunes.)

#90: Billionaires Own a Lot of Things

March 10th, 2025 · 74 minutes

The MLB/ESPN separation and the future of ESPN, the Nationals escape from MASN, Fox's sports streaming service quandary, interesting tidbits from the Sloan Sports Conference, and our TV picks!

#89: Time Has No Meaning Anymore

February 21st, 2025 · 36 minutes

Super Bowl streaming, NFL dreams, and TV picks from us and listeners. (Downstream+ subscribers also get: Seeking "Paradise" on broadcast TV, Netflix taunts Apple TV users, and a SNL50 triumph.)