Tag: Streaming videos

At its CES 2026 technology and data showcase, Disney announced that it will officially introduce the "Vertical Video" format to its Disney+ service in the United States this year, hoping to attract younger users to open the app more frequently, rather than just for watching feature films. Beyond trailers, there will also be original short-form programming. According to Erin Teague, Executive Vice President of Product Management at Disney Entertainment, this new feature is not just for watching exciting trailers for movies or TV series. Disney+ plans to use this format to launch various types of content, including "original short-form programming." Although the official details of the original content have not yet been specified, considering the explosive growth of "micro-dramas" in the global market over the past year, it is speculated that Disney is very likely to leverage its vast IP resources to produce short-form content suitable for mobile vertical viewing. Drawing inspiration from ESPN, targeting Generation Z and Alpha users, this is not Disney's first attempt at vertical content. Back in August 2025, Disney's sports channel ESPN App launched a feature called "Verts." Clearly, Disney gained enough data and user feedback to replicate this experience on its core streaming platform, Disney+. Erin Teague emphasized that this feature will be "natively integrated" into the app in a way that aligns with core user behavior, rather than being an abrupt or random user experience. Disney's goal is very clear: to target Gen Z and Gen Alpha users, who are more accustomed to watching short videos on their phones than sitting in front of a screen for extended periods to watch feature films. The goal: to make Disney+ a "must-visit" app. Disney further stated in its announcement that this experience will evolve as news and entertainment content expands and will offer personalized recommendations. Its ultimate strategic goal is to transform Disney+ from a platform "only opened when wanting to watch a movie" into a "must-visit daily destination" for users...

Is streaming TV service heading back to the old ways of traditional cable TV? YouTube TV recently announced a new subscription option called "YouTube TV Plans" to launch in early 2026. This new plan breaks away from the previous single-rate "all-you-can-eat" model, allowing users to choose specific channel packages based on their preferences—such as sports, news, or family entertainment. A boon for sports fans? No need to buy the full package to watch ESPN. Although the official pricing hasn't been announced yet, based on current information, the new YouTube TV Plans will offer different categories of packages, including "Sports," "News," and "Family and Entertainment Content," allowing users to mix and match. The sports plan (YouTube TV Sports Plan) is expected to include major broadcast channels and multiple sports networks, such as all ESPN channels, FS1, and NBC Sports Network. For users who only want to watch sports and don't want to pay for children's programs or reality shows, this plan might be a more economical option. This segmented service model is quite similar to the plans currently offered by Fubo or DirecTV. With the price rising from $35 to $83, is it more cost-effective to buy in smaller packages? When YouTube TV first launched in 2017, it was marketed as an all-inclusive service costing only $35 per month. However, with rising content licensing costs, prices have soared, reaching $83 per month last year, a 137% increase. Market analysts speculate that by reducing the range of watchable content, the new segmented plan could lower users' monthly bills. Of course, the original $83 all-inclusive plan will remain available for users with comprehensive needs. However, this streaming service, which initially touted its ability to break free from the constraints of cable TV, is now also starting to package and sell channels separately, leading one to wonder if the ultimate goal of streaming media is simply to revert to another cable TV system.

Update: Netflix has announced a stunning $827 billion acquisition of Warner Bros., encompassing HBO, the DC Universe, and the Harry Potter IP, but excluding Discovery Channel content. The acquisition is conditional on Warner Bros. Discovery completing its spin-off and going public globally before the transaction officially takes effect. Bloomberg News reports that Netflix has entered exclusive acquisition talks with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). Rumors suggest Netflix offered $28 per share for Warner Bros. Discovery's film studios and streaming services, a move exceeding market expectations and seen as a direct thwart of Paramount Skydance's earlier strong interest. The offer targets high-quality assets, excluding traditional cable television. According to sources, Netflix's offer of $28 per share is significantly higher than Warner Bros. Discovery's closing price of $24.54 per share on December 4th. The deal is reportedly focused on Warner Bros.' exploration of its most valuable assets, including Warner Bros. Film & Television Studios (owning IP assets such as DC and Harry Potter) and the HBO Max streaming service. However, reports indicate that Netflix's acquisition proposal does not include Warner Bros.' vast but declining traditional cable television network business, meaning that CNN, TNT, and Discovery channels may not be included in the acquisition plan. This contrasts sharply with the proposal previously made by its competitor, Paramount Skydance, the newly formed entity resulting from the merger of Skydance Media and Paramount. Reports indicate that Paramount Skydance Media previously offered approximately $24 per share (totaling approximately $60 billion), but on the condition of a "whole package" acquisition, including cable television assets. Netflix, on the other hand, is clearly adopting a more precise "selective acquisition" strategy, securing core IP assets and streaming market share at a higher premium. Does this echo Warner Bros.' exploration of a spin-off plan, signaling an impending shift in the landscape by 2026? Netflix's "buy only the best" acquisition strategy coincides with Warner Bros. Discovery's own restructuring plan. Warner Bros. Discovery had just announced plans to officially split into two independent publicly traded companies by 2026: one focusing on film studios and streaming (tentatively called "Warner Bros."), and the other taking over traditional cable television networks (tentatively called "Discovery Worldwide"). At the time, market analysts believed that CEO David Zaslav's move was to unlock undervalued assets and alleviate debt pressure. Now it seems that Netflix's acquisition proposal is highly likely based on this split structure, directly acquiring the spun-off "Warner Bros." entity, which explains why Netflix was willing to offer a higher price than Paramount. Regulatory scrutiny is the biggest variable, with a termination fee as high as $5 billion. Although there are rumors that the two parties are about to announce an agreement, the regulatory hurdles facing this deal are likely unprecedented. ...

With the widespread adoption of streaming video platforms like YouTube and Netflix, "speed playback" has become almost a standard feature. Many users who prioritize "time performance" have become accustomed to consuming content at 1.5x or even 2x speed. A series of recent studies published by a research team at UCLA have verified the learning effects of different age groups at different playback speeds, and the results may overturn common expectations. Young people: 2x speed is no problem, 2.5x speed is the limit. In 2021, UCLA conducted tests on 231 participants aged 18 to 41 (average age 20.83 years). The study had them watch lecture videos at 1x (original speed), 1.5x, 2x, and 2.5x speeds, and conducted comprehension tests after watching and one week later. The results were surprising; up to "2x speed," the participants' comprehension levels were not significantly different from those watching at the original speed. The learning effect only declined significantly when the speed was increased to 2.5x (more than 300 words per minute), indicating that the brains of younger people seem to have adapted to high-intensity information loads. An even more interesting finding is that, given the same study time, adopting the strategy of "watching twice at 2x speed" (especially if the second viewing is scheduled before the exam) resulted in better learning outcomes than "watching once at the original speed." However, this "speed-up learning method" is not suitable for everyone. A follow-up study in 2023 targeting the 64-94 age group (as a control group compared to the 18-25 age group) yielded drastically different results. While the younger group still performed steadily at 2x speed, the older group showed a significant decline in test scores as the playback speed increased. Research indicates that slow playback at 0.75x speed actually provides the best learning experience for older adults. This is mainly attributed to the natural decline in brain information processing speed and working memory capacity with age; excessively fast playback speed prevents information from being digested and stored in time. An unexpected finding: Speeding up reduces mind-wandering. This study also found a counterintuitive finding: for both young and older adults, increasing the video playback speed helps reduce mind-wandering or inattentiveness. The study speculates that this may be because a faster information flow forces the brain to allocate more resources for processing; this high cognitive demand produces a reverse effect, compelling viewers to concentrate more. In summary, there is no single optimal speed for digital learning. Young people may improve efficiency through faster playback, but for older adults, slowing down is key to absorbing knowledge.

Following Skydance's $8 billion acquisition of Paramount in late July, the company has been integrated into a new entity, Paramount Skydance. New CEO David Ellison is reportedly considering a takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. If this acquisition goes through, it would gain access to Warner Bros. Pictures, HBO, and Discovery's vast cable channel assets. However, given Warner Bros. Discovery's current market capitalization of nearly $33 billion, almost double that of Paramount Skydance, completing the acquisition would require substantial funding and complex share swap arrangements. Furthermore, Warner Bros. Discovery recently announced plans to split into two independent companies, Warner Bros. and Discovery Worldwide, in 2026. A subsequent acquisition by Paramount Skydance would clearly disrupt these plans. On the other hand, if Warner Bros. Discovery is acquired by Paramount Skydance Media, it could further intensify the concentration of the entertainment industry, concentrating content production and distribution rights in the hands of a smaller number of companies. For viewers, this could mean fewer choices and more homogenized styles. Furthermore, if Paramount Skydance Media plans to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, it will not only incur significant financial costs but also face antitrust investigations from the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice, among others, and is expected to face considerable pressure. However, from an industry perspective, if the acquisition is successful, it will create a super entertainment empire encompassing diverse businesses such as film, television series, streaming, sports, and news. It could even reshape the competitive landscape in the streaming video market alongside Netflix, Disney, and Amazon Prime Video, while also putting Hollywood in a state of heightened readiness.

Following its acquisition of a 33% stake in streaming service Hulu from US cable television provider Comcast in November 2023, thereby gaining full control of Hulu and beginning to integrate Hulu content into its Disney+ service, Disney recently announced that it has officially acquired full ownership of Hulu's content. Starting in 2026, all Hulu content is expected to be integrated into Disney+ and offered as a single app. This means there will no longer be a standalone Hulu app. Disney CEO Bob Iger stated in an earlier earnings call that merging Hulu and Disney+ onto the same technology platform will not only help reduce operating costs but also improve the flexibility of advertising sales strategies. Iger further explained that this integration will make Disney+ the "ultimate video platform," bringing together flagship brands, family entertainment, news programming, high-quality dramas, and industry-leading live sports content, providing users with a better viewing experience. However, while Hulu will be fully integrated into Disney+, Disney stated that Hulu and Disney+ will maintain their own independent subscription plans, allowing users to choose individual subscriptions or combine them based on their needs. Meanwhile, Disney+ will launch new features such as a personalized homepage in the coming months to further enhance the user experience. Users outside the US will also see significant changes. The "Star" tag, previously the gateway to Disney+'s adult content, will be gradually renamed "Hulu" starting this fall, clearly conveying the content positioning after the brand integration. Furthermore, according to Disney's latest financial report, as of the end of June 2025, Disney+ and Hulu will have a combined global subscriber base of 1.83 million, an increase of 2.6 million subscribers compared to the end of March this year. However, Disney will no longer periodically release individual subscriber numbers for Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, instead focusing on overall operational performance data in its financial reports, similar to Netflix. In addition, Disney's new ESPN streaming service will officially launch on August 21, further strengthening its position in the sports content market.

Last year, YouTube Premium Lite was confirmed for testing in the US, Australia, and Thailand, and recently announced its launch in the US. It is now officially available in Taiwan for NT$119 per month, slightly cheaper than the current YouTube Premium plan at NT$199 per month. With YouTube Premium Lite, most video content, such as games, fashion, beauty, news, and podcasts, will be ad-free. However, music, music videos, and short videos will display ads. Ads will also appear when browsing YouTube videos and using the search function. In addition to some ad content, YouTube Premium Lite does not support video downloads or background playback, and these features are currently only available with the YouTube Premium plan. Google stated that YouTube is committed to meeting the preferences of diverse audiences and providing flexible product options. The launch of YouTube Premium Lite in Taiwan will allow more users to enjoy a less disruptive viewing experience and explore the wonderful content from numerous creators. This expansion is also expected to create additional revenue opportunities for creators and partners.

Netflix has been actively investing in the development of Chinese-language content in recent years, and today (July 3rd) it announced the launch of the "Future Talent Training Program" in Taiwan. In collaboration with OneOne Pictures and the Taiwan Film Producers Association, the program offers "Practical Training in Series Script Development" and "Film and Television Production Trainee Program" in the two core areas of screenwriting and production. The aim is to comprehensively enhance the international competitiveness of Taiwanese film and television talent, from basic training to practical experience. Continuing the "Netflix Creative Industry Equality Fund" launched last year, Huang Yi-mei, Netflix's Director of Chinese-language Content, pointed out that Taiwan has accumulated a strong content creation capacity over the years. Netflix will continue to build a complete talent ecosystem through industry cooperation and practical training, supporting Chinese-language content to showcase its diverse aspects in the global market. This year, for the first time, the program spans both creation and production, comprehensively covering script development and on-site execution, giving the next generation of film and television talent the opportunity to grow rapidly through practical experience. Among them, the "TV Series Script Development Practical Training" is led by OneOne Pictures, adopting the "Writers' Room" collaborative model commonly used in TV series development. Targeting young people aspiring to a career in screenwriting, the program provides five months of intensive training centered around "screenwriting assistants," simulating real-world industry processes. OneOne Pictures producer Huang Yu-ru stated that through this collaboration with Netflix, they hope to enable young creators not only to write but also to understand teamwork and market demands, transforming original ideas into commercially viable film and television works. On the other hand, the "Film and Television Production Trainee Program" is a joint initiative between Netflix and the Taiwan Film and Television Producers Association. Designed for film and television professionals with existing expertise, it combines theoretical courses with on-site internships to cultivate well-rounded production talents with production process integration and project management capabilities. Association Chairperson Chang Ya-ting pointed out that the program particularly emphasizes practical experience, arranging direct participation in production crew operations, providing real-world shooting experience, ensuring future production talents not only understand technology but also team management and cross-disciplinary communication. In recent years, Netflix has been deepening the global influence of Taiwanese original content through works such as *Light the Night*, *The Imitation Game*, and *I Forgot to Remember*. This June, it even held a post-production workshop, inviting the veteran post-production team from *The Squid Game* to Taiwan to share with local creators how to optimize narrative pacing and visual presentation through technology in the streaming era. With the rapid changes in the film and television industry, Netflix emphasizes that it will continue to leverage local collaborations and global resources to create a more systematic training platform for the Taiwanese film and television industry, cultivating the two core driving forces of content creation and production, and helping Chinese-language content continue to have a voice in the international market.

Following the launch of its own streaming video service, NASA has announced a partnership with Netflix to broadcast space missions live to a global audience starting this summer. The broadcasts will include rocket launches, spacewalks, mission coverage, and live footage from the International Space Station. This collaboration focuses on live streaming content and does not currently include original documentaries on the NASA+ platform. According to Rebecca Sirmons, General Manager of NASA+, this initiative echoes the mission of the 1958 National Space Act, which aims to share the story of human space exploration in the broadest possible way. Sirmons emphasized, "We are committed to inspiring the next generation, whether they are watching from the couch or on their phones." Leveraging Netflix's massive reach of over 3 million subscribers worldwide, the partnership strengthens NASA's connection with the general public and allows missions such as rocket launches and spacewalks to reach a global audience in a more immediate and visual way. It is also expected to further increase Netflix's user base. Although NASA has partnered with Netflix to expand the reach of its live content, the original "NASA+" service will continue to be available, with all programs still accessible for free through the NASA App and official website, replacing the previous NASA cable TV channel.

During the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France, Netflix announced a partnership with TF1, a major French television network, to launch live streaming services in France starting in the summer of 2025. This will allow users to watch live television content and on-demand content from up to five TF1 channels. Similar to its previous efforts to expand its content market and attract more viewers by adding live sports and reality shows to its streaming platform, Netflix's collaboration with TF1 can be seen as a way to secure its French user base and deepen local content partnerships. The collaboration includes popular variety shows like "The Voice" and sporting events such as matches of the French national football team, all of which will be broadcast simultaneously on Netflix, along with on-demand content provided by TF1. Further deepening its localization efforts, Netflix is ​​attracting over 10 million French users. In fact, Netflix has previously collaborated with TF1, including co-producing the TV series *Les Combattantes* and the film *Tout le bleu du ciel*. This latest collaboration is expected to allow TF1 to reach a wider streaming audience through Netflix's service. Currently, Netflix has over 10 million subscribers in France, representing about 13% of the French population, making it a huge potential source of viewership for TF1. Similar to regulations in other countries and regions, France has strict requirements for foreign streaming platforms' investment in local content, including a requirement to invest a certain percentage of funds in producing film and television content within France. This has fostered a long-standing close partnership between Netflix and TF1. From challenging television to becoming "television" itself, Netflix has been seen as a disruptor of the traditional television industry since its inception, with its "ad-free, time-limited" on-demand model completely changing viewers' viewing habits. However, its recent developments and collaborations with television channels like TF1 suggest that Netflix is ​​reverting to a more traditional television development model. Netflix has also begun investing in live streaming content in the United States, and there are reports that it plans to introduce more real-time interactive content, indicating that live streaming and linear viewing modes are once again becoming a new battleground for streaming platforms.