In a “we knew this was coming” finding, Hub Research just released its 2025 “Monetizing Video” report showing that while tapped out on TV spending, consumers still want it all. Based on a survey of 1,600 US consumers with broadband access, consumers paying for three or more subscriptions are spending more than they’d like, with the average user shelling out $83 monthly on TV services, but only willing to spend about $3 more. However, new streaming bundles like Disney+ & Max are proving to be a win-win, with 42% of users saying they’re much more likely to keep bundled services compared to individual subscriptions, dramatically improving subscriber loyalty.

Key shifts in consumer priorities include increased tolerance for ads as viewers embrace free services, growing importance of full seasons and binge-watching capabilities, and rising demand for live sports as leagues sell more rights to streamers, while interest in new theatrical movies on streaming has decreased. “Emphasizing ‘low price’ and ‘unlimited access’ are evergreen value drivers that streamers can lean into as they manage the ups and downs of new programming slates,” said Hub’s Senior Consultant, Jason Platt Zolov.

Curiosity Stream inked a multi-tier distribution agreement to join DIRECTV’s premium content offerings as a subscription video-on-demand service, while Curiosity NOW launches on DIRECTV’s FAST platform MyFree DIRECTV with round-the-clock factual programming from its arsenal of original and curated factual films, shows, and series.

Anime meets airline! Crunchyroll and Delta are taking off on a partnership that will bring a selection of in-flight anime into seat backs.

Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Dana Walden will receive the 2025 International Emmy® Founders Award at the November 24 gala in New York City, recognizing her impact on the global media industry. Walden, who previously served as CEO of Fox Television Group, joins prestigious past recipients including Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, and Shonda Rhimes.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have reupped the creative partnership they began in 2020 between their media company, Archewell Productions, and Netflix, with a multi-year, first look deal for film and television projects. Also, season two of “With Love, Meghan” will include a special episode titled “Holiday Celebration” to premiere in December.

David Weil, showrunner of “Hunters” and “Invasion,” will make his feature directing debut with “Tyrant,” a thriller a la “Whiplash” but set in the fine dining world, that Amazon MGM Studios acquired in a preemptive spec deal. Casting set to begin immediately with The Picture Company’s Alex Heineman and Andrew Rona producing. Weil, who also wrote the script and will produce, is currently adapting the Evan Gershkovich story for United Artists and writing “Extraction 3” for Netflix.

Australia production company WildBear Entertainment will co-pro a new history series, “Fatal Conflicts,” with ZDF Arte, with ZDF Studios handling international distribution. The series recreates two pivotal ancient wars – Xerxes v Themistocles and Hannibal v Scipio, adding expert commentary and inviting viewers to engage with the narrative.

Asian entertainment destination, Viki, part of Rakuten Group, Inc., of e-commerce and internet services, is bringing the K-drama “My Youth” exclusively to the streaming platform in the US, Latin America, and Europe. The series set to launch in September.

Counterpart Studios officially launched as an independent production company. The founding team, CEO Tony Hernandez, President Elise Henderson, and Chief Creative Officer Lilly Burns, stated their approach centers on offering buyers “premium content at the right price” while staying focused on a “creator-centric model” that prioritizes artist relationships and nimble execution.

Sarayu Blue (“Good American Family”) has joined the cast of Netflix’s upcoming eight-episode adaptation of “Unaccustomed Earth,” based on Jhumpa Lahiri’s award-winning collection of short stories.

And, Onyx Collective announced entrepreneur and beauty mogul Lori Harvey will join Hulu’s legal drama “Reasonable Doubt” as a recurring guest star when season three premieres on Sept. 18, 2025.

Hallmark Channel is teaming up for the first time with the Grand Ole Opry for “A Grand Ole Opry Christmas,” an original movie starring Nikki DeLoach and Kristoffer Polaha, set to debut during Countdown to Christmas. The project celebrates the Opry’s centennial year, with production beginning soon at notable Nashville locations. The partnership also features a collection of co-branded products launching at Hallmark.com this season.  Brad Paisley will write original music and will also perform. 

MINT, an AI-powered advertising resource management software company, has acquired Redmill Solutions to complete what it calls the consolidation of the fragmented media planning technology space. The deal follows MINT’s recent acquisition of info³ and creates a fully integrated, end-to-end advertising workflow platform enhanced by what the company terms “Agentic AI.” The combined platform promises faster media planning processes, automated reporting for procurement teams comparing agency performance against commitments, and streamlined media authorization with year-over-year activity views.

Basis Technologies has partnered with INTRVL to identify “movable voters” using INTRVL’s data technology to combine years of media impact measurements with hundreds of thousands of recent surveys to pinpoint voters that best respond to digital campaigns. It will make Basis the first demand-side platform to broadly offer these segments to Democratic and progressive advertisers to reduce campaign spend waste and automate finding persuadable voters across the political spectrum. Early results indicated +120% increase in candidate support and +80% higher lift in issue support.

Fandom has introduced “Momentum,” a new targeting solution for reaching audiences during both viral and anticipated pop culture moments. Powered by its FanDNA Helix data product the platform offers two options: “Trending,” which allows advertisers to activate campaigns around emerging, real-time events, and “Moments,” which focuses on major, predicted tentpole releases across Fandom’s 250,000 fan communities. Utilizing predictive AI, FanDNA Helix analyzes behavioral signals to let advertisers engage fans at the exact moment content gains traction, maximizing campaign relevance and reach.

Taking a Big Swing, multi-Emmy-winning journalist Jimmy Roberts, longtime media executive Fred Bucher (ESPN, Time Warner, Charter, Weather), and marketing and agency executive Spence Kramer (Wieden + Kennedy, J. Walter Thompson) have teamed up to lead a new media company focused on the business of lifestyle sports, starting with golf in September. Big Swing Media will deliver editorial and production, access to newsmakers and industry insights through podcasts, subscription newsletters, and custom events.

CBS’ “Big Brother” on Sunday reached 3.22 million viewers, up 7% over last week and 1% year-over-year, according to Nielsen.

Adlook has appointed Timothy Giles as Head of Business Development for the Midwest. He brings over 20 years of experience from leadership roles at Division-D, MiQ, Basis Technologies, and Tribune Publishing.

Today’s Trivia Question
How many times had the title character on “Maude” (1972-78) been married? (Email your answer to trivia@cynopsis.com and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: a limit of four answers per time zone.)