Netflix needs to keep improving its shows, CFO Spencer Neumann suggested last week. But how much does quality matter in an industry that’s spent decades making a lot of crummy programs. Maybe it matters a lot, when consumers pay for those shows directly.

Disney and Charter are locked in an impasse that could reshape the cable TV and sports industries. But one analyst suggests Disney needs to give in, and figure out a new cable paradigm, because it needs the money, and fast.

Niche streaming services can find a way to survive amid ever-expanding competition, but they need to be smart about it, a panel of industry analysts said this week. It won’t be easy, but maybe even more challenging for the biggest streaming companies.

As the writer and actor strikes grind on, the industry they’re working for continues to shift dramatically toward streaming, as shown by a string of new studies. By the time strikers return, the industry could be radically different.

Disney needs to find some new franchises, given evident viewer fatigue for stalwarts like Star Wars and Marvel films and series. But where to find one these days? There are a couple of possibilities.

DIsney’s ESPN deal with gambling company Penn Entertainment marks a big change in strategy that likely will be copied across Hollywood. . But this deal won’t be enough to fix what ails Disney or ESPN, so expect more tie-ups to come.

‘Barbie’ may be big for Warner Bros. Discovery, but plenty of questions remain after its Q2 earnings. Analysts gave the company credit for major progress on its mountain of debt, but sustainability is still far in the future.

Strike-stifled studios should be thinking about how to build entertainment far beyond their broken TV and movie business models. The game industry is showing what may be possible as it evolves to a new subscription- and franchise-driven future.

Investors beat up Netflix’s latest earnings announcement, sending shares down 11%. But even with less-than-expected revenues in the quarter, the streaming giant signaled that its big money-generating moves are already beginning to pay off.

Leadership of SAG-AFTRA, the actors union, announce Thursday that they’re going on strike against Disney and other Hollywood media companies. Impacts could be felt immediately.

The world of sports TV rights has been one long escalator up, but it may finally be ending, as broadcast and cable audiences keep shrinking and regional sports networks collapse. Can streaming truly pick up the slack, at a reasonable price? The answer has big implications for the leagues, teams, players and fans.

Netlix jumped into the live event business in a big way with ‘Chris Rock: Selective Outrage.’ Viewership was big despite some limitations, and there’s reason to expect lots more such shows, if Netflix can figure out what works for its global audience.

Awards shows have seen ratings declines for years, but several recent big shows have had promising results online, or are headed there permanently. It almost certainly represents the future of Hollywood self-congratulations.

Netflix and Apple have flexed their pocketbooks at the Sundance Film Festival this week, each picking up a hot title for around $20 million. But many competitors have done little so far in acquisitions, a bad sign for indie film, and a telling one for the growing gap between the richest services and everyone else.

It’s only been about three years since the Streaming Wars kicked off, but analysts say we’re much further along in the process of figuring out the new era’s winners and losers. While 2023 may not decide anything, it’ll make for a great set-up pitcher for the final innings.

The ground-breaking $2.5 billion media rights deal between Apple and Major League Soccer is only looking better and better amid strong World Cup interest, and burgeoning appeal for MLS itself, especially among younger fans. With Apple’s reach, the league is positioning itself for a break-out year.

Bob Iger has been back as Disney CEO for two weeks, and has said all the right things to investors and employees. But the list of challenges facing the company and Iger are long, and his contract is for only two years. What’s he going to prioritize in that time?

Disney had a very bad quarter, surprising analysts, and raising questions about its ability to turn its streaming operations into a profitable enterprise within just another 15 months or so. Patience may be a virtue, but Wall Street wasn’t waiting around, sending share prices down 12 percent.

Connected TV is beckoning to advertising with big screens, more impactful ads, and deep audience targeting. But Needham analyst Laura Martin suggests new data showing people mostly watch CTV shows with others has big implications for the burgeoning industry.

Is Apple TV+ finally ready to act like a real streaming service, moving toward making money and paying its own way? Price hikes and more ads, maybe even an ad-supported tier, suggest Apple’s little project is growing up.