Streaming wars – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Established streaming industry leaders like Netflix and Amazon are facing more competition than ever. Now legacy entertainment giants are in the game with their own subscription services, like Peacock, HBO Max, Paramount Plus, and the Disney Plus / Hulu / ESPN Plus bundle, while Apple TV Plus attacks around the edges. Meanwhile, the rise of ad-supported free platforms like Roku Channel and Pluto TV has attracted enough attention that Plex, YouTube, and Amazon’s Freevee are trying to get a chunk of the action too.

Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
It’s decision day for Marvel Comics staffers on its move out of New York.

As Comics Beat points out, 100 or so employees had until today to decide if they’ll move with the company out of New York City to Burbank, CA, the home of Marvel Studios and Disney.

It was announced in July, but the actual move will take place next year, bringing the bits of the MCU closer together under new EIC Stephen Wacker, replacing C.B. Cebulski, who is moving to Japan to lead a manga push and become the editor of Asia originals.

Don’t screw this up, Marvel

Charles Pulliam-Moore
Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
You can just watch stuff on JustWatch starting next month.

The popular streaming guide is launching its own streaming service, JustWatch TV, offering paid and ad-supported streaming and rentals. Users will be able to watch included shows and movies directly on its app and website, or through connected streaming services, which keep getting pricier.

Charles Pulliam-Moore
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Netflix is turning the Stanford prison experiment into a reality series.

First there was Squid Game: The Challenge, then there was Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket, and now Netflix is turning Stanford professor Philip Zimbardo’s highly unethical prison experiment into yet another deranged reality series.

Correction: The New Stanford Prison Experiment is an unscripted reality series, not a reality competition show.

Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Prime Video is bundling AMC Plus, BritBox, MGM Plus, PBS Masterpiece, and STARZ.

If you’ve been waiting to rewatch Project Hail Mary and the modern Doctor Who seasons like I have, this new bundle could make it a little less expensive even as prices for individual services keep climbing. It’s one of the biggest bundles on Prime Video, including all five streaming services for $29.99 per month.

Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Spotify’s letting you exclude your kids’ music from Wrapped.

A new settings toggle rolling out starting today excludes kids and family music from your taste profile and recommendations. With it turned on, your kids can listen to their music on repeat without it taking over your Spotify Wrapped, Discover Weekly, and Daily Mix.

Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Apple’s iCloud Plus subscription is adding Apple TV and Arcade for free in over 100 countries.

Apple’s including both in the $0.99/month 50GB iCloud Plus subscription “at no extra cost.” Users in the US and other regions that aren’t on the list will need a pricier Apple One subscription to get a bundle with those services.

Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
Yes, Apple TV is the new HBO.

Apple just answered the question we raised in June by taking home 28 (plus one for an ad) Emmy awards, the most of any studio. It’s the first time Apple has come out on top thanks to its focus on tentpole titles like Pluribus and Widow’s Bay that created cultural moments this year.

Adam Conover explains how YouTube ruined everything
Play

The comedian, podcast host, and, yes, YouTuber on the state of media today.

Nilay Patel
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Charles Pulliam-Moore
One of the best documentaries about gen AI is finally coming to YouTube.

Director Valerie Veatch’s excellent Ghost in the Machine documentary digging into the origins of generative artificial intelligence is set to make its debut on the PBS Documentaries YouTube channel this evening.

The gen AI Kool-Aid tastes like eugenics

Charles Pulliam-Moore
Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
Netflix is making a Diablo animated series.

We’ve got almost no details beyond that, but Blizzard told Variety that “this is only the beginning, with even more taking shape across our universes.” So we might finally get those Overwatch and World of Warcraft series as well.

Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Twitch is testing an AI ‘Stream Coach’ that gives creators tips after their streams.

The AI coaching feature is only available to a small group of streamers right now. Unlike Twitch’s generative AI training toggle, which is opt out, the company says this feature would be opt-in if it’s ever expanded beyond this test.

A screenshot of a Twitch tweet responding to questions about an AI Steam Coach feature
Image: Twitch
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Does a streaming series’ absence make your heart grow fonder?

According to a new report from Luminate, lengthy gaps between s treaming shows are one of the reasons people stop watching them. That feels right, but we want to hear from you: does waiting a few years for a series to come back make you more inclined to move on?

Anime reaction YouTubers are at war with copyright enforcers

Content creators say their videos are fair use, but one controversial company begs to differ.

Charles Pulliam-Moore
Jay Peters
Jay Peters
YouTube now lets you lock your account on the TV app with a PIN.

You’ll also be able to unlock your account with the YouTube mobile app. Read all the details in this YouTube support post. This is a smart feature!

A screenshot of the TV app showing a PIN entry screen.
Image: YouTube
Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Hit Broadway play ‘Oh, Mary!’ is coming to HBO Max next year.

Fans of the dark comedy starring Cole Escola as Mrs. Lincoln won’t have to wait as long to stream it as Hamilton fans did. The version on HBO and HBO Max will be the filming of the July 28, 2026 performance at London’s Trafalgar Theatre. You might be able to see Oh, Mary! sooner in person, as its North American tour starts this month.

Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Prime Video’s ‘Shop the Scene’ feature finds Amazon products matching what’s on your screen.

The new AI feature is supposed to help you track down stuff like your favorite character’s outfit, which could come in handy assuming it doesn’t just pull up random knockoffs. Amazon’s also making it easier to shop in the middle of your shows and movies with a new “Shop” tab in its X-Ray menu.

Three screenshots of Amazon’s Shop the Scene feture
Image: Amazon
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Disclosure Day is coming to Peacock.

If you missed Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day while it was in theaters, you’ll be able to catch it on Peacock when its makes its streaming premiere on October 9th.

Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Spider-Noir’s ending with one season.

Amazon has reportedly canceled Nicolas Cage’s Spider-Man detective series that premiered on Prime Video and MGM Plus earlier this year, according to TheWrap. The report adds that Sony and Amazon “will continue collaborating” on more Marvel projects, and “have already identified the next chapter of the franchise.”

Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Silo returns to Apple TV for its final season on July 9th, 2027.

Following its season three finale this week, Apple released a teaser for Silo’s fourth season, premiering in less than a year — but watch out for spoilers if you haven’t seen this week’s episode yet.

Charles Pulliam-Moore
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Star Guardian: Guardian of the Stars.

If you liked the pilot animatic for Kiana Khansmith’s Pretty Pretty Please I Don’t Want to Be a Magical Girl, you’re going to love the Mercury Filmworks-produced, fully animated version of the first episode that just hit YouTube.

Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Travel YouTuber Drew Binsky is the latest creator to strike a deal with Netflix.

A selection of Binsky’s videos will appear on Netflix starting September 19th, similar to the streamer’s deals with Kevin Langue, Nick DiGiovanni, and Mythical Entertainment, as reported by Variety. YouTube has reportedly offered creators millions not to cross-post their videos to Netflix.

Emma Roth
Emma Roth
ESPN Unlimited is now available in the YouTube TV app.

If you subscribe to YouTube TV’s main $82.99 / month plan or standalone Sports package, you can now access live sports and other content from ESPN Unlimited directly within the YouTube TV app.

YouTube TV started allowing users to connect ESPN Unlimited to their accounts in July, as part of a carriage agreement reached by Google and Disney last year.

Image: YouTube / ESPN
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Charles Pulliam-Moore
MrBeast’s fans aren’t too hot on reading, apparently.

HarperCollins probably dropped a pretty penny to get Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson and James Patterson to collaborate on their newly released novel, The Most Dangerous Games. But Semafor reports that the publisher might have a hard time making that money back due to the book’s very, very low pre-sales.

Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly highlighted the book’s pre-sale numbers rather than post-launch sales.

Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
M. Night Shyamalan’s latest film is a YouTube video.

He admitted to being “scared” but excited about his new YouTube channel in his first video, but said that after 30 years making movies, he wants to “undo whatever stigmas are in my head or in anybody’s head.” Shyamalan dives into his Signs filmmaking diary in his second video on the channel.

Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
Google wants Disney, Universal, and other studios to license characters and films for its AI tools.

Google is pitching its AI tools as a way to streamline production and visual effects, but the effort faces pushback from union workers and creators concerned about copyright, job displacement, and artistic control.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Netflix’s GTA VI “extended look” is starting soon.

The preview is scheduled to debut on Netflix at 3PM ET, though creators can stream it as long as they talk over it. Starting at 9PM ET, you’ll be able to watch the preview on YouTube and the GTA VI website.

Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Are you ready for today’s GTA VI preview?

The “extended look” coming to Netflix and YouTube will be 26 minutes long and feature gameplay captured on the PlayStation 5, according to Netflix. The preview will first appear on Netflix at 3PM ET before arriving on YouTube at 9PM ET.

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Lauren Feiner
Lauren Feiner
Meta is planning an ad blitz urging TikTok and YouTube to follow its lead.

It’s planning to run full-page ads in The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and New York Times on Thursday, according to NYT reporter Mike Isaac, on the heels of Meta’s $17 billion settlement with state AGs. Meta is using the settlement to urge its top competitors to take on similar restrictions.

1/4
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Category is: Gene Wilder resurrected with AI.

The latest trailer for Netflix’s Willy Wonka-inspired reality competition show features a lot more voiceover from an AI-generated clone of Gene Wilder. The AI of it all was already ridiculous, but it’s even weirder to hear how much the AI voice sounds like Wilder doing an impression of RuPaul explaining Drag Race challenges.

Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
You can stream Backrooms on HBO Max starting next month.

A24’s hit horror film directed by Kane Parsons will be available on the streaming service in the US on September 25th, and debut on HBO linear the next day at 8PM ET.