Cable continues its rapid decline as streaming takes a greater share
The Gauge - 2025 v 2026
The heat has really gone out of Nielsen’s The Gauge monthly reports since the business acknowledged some complaints about its numbers related to declines on streaming services. They still provide some value though, so I was interested to see the April Gauge report released this week.
On a year-on year comparison, the rapid decline of cable TV share caught my attention.
The movement across the streaming services is fairly consistent, with some increase of share across the board registered for almost all of the streaming platforms. Notable is a full 1% jump year-on-year for YouTube. And a 3.3% jump for streaming overall.
Taking a major hit these past twelve months is Broadcast, down 0.9% and especially then there’s cable, which is down a massive 2.9%
April 2025
April 2026
MoffettNathanson Research suggests there is a general 10% year-on year decline underway. A number that will only intensify with most sports now available on streaming platforms.
Karl Stefanovic leaves the mainstream media
Australian broadcaster Nine made it official today with a statement that can, in the most polite way, be termed as “succinct.”
Nine Entertainment and Karl Stefanovic have agreed that it is no longer possible for him to continue hosting Today at the same time as his independent podcast. While Karl and Nine had previously agreed he would leave Today at the end of this year, they have subsequently decided he will leave the Network immediately.
It is interesting that it is being framed that Nine will not work with Karl while he’s hosting his podcast, as if they would have stayed in the Karl Stefanovic business otherwise.
Yesterday afternoon Karl announced that he was exiting the ARN weekly radio show The Long Goodbye also, which is basically him exiting mainstream media. That helps his narrative. It also means his face will not be seen on ARN’s TV partner Nine’s streaming platforms Stan and 9Now.
The next questions: Will ARN give The Long Weekend co-host Eddie Maguire a new on-air companion? And more interestingly, who replaces Karl Stefanovic as co-host on Today?
Nine have a number of viable candidates. Friend of the newsletter Brett Debritz suggested Nine Brisbane newsreader Joel Dry, which is an idea that makes a lot of sense to me. I know Dry bought a house in Brisbane suburb Moorooka when he took on the job in Brisbane last year, but it’s not as if Moorooka would be reason enough to stay put. It does have proximity to Salisbury’s many warehouses and a pretty good Nandos, tho.
News Desk
Production has begun on crowd-favourite Dept Q for season 2. Read: Deadline
The Annecy animation showcase continues on, which has become the place to announce high-profile animation projects. Warner Bros Animation has announced a slew of big animated DC projects. A kids-focused Krypto cartoon, and adult focused projects including the anime series Joker: Laugh Riot and a cartoon based on the hugely successful Absolute Batman comic. Huge news for those who care about such things. Read: Variety
Industry sources claim child actors voicing characters on Peppa Pig are being asked to sign away their likeness for use by AI systems. It’s believed the voices will then be used for merchandise, like the awful Peppa Pig birthday card my daughter got three years ago that screams “Happy Birthday” everytime she has opened it pretty much daily for the last, excruciating three years. Read: Deadline
2006 teen romcom Aquamarine is getting a Disney+ TV series sequel with star Emma Roberts reprising her role. Read: Deadline
Lizzy Caplan will star opposite Rob Mac (who is also the series EP) on the new Farcry video game adaptation. The anthology series will be written by Noah Hawley. Read: THR
The Comcast-owned Sky has agreed on terms to buy ITV's broadcast and streaming unit in a deal said to be valued at £1.6 billion. Read: Reuters
SBS VICELAND, the last remaining VICELAND -branded TV channel on the planet, will revert to the SBS2 channel name officially on August 21. Read: C21
Ben Feldman will join the cast of Ghosts as a regular starting with season 6. Read: Deadline
Trailer Park
The Hawk debuts on Netflix July 16.
Lonnie Hawkins, 2004’s No. 1 golfer, struggles on the back nine of his career to recapture his magic. His body says retire, but his heart says he’s not done yet. His ex-wife and his son Lance, golf’s new golden boy, know he’s through. But with one more major to win to complete golf’s Grand Slam, Lonnie refuses to believe he’s anything other than one stroke away from the greatest comeback in golf history.
Breaking Bear debuts on Tubi July 24.
A family of bears run a drug empire to raise money to save their forest from frackers and an endless array of psychotic enemies. Starring: Brendan Fraser, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Annie Murphy, Josh Gad, Elizabeth Hurley, Chris Parnell, Chris Diamantopoulos, Harland Williams, Tony Plana, Jackie Beat
Season 2 of Ransom Canyon debuts on Netflix July 23.
Furious debuts on Hulu July 27.
From creator and executive producer Elizabeth Meriwether, "Furious" follows an FBI agent, Alice Black (Emmy Rossum) on the hunt for a mysterious and calculating female serial killer.
The Debt Collector debuts on Netflix July 23.
At the center of the story is Num, played by Nadech Kugimiya, a former debt collector burdened by his past sins.
That’s the newsletter for the today.
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