What I have always wanted for The X-Files, 2026 predictions, and a whole lot of TV news
This is it - the last ABW newsletter for 2025. I have some plans to rejig the newsletter a little in the coming weeks. You may have already noticed a new logo. There’s more to come.
For this final newsletter, I have for you some news from the last few days and a couple of predictions for TV in the year ahead.
The Truth is Out There
The world is finally getting a dedicated The X-Files TV channel, about 30 or so years after I wished for such a thing.
Pluto TV will launch a dedicated FAST channel in the US playing out the 11 seasons of the show in chronological order, with curated episodes scheduled over weekends.
ABW quietly hopes the channel embraces the programming strategy seen on channels like Pluto’s Happy Days and 90210 channels by scheduling sister TV shows into the mix. Happy Days also runs Mork & Mindy episodes, while 90210 has Melrose Place episodes. This would be the perfect place to also stream episodes of The Lone Gunmen and Millennium, two shows yet to find a streaming home.
News Desk
Meta’s Quest 3-series headsets are outselling Nintendo’s new Switch 2 console on Amazon. Read: RoadToVR
THR has a good list of the anticipated new and returning (US) shows in 2026. Read: THR
Garth at Dark Horizons also has a good list, picking a bunch of titles THR overlooked.
Media innovation professor Tom Davidson asks what happens if PBS implodes. Read: Editor & Publisher
US Entertainment and Media layoffs are up 18% w/ 17,000+ jobs slashed in 2025. Read: The Wrap
Tron: Ares will begin streaming Jan. 7 on Disney+. Read: THR
We just passed the 30th anniversary of the excellent Terry Gilliam film 12 Monkeys. I watched this again a few months ago and it holds up exceedingly well. Read: Polygon
Speaking of Terry Gilliam, he reckons the Time Bandits TV series failed to work because of its lack of dwarves. Read: World of Reels
Diff’rent Strokes recurring star Melanie Watson has died at age 57. Read: Deadline
Stranger Things News Desk
Brian VanHooker takes a look at the improbable Stranger Things x Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic. Read: Polygon
The Stranger Things final episode drops in just over 24 hours (NYE in the US, New Years Day here in Australia). Today, Netflix has debuted this finale trailer:
Samantha Nelson at Polygon does a good job of linking the origins of Henry in that cave scene we saw with the Stranger Things stage show. Read: Polygon
Three predictions for 2026
I had planned for a lengthy article with bold predictions for the year ahead. But, as I jotted down my list, the only ones I found myself actually caring about related to the impact from the Warner Bros Discovery sale.
Netflix will close the deal on Warner Bros Discovery
As the winds blow at the end of 2025, Netflix has been crowned the winner in the race for WBD. The board has backed the WBD bid and the shareholders will fall in line behind that for two key reasons:
There’s still some value in those linear cable channels - certainly more than the $1 per share Paramount are valuing them at.
Nobody likes a loser. The narrative is behind Netflix as a winner with David Ellison and Paramount coming off as a little pissy around the closing of the deal not going their way.
But despite WBD winning, many still view Paramount as a contender, expecting a higher bid to be placed.
Could Paramount chief David Ellison turn around with a higher deal, say $34 a share? Maybe. But what is the appetite from his financial backers in getting into a bidding war with Netflix? If that mythical $34 a share bid was going to be made, what has stopped Paramount from being aggressive and moving to shut this down quickly? If they were going to do it, surely that would have happened already.
The deal at the current price seemed wobbly and only just recently had pappa bear Larry Ellison committing to the backstop. The vibe I’m getting is that Larry isn’t all-in. And why should he be? Ownership of a combined WBD-Paramount puts at risk his likely far-more-lucrative TikTok USA deal. Papa Ellison needs the deal closed by the time the US midterms roll-by, which will almost certainly lead to a politically diminished Donald Trump. Already the Dems aren’t going to be keen in seeing Ellison take TikTok USA – A combined Paramount WBD almost certainly dooms it.
What happens at Netflix once it has the Warner Bros assets?
I’d be looking at:
Netflix, for the first time, will use content to drive users to higher subscription tiers. Archive HBO/Warner Bros content in the standard content plan mix, but new HBO dramas for those wanting to pay for the Premium plans.
The introduction of FAST channels making use of that deep Warner Bros Discovery library, alongside ageing Netflix titles. Finally, a Looney Tunes FAST channel? I wouldn’t have been previously bullish on FAST on Netflix, but the timing feels right considering the introduction of linear channels in France via its TF1 deal. FAST is also a good complement to its new video podcast strategy.
Projects announced that will win over the hearts and minds of subscribers and Hollywood. New Gilmore Girls seems almost certain, but I’d also expect to hear about projects committed to film in LA.
A Netflix-owned Warner Bros puts Disney in play
The ownership of Warner Bros by Netflix delivers steady-ownership for Warner Bros for the first time in 30+ years. Its more sure-footed competitor Disney suddenly feels uncertain in the face of a strengthened Netflix WB tie-up.
Disney+ growth has been stagnant for three years running. The blood will soon be in the water.
Once the WB deal closes, that is going to result in questions being asked about Disney. Would the Ellisons, rebuffed by WBD and in a more certain political environment (it may not be to their favor, but it would at least be clearer what regulatory hurdles may and may not be an issue), make a play for the house of mouse?
Apple were curiously silent during the bidding for WBD. It has long been seen as an eventual owner of Disney. Could this be the time where we see a merger?
The $203 billion market cap makes an acquisition even by the likes of Apple or the Ellisons fanciful.
International Paramount fire sale alongside a Paramount+ refresh
I’m expecting to see some movement on Paramount’s international holdings - particularly with Network 10 in Australia and Channel 5 in the UK. It seemed unlikely that Paramount would retain the channels under the new ownership, especially as the company places a stronger emphasis on rebooting its terrible Paramount+ app.
The only benefit for owning 10 in Australia would be for access to top tier sporting rights protected under Australia’s anti-siphoning laws. The NRL broadcast rights will likely be announced in the coming months, with the existing rights currently held jointly by Nine Entertainment and Foxtel Media until 2027. The clear sign that Paramount are planning to exit the market would be if they don’t put in a serious bid for those rights.
And even if they do bid and lose, then what is the value in holding onto 10? Access to the advertising revenue? The sizeable viewing audience? Try and stifle your laughter.
The future of Paramount internationally is in that streaming app. The TV networks are an unnecessary distraction.
Trailer Park
Malcolm in The Middle: Life’s Still Unfair debuts on Disney+ April 10.
Shrinking returns for season 3 on Apple TV Jan 28.
Meme-ment of Zen
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