Big platform moves continue to shape the industry, but the experience still lives at the local level.

As we head deeper into 2026, the streaming conversation continues to be driven by big platform announcements, shifting viewer habits, and rising costs. But for the operators and providers closest to the customer, the real work hasn’t changed: delivering reliable, accessible experiences that communities can count on.

This week’s stories reinforce that tension. Global deals and new product features are shaping the ecosystem at the top — while trust, affordability, and usability remain the deciding factors at the local level.

Netflix and Sony Expand a Global Content Partnership

Netflix and Sony Pictures Entertainment announced a new multi-year, global Pay-1 licensing agreement that will bring Sony’s theatrical films to Netflix markets worldwide following their theatrical and home entertainment windows. While similar deals have existed regionally, this agreement marks a broader global expansion that will roll out by territory, with full global coverage expected by early 2029.

For community-focused providers, moves like this matter less for the headlines and more for the downstream effects. When premium content becomes more globally accessible, viewing patterns shift quickly — and local networks are often the first to feel the impact in traffic, demand, and expectations around performance and reliability.

Read more here

From the Community: How Local Sports and Local Voices Still Matter

In the latest episode of No Commercial Breaks, Emily and Jean sat down with Ian Phillips, a member of the team at WTOV 9 in the Ohio Valley, to talk about what it really means to stay local in today’s media landscape. From high school sports to community initiatives, Ian shared how his station has stayed deeply connected to the people it serves — not by outsourcing, but by investing in local talent and local stories.

Ian walked through his own path at the station, starting in production and sports coverage before moving into sales, and explained why keeping production, sports, and storytelling in-house has been critical to maintaining trust with viewers. Covering dozens of local high schools, producing live games with station employees, and experimenting with digital-first ideas like a high school “Red Zone”-style broadcast all come back to the same goal: serving the community that supports them.

The conversation also highlighted how true partnerships with local businesses make this work possible. Rather than transactional advertising, Ian described a model built on shared investment where sponsors aren’t just buying airtime but helping sustain the local coverage viewers care about most.

At its core, the episode is a reminder that even as media continues to evolve, local connection, local people, and local pride remain the foundation of meaningful impact.

Watch the full episode here

Streaming Prices Continue to Climb

Federal data is now backing up what many viewers and providers have already felt: the cost of accessing streaming video is rising fast. According to recent reporting, the category covering streaming subscriptions and rentals saw a significant year-over-year increase in 2025, far outpacing general inflation.

This isn’t just a consumer budget issue. As services become more expensive, viewers are more likely to rotate subscriptions, bundle selectively, or lean harder on the platforms they already trust. For operators, that makes consistency, transparency, and service quality even more important — especially when price sensitivity is high.

Read more here

• YouTube expands parental controls for Shorts
  Parents can now set daily time limits for Shorts on supervised accounts, along with built-in reminders like “Take a break” and “Bedtime.” It’s a small feature update, but one that reflects growing pressure on platforms to balance engagement with healthier viewing habits. Something communities have been asking for.

• Disney+ experiments with vertical video
  Disney+ announced plans to introduce a TikTok-style vertical video feed, signaling continued experimentation with mobile-first and short-form viewing inside traditional streaming apps. As formats evolve, networks still have to support the same expectations around quality and reliability, no matter how content is delivered.

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Emily Call