About this episode

The episode discusses Netflix's potential shift towards cable television and explores possible mergers and acquisitions, including a surprising connection to Spotify.

Welcome to Netflix’s hard pivot. Faced with lagging engagement from its users and signs of audience disinterest in some of its top shows between seasons, Netflix’s next big thing might be… cable television. Live channels, more talk shows (via video podcasts) and creator content and bundles with other streamers (including perhaps Peacock) to recreate the lean-back appeal of watching TV on the couch. Certainly, it’s possible Netflix makes a play for another company — perhaps NBCU now that Comcast has split the film and television studio from its broadband company, or Starz. But Jessica suggests there’s an even better fit for M&A hiding in plain sight: Spotify. Listen to today’s bonus episode for more from Sean and Jessica on Netflix and the next steps for Paramount, plus hear Sean’s conversation with Fandango’s Shawn Robbins about the weekend box office, where Disney’s live-action Moana added another flop to the summer tally. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Sean

Guests: Jessica, Shawn Robbins

Topics covered

• Netflix
• media strategy
• streaming services
• M&A
• box office
• entertainment industry

Keywords

• Netflix
• Spotify
• cable television
• M&A
• box office
• Disney
• Moana
• streaming

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Netflix, Peacock, Comcast, NBCU, Starz, Spotify, Fandango, Disney

Books & works: Moana

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• BONUS EP: Comcast Is Leaving Hollywood. What Now for NBCU? · June 29, 2026 · 35 min
• BONUS EP: What Is Cannes Lions — and Why YouTube vs. Netflix Was All the Talk · June 29, 2026 · 37 min

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