Cordkillers 586: Hoops, Hype, and Microdramas
Peacock’s NBA deal boosts subscribers while deepening losses, Apple doubles down on prestige TV and fantasy epics, and Disney and Amazon continue reshaping the streaming sports landscape. Meanwhile, listeners weigh in on microdramas, AI fatigue, and accessibility in TV criticism.
YouTube: https://youtu.be/yZAb2bnAZyo
Supply Run
Peacock closed out 2025 with 44 million subscribers, up three million quarter-over-quarter and 22% year-over-year, though losses widened due to the cost of its new NBA rights deal.
Search Party (Shows and Channels – What to Watch)
Apple released first-look images from season four of Ted Lasso, confirming production is underway and revealing Ted coaching Richmond’s women’s team ahead of a summer return.
Apple TV signed a deal with Brandon Sanderson to adapt works from his Cosmere universe, with Sanderson retaining creative approval, likely leading to Mistborn films and a Stormlight Archive TV series.
Disney released a trailer for Daredevil: Born Again season two, confirming the return of Jessica Jones, with the season debuting March 24.
Netflix announced Berlin and the Lady with an Ermine, a new eight-episode Money Heist spinoff, arriving May 15.
CBS will air ten classic Survivor episodes starting February 9 ahead of the season 50 premiere on February 25, while Pluto TV continues streaming all seasons in order.
American Idol delivered its strongest season premiere since 2022 with 5.9 million viewers, and will begin streaming live on Disney+ for the first time starting March 30.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 arrives May 2 with much of the original cast returning, along with new additions including Kenneth Branagh.
Netflix’s animated Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 premieres April 23, set between seasons two and three.
Netflix will stream BTS’s live comeback concert from Seoul on March 21 and release a behind-the-scenes documentary on March 27.
Buried Treasure
Brian recommends Wonder Man and says The Pitt is “fine,” while Tom flags the Grammys as his current watch.
Scanning the Horizon
Amazon Prime Video is projected to account for 27% of all sports streaming rights spending this year, driven largely by its 11-year NBA deal.
Disney and the NFL finalized a deal giving the NFL a 10% stake in ESPN, folding NFL Network and RedZone into ESPN’s streaming ecosystem starting next season.
Disney reported ESPN lost $110 million during its YouTube TV blackout, while Disney+ and Hulu revenue rose 11%, even as subscriber numbers are no longer disclosed.
Disney named Parks chief Josh D’Amaro as its next CEO effective March 18, with Bob Iger transitioning to senior advisor before retiring at the end of the year.
Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to hold a shareholder vote in March on its proposed Netflix deal, with Paramount positioned as a fallback option.
The documentary Viva Verdi! is now streaming on the Jolt platform, which allows viewers to choose how much they pay and optionally support filmmakers directly.
Chatter
Listeners shared experiences with microdrama addiction and spending, skepticism toward current AI tools in entertainment and tech, thoughts on accessibility in TV criticism from a blind viewer’s perspective, and strong feelings about wanting AI-generated content filters on platforms like YouTube.