Cordkillers 600: Linear Thinking
Disney’s streaming business looks healthier, while the company argues its old linear networks are better treated as content brands than businesses to spin off. Meanwhile, Netflix has the year’s biggest show so far, AMC is bringing live concerts to theaters, and everyone keeps turning movies and TV into expanded universes.
This week on The FULL Experience: Magnum, P.I. (708 - "Novel Connection")
Next week: Murder, She Wrote (308 - "Magnum on Ice")
YouTube: https://youtu.be/pP_M6B9iPqg
Supply Run
Disney reported stronger Disney+ and Hulu revenue, with the streaming business continuing to make money, while ESPN revenue rose but profits fell under higher sports programming costs.
variety.com
Disney also pushed back on the idea of spinning off linear channels like ABC, FX, Disney Channel, and Freeform, with CFO Hugh Johnston arguing they are better understood as brands and studios that create content for multiple platforms.
variety.com
Search Party
Netflix’s His & Hers is the most-watched series of 2026 so far, according to Nielsen’s latest multiplatform numbers, averaging 25.6 million viewers after 35 days.
variety.com
AMC Theatres and Arena One are partnering to stream live concerts into more than 300 theaters, starting with Bebe Rexha, Paris Hilton, and Maren Morris in June.
deadline.com
HBO has approved a second season of its new Harry Potter TV series before Season 1 has finished shooting, partly to keep the young cast closer to the ages of their characters.
deadline.com
Amazon announced that The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3 will premiere November 11 and pick up years after Season 2 during the War of the Elves and Sauron.
deadline.com
Charlize Theron’s Apex held the top spot on Netflix’s Top 10 movie list for a second week.
deadline.com
Netflix teased more Money Heist, signaling that La Casa de Papel is becoming a larger universe.
variety.com
Apple TV’s The Studio became the first freshman comedy to sweep every major awards group in a single season.
deadline.com
Disney+ will become the U.S. home of the Banana Ball League’s season championship this October.
deadline.com
Sky renewed Saturday Night Live UK for a second season.
deadline.com
Hocus Pocus 3 is officially in the works, with Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy returning.
variety.com
Vin Diesel said Peacock is launching four shows from the Fast and Furious universe, though a source told Deadline only one is currently in development.
hollywoodreporter.com
David Koepp, who adapted Jurassic Park for film, is writing a script for a new movie version of Westworld.
variety.com
Disney said Ahsoka Season 2 will premiere in early 2027.
deadline.com
Conan O’Brien will return to host the 99th Oscars on March 14, 2027.
variety.com
Buried Treasure
Brian recommends Wings of Pegasus’ “Are You Sure Your Favorite Band Is Real?” and All Tomorrows.
youtube.com
Tom recommends Hacks.
Scanning the Horizon
Tubi’s quarterly revenue rose 23%, with total view time up 19%, helped by more creator-led titles and Tubi originals.
reuters.com
Actor Q’Orianka Kilcher sued Disney and James Cameron, alleging Cameron misused her likeness as the basis for Neytiri in the Avatar films.
reuters.com
Netflix is testing natural-language voice search that lets some users ask for recommendations and refine them with follow-ups, though it does not yet use viewing history for personalization.
theverge.com
Amazon is adding a vertical “Clips” feed to Prime Video’s mobile app to show snippets from movies and TV shows.
theverge.com
Bravo announced a Bravo Fan Fest in Charleston this October and the next BravoCon for fall 2027.
deadline.com
Chatter
Paul Bailey writes in about how YouTube Shorts have become part of his nightly TV chill-out routine, even on the big screen, and how Magnum P.I. may have delivered one of the rougher series finales if you need Wikipedia to understand it.
Biocow noticed Hulu promoting a video podcast hosted by New Girl stars Hannah Simone and Lamorne Morris, raising the question of whether streamers are quietly turning rewatch podcasts into another form of library-content programming.