Cordkillers 615: Buy Now, Watch Later
TV’s future promises smarter ads, instant translation, on-screen shopping, and even more bundles. Plus, YouTube courts creators, Netflix considers add-ons, and streaming prices keep climbing.
This week on The FULL Experience: Get Smart (203 - "A Spy for a Spy") Next week: Get Smart (513 - "Ice Station Siegfried") YouTube:
Supply Run
Media executives predict that television advertising will become more personalized, language and geographic barriers will fade, and shopping directly through the TV will become commonplace. Traditional cable will continue shrinking, streaming bundles will multiply, and sports will remain television’s most valuable programming.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/17/tv-media-insiders-predictions.html
Search Party
“Lanterns” attracted 9.3 million viewers worldwide during its first three days, making it one of HBO Max’s five biggest series premieres.
https://deadline.com/2026/08/lanterns-premiere-ratings-viewers-hbo-max-dc-studios-1237046768/
“Murderbot” added Steve Buscemi, Wanda Sykes, Patton Oswalt, Martha Plimpton, Bridget Everett, Michael Sheen, Tramell Tillman, Blair Underwood, and Brendan Hunt to its second-season cast.
https://deadline.com/2026/08/murderbot-season-2-cast-steve-buscemi-wanda-sykes-apple-1237045154/
“Backrooms” will begin streaming on HBO Max September 25.
https://variety.com/2026/film/news/how-to-watch-backrooms-online-streaming-hbo-max-1236798818/
Dan Stevens will play the title character in Prime Video’s “RoboCop” television series.
https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/robocop-tv-series-cast-dan-stevens-1236842597/
Kit Harington has been cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in HBO’s “Harry Potter” series.
Buried Treasure
Brian recommends “Your Name,” “Lanterns,” and “The Pitt.”
Tom recommends “Futurama.”
Scanning the Horizon
YouTube is reportedly offering major creators financing, advertising revenue, and upfront payments in exchange for keeping their shows away from Netflix during exclusive windows.
https://thenextweb.com/news/youtube-pays-creators-exclusivity-netflix
Netflix is reportedly considering streaming add-ons, with Peacock and Fox One among the services being discussed.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/24/business/media/amazon-youtube-netflix-streaming-platform.html
ESPN Unlimited will increase from $30 to $32 per month, while ESPN Select will rise from $13 to $14.
https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/espn-streaming-price-increase-espn-unlimited-1236841594/
Amazon is bringing Alexa+ to every Fire TV device in the United States at no additional charge, even without a Prime membership.
MS NOW will launch a $7.99-per-month membership in September featuring original programming, new topical verticals, and round-the-clock access to live streams and television content.
https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/ms-now-subscription-membership-launch-7-99-per-month-1236838166/
Chatter
Kory asks about a recently popular streaming device whose name has been redacted, then offers a year of Patreon support if the show tackles “Babylon 5.”
Five years after accepting Brian’s challenge, Darren has finally watched both the “Star Wars” prequel and original trilogies. His verdict: the originals were better, but the Force still failed to make him a fan.
Mike shares an explanation of how “Coco” reportedly overcame China’s restrictions on cinematic ghosts because its themes of honoring ancestors resonated with local culture.
https://youtube.com/shorts/1DrIwGvxlXI?si=G28Mnh_75sI2wpfh
Dave in Waco wants YouTube to provide a way to eliminate Shorts and AI-generated videos from recommendations—even if it costs an extra dollar per month.
Adam in San Diego has encountered cable commercial breaks containing nothing but placeholder graphics and music. He wonders whether streaming has spread advertising inventory so thin that some traditional television slots are going unsold.
Got something we should be on the lookout for? Email
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