Cordkillers 540: Loud Ads & Streaming Glitches
Episode Summary:
This week, we dive into a medley of streaming issues—from booming ads that break FCC guidelines to Oscars livestream mishaps—and explore new content announcements, subscriber trends, and a quirky nod to an alt‑history James Bond.
This week on The FULL Experience: The Wonder Years (507 - "Soccer")
Next week: The Wonder Years (622 - "Independence Day")
YouTube: https://youtu.be/4pIepETotg8
Supply Run
• Loud Commercials:
Are ads too loud or is it just that we don’t like them? The FCC received thousands of complaints about commercials that start off excessively loud before tapering off, exposing a loophole in the CALM Act that doesn’t cover streaming services.
Search Party
• Hulu’s Oscars Livestream:
Hulu streamed the Oscars for the first time via its Hulu+Live TV package, but over 34,000 users reported login issues, and the livestream ended before Best Picture was announced.
• Netflix Trailer – The Electric State:
Netflix dropped a trailer for the Russo Brothers’ film The Electric State, adapted from Simon Stålenhag’s graphic novel, premiering on March 14, 2025.
• Doctor Who Returns:
Disney Plus and the BBC announced a new season of Doctor Who streaming from April 12, featuring a fresh companion and the quirky Mr Ring‑a‑Ding.
• ESPN’s SC+:
ESPN launches SC+, a new daily SportsCenter show streaming live on Disney+ weekday mornings, with each episode available on demand for 24 hours.
• Amazon Revisits Culture:
Amazon is taking another swing at adapting Iain M. Banks’ famed Culture series after halting development in 2020.
• Squid Game Season 2:
Netflix’s Squid Game Season 2 led the viewing charts in the latter half of 2024 with a 5% year-over-year viewership boost.
• Side Quest on Apple TV+:
Formerly called Mere Mortals, Side Quest is set to premiere on March 26 on Apple TV+ as an expansion series to Mythic Quest.
Buried Treasure
• Guest Picks:
• Brian’s Tip: White Lotus Season 1—with a nostalgic nod and a shout-out to Josie.
• Tom’s Tip: Newtopia available on Prime Video.
Got a tip or something we should check out? Email us at cordkillers@gmail.com.
Scanning the Horizon
• Streaming Subscriber Trends:
• Fubo: Increased subscribers by about 4% in Q4 2024 and boosted quarterly revenue by 8%.
• DirecTV: Launched Genre Packs for tailored channel groupings, including MySports, MyEntertainment, MyNews, and MiEspañol.
• Paramount+: Added 5.6 million subscribers, with streaming revenue up 8%.
• Max: Gained 6.4 million subscribers, though ad-supported users will lose access to CNN and B/R Sports content starting March 30.
• YouTube Redesign: The platform is revamping its home page to better feature paid streaming services like Paramount Plus and Crunchyroll.
Chatter
• Alt‑History James Bond:
Listener Amar Payton shares a humorous take on Amazon’s potential alt‑history, pro‑Communist version of James Bond—a nod to their previous series Comrade Detective.
• Listener Feedback:
Jonathan praises the flexible schedule and insightful commentary on streaming trends, emphasizing how the show fits perfectly into his busy week.
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Next show airs Mondays at 7 PM Eastern / 4 PM Pacific.