Cordkillers 564: Paramount’s Big Bet

Paramount is doubling down on both movies and cable while rivals are cutting back, aiming for 20 films a year and renewed focus on brands like Star Trek and Top Gun. Meanwhile, trailers, scheduling shifts, and big sports streaming deals highlight a packed week for streaming news.

This week on The FULL Experience: Bonanza (1023 - "The Wish")

Next week: Bonanza (710 - "The Strange One")

YouTube: https://youtu.be/ezS9gJeRKn8

Supply Run

Paramount’s new president Jeff Shell is keeping cable networks like Nickelodeon, MTV, and BET while boosting feature film production from eight films a year to as many as 20, with Star Trek and Top Gun 3 among its top priorities.

MSN | LA Times

Search Party

  • Fallout season 2 premieres December 17 on Prime Video. Wertzone

  • KPop Demon Hunters singalong version is topping the weekend box office at $18–20M, and is also on Netflix. TechCrunch

  • James Gunn’s Superman is now available digitally ahead of Peacemaker’s return on August 22. Blu-ray/DVD release is Sept. 23. Deadline

  • The Paper, a spinoff of The Office, will release all 10 episodes at once on Sept. 4. Deadline

  • Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical premieres on Apple TV+. Engadget

  • Futurama season 13 trailer drops, premieres Sept. 15 on Hulu (weekly on FXX). Variety

  • NBA TV schedule: Mondays on Peacock, Tuesdays NBC/Peacock, Wednesdays ESPN, Thursdays Prime, Fridays Prime/ESPN, Saturdays Prime/ABC, Sundays ABC/NBC. Deadline

  • Wednesday season 2 part 2 (final 4 episodes) drops Sept. 3. Trailer out now. Deadline

  • Wednesday season 2 scored 50M views in 4 days (second all-time Netflix series debut), while KPop Demon Hunters is Netflix’s #2 movie ever. Deadline

  • Sesame Street launches on Netflix Nov. 10, with Ms. Rachel season 2 coming Sept. 1. Deadline

  • YouTube adds $85/month NFL Sunday Ticket plan, with free Brazil game stream Sept. 5 and four “Watch With” creator simulcasts. Deadline

  • Netflix secures rights to the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Japan. Variety

  • Yahoo Sports launches free ad-supported channel covering NFL, NBA, MLB, combat sports and more. Variety

  • YouTube is reportedly bidding for Oscars streaming rights; ABC holds them through 2028. Deadline

Buried Treasure

  • Brian: Weapons (watched all, blown away); sampling Endless, Strange New Worlds holodeck ep, and Alien Earth.

  • Tom: Prisoner of Beauty (YouTube, Viki).

Scanning the Horizon

  • MSNBC will rebrand as MS Now when Versant splits from Comcast later this year. Variety

  • Apple TV+ raises monthly price to $12.99 (annual price and bundles unchanged). LA Times

  • YouTube TV warns it may lose Fox channels Aug. 27; $10 credit if prolonged. Engadget

  • Fox One launches as a $20 Prime Video add-on. Deadline

  • Netflix House opens Nov. 12 in Philadelphia, Dec. 11 in Dallas; Vegas location set for 2027. Engadget

  • Starz reports revenue down 8% and 520,000 subscriber loss after Lionsgate split. Variety

  • NBCUniversal nearing 3-year MLB deal for Wild Card playoffs and Sunday games; Netflix may land Home Run Derby; ESPN eyeing MLB.TV integration. Deadline

Chatter

  • Listener Dennis Church shared memories of early TV in the 1950s, cable adoption in Collinsville, IL, and ESPN’s quirky early broadcasts.

  • Scott Bohaty wrote in about YouTube’s “Jump Ahead” feature skipping creator ad reads and its possible effect on sponsorships.

  • Ander laughed at Brian’s on-brand “Yay?” reaction to UFC’s Paramount+ streaming deal.

  • Amar Payton suggested a full-experience comparison of Bonanza and Yellowstone after the team finishes the current project.