Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Welcome to Cordkillers! This week, we examine the television industry’s predictions for 2029: targeted advertising, instant translation and localization, shopping directly from the screen, shrinking cable, evolving streaming bundles, and the continued dominance of sports.
SUPPLY RUN
Media executives predict:
• TV advertising will become more targeted and relevant.
• Translation and localization could make content less constrained by language and geography.
• Shopping directly from television may become commonplace.
• Traditional cable will continue shrinking.
• Streaming will continue evolving into bundles.
• Sports will remain television’s most valuable content.
cnbc.com/2026/08/17/tv-media-insiders-predictions.html
SEARCH PARTY
• Lanterns drew 9.3 million global viewers and 6.6 million U.S. viewers during its first three days, making it one of HBO Max’s five biggest series premieres.
deadline.com/2026/08/lanterns-premiere-ratings-viewers-hbo-max-dc-studios-1237046768
• Murderbot adds Steve Buscemi, Wanda Sykes, Patton Oswalt, Martha Plimpton, Bridget Everett, Michael Sheen, Tramell Tillman, Blair Underwood, and Brendan Hunt for season two.
deadline.com/2026/08/murderbot-season-2-cast-steve-buscemi-wanda-sykes-apple-1237045154
BURIED TREASURE
Brian: Your Name
SCANNING THE HORIZON
• YouTube is reportedly offering major creators multimillion-dollar packages tied to exclusivity windows.
thenextweb.com/news/youtube-pays-creators-exclusivity-netflix
• Netflix is considering add-ons including Peacock and Fox One.
nytimes.com/2026/08/24/business/media/amazon-youtube-netflix-streaming-platform.html
• ESPN Unlimited and ESPN Select are raising their monthly prices.
variety.com/2026/tv/news/espn-streaming-price-increase-espn-unlimited-1236841594
• Alexa+ is becoming free on all U.S. Fire TV devices.
engadget.com/2239785/amazons-alexa-ai-assistant-is-now-free-for-anyone-with-a-fire-tv-device
• MS NOW launches a $7.99 monthly membership in September.
variety.com/2026/tv/news/ms-now-subscription-membership-launch-7-99-per-month-1236838166
Support Cordkillers on Patreon:
patreon.com/cordkillers
Got something we should be watching?
Email cordkillers@gmail.com
Watch live today at:
5:45 PM Eastern / 4:45 PM Central / 2:45 PM Pacific
twitch.tv/nightattack
youtube.com/modernrogue
More Cordkillers:
cordkillers.com
Welcome to Cordkillers! This week, we examine the television industry’s predictions for 2029: targeted advertising, instant translation and localization, shopping directly from the screen, shrinking cable, evolving streaming bundles, and the continued dominance of sports.
SUPPLY RUN
Media executives predict:
• TV advertising will become more targeted and relevant.
• Translation and localization could make content less constrained by language and geography.
• Shopping directly from television may become commonplace.
• Traditional cable will continue shrinking.
• Streaming will continue evolving into bundles.
• Sports will remain television’s most valuable content.
cnbc.com/2026/08/17/tv-media-insiders-predictions.html
SEARCH PARTY
• Lanterns drew 9.3 million global viewers and 6.6 million U.S. viewers during its first three days, making it one of HBO Max’s five biggest series premieres.
deadline.com/2026/08/lanterns-premiere-ratings-viewers-hbo-max-dc-studios-1237046768
• Murderbot adds Steve Buscemi, Wanda Sykes, Patton Oswalt, Martha Plimpton, Bridget Everett, Michael Sheen, Tramell Tillman, Blair Underwood, and Brendan Hunt for season two.
deadline.com/2026/08/murderbot-season-2-cast-steve-buscemi-wanda-sykes-apple-1237045154
BURIED TREASURE
Brian: Your Name
SCANNING THE HORIZON
• YouTube is reportedly offering major creators multimillion-dollar packages tied to exclusivity windows.
thenextweb.com/news/youtube-pays-creators-exclusivity-netflix
• Netflix is considering add-ons including Peacock and Fox One.
nytimes.com/2026/08/24/business/media/amazon-youtube-netflix-streaming-platform.html
• ESPN Unlimited and ESPN Select are raising their monthly prices.
variety.com/2026/tv/news/espn-streaming-price-increase-espn-unlimited-1236841594
• Alexa+ is becoming free on all U.S. Fire TV devices.
engadget.com/2239785/amazons-alexa-ai-assistant-is-now-free-for-anyone-with-a-fire-tv-device
• MS NOW launches a $7.99 monthly membership in September.
variety.com/2026/tv/news/ms-now-subscription-membership-launch-7-99-per-month-1236838166
Support Cordkillers on Patreon:
patreon.com/cordkillers
Got something we should be watching?
Email cordkillers@gmail.com
Watch live today at:
5:45 PM Eastern / 4:45 PM Central / 2:45 PM Pacific
twitch.tv/nightattack
youtube.com/modernrogue
More Cordkillers:
cordkillers.com
