Streaming Shifts: Amazon Pivots, ESPN Launches DTC, and Coupang Play Adds Ad-Tier

STREAMING INDUSTRY UPDATE: JUNE 2025

The streaming landscape continues to evolve rapidly as we enter June 2025, with major platforms making significant strategic shifts. Amazon Prime Video is experiencing substantial changes following recent executive leadership changes. After three seasons, Amazon has cancelled the expensive fantasy series "The Wheel of Time" due to declining viewership, particularly in international markets. This follows reported delays in the second season of "Citadel" and pauses on its international spinoffs. In a notable strategic pivot, Amazon is now reportedly looking to syndicate some of its high-budget productions like "Citadel" and "Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" to other streaming services to recoup costs[1].

In a groundbreaking development, ESPN is preparing to launch its standalone direct-to-consumer service this fall, priced at $30 monthly. The package will include the main ESPN network, secondary ESPN channels, ESPN content aired on ABC (excluding local ABC stations), plus all ESPN+ content. Industry analysts are questioning the target audience for this service, as it doesn't replace ESPN in traditional bundles but offers an alternative access point[2].

Paramount+ remains relatively quiet this month with only one major debut: "Love Me," a post-apocalyptic romance film starring Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun, premiering June 16th. The service will livestream the Tony Awards on June 8th, featuring a special "Hamilton" reunion marking its 10-year anniversary[1].

In international markets, South Korea's Coupang Play is expanding its business model by adding a free, ad-supported streaming tier beginning this month[3].

These developments reflect the industry's ongoing search for sustainable business models amid intensifying competition. Streaming platforms are reevaluating content investments, exploring new revenue streams through syndication, and testing different pricing tiers to attract and retain subscribers in an increasingly crowded marketplace.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Streaming Industry Update June twenty twenty five. The streaming landscape
continues to evolve rapidly as we enter June twenty twenty five,
with major platforms making significant strategic shifts. Amazon Prime Video
is experiencing substantial changes following recent executive leadership changes. After
three seasons, Amazon has canceled the expensive fantasy series The

(00:23):
Wheel of Time due to declining viewership, particularly in international markets.
This follows reported delays in the second season of Citadel
and pauses on its international spin offs. In a notable
strategic pivot, Amazon is now reportedly looking to syndicate some
of its high budget productions like Citadel and Lord of
the Rings The Rings of Power to other streaming services

(00:46):
to recoup costs. One. In a groundbreaking development, ESPN is
preparing to launch its standalone direct to consumer service this fall,
priced at thirty dollars monthly. The package will include the
main ESPN network, secondary ESPN channels, ESPN content aired on
ABC excluding local ABC stations, plus all ESPN Plus content.

(01:08):
Industry analysts are questioning the target audience for this service,
as it doesn't replace ESPN in traditional bundles, but offers
an alternative access point Paramount Plus remains relatively quiet this month,
with only one major debut, Love Me, a post apocalyptic
romance film starring Kristin Stewart and Stephen Yunan, premiering June sixteenth.

(01:29):
The service will live stream the Tony Awards on June eighth,
featuring a special Hamilton reunion marking its ten year anniversary.
In international markets, South Korea's Coupong Play is expanding its
business model by adding a free, ad supported streaming tier
beginning this month three. These developments reflect the industry's ongoing

(01:49):
search for sustainable business models. Amid intensifying competition. Streaming platforms
are reevaluating content investments, exploring new revenue streams through syndication,
and testing different pricing tiers to attract and retain subscribers
in an increasingly crowded market place. This has been a
quiet please Studios production. For more, go to Quiet Please

(02:12):
dot Ai. Thanks for listening.