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Artwork for Downstream

Downstream

Relay
Netflix
Paramount Global
Hulu
Warner Brothers Discovery
Disney
Dan Lin
CBS
Streaming Wars
NFL
Disney Plus
A24
The Departed
Avatar, the Last Airbender
Sherlock Holmes
Streaming Media
Red Notice
Advertising
Spulu
Apple TV+
Streaming Services

Jason Snell and a rotating group of experts break down the present and future of television. Hosted by Jason Snell.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes116Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsTech NewsTV & Film

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Downstream

Latest Episodes

Sports Corner! Jason and Will discuss Apple and F1, the FCC and "free" TV sports, World Cup issues, and then we make some TV picks. [Downstream+ subscribers also got to hear us talk a lot about baseball!]

This episode of Downstream is sponsored by:... more

We break down the aftermath of the Warner Bros. Discovery sale, including positives for Netflix and questions for Paramount Skydance.

Guest Starring:

Josef Adalian

Links and Show Notes:

TV Picks:

• Joe: Traitors UK (Peacock)

• Jason: Shrinki... more

Main Street goes bust, the Super Bowl soars, the Winter Olympics rule, and the Great Rebundling proceeds apace. Plus: our TV picks! [Downstream+ subscribers also get: Big changes at Disney, and the lastest on WBD/Netflix/Paramount.]

This episode of... more

It's Super Bowl week and the start of the Olympics, so Will Carroll joins Jason to discuss Peacock's almost-make-or-break moment, streaming fights and wrestling, and the fate of a clutch of Regional Sports Networks and other cable channels.

This ep... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Alan Sepinwall
Longtime TV critic, creator of What's Alan Watching
What's Alan Watching
Episode: 107: A Thanksgiving Visit from Alan Sepinwall
Joseph Edalian
Writer for Vulture
Vulture
Episode: 100: The Streaming Service Draft
Stephen Shipansky
Editor of Downstream and Doctor Who podcast host
Radio Free Skaro
Episode: 100: The Streaming Service Draft
Joseph Adalian
Writing about streaming and television for Vulture and creator of the Buffering newsletter.
Vulture
Episode: 87: TV Costs Money
Meg James
Senior Entertainment Industry Writer for the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
Episode: 75: Playing the Long Game
Will Carroll
Injury expert and author of 'Under the Knife' on Substack
Under the Knife
Episode: 74: The Infinite Stadium
Josef Adalian
West Coast editor for New York Magazine and TV expert
Vulture
Episode: 73: Must-Stream TV
Joe Adalian
West Coast editor of New York Magazine's Vulture
New York Magazine
Episode: 71: Mountain of Mishegas

Host

Jason Snell
Master of Ceremonies

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 178 ratings
  • Not good

    Hosts constantly using acronyms I have no idea what they mean. Also always hearing sirens and honking cars in the background which is not great for listening in the car.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    adammgaines
    United States2 years ago
  • Insightful, fun

    Extremely informative about the state of the streaming economy and entertainment industry more broadly. Julia and Jason always bring something interesting to the table

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dcc847262
    United States2 years ago
  • Plus is now a minus

    I’ve listened since the beginning, but was sad to unfollow today. The new model of a partial show is just disappointing. I don’t mind adding content just for Plus subscribers, but to take away most of the show instead, caused me to quit listening altogether.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Reader Steph
    United States3 years ago
  • Disappointed

    I have really enjoyed this show, but I am disappointed by their new subscription model. I understand needing to find new revenue sources, but locking half of every other episode behind a paywall is not cool.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Evanismtndewman
    United States3 years ago
  • The best

    High quality analysis

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    reviewer LP
    Canada3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Positive sentiment about guests and depth of discussion, with occasional critique on subscription models.
High-quality analysis and listener-friendly host/guest dynamic.
Clear, insightful take on the streaming economy and entertainment industry.

Top TV & Film Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

61: A Collector of Sports
Q: Would you pay $3,500 for the Apple Vision Pro?
It feels like a very cool, expensive toy; it's not worth it yet.
68: Gentle Hum
Q: What do you think about the value of ad-free subscribers compared to ad-supported ones?
The engagement and loyalty of ad-free subscribers are critical, and while ad-supported tiers are less sticky, ad-free users are indeed valuable due to their habitual engagement.
75: Playing the Long Game
Q: What do you think is driving the costs up for prestige TV shows?
The costs have risen due to competition to attract top talent and high production values, leading to extravagant budgets that may no longer be sustainable given the industry's financial challenges.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Downstream

What is Downstream about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A tech-tinged show that dissects how television and streaming business models shape what we watch. Conversations typically center on streaming strategy, sports broadcast rights, platform bundling, and the evolving role of traditional networks, with a strong emphasis on industry finance, acquisitions, and the tech behind modern viewing. Notable is a blend of sharp media criticism and practical industry insight, often featuring guests who bring deep knowledge of television, streaming, sports media, and related tech trends. This mix makes it valuable for listeners who want to understand the business forces behind their favorite shows and the shifting landscape of how content is produced, distributed, and monetized.

Where can I find podcast stats for Downstream?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Downstream. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Downstream and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Downstream get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Downstream, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Downstream?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Downstream, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Downstream have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Downstream has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Downstream?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Downstream:

1. Upgrade
2. Connected
3. The Talk Show With John Gruber
4. Accidental Tech Podcast
5. Mac Power Users

How many episodes of Downstream are there?

Downstream launched 4 years ago and published 116 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Downstream?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Downstream?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Downstream from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Downstream?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Downstream. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Downstream?

Recent guests on Downstream include:

1. Alan Sepinwall
2. Joseph Edalian
3. Stephen Shipansky
4. Joseph Adalian
5. Meg James
6. Will Carroll
7. Josef Adalian
8. Joe Adalian

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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