🏎️ Not Your Typical Netflix Deal
Squeezie x GP Explorer - Weekend Wrap Up Edition - Week 23/2025
No BBQ for me today 🌧️ It’s packing, binge-watching and newsletter-writing instead. Happy weekend, everyone!
👌🏻 Radical Truth
It’s good to hear Disney+ acknowledging what success entails for them in Europe. During Deloitte & Enders’ Media & Telecoms Conference, Disney+ Europe executive, Karl Holmes, must have surprised attendees with his frank talk:
“Across the markets we operate in Europe, the big free-to-air channels still aggregate the largest audiences, have the largest shows, and have the largest production budgets”.
Despite the group closing down several linear outlets in Europe, it still operates linear channels in 28 European markets, licenses and co-produces with local broadcasters to maximise reach and share premium content.
There you have it. Another proof that we’re not in a streaming-only world and that Broadcast TV still very much fits in today’s picture.
🎬 Blurring Lines: Creator vs. Traditional Media
With Dhar Mann Studios beefing up its leadership with ex-MrBeast/Amazon exec Toni Gray, YouTube strategist Regina Kozakiewicz and other seasoned execs. Founder Dhar Mann says this dream team will drive expansion into horror, podcasts, FAST channels and more building “film-level sets at 1/100th the cost” for YouTube and Facebook audiences. Sign of TV platforms’ thirst for creator-led stories, DMS signed a distribution deal for its 1st FAST Channel. Guess who’s the lucky platform?
🎙️ and I will interview Dhar Mann for The Media Odyssey Podcast during the Cannes Lions. Got a question for him? Hit reply to today’s edition with your question.
📱 Fighting Bad Press
Following the Court ruling in the Epic Games vs Apple case, Apple feels the need to stress how much they contribute to the developer ecosystem. According to a Boston University & Analysis Group study commissioned by Apple, the App Store drove $406 billion in U.S. developer revenue last year (up from $142 billion in 2019) with over 90% commission-free. Small developers’ earnings jumped 76% since 2021, led by food delivery, entertainment, enterprise apps and AI tools. While we’re looking this way 👋, they are stifling competition here.
🔗 Dive into the full report.
🎙️On June 12th, we’re releasing a AMA (Ask Me Anything) session for The Media Odyssey Podcast and we need YOU. Share your question here (team Marion) or here (team Evan).
🇬🇧 SVOD Penetration Check
100K net new homes gained access to at least one service in Q1’2025 vs Q4’2024 according to BARB. It’s 67.5% of UK homes. Are we nearing a glass ceiling (with or without ad tiers) when it comes to overall SVOD penetration in the UK?
Narrowing down at service level, Paramount+ captured the largest share of new subscriptions (44.4 %), followed by Netflix (33.3 %), with Amazon and Apple TV+ each at 11.1 %. A flat quarter for Discovery+ but a decrease for Disney+ and NOW (Sky).
Finally, there’s an all time high in this report.
⚽️ Creative Collabs For The Win!
Yes my team won the Champions League Final 😎 and the Dude Perfect guys were there to witness the win. In Munich, they indeed partnered with PlayStation to film an “Impossible Soccer Wall” challenge with five-time UCL champ Marcelo. The clip’s already notched 115 million+ views across YT Shorts, TikTok & IG Reels and reached a global audience (just 12% of views from the U.S.).
Check out the execution and the earned media value right here.
🏎️ Netflix x Squeezie
French YouTuber & Streamer Squeezie started GP Explorer (his own F4 car race) 3 years ago while watching the 1st season of Drive to Survive on Netflix. For this 3rd (and final) edition, he snatched Netflix as his car sponsor (the 1st creator sponsorship for the streamer?).
The partnership was announced during a live event with 1.5 million viewers. They want this edition to be Twitch’s most-watched event ever but it will also be live on Broadcast TV (on France 2 and France 4). The 200K tickets were sold out in two hours.
Another two companies from Media & Entertainment are car sponsors of this upcoming event taking place on Oct. 3-5 in Le Mans.
That’s it for today but before you go 🗳️
Enjoy your day and see you on Tuesday for a Deep Dive edition of Streaming Made Easy Premium.
