Netflix Inc. NFLX shares traded higher on Thursday, lifted by strong international revenue gains, expanding live sports ambitions, and momentum from major content releases including Squid Game Season 3 and Stranger Things Season 5.The streaming giant strengthened its hold on South Korea's $1.1 billion premium streaming market in the first half of 2025, capturing 8.2 million subscribers and nearly half of total viewership. The platform’s dominance comes from hits like Squid Game Season 3, fresh theatrical re ...

Core Insights - Globo, Brazil's largest video streaming platform, is utilizing Harmonic's technology for low-latency live streaming during the 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, ensuring high video quality and near-real-time viewing experiences [1][2] - The partnership emphasizes Harmonic's leadership in live sports streaming technology, showcasing their commitment to enhancing viewer experiences across various platforms [3] Group 1: Technology and Implementation - Harmonic's VOS®360 Media SaaS is being used to streamline media processing and streaming delivery for over 300 matches across 38 rounds of the championship [2] - Globo's selection of Harmonic was based on a rigorous evaluation process, highlighting the need for broadcast-grade performance, cloud flexibility, and exceptional DevOps support [2] - The deployment involved collaboration between multiple teams at Globo and Harmonic, focusing on video system adjustments, CDN fine-tuning, and player compatibility [2] Group 2: Market Impact and Future Prospects - The collaboration sets a new benchmark for premium sports streaming delivery in Brazil, a country known for its passionate football culture [3] - Harmonic plans to showcase its innovative streaming solutions at upcoming industry events, including SET Expo 2025 and IBC2025, indicating ongoing engagement in the market [3][4] - Harmonic is recognized as a leader in virtualized broadband and video delivery solutions, enabling media companies to deliver ultra-high-quality streaming services globally [4]

Group 1: Disney and NFL Partnership - The NFL has acquired a 10% stake in ESPN in exchange for distribution rights to the NFL Network and RedZone, among other assets, marking a significant partnership between Disney and the NFL [1][3] - Disney reported a 3% increase in revenue to $23.7 billion, but faced a 15% decline in linear TV, indicating ongoing challenges with cord-cutting [3] - ESPN will now have access to six additional NFL games, increasing its total from 22 to 28, which is expected to enhance its streaming offerings [3][5] Group 2: Streaming Strategy and Market Position - The integration of NFL content into ESPN's streaming service is seen as a strategic move to attract and retain subscribers, especially as Disney bundles its services with Disney Plus and Hulu [6][8] - Disney's streaming revenue is projected to reach $24.7 billion, while Netflix's is at $44.3 billion, with analysts suggesting that Disney Plus could surpass Netflix in subscribers by 2026 [15][22] - The deal positions Disney to create a comprehensive sports platform that could appeal to both casual and hardcore sports fans, potentially boosting advertising revenue through targeted ads [8][11] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - The partnership with the NFL may create challenges for competitors like Fox, Discovery, and Comcast, as they scramble to secure live sports content [4][5] - The NFL's ambition to reach $25 billion in annual revenue by 2027 aligns with Disney's strategy to further monetize its media assets [5] - The deal could lead to a consolidation of sports content on ESPN, making it a primary destination for sports fans and potentially affecting the distribution of other sports leagues [10][11] Group 4: Financial Performance of Other Companies - Rivian reported a $140 million revenue shortfall due to changes in EV tax credits, which may benefit traditional automakers [19][21] - Shopify had a strong quarter with revenue of $2.7 billion, beating analyst expectations, and reported a 31% year-over-year increase in GMV [22][23] - Upstart achieved over 100% revenue growth and originated 159% more loans year-over-year, marking its first GAAP profitable quarter since Q2 of 2022 [24][25]

Group 1 - Netflix's latest live sports event, an all-women's boxing match, attracted six million viewers, making it the most-watched women's professional sporting event of the year so far [1][2] - Of the six million viewers, 4.2 million were from the U.S., indicating strong domestic interest in the event [2] - The boxing match is part of Netflix's strategy to engage in selective live events, as the company does not hold rights to full sports leagues but focuses on significant one-off events [4] Group 2 - Netflix has secured exclusive U.S. streaming rights for the Women's World Cups in 2027 and 2031, suggesting a commitment to expanding its live sports content [4] - The company is also set to stream two NFL games on Christmas Day 2025, further diversifying its live sports offerings [6] - Analysts anticipate Netflix's Q2 financial results will show quarterly revenue of $11.04 billion, reflecting a 15% year-over-year increase [7] Group 3 - The viewership for the boxing match may indicate a positive trend for Netflix's future live sports events, especially as the company prepares to lose two of its most popular series [5] - Netflix's stock is currently down 0.3% to $1,257.91, but it has seen a 42% increase year-to-date in 2025 [8]

Group 1 - Major League Soccer (MLS) is partnering with Electronic Arts (EA) to stream four MLS matches this season on EA Sports FC Mobile [1][3] - The first match will be available for free streaming on May 10, featuring a rematch between the Los Angeles Galaxy and New York Red Bulls, following the Galaxy's victory in the 2024 final [2] - All matches will be simulcast with Apple TV's MLS Season Pass, which holds exclusive media rights, and EA FC Mobile players will receive a free one-month trial of the Season Pass along with in-game currency [3] Group 2 - This partnership marks EA's first venture into live streaming sports, capitalizing on the growing audience for live sports across media platforms [4] - The collaboration comes after a challenging quarter for EA, attributed to the underperformance of its games, particularly the EA Sports FC franchise [4] - EA is set to report its next quarterly earnings on Tuesday, which may provide further insights into the impact of this partnership on its financial performance [4]