The Daily Valet. - 1/6/23, Friday
✔️ Is the Streaming Boom Over?
Friday, January 6th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
How many streaming services do you currently subscribe to?
Today’s Big Story
Is the Streaming Boom Over?
During the Streaming wars, we were all spoiled. But now that might be over.
It was fun while it lasted, right? For the last half-decade, we've enjoyed what's been called the “golden age” of entertainment or “Peak TV.” The rise of the streaming service has brought more television and films into our homes than ever before. We happily cut our cable cords to try a handful of streamers. And now, there are so many, the joke is that we wish someone should just put them all together, so we could just pay one monthly fee for everything. You know ... kinda like cable.We're starting to see some of the consolidation now. As Vox reports, it's why Warner Brothers Discovery is getting ready to launch a yet-to-be-named service that will mash up HBO Max and Discovery Plus. Which means you'll be able to pay for White Lotus and Dr. Pimple Popper with one monthly bill. But, unfortunately, it means that they'll sacrifice plenty of beloved shows and movies if it means they can save a buck.And the price of keeping our favorite shows streaming in perpetuity (on whatever service) is probably going to get more expensive soon. According to The Verge, the Writers Guild of America, the Directors Guild of America, and the Screen Actors Guild will all negotiate new contracts with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers this year, and streaming residuals are going to be a major point of discussion.Peak TV seems to have peaked. Suddenly, the never-ending supply of new programming that helped define the streaming era—spawning shows at a breakneck pace but also overwhelming viewers with too many choices—appears to finally be slowing.The number of adult scripted series ordered by TV networks and streaming companies aimed for U.S. audiences fell by nearly 25% in the second half of this year, according to Ampere Analysis, a research firm. And compared with 2019, it is a 40% drop. But streaming isn't going anywhere. Global content spending will hit $243 billion this year, which is still a 2% increase from 2022. So we're going to have plenty of viewing options.
Meanwhile:
DigiDay says the streaming wars between Netflix, Paramount+ and others are heading to video games.
McCarthy Fails for 3rd Day in House Speaker Fight
He's lost 11 votes so far, but there was renewed optimism For a possible deal Thursday Night
For the third day in a row, Republicans were unable to break an ongoing—and now historic—deadlock to elect a speaker. Party leader Kevin McCarthy failed in an excruciating string of ballots to win enough GOP votes to seize the chamber's gavel. Lawmakers voted to adjourn until today at noon to start again.After a humiliating three days, McCarthy is attempting to hammer out a deal with the ultraconservative rebels, including agreeing to conditions he had previously refused to countenance in a last-ditch effort to sway a critical mass of defectors.And in a sign of progress, some Republicans are approaching a deal that could help McCarthy get closer to clinching the necessary 218 votes. Several holdouts are on the verge of agreeing to the latest negotiations and have said they will vote in favor for McCarthy—though when that might happen remained unclear. And he's remained firm in his intent to stay in the fight, no matter how long it takes.
Dig Deeper:
The Washington Post looks closer at what McCarthy’s concessions could cost him—and the GOP as a whole.
Authorities Capture El Chapo’s Son
Ovidio Guzmán, a Sinaloa Cartel leader, was arrested—for the second time
Mexican security forces captured Ovidio Guzmán, one of the sons of famed drug lord “El Chapo” and a key leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, in a pre-dawn operation Thursday that set off gunfights and roadblocks across the western state's capital.This is the second time that Guzmán has been captured by the Mexican government. The first time, in 2019, he was released after thousands of cartel henchmen descended on the city to defend him in an incident widely perceived as humiliating for President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's government.The high-profile capture comes just days before López Obrador will host U.S. President Joe Biden for bilateral talks followed by their North American Leaders' Summit with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Drug trafficking, along with immigration, is expected to be a top talking point.
FYI:
U.S. Homeland Security Investigations had posted a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Guzmán early last year.
What Exactly Is Wireless TV?
Is It really the future of Our Home Theater?
A 97-inch TV is impressive. But even more impressive? A 97-inch screen that doesn't need any input cables. That's the wireless TV reality LG is presenting this year at CES — and they're not the only brand promising a minimalist, (nearly) wire-free future.What exactly does “wireless” mean? In LG's case, all the inputs go into a separate box that transmits your Blu-ray, streaming or broadcast signal to the screen “flawlessly,” reports CNET. There is currently a power cord, though.Then there's upstart TV maker Displace, which shocked crowds at CES with its “groundbreaking” screen that's completely wireless and doesn't even need a remote. The company's lightweight screen mounts on any surface (even a window) via special vacuum strips, works entirely via hand gestures and is powered by four hot-swappable batteries. As InsideHook put its, this is a fascinating technology that—much like 8K TVs—is still probably a few years away from going mainstream.
Biased Thought:
Would any hand gesture ever be as quick and easy as pressing a button on a remote?
In Other News
Over 15,000 canceled flights left holiday travelers stranded.
Have you heard about ...
A Weekend Pairing
‘M3gan’ + a Ghia Spritz
If you’re ready to see your first movie of the year in theaters, then you should definitely check out M3gan. You’ve no doubt already seen the trailer (or at least the memes) so you pretty much know the story. Allison Williams plays Gemma, a roboticist who works for a company that builds AI toys. When she’s left in charge of her nine-year-old niece, Cady, she fast-tracks a new toy she has been building, a Model 3 Generative Android—M3GAN for short.The two become fast friends, but M3GAN’s prime directive is to protect Cady, physically and emotionally. So when someone hurts the little girl, this modern doll takes that personally and, as Collider puts it, “becomes less like Raggedy Ann and more like The Terminator.” Reviews have been raving and currently, the film has a 94% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes—high bar for a film that toes the line between the black comedy and horror genres.
Pair It With
If you’re going to sneak a drink into a movie theater, might I suggest this non-alcoholic apéritif made with the sweet burn of fresh ginger? Ghia’s canned spritz is a stylish option for Dry January that’s sophisticated, tasty and has no added sugars, caffeine or artificial flavors.
Also Worth a Watch:
‘The Menu’ on HBO Max, ‘The Pale Blue Eye’ on Netflix and ‘Bromates’ on Hulu
Have More Sex
There are actually some physiological benefits and perks to getting it on
Without getting into the numbers, you should probably be having more sex. We don't prescribe to the strange edict that any couple should be having it regularly, three times a week—who came up with that arbitrary number?After all, it's a delicate balance, right? You should be smashing as much as you like to feel hot and satisfied, but you don't have to hit some quota to prove anything to anyone.But we'll never object to having more sex—in any and all of its many iterations: Morning sex, shower sex, hotel sex, back-seat-of-the-car-sex, anniversary sex, birthday sex, role-play sex, make-up sex, threesomes, even sweet run-of-the-mill quickies. And there are actually some physiological benefits and health perks to getting it on.
Read:
Shopping
What We’re Buying
Italian Suede Trucker Jacket
You know what's cooler than a leather jacket? A suede jacket. But a good one will usually cost you. One that I'd been eyeing was going to cost me a grand. Thankfully, I found this one from Quince, which has been building a reputation for the brand's quality take on affordable luxury. Cut from soft, 100% Italian calf suede, the exterior is buttery soft and the interior features a smooth poly-satin lining. The fit is spot-on and the press stud snap buttons in a brushed nickel finish add to the luxe feel of the jacket. I would've happily paid double for this and it still would've been a bargain.
Get It:
Italian suede trucker jacket, $870 / $249.90 by Quince
Morning Motto
Let it wait until Monday.
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