Warner Bros. Discovery

Week in Charts: CTV, Streaming, and Linear TV Trends

VideoWeek's 'Week in Charts' (published 2026-08-18) compiles data showing a rebound in linear TV viewing in New Zealand that has overtaken SVOD this year; RTL Group's streaming business is expected to be profitable (~€100m) after years of investment and structural changes; ad-supported SVOD tiers in North America have grown sharply (from $4.4bn in 2018 to $45.1bn), projected to represent 54% of SVOD revenues by year-end; microdrama-dedicated apps saw 95.5% download growth in H1 per Insightrackr and Mintel; several agency, ad-tech and media stocks moved following earnings and regulatory news. The article is a weekly charts roundup rather than an original corporate announcement.

Treasury Yields Rise; Home Depot Beats Earnings; Paramount Seeks $1.88B

CNBC’s Morning Squawk highlights several market developments: the 30-year U.S. Treasury yield jumped to a 19-year high while other Treasury yields rose and Brent crude topped $90 amid geopolitical tensions. Home Depot beat second-quarter revenue and earnings expectations and reaffirmed 2026 guidance, with CFO Richard McPhail noting tariff refunds will help offset costs. Paramount Skydance asked a judge to compel state attorneys general challenging its Warner Bros. Discovery merger to pay $1.88 billion in fees tied to the deal’s delay. Nvidia agreed to contribute up to $105 billion to finance OpenAI’s new Ohio data center (to be built/managed by SB Energy) with capacity expected online in 2028. Disney’s Experiences chairman Thomas Mazloum outlined a parks strategy focused on large expansions and smaller updates for annual passholders.

Prediction Markets Put 1-in-4 Chance Paramount Deal Fails

Prediction-market traders on Kalshi and Polymarket place roughly 22–26% odds that Paramount Skydance’s bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery will not close by mid-2027. Markets show the probability of a successful deal fell after 12 states sued to block the merger and after Paramount delayed the acquisition to 2027. The merger’s contractual termination date is March 4, 2027 (extendable to June 4, 2027 if only regulatory obstacles remain), and a federal trial on the states’ lawsuit is set for March 2027. Industry groups including the Directors Guild of America and IATSE have urged negotiation or a trial date change to reduce uncertainty. CNBC discloses a commercial relationship with Kalshi.