Observed Signal · Oct 27, 2026 · Research Report · Source: State of Streaming · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Looper Insights Study: Streaming Trends, CTV OS Wars, FAST Boom
One year after Looper Insights surveyed 61 senior streaming executives on the top ten trends for 2026, a follow-up report, 'The Big Reset Revisited,' assesses their predictive accuracy. Six of ten predictions came true, four were partially true, and none were wrong. The central insight is that the streaming wars have shifted from content to infrastructure, with Connected TV (CTV) operating systems like Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Google TV emerging as new gatekeepers. FAST platforms, including Tubi and The Roku Channel, achieved record revenue and profitability. YouTube solidified its dominance with a record 14.2% share of US TV viewing. Consolidation activities, such as Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery and Sky's deal for ITV Media & Entertainment, are re-bundling services to combat churn. The report also highlights the growing influence of OS-level AI assistants in content discovery and the strategic use of AI for content promotion.
The report confirms the shift of power to CTV operating systems and FAST platforms, providing strategic insights for advertisers and platforms. It highlights significant market consolidation and the rise of AI in content discovery, which are critical for media planning and investment decisions.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Six of ten 2026 streaming predictions came true, four partially true, none false.
- Roku launched its first major home screen update in a decade with personalized discovery.
- YouTube reached a record 14.2% share of US TV viewing in July 2026.
- Tubi reported EBITDA positive for every quarter in 2026, with a record Q4.
- Paramount completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, creating a 200M+ subscriber giant.
Connected Companies & Entities
13 Entities mapped“Looper Insights published the report 'The Big Reset Revisited', surveying 61 streaming executives.”
“Roku is being acquired by Fox in a $22 billion deal and launched a major home screen update.”
“Tubi reported EBITDA positive quarters in 2026 and is part of Fox's acquisition of Roku.”
“Amazon's Fire TV aggregated live content into a centralized 'Live TV' tab and launched Alexa+.”
“ITV Media & Entertainment is being acquired by Sky.”
“Warner Bros. Discovery was acquired by Paramount, creating a 200M+ subscriber giant.”
“Google TV integrated Gemini AI assistant.”
“Samsung deployed Vision AI on its TVs.”
“Netflix acquired MrBeast views and used GenAI workflows for promotional assets.”
“Paramount completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.”
“Disney launched a vertical feed for TikTok creator content and the Disney Trio bundle reported low churn.”
“Sky agreed to a £1.6bn deal for ITV Media & Entertainment.”
“Prime Video launched an Apple TV and Peacock Premium Plus bundle at $19.99/month and offers Luna party games on Fire TV.”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Tubi CEO Anjali Sud Departing; Roku Media Chief Also Exits
Following FOX's $22 billion acquisition of Roku completed on November 6, 2026, a major leadership restructuring has been announced. Tubi CEO Anjali Sud, who joined in 2023, is stepping down but will stay temporarily to assist. Charlie Collier, President of Roku Media, will depart, as will Chris Handman and Robyn Peterson. Roku founder Anthony Wood steps down as CEO to become co-chair of FOX Digital Platforms. Mustafa Ozgen is named CEO of Roku, overseeing advertising and the Roku Channel. Pete Distad will lead FOX's direct-to-consumer arm, including Tubi and Frndly TV, with Mike Bidgoli as Tubi's new president. Paul Cheesbrough becomes Co-Chair and CEO of FOX Digital Platforms. Advertising sales across the combined portfolio will report to Jeff Collins. FOX expects $400 million in annual cost synergies within two years.
Fox Completes Roku Acquisition; Wood Steps Down as CEO
Fox Corporation completed its $22 billion acquisition of Roku on November 6, 2026, ahead of schedule. The merger combines Fox's broadcast, news, sports, and streaming portfolio with Roku's open CTV platform and first-party data from over 100 million global households, creating the third-largest U.S. TV business by viewership. Fox stockholders hold approximately 74% of the combined entity, with former Roku stockholders holding 26%. Roku stockholders received $95.30 cash and 0.9799 Fox Class A shares per share. Fox expects $400 million in annual cost synergies and free cash flow accretion by year two. Anthony Wood steps down as Roku CEO to become Co-Chair of Fox Digital Platforms, alongside Co-Chair and CEO Paul Cheesbrough. Separately, Comcast has initiated large-scale layoffs ahead of spinning off NBCUniversal and Sky, with 634 positions cut in Philadelphia, 159 in Washington state, and 119 in New Jersey, and expects a restructuring charge exceeding $1 billion in Q4 2026.
LG Ad Solutions Names Abhijit Pol SVP of Product & Engineering
LG Ad Solutions, a global leader in connected TV (CTV) advertising, has appointed Abhijit Pol as Senior Vice President of Product and Engineering. Pol will oversee the development of advertising technology and solutions that help brands and agencies connect with audiences and achieve measurable business outcomes. He reports to CEO Michael Hudes. Pol previously led monetisation engineering at Pinterest and helped build Roku's advertising technology and data platforms from an early stage. He also was a founding engineer at Rocket Fuel. The appointment reflects LG Ad Solutions' investment in product and technology innovation to meet advertiser demands for accountability. Pol's priorities include advancing the advertising platform, improving campaign effectiveness and measurement, simplifying advertiser workflows, and applying AI to create value for advertisers and partners.
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