Observed Signal · Aug 18, 2026 · Earnings Report · Source: VideoWeek · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
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.
A weekly charts roundup compiling market data on CTV, streaming revenue trends, ad-supported SVOD growth and stock movements; useful market signals but not a single industry-shifting announcement.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- New Zealand broadcast commission data show linear viewing has overtaken paid streaming (SVOD) in 2026 after SVOD led by seven percentage points in 2023.
- RTL Group's streaming arm is expected to return a profit of around €100 million in 2026; RTL had pledged at least €350 million of incremental streaming investment in 2019 and has since launched RTL+, sold RTL Nederland, and acquired Sky Deutschland.
- Ampere Analysis data: North American ad-tier (ad-supported subscription) revenues grew from $4.4 billion in 2018 to $45.1 billion, and ad tiers are projected to account for 54% of total SVOD revenues by the end of 2026.
- App analytics firm Insightrackr and consultant Mintel reported microdrama-dedicated apps saw 95.5% year-on-year download growth in H1 2026.
- Dentsu's share price fell by over 7% following H1 results that reported sluggish net revenue organic growth of 0.3%.
Connected Companies & Entities
12 Entities mapped“Back in 2019, RTL Group pledged significant incremental investment in streaming, earmarking at least €350 million to help develop its variou...”
“A lot has happened since then: the launch of RTL+, the sale of RTL Nederland,the acquisition of Sky Deutschland, and significant streaming l...”
“Data from Ampere Analysis shows that total ad tier revenues in North America have grown by over 10 times since 2018, from $4.4 billion to $4...”
“Apps dedicated to short drama series (or ‘microdramas’) saw 95.5 percent year-on-year growth in downloads in H1 this year, according to data...”
“Dentsu’s share price fell by over seven percent this week following the company’s H1 earnings, which showed sluggish net revenue organic gro...”
“Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery both benefited once again as further regulatory hurdles for their proposed takeover deal were ...”
“Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery both benefited once again as further regulatory hurdles for their proposed takeover deal were ...”
“Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery both benefited once again as further regulatory hurdles for their proposed takeover deal were ...”
“Viant’s share price dipped by ten percent this week, having surged on the company’s Q2 earnings in the previous week....”
“PubMatic also fell back slightly, though it’s still up by over 30 percent compared with its pre-earnings share price....”
“NVIDIA was the only riser among the big tech stocks this week, as it expanded its lead as the world’s most valuable publicly traded company....”
“Thomson Reuters’ share price dipped below $100 this week, and it’s down by over 40 percent over the past year....”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
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Week in Charts: Marketers Push CTV, Sports Rights Rise
VideoWeek’s Week in Charts showcases a shift toward connected TV (CTV) investment as marketers plan to grow CTV spend in 2026, with 63% aiming to increase CTV budgets and a portion reallocating from linear TV. The piece also notes rapid growth in streaming services’ live sports rights, with Ampere Analysis projecting $14.2B in 2026 (up from $6.5B in 2022). Generalist platforms like Netflix, Amazon, and Apple are expanding live sports investments, led by Amazon with about $3.8B in 2026 deals. Stagwell is gaining traction through SPORT BEACH and a new sports practice, with stock up over 30% since the announcement. Additional highlights include UK viewing leadership for Amandaland during Christmas and notable stock/move trends in adtech and media owners, alongside broader cross‑channel developments impacting TV, streaming, and measurement.
CTV Growth Soars as UK Trust in TV Ads Rises
VideoWeek’s 'Week in Charts' roundup highlights multiple industry data points: Netflix’s UK ad-tier households grew 13.11% quarter-on-quarter in Q4 2025 (Barb’s Establishment Survey), driven by the Stranger Things finale; Disney+’s ad tier grew ~13% while Amazon Prime’s was largely flat. UK research shows rising trust in advertising across channels — TV trust rose from 33% in 2021 to 46% in 2025 (Credos) — while influencers remain the least trusted (25%). CTV viewers value convenience features such as starting a show from the beginning (77%), resuming where they left off (76%) and instant 'watch next' episode playback (76%) per Oliver & Ohlbaum. A study from the IPPR found BBC News is notably absent from ChatGPT answers. The roundup also notes broad downward pressure on agency and ad-tech stocks, Comcast’s relative resilience after Q4 results, Thomson Reuters’ 5% YoY Q4 revenue growth, Apple overtaking Google in market cap, and Amazon’s 14% stock fall after a large capex forecast.
Week in Charts: Tubi AI, $200B Streaming, OpenAI $100B Ads
VideoWeek's Week in Charts reports several industry developments: Tubi is integrating AI into its streaming service; Ampere Analysis forecasts global streaming subscription revenue will reach $202 billion by 2030 with advertising adding an additional $42 billion annually; OpenAI projects $2.5 billion in ad revenue this year and $100 billion by 2030; YouGov research shows younger UK viewers discover new TV via social media and influencers while older viewers rely more on TV/online ads; and Nexxen data indicates fewer than half of UK viewers plan to watch the World Cup on linear TV, with streaming app viewing rising. The roundup also notes weekly stock moves across media, ad tech and tech companies.
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