It was a bit quiet on the streaming news front this week, until it wasn’t. With the Paramount and Skydance merger finally receiving FCC approval to go forward, headlines are packed with portents about the future of the company and its various linear channels and streaming services.

With media news sites like The Streamable abuzz with merger talk, there may have been a streaming story or two that have escaped attention. We’ve assembled our weekly list of the news topics you might not have seen between Monday and now; check them out below!

What streaming stories did you miss this week?

MLS commissioner shares ratings data for 2025

Apple isn’t known for volunteering information about its streaming services, but MLS commissioner Don Garber offered a rare — and confusing — look into ratings for his league’s games on MLS Season Pass and other outlets this season. Garber said at a press conference on Wednesday that viewership is up 50% year-over-year, and that streams on MLS Season Pass are averaging 120,000 unique viewers per match.

The use of unique viewers as opposed to average minute audience was confusing to reporters in attendance. When pressed, Garber didn’t exactly define what qualifies as a “unique viewer,” so the true viewership of the games is still a bit unclear. Unique viewers (the number of people who watch any portion of a match) and average minute audience (the average number of people watching at any given moment) are not comparable on a one-to-one basis, so analysts still have questions about the success of MLS this season.

If viewership has increased, greater distribution on platforms like DIRECTV and Comcast could be a big reason why. Partnerships with Xfinity’s cable service and EA Sports are also helping boost numbers.

STARZ greenlights ‘Power’ prequel series

The “Power” franchise on STARZ is about to welcome a new member. On Tuesday, STARZ announced that it had greenlit production for a new prequel series called “Power: Origins,” and that the first season would be 18 episodes in length. The show will tell the origin stories of fan-favorite characters Ghost and Tommy, and will also see MeKai Curtis reprise his role as Kanan Stark.

“Our fans have been asking for Ghost and Tommy’s origins story since we first met them in Power - and with the launch of this series, we’re delivering in a big way,” STARZ executive Kathryn Busby said. “This marks an electrifying new chapter in the franchise’s evolution as we dive deep into the legacy of these iconic characters and the explosive moments that shaped their path.”

The CW inks deal with the Professional Bull Riders Association

The CW isn’t done trying to add to its live sports slate. As reported by Sports Business Journal, the channel has agreed to a two-year deal with the Professional Bull Riders Association, specifically to broadcast Saturday and Sunday PBR Camping World Team Series events. This is just the latest deal for PBR, after agreeing to stream Friday night Teams events on Fox Nation earlier in July.

Apple TV+ renews ‘Stick’ for second season

Owen Wilson’s heartfelt golf comedy series “Stick” is coming back for another 18 holes. On Wednesday — the same day the Season 1 finale of the show debuted — Apple revealed that “Stick” had been renewed for a second season. The series follows Wilson’s character Pryce Cahill, a disgraced former pro golfer who finds inspiration again thanks to an ultra-talented young player who he has determined to take to the top.

‘Days of Our Lives’ returning, too

“Days of Our Lives” is one of the longest-running series in TV history, and its historic run will go on. Peacock announced this week that the show has been picked up for its 62nd and 63rd seasons, guaranteeing new episodes will come to the streamer in the years to come. “Days” moved exclusively to streaming in September 2022.