Paramount stole most of the major headlines this week, and probably not for reasons it is all too happy about. The company now faces a lawsuit from a dozen state attorneys general, who allege that Paramount’s merger with Warner Bros. Discovery would violate American antitrust laws.

While Paramount prepares to fight that lawsuit, other companies in the streaming world are making moves to better compete in an increasingly fraught marketplace. So, which streaming stories from this week’s news did you potentially miss this week? Find out below!

Streaming stories you may have missed this week

Paramount faces new lawsuit regarding CNN, Trump

Paramount’s legal team is earning its retainer this week. In addition to the lawsuit brought by 12 states referenced above, Paramount now faces a suit filed by a shareholder who alleges the company made an unlawful side deal with President Trump to ensure federal regulators gave its merger with WBD the green light. The suit was filed in Delaware Chancery Court on Tuesday.

According to the lawsuit, Paramount CEO David Ellison and his father, Larry, agreed to improperly funnel cash to the president by settling current claims he has made against CNN. The suit also alleges that the Ellisons pledged to fire anchors Trump did not like after completing their purchase of WBD. Paramount has issued a statement denying all allegations leveled in the suit.

YouTube Premium sued by subscribers

Staying in the world of legal complaints, YouTube is facing a new lawsuit brought by customers who claim that the platform’s Premium plan promises an ad-free experience it isn’t delivering. California residents William Fleming and Devin Rose filed the suit in U.S. District Court on Tuesday.

The suit alleges that, despite offering an “ad-free” and “uninterrupted” viewing experience with its Premium plan, YouTube is still showing ads during that content. It argues that a YouTube Help page that states some Premium videos have branding or promotions embedded by the creator is not part of the terms of service YouTube Premium customers agree to when they sign up.

Oprah’s podcast joining Prime Video

Netflix isn’t the only on-demand streaming service getting in on the podcast game. On Tuesday, Prime Video announced that it would be offering an expanded lineup of “The Oprah Podcast” episodes starting on July 21.

Each week, Prime Video will offer two episodes of “The Oprah Podcast” to all subscribers. These episodes will also be launched on Amazon Music, Fire TV Channels, and Audible and can also be streamed on YouTube and wherever else podcasts are found.

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Prime Video

Prime Video is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 10,000+ movies, TV shows, and Prime Originals like “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” “Jack Ryan,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Boys,” and more. Subscribers can also add third-party services like Max, Showtime, STARZ, and dozens more with Prime Video Channels. Prime Video also offers exclusive live access to NFL Thursday Night Football.

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Prime Video is included with Amazon Prime for $14.99 per month ($139 per year), or can be purchased on its own for $8.99 per month. A standalone, ad-supported version costs $8.99 per month, while the upgraded Prime Video Ultra tier, costing an extra $4.99 per month or $45.99 per year, adds Dolby Atmos support, ups video quality to 4K UHD, removes ads, and allows for 100 downloads and 5 simultaneous streams. Prime Video offers a 30-day free trial.

Prime Video currently offers over 25,000 movies and TV episodes, many of which are original productions. Live sports coverage includes NFL Thursday Night Football as well as select NBA, WNBA, and NWSL events.

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Netflix celebrates a decade of ‘Stranger Things’

On Wednesday, Netflix celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the release of “Stranger Things” Season 1. To celebrate the show’s birthday, Netflix has re-released the show’s first season in a “VHS version” with altered visual and audio effects.

“If ‘Stranger Things’ existed in Hawkins, sitting on a shelf at Family Video, it would look just like this — complete with pan-and-scan,” said the show’s creators, the Duffer brothers. “And hey, if enough of you nerds watch it, maybe we’ll do the rest of the seasons.”

Viewers can also watch the new special video “Strange Memories,” which offers cast members talking about their earliest memories of the show. These celebrations of “Stranger Things” are available to all Netflix subscribers.

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Netflix

Netflix is a leading subscription-based video streaming service that offers on-demand access to an extensive library of over 3,000 movies, 2,000+ TV shows, and a growing collection of acclaimed Netflix originals. Renowned for producing groundbreaking content, Netflix has become a cultural powerhouse with hit originals like “Stranger Things,” “Wednesday,” “Squid Game,” “The Crown,” “Tiger King,” “Bridgerton,” “The Witcher,” and “Black Mirror.”

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The platform constantly updates its catalog, introducing fresh content alongside timeless classics and international hits. Netflix’s commitment to storytelling has also earned critical acclaim, with award-winning exclusives such as “Roma,” “Marriage Story,” “The Power of the Dog,” “Mank,” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” In 2023, their animated film “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, further solidifying Netflix’s reputation for high-quality content.

Recently, Netflix has expanded beyond standard movies and TV titles with the addition of video podcasts, and is also exploring a digital store that would offer third-party streamers within the app.

Netflix offers three plans – stream on 2 devices in HD with the “Standard with Ads” ($8.99) plan, on 2 devices in HD with the “Standard” ($19.99) plan, and 4 devices in up to 4K on the “Premium” ($26.99) plan.

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Fandango wants to overhaul streaming business

Fandango is making big moves to become a player in ad-supported streaming. Its parent company, Versant, announced on Wednesday that it was overhauling its ad-supported streaming service Fandango At Home, renaming the free streamer and adding a selection of new content.

The streamer will now be called simply “Fandango,” and has 3,500 hours of Versant-owned content to stream. In addition, Versant has announced a deal with the Bundesliga, Germany’s top soccer league, with some Bundesliga content slated to appear on the newly updated Fandango streamer.

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Fandango

Fandango, formerly known as Vudu and then Fandango at Home, is Fandango’s premium digital streaming service that lets viewers rent, purchase, and stream thousands of movies and television shows without a monthly subscription. Rebranded in 2024, the service combines a vast on-demand entertainment library with the flexibility to watch content across smart TVs, streaming devices, mobile devices, game consoles, and web browsers.

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Unlike traditional streaming services, Fandango at Home primarily operates on a transactional video-on-demand (TVOD) model, allowing customers to pay only for the content they want to watch. The service also includes thousands of free, ad-supported movies and TV shows through its “Free with Ads” section, giving viewers access to a rotating selection of popular films and series at no cost.

Viewers can enjoy features such as 4K Ultra HD, HDR10, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos support on compatible devices; offline viewing of purchased content on mobile devices; parental controls; personalized recommendations; and the ability to create wish lists and watch lists.

With its combination of premium new releases, free streaming options, high-quality video formats, and cross-platform digital ownership, Fandango at Home offers a flexible entertainment experience for movie fans who prefer buying or renting content rather than subscribing to a traditional streaming service.

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Sports rights updates

ESPN wants the 2030 World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is about to wrap up on Sunday, and the tournament has enjoyed strong ratings throughout. ESPN wants to get in on the action; at a conference hosted by CNBC at Fanatics Fest in New York on Thursday, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro confirmed that ESPN would be bidding on the rights to the 2030 World Cup. Such a bid would be costly, but ESPN is no stranger to making big plays for major live sports rights.

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ESPN Unlimited

ESPN launched its highly anticipated direct-to-consumer streaming service on August 21, 2025. For the first time, this service gives sports fans access to its full lineup of linear channels without a traditional cable or satellite subscription.

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Subscribers can pay the $31.99 monthly fee for ESPN Unlimited, which unlocks all ESPN linear channels — including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN on ABC — plus ESPN+ and ESPN3, totaling around 47,000 live events each year. A subscription may be purchased monthly or annually.

ESPN+ content is available as part of an ESPN Ultimate subscription; those seeking only ESPN+ can subscribe to ESPN Select for $13.99 instead.

ESPN Unlimited offers extensive coverage of the NFL, NBA, MLB, college sports, UFC, soccer, tennis, and more, along with original programming, studio shows, and “30 for 30” documentaries. Starting in 2026, the platform will become the exclusive U.S. streaming home for WWE’s premium live events, including WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Royal Rumble.

NFL Network and NFL RedZone are also included through an NFL-ESPN partnership, which adds draft coverage, preseason games, and NFL+ Premium features. The enhanced ESPN app will feature Multiview for watching multiple games simultaneously, real-time stats, betting and fantasy tools, personalized highlight reels, and even e-commerce options for tickets and merchandise.

On September 1, 2026, ESPN Unlimited prices were raised — barely a year after launch — from $13 to $14 per month for ESPN Select and from $30 to $32 for ESPN Unlimited.

Viewers can subscribe directly or bundle ESPN Unlimited with Disney+ and Hulu. With its robust live sports lineup, premium features, and the convenience of streaming anywhere, ESPN’s new service is a must-have for die-hard sports fans looking to cut the cord without sacrificing coverage.

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$31.99+ / month

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Fox Nation partners with Conor McGregor, Bare Knuckle Fighting

Fox Nation announced on Tuesday that it was teaming with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship and its co-owner Conor McGregor for a new original documentary series titled “World’s Baddest Man.” McGregor will host the show, which will see international and domestic fighters compete in a bracket-style tournament to win the title of World’s Baddest Man.

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Fox Nation

Fox Nation is an entertainment streaming service created by Fox News and gives subscribers access to full, commercial-free episodes from well-known right-wing personalities like Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham, as well as entertainment from Kevin Costner, Kelsey Grammer, Sharon Osbourne, Roseanne Barr, and Rob Schneider. Fox Nation service can be accessed as a standalone streamer or as an add-on to the live TV streaming services DIRECTV and Fubo.

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To access Fox Nation within Fubo once you’ve added the service, just look within the Shows or Movies tabs, or search for a specific title. You can also browse available FOX Nation programming by selecting Guide > Networks, then selecting FOX Nation.

Fox Nation offers an entire year of free content to U.S. military and veterans.

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$8.99+ / month

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Bundesliga signs with NBC, Versant

Germany’s Bundesliga is moving to new pastures. The soccer league is departing ESPN for a new media rights deal with Versant, which will see English-language broadcasts of Bundesliga games air on USA Network and the free Fandango streaming service. Spanish-language rights have landed at the NBCUniversal channel Telemundo.

FloSports nabs IIHF Men’s World Championship

On Tuesday, FloSports announced it had signed an exclusive four-year media rights agreement with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to cover the IIHF World Championship. Beginning in 2027, FloSports will stream every game of the Championship, as well as the Division IA and Division IB World Championships. The streamer will also have original video, editorial content, social programming, and more surrounding the event.

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FloSports

FloSports is a subscription video streaming service with unlimited access to live events across 25+ sports, plus over 300,000 hours of sports competitions live or on-demand, exclusive behind-the-scenes coverage and interviews, original programming, news, expert commentary, films, documentaries, weekly studio shows, podcasts, and more.

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When you sign up, you have the choice of picking “your sport.” The lineup includes baseball, basketball, bowling, cheer, combat, cycling, dance, football, football, gymnastics, hockey, lacrosse, racing, rodeo, rugby, soccer, softball, swimming, track, volleyball, wrestling, and more. Once you choose a sport, you can choose from the “Monthly” plan ($29.99/month) or the “Yearly” plan ($12.49/month). The annual plan lets you save $210 per year. Both annual and monthly subscribers have access to premium content across the entire FloSports network.

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$19.99+ / month

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Scripps lands 2027 Women’s Volleyball World Cup

ION is already home to a wide range of women’s sports, including WNBA and NWSL games. Its parent company, Scripps, announced on Tuesday that all 64 games of the upcoming 2027 Women’s Volleyball World Cup will be shown on ION and Scripps Sports platforms, in both English and Spanish.

Announcements and trailers

• Per Deadline, Jessica Alba has joined the new Netflix reboot of the rom-com “13 Going On 30.” Jennifer Garner is producing the sequel, but Alba’s role is being kept quiet for now.

• The new unscripted competition series “Monopoly” got the green light at Netflix on Monday. The show will see 12 players compete for a $2 million prize, with contestant auditions now open. The show will premiere in the fall of 2027.

• On Wednesday, Paramount+ announced that Gabriel Luna would be joining the cast of “Dexter: Resurrection” Season 2. Luna will play a serial killer called the “Sleepy-Eyed Stranger.”

Watch the trailer for the new Prime Video film ‘Masterplan’

See the new teaser for ‘Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches’ Season 3

Watch the trailer for ‘Lioness’ Season 3 on Paramount+