The State of Streaming 2020: Disney+, Peacock, HBO Max, Apple TV+ & More

There is no battle being waged in entertainment right now bigger than the so-called “streaming wars.” That’s why Disney has repeatedly referred to the launch of Disney+ as its “highest priority,” and it’s also why Netflix last fall suggested that all of the forthcoming video streaming service launches would help usher in a “once-in-a-generation” change in how consumers access content. 

This battle is the subject of the newest special report from Variety Intelligence Platform (VIP), “Dare to Stream,” which offers a comprehensive analysis of all the new and old players in the streaming wars.

“Dare to Stream” is a sequel to our second version of the report published back in May 2019. Since May, VIP has created a variety of special reports covering the hottest areas of growth within the media business — including podcasting, blockchain, branded entertainment, and machine learning technology. But the latest version of “Dare to Stream” goes deeper in analysis than anything we’ve done and as a result is our biggest report to-date.

In “Dare to Stream,” the second wave of streaming services — namely Peacock, HBO Max, Disney+, and Apple TV+ — takes center stage, with analysis on the first wave of streamers (Netflix, Prime Video et al.) supplementing. The potential impact of notable smaller challengers approaching in the second wave like Quibi and ViacomCBS’ yet-to-be-named streamer is also explored.

At the core of the report, VIP seeks to answer the key questions that likely remain on the minds of all media execs like Peacock chief Matt Strauss and WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey. 

How long can the market sustain all of the streaming services being launched? Is there really enough room left for new streamers to succeed in a market that Netflix and other incumbents have held a grip on for so long?