Streaming Wars: The Networks Strike Back

It’s been a brutal few years for broadcast and cable networks. Many are seeing annual double-digit ratings decline as audiences increasingly turn their back on live linear viewing and flock to streaming services. Now, the networks are fighting back. With the rollout of new programming strategies, networks hope to leverage the power of linear TV over its streaming rivals, including investing in new live events, sports and "urgent" shows, as well as improving the quality of original series. “I think any network has to look at themselves right now and say, ‘We have to shift to the audience’s tastes,’” said USA Network and Syfy chief Chris McCumber.

Read more: Adweek spoke to several network execs about their plans to hold on to viewers.

According to the latest World Health Organization report, the vast majority of coronavirus cases worldwide to date are in China. But that hasn’t stopped U.S. consumers from turning to Amazon to research and buy supplies to protect themselves, per Amazon seller platform Jungle Scout. Using its product and market research data, Jungle Scout found Amazon sold out of its DuPont hazmat suit on Feb. 5. The last time this product went out of stock on Amazon was in the summer of 2018, during the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Jungle Scout said the sell-out is a good indicator of consumer fear surrounding coronavirus. A medical mask approved by the Centers for Disease Control to block 95% of airborne particles is also particularly popular.

Read more: And it's not just suits and masks that have seen sales boosts in connection with the virus.

To better highlight its most popular programming for subscribers, Netflix is rolling out a Top 10 list featuring most-watched shows and movies that will appear as its own row when users browse the service. The new feature, which debuted Monday, will highlight the most popular shows and films on Netflix in the country where users are browsing. Where the row of top 10 titles appears on the homepage will depend on how relevant the shows and movies are to individual users’ tastes‚ as determined by Netflix’s recommendation algorithm, but the list will be the same for all users in a given country. The list will be updated daily.

Read more: Why the new feature is a step in a different direction for the streaming platform.

“Meat snacks” might not be the most pleasant phrase, but as a consumer goods category, its success is anything but rare. In the U.S., total retail sales of jerky and other dried meat products grew 31% over the past five years. Part of the reason behind this growth spurt, say experts and insiders alike, is the prevalence of the ketogenic diet, which instructs people to eat more protein and fat while consuming less carbohydrates and sugar. And manufacturers are also finding ways to lean into the trend, too, whether by producing new keto-friendly products, targeting keto-related searches on Amazon or simply describing offerings as aligned with the diet.

Read more: Companies are leaning into the trend with strategies designed to attract health-conscious consumers.

Best of the Rest:

With “Mamba Forever,” Nike and agency Wieden + Kennedy revisit Kobe Bryant’s life through little more than two minutes of carefully selected audio and the bare minimum of copy. As “Forever” stays on the screen, viewers journey back through Bryant’s rise to greatness and are reminded of the many phases and accomplishments he experienced along the way.

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"We like food at Barbarian… a lot. But we don’t like the plastic use that usually comes with it. So our UX, tech and design teams created a device that encourages and emphasizes the impact of replacing plastic utensils for reusable metal. The Sustainable Utensil Dispenser (SUD) dispenses metal utensils while gathering usage data to visibility demonstrate reduced impact on the environment, communicated via a digital screen and our company Slack channel. And it’s beautifully designed with recycled cork and resin. With more SUDs in the world, we hope to show how individual actions add up to collective outcomes."

—Courtney Berry, Managing Director, Barbarian

"Hook has always been encouraging of passion projects, but this past year that support really kicked into high gear because of Greta Thunberg and the climate crisis. She inspired us to use our voices and our talents for good. And our leadership team made it easy to get involved. Not only did they give us the freedom to attend climate strikes during the work day, they encouraged us to spend our time on an internal project to raise awareness for the climate emergency."

—Sara Frey, Business Development Director, Hook

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