- Apple TV+ Bets Big on “Silo” as Licensing Deals Surge
- Lionsgate Reports Mixed Financial Results
- Disney’s Streaming Turns a Profit Amid Cost-Cutting and Content Spending
- Discover What Global Streaming Platforms Pay to License Films and Shows
- Apple TV+ Renews’ Silo’ for Two Final Seasons
- Lionsgate’s Third-Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Overview
- Disney’s Streaming Division Achieves Profitability
- Warner Bros. Discovery Faces Significant Writedown
- Disney’s Strategic Content Investments
- FilmTake Away: Balancing Profitability and Content Strategy
Streaming services are reevaluating their financial playbooks, balancing the high costs of direct-to-consumer services with the steady returns of third-party licensing deals.
Apple TV+ has renewed “Silo” for two additional seasons, reinforcing its investment in high-budget originals. AMC Networks, which produces the series, continues to capitalize on its content catalog outside of its streaming service, AMC+.
While Apple and AMC expand their licensing footprint, Warner Bros. Discovery has felt the brunt of legacy media’s decline, absorbing a staggering $9 billion writedown on its television assets. With studios weighing the financial viability of streaming-first strategies against the profitability of licensing, the industry is at an inflection point where content ownership alone may not be enough to drive sustainable growth.
Apple TV+ Bets Big on “Silo” as Licensing Deals Surge
Apple TV+ has renewed Silo for two additional seasons, doubling down on its investment in high-budget originals. Meanwhile, AMC Networks, which produces the series, has found far greater financial value in licensing it out rather than keeping it exclusive to its own struggling AMC+ platform. In 2023 alone, AMC collected $56 million in licensing fees for “Silo,” demonstrating that strategic third-party deals can be more lucrative than maintaining exclusivity on an in-house streaming service.
After factoring in the gain from “Silo” and an additional $20 million from returned Hulu licenses, overall licensing revenue in 2024 rose 4% year-over-year to $277 million. A significant but undisclosed portion of that figure comes from a Netflix deal granting the platform rights to past seasons of several AMC shows.
This licensing success reinforces the growing reality that for mid-sized studios, licensing premium content to larger platforms may be a more sustainable path to profitability than relying solely on direct-to-consumer models.
Lionsgate Reports Mixed Financial Results
Lionsgate’s third-quarter fiscal 2025 financial report shows revenue of $970.5 million and an operating income of $35.8 million. Despite these figures, the company reported a net loss, reflecting ongoing challenges in managing production expenses against revenue. With a diverse portfolio spanning film and television, Lionsgate continues to adjust its strategy amid continuous change in the entertainment industry.
Disney’s Streaming Turns a Profit Amid Cost-Cutting and Content Spending
Disney’s streaming division—comprising Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+—posted its first-ever quarterly profit in 2024 after enduring cumulative losses exceeding $11 billion since Disney+ launched in 2019. A combination of subscription price hikes, reduced content expenditures, and a refined programming strategy contributed to this turnaround. In November 2024, the streaming unit reported a profit of $321 million.
Meanwhile, Lionsgate’s latest earnings report revealed $970.5 million in revenue for Q3 fiscal 2025, though it grapples with operating losses.
On the traditional television side, Warner Bros. Discovery absorbed a massive $9 billion writedown, underscoring the financial pressure on legacy media as streaming-first strategies dominate.
As studios recalibrate their business models, content licensing remains a critical revenue driver, with AMC’s licensing growth serving as a case study. Whether companies will sustain profitability through direct-to-consumer models alone or if licensing to third-party platforms will become an even more integral part of their revenue mix.
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Apple TV+ Renews’ Silo’ for Two Final Seasons
Apple TV+ has announced the renewal of its post-apocalyptic series “Silo” for both a third and fourth season, aiming to adapt the complete trilogy of Hugh Howey’s dystopian novels. The series, which has garnered a dedicated viewership, will conclude with its fourth season, ensuring a comprehensive narrative arc. Production for the third season has reportedly commenced, with release dates yet to be confirmed.
Read more at Deadline.com: Silo will end with season 4 on Apple TV+
Lionsgate’s Third-Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Overview
Lionsgate reported third-quarter fiscal 2025 revenue of $970.5 million and an operating income of $35.8 million. Despite these earnings, the company experienced a net loss attributable to Lionsgate, reflecting ongoing challenges in the competitive entertainment industry. The company’s diverse content portfolio continues to struggle.
Read more at Lionsgate.com: Lionsgate and Lionsgate Studios Report Results for Third Quarter Fiscal 2025
Disney’s Streaming Division Achieves Profitability
In 2024, Disney’s streaming services, including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, reported a profit for the first time since their inception. This milestone follows cumulative losses exceeding $11 billion since the launch of Disney+ in 2019. The turnaround is attributed to strategic cost-cutting measures, subscription price adjustments, and a curated content strategy focusing on high-performing franchises.
Read more at Forbes.com: The Real Reason For Disney’s $11 Billion Streaming Losses
Warner Bros. Discovery Faces Significant Writedown
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) announced a $9 billion writedown in the value of its television networks, highlighting the financial pressures traditional media companies face amid the industry’s shift toward streaming services. This substantial impairment reflects the challenges in adapting to changing consumer preferences and the competitive streaming landscape.
Read more: ‘Traditional TV is dying’: can networks pivot and survive?
Disney’s Strategic Content Investments
Disney has strategically invested in its content pipeline, with significant budgets allocated to original programming for its streaming platforms. These investments enhance subscriber engagement and retention by offering a diverse and compelling content library. The company’s focus on quality content is a cornerstone of its strategy to remain competitive in the crowded streaming market.
Read more at The Hollywood Reporter: Disney Content Spending Estimate
FilmTake Away: Balancing Profitability and Content Strategy
As the streaming industry matures, studios are reassessing how they allocate resources between direct-to-consumer services and licensing deals. Apple TV+ is betting on premium original content with “Silo,” while AMC Networks continues to profit from licensing its shows to major platforms like Netflix. Disney’s long-awaited streaming profitability signals that cost-cutting and strategic pricing adjustments can turn losses around, but traditional media companies like Warner Bros. Discovery face mounting financial pressure.