What are you watching this weekend? Follow-up: How are you going to watch that? It’s been a big day for film fans as we figure out the ramifications of Paramount’s plan to merge with Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal that could shake up movie theaters and streaming services.

My colleague Kristin Schwab dove into the potential effects you might see on your TV. As for me, tonight I’m finishing up a British crime drama that was made by the BBC, streamed on Paramount+, and then aired on PBS. Confusing, right? — Catie McCarthy, digital producer

The path to owning Warner Bros. Discovery has cleared up for Paramount Skydance.

 

That's because Netflix is ending its pursuit. How this deal ultimately shakes out will change the streaming landscape, and it’s happening at a time when companies are fighting for market share and trying to prove they can be profitable.

 

Streaming is complicated, said Naveen Sarma, managing director at S&P Global Ratings. “And a mess, and very confusing.”

 

There are many content providers, accessed many different ways, and subscription prices are rising. Sarma said viewers are starting to pick and choose. 

 

“You’re seeing consumers binge-watch stuff that they find interesting and then drop that service for a short amount of time. You’re seeing seasonality with the services that have the NFL,” he said.

 

There are too many players in the industry for all of them to make money. It’s why Ross Benes, a senior analyst at eMarketer, said more consolidation is coming.

Fast-casual restaurants are responding to inflation with value meals. Panera Bread’s new $10 value menu might not compete with McDonalds, but it could keep existing customers coming in.

Nearly half of Americans are watching DVDs and Blu-rays, and more collectors are snapping up high-def releases of their favorite flicks. Our reporter Nova Safo explored the physical media comeback at Vidiots, a nonprofit video rental store in Los Angeles that rents more than 1,000 items a week. You can see more of the space in this video.

 

So why are people turning back to physical media? Streaming services are increasingly swapping out titles (if not removing them for good), and sometimes it’s easier to own something than worry about tracking it down across Netflix and Prime Video. Stores like Vidiots also build community among cinephiles. As someone who waited in line for 10 hours for the Criterion Mobile Closet last fall, I only stuck it out because I was having an amazing time chatting with other film fans.