Downstream

By Relay

Jason Snell and a rotating group of experts break down the present and future of television. Hosted by Jason Snell.... more

4.5

8686 ratings

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FAQs about Downstream:

How many episodes does Downstream have?

The podcast currently has 108 episodes available.

Downstream episodes:

November 20, 2025107: A Thanksgiving Visit from Alan Sepinwall
Veteran TV critic Alan Sepinwall joins Jason to discuss the current state of TV criticism, the future of scripted TV, why streamers can't make sitcoms, the difference between recaps and reviews, and the best shows of the year.
This episode of Downstream is sponsored by:
Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Use code downstream50off
Guest Starring:
Alan Sepinwall
Links and Show Notes:
Good TV shows mentioned: The Pitt, Ludwig, Severance, Adolescence at the top, then: Pluribus, Slow Horses, Andor, The Studio, Hacks, The Diplomat, The Lowdown, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback What's Alan Watching? Review: 'Blue Lights' isn't the Belfast equivalent of 'The Wire.' And that's okay. Why 'Brockmire' Was This Year's Best, Filthiest Comedy Surprise Series finale review: 'How I Met Your Mother' - 'Last Forever': How they conned us all Links to Sepinwall's episode-by-episode reviews for every show in his book, The Revolution Was Televised 19-2 (2014 TV series) - Wikipedia
...more
1h
October 31, 2025106: Strike While My Leverage Is Hot
Taylor Sheridan signs a free agent deal with NBCU, Warner Bros. Discovery might have many interested bidders, and we answer your letters! (Downstream+ subscribers also get: Google/Disney carriage, Dancing With the Stars, Apple/F1, and Disney/Doctor Who.)
This episode of Downstream is sponsored by:
Claude: Get 50% off Claude Pro, including access to Claude Code.
Guest Starring:
Josef Adalian
Links and Show Notes:
TV Picks:
Joe: Pluribus (Apple TV)
Jason: Seth Meyers Corrections (YouTube)
Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback David Ellison’s Paramount Doesn’t Need Taylor Sheridan Netflix taps bank to explore bid for Warner Bros Discovery
...more
35min
October 16, 2025105: Another Piece of Red Yarn
Hulu goes worldwide, Apple drops the plus and explores a relationship with Formula 1, the Lakers get immersive, the NBA is everywhere all at once, and our TV Picks.
This episode of Downstream is sponsored by:
Claude: Get 50% off Claude Pro, including access to Claude Code.
Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Use code downstream50off
Guest Starring:
Will Carroll
Links and Show Notes:
TV Picks:
Will: Passenger Princess (YouTube)
Jason: Travel Man with Richard Ayoade (YouTube)
Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Hulu Becomes Global General Entertainment Brand on Disney+ on Oct. 8 | The Walt Disney Company Disney has big plans for Hulu - Fast Company Apple and NBCUniversal introduce the Apple TV and Peacock Bundle - Apple Apple wants “to own a sport end to end” – Six Colors Immersive live NBA games coming to Vision Pro – Six Colors NBA on X: "2025-26 NBA Season Watch Guide ✍️ The 2025-26 regular season begins Tuesday, October 21 on NBC and Peacock! https://t.co/oz69eJiJdR" / X
...more
58min
October 03, 2025104: Like a Vaccination
We dive into the aftermath of the Jimmy Kimmel affair and the strange balance between TV networks and local affiliates. [Downstream+ subscribers also get: Streaming price hikes, Prime Video's future, and David Letterman's streaming strategy.]
Guest Starring:
Josef Adalian
Links and Show Notes:
TV Picks:
Joe: The Marlow Murder Club (PBS), High Potential (ABC)
Jason: The Lowdown (FX/Hulu), Alien: Earth (FX/Hulu)
Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Bob Iger’s Jimmy Kimmel Choice: Money or the 1st Amendment? What Is Disney Thinking? The Kimmel Saga and the Trouble With Network TV Affiliates
...more
46min
September 18, 2025103: Apologies to Yugoslavia
The possibility of David Ellison buying Warner Bros. Discovery to add to his collection, the threat and promise of spread-out sports rights, sponsorships that might become forbidden fruit, Netflix live boxing success, TV picks, and your letters!
This episode of Downstream is sponsored by:
Claude: Get 50% off Claude Pro, including access to Claude Code.
Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Use code downstream50off
Guest Starring:
Will Carroll
Links and Show Notes:
TV Picks:
Will: The Breakthrough (Netflix)
Jason: Emmy winners Somebody Somewhere and The Pitt (HBO Max)
Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Relay for St. Jude
...more
1h 18min
September 06, 2025102: Just Like Television
Now that David Ellison owns Paramount, what's next? Also, your letters and our TV picks! [Downstream+ subscribers also get: K-Pop Demon Hunters, Wheel and Jeopardy and Sesame Street stream, Apple TV+ price hike, and binging "The Paper."]
This episode of Downstream is sponsored by:
Relay for St. Jude
Guest Starring:
Josef Adalian
Links and Show Notes:
TV Picks
Joe: Irish Blood (Acorn TV), Leanne (Netflix)
Jason: Platonic (Apple TV+)
Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback
...more
47min
August 22, 2025101: Do They Not Know It's ESPN Day?
ESPN has left the exclusivity of the cable bundle at long last, and we break down what it all means. Also: TV Picks and your letters! (Downstream+ listeners also get: MLB's complex new TV deals, and can Jason cut the cord for real?)
This episode of Downstream is sponsored by:
Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Use code downstream50off
Guest Starring:
Steven Schapansky and Will Carroll
Links and Show Notes:
TV Picks:
Will: Video Nasty (BBC)
Steven: Old World Series (YouTube), Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
Jason: Stick (Apple TV)
Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback
...more
52min
August 06, 2025100: The Streaming Service Draft
To celebrate our 100th episode, we draft streaming services!
Guest Starring:
Will Carroll, Steven Schapansky, and Josef Adalian
Links and Show Notes:
Draft picks:
Joe: Apple TV+
Steven: MLB.tv
Will: YouTube Premium
Jason: HBO Max
Joe: Prime Video
Steven: BritBox
Will: Disney+
Jason: Hulu
Joe: Acorn TV
Steven: Kanopy/Hoopla
Will: Netflix
Jason: Paramount+
Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback
...more
56min
July 23, 202599: Stephen, If You're Listening...
The real motivators behind CBS's cancellation of The Late Show; why the current era of late-night talk is ending; CBS makes a South Park deal; the future of PBS; why 'Pulse' was not 'The Pitt'; a Peacock price hike; and Jessica Fletcher vanishes.
This episode of Downstream is sponsored by:
Jiiiii: All your anime stream schedules in one place. Free to download, unlock your anime-watching-superpowers today!
Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door.
Guest Starring:
Josef Adalian
Links and Show Notes:
TV Picks:
Joe: "Stick" (Apple TV+)
Jason: James Acaster "Repertoire" (Netflix)
Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Stephen Colbert Fired? Why CBS Is Cancelling ‘Late Show’ ‘South Park’ Saved as Paramount Inks 5-Year Deal with Creators Trump Can Hurt PBS and NPR, But He Can’t Kill Them What is PBS Passport? : PBS Help What Netflix’s ‘Pulse’ Should Have Learned From ‘The Pitt’ Peacock Is Hiking Prices More Than It Ever Has Before ‘Murder, She Wrote’ Mysteriously Disappears From Peacock
...more
1h
June 27, 202598: You Couldn't Pay Me To Go Camping
Why American sports is so dominated by gambling content, DAZN and the Club World Cup, TNT gets spun off but may still bid for sports rights, Netflix gets into French broadcast TV, the NFL faces an existential crisis in court, and our TV picks.
This episode of Downstream is sponsored by:
Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door.
Guest Starring:
Will Carroll
Links and Show Notes:
TV Picks
Will: Alone (History)
Jason: Dark Winds (AMC+, Netflix)
Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback What Will TNT Sports Do After the WBD Divorce? - Puck Netflix TF1 France Deal Marks Next Step to Be New Cable TV Radio Shows - Monocle Joey Chestnut Breaks Popcorn Eating Record on Video, Eats 42 Servings in 8 Minutes Sphere Revenue Falls, MSG Networks Bankruptcy on Table
...more
1h 10min

FAQs about Downstream:

How many episodes does Downstream have?

The podcast currently has 108 episodes available.

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