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YouTube TV and Disney Reach Deal Ending Two-Week Blackout of ESPN, ABC
TV & Streaming

YouTube TV and Disney Reach Deal Ending Two-Week Blackout of ESPN, ABC

by jummy84
written by jummy84

ESPN, ABC and other Disney TV networks are coming back to YouTube TV.

Google and Disney finally ended their standoff, announcing a multiyear agreement Friday on pricing and terms for a renewed carriage deal for YouTube TV. Disney’s nets went dark on the internet TV service just before midnight ET on Thursday, Oct. 30, after the two sides remained far apart on a deal before the expiration of the previous contract.

Under the new agreement, ESPN’s full lineup of sports — including content from ESPN Unlimited — will be made available on YouTube TV to base-plan subscribers at no additional cost by the end of 2026. In addition, access to a selection of live and on-demand programming from ESPN Unlimited will be available inside YouTube TV.

The deal also lets YouTube include the Disney+ and Hulu bundle as part of “select YouTube offerings.” According to Disney, “select networks” will be included in various genre-specific packages that YouTube TV expects to launch in the future.

“This new agreement reflects our continued commitment to delivering exceptional entertainment and evolving with how audiences choose to watch,’’ Disney Entertainment co-chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a joint statement. “It recognizes the tremendous value of Disney’s programming and provides YouTube TV subscribers with more flexibility and choice. We are pleased that our networks have been restored in time for fans to enjoy the many great programming options this weekend, including college football.”

In a statement, a YouTube spokesperson said Friday, “We’re happy to share that we’ve reached an agreement with Disney that preserves the value of our service for our subscribers and future flexibility in our offers. Subscribers should see channels including ABC, ESPN and FX returning to their service over the course of the day, as well as any recordings that were previously in their Library. We apologize for the disruption and appreciate our subscribers’ patience as we negotiated on their behalf. ”

The deal supersedes their prior distribution agreement, inked in December 2021 after a two-day blackout.

On Sunday (Nov. 9) YouTube began issuing one-time $20 credits to YouTube TV customers for the loss of Disney’s programming, in the hopes it would help stave off user cancelations.

Many YouTube TV subscribers dropped the service in frustration. According to a survey fielded last week, 24% of YouTube TV users said they had canceled or intended to cancel their accounts over the Disney blackout. A YouTube rep said that “while subscriber churn is always regrettable, it’s been manageable and does not align with the findings of this survey.” Disney took a hit, too, losing more than $4 million per day during the blackout, according to an estimate by Morgan Stanley analysts.

Google had said Disney was asking for an unprecedented fee increase for the full suite of ESPN channels, ABC local stations, FX, Disney Channel, Freeform, Nat Geo and more — while Disney claimed the tech giant was “refusing to pay fair rates for our channels.” According to Google, Disney was trying to “reset” the market pricing for its programming (so it could charge similarly higher rates in upcoming renewals with other pay-TV distributors) and that Disney was insisting YouTube TV take the Mouse House’s full lineup of networks. The negotiating teams were led by Disney Platform Distribution EVP Sean Breen and YouTube chief business officer Mary Ellen Coe.

The removal of Disney’s networks from YouTube TV came a day before a busy Nov. 1 Saturday slate for college football as major marquee teams face pivotal contests, many of them aired on ESPN and ABC. In light of the blackout, ESPN made its “College GameDay” football pregame show available free to watch via a livestream on X. YouTube TV customers also missed two airings of “Monday Night Football” on ABC and ESPN. (YouTube pointed out to users they could catch all of ESPN’s programming on the ESPN Unlimited subscription service.)

Along with Disney’s live channels, YouTube TV customers’ DVR recordings of the media conglomerate’s programming were removed, as is standard in such disputes. With the deal renewal, YouTube TV subscribers will regain access to recordings that were previously in their library, according to YouTube.

On Thursday, Disney CEO Bob Iger told analysts that the company had been “working tirelessly to close this deal” but said, “It’s also imperative that we make sure that we agree to a deal that reflects the value that we deliver, which both YouTube, by the way, and Alphabet, have told us, is greater than the value of any other provider.”

Disney Entertainment’s Walden and Bergman and ESPN’s Pitaro had previously addressed the impasse in several memos to staffers. “YouTube TV and its owner, Google, are not interested in achieving a fair deal with us,” the execs wrote in an Oct. 31 email. “Instead, they want to use their power and extraordinary resources to eliminate competition and devalue the very content that helped them build their service.”

Meanwhile, ahead of this year’s Election Night (Nov. 4), Disney asked Google to restore ABC on YouTube TV for one day to serve the “public interest.” Google declined — and instead suggested that Disney allow YouTube TV to make ABC and ESPN available while the two sides continued talks because those are “the channels that people want.” Disney didn’t go for the idea.

The Disney-Google clash became public Oct. 23, when Disney began alerting viewers that its networks could be removed from YouTube TV.

Disney has faced other tough negotiations with distributors amid the transition to ESPN Unlimited — the standalone streaming service launched in August that includes everything on the sports programmer’s lineup — and its continued investment in Disney+ and Hulu.

In 2023, Disney’s networks had a 10-day blackout on Charter Communications cable systems in a similar fight over price. To settle the Charter deal, Disney allowed Charter’s high-tier TV subscribers to access Disney+ and the ESPN+ streaming app. In 2024, ESPN and other Disney nets went dark on DirecTV for nearly two weeks before they reached a new deal. In October, Disney and Comcast quietly reached a carriage renewal deal.

Google has encountered no small amount of friction in deal-renewal talks this year for YouTube TV. Other programmers that have fought with the internet company include Paramount Global (now Paramount Skydance), Fox Corp. and NBCUniversal — each of which reached a new deal without a blackout. At the end of September, YouTube TV dropped Univision, with Google alleging the price increases sought by parent company TelevisaUnivision were drastically out of line with viewership on the platform.

YouTube TV is the biggest internet-TV service in the U.S., estimated to have more than 10 million subscribers. Next is Disney, which last week closed a deal to merge its Hulu + Live TV business with Fubo; together, those have almost 6 million subs in North America. Google had asserted Disney’s hardball tactics over a YouTube TV deal was “benefiting their own live TV products, including Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.”

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Disney And YouTube TV Reach Carriage Deal, Ending 15-Day Standoff
TV & Streaming

Disney And YouTube TV Reach Carriage Deal, Ending 15-Day Standoff

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Disney and YouTube TV have reached a carriage agreement, ending a pitched battle that dragged on for 15 days, frustrating consumers and fascinating the media business.

Included in the multi-year pact are carriage of ABC and ESPN, a portfolio of other networks. The Unlimited tier of ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming outlet will also be included at no extra charge for YouTube TV’s 10 million subscribers. The bundle of Disney+ and Hulu will also be made available in “select YouTube offerings,” the companies said, and certain networks will also be part of genre-specific packages.

The genre packages and access to the new ESPN streaming service, which launched in August as a major hedge against cord-cutting, had been on the priority list for Disney negotiators for months. While comments by executives largely centered on disputes over pricing and fair market value, a sticking point in the negotiations – ingestion – reflected the complexities of the streaming era. The new pact includes a form of ingestion, but not into YouTube’s channel store. Content from ESPN Unlimited will be incorporated into the user experience of YouTube TV, allowing subscribers to view it within the app as opposed to having to jump out to the ESPN app.

“This new agreement reflects our continued commitment to delivering exceptional entertainment and evolving with how audiences choose to watch,’’ Disney Entertainment Co-Chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro. “It recognizes the tremendous value of Disney’s programming and provides YouTube TV subscribers with more flexibility and choice. We are pleased that our networks have been restored in time for fans to enjoy the many great programming options this weekend, including college football.”

YouTube TV, which has grown into one of the top U.S. pay-TV providers since launching in 2017, will restore programming, including titles stored on cloud DVRs, from Disney over the next 24 hours. The restoration came in time for viewers to be able to tune in for a packed college football slate and Monday Night Football‘s Dallas Cowboys-Las Vegas Raiders game. At 15 days, the blackout was the longest ever for Disney and was threatening to extend a drought of college football to a third weekend in the prime of the season.

“We’re happy to share that we’ve reached an agreement with Disney that preserves the value of our service for our subscribers and future flexibility in our offers,” a YouTube spokesperson said in a statement. “Subscribers should see channels including ABC, ESPN and FX returning to their service over the course of the day, as well as any recordings that were previously in their Library. We apologize for the disruption and appreciate our subscribers’ patience as we negotiated on their behalf. “

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Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego Re-Elected to Emmy Awards Org
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Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego Re-Elected to Emmy Awards Org

by jummy84
written by jummy84

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences said Friday that its board has re-elected Cris Abrego to serve a second term as chair.

The Television Academy is the organization that oversees the Primetime Emmy Awards.

Abrego, the former chairman and CEO of Endemol Shine North America and Banijay Americas, is currently CEO of Hyphenate Media Group. He was initially elected chair of the Television Academy two years ago, and his new term will begin on Jan. 1, 2026, and will run through 2027.

“I’m honored to continue in this role,” Abrego said in a statement. “The past two years have underscored the vital role that the Academy serves in supporting our members, strengthening the television community, and advancing the initiatives that support the long-term health of our industry. I look forward to working alongside our newly elected officers and governors as we build on this momentum and continue guiding the Academy and the Emmy Awards through a dynamic period of transformation for our industry.”

The Academy says that under his leadership the organization had “record membership and retention” and launched Televerse, the Academy’s inaugural multi-day public-facing television festival, among other initiatives.

The Emmy Awards, meanwhile, have turned around a ratings slump, growing audience at a time when few other things outside of live sports are.

The Television Academy also announced its new officers and governors. The officers include Jacob Fenton (Professional Representatives), Vice Chair; Jo DiSante (Television Executives), 2nd Vice Chair; Megan Chao (Documentary Programming), Secretary; and Tony Carey (Producers), Treasurer.

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Is today Black Friday? Full list of UK retailers' 2025 sales dates
TV & Streaming

Is today Black Friday? Full list of UK retailers’ 2025 sales dates

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Did you feel that cool breeze? That’s the chill of a sales window that’s been opened, because Black Friday is back.

The official date for this year’s Black Friday is 28th November, but even now we’re seeing deals spilling out from UK’s biggest retailers, like Currys, Boots, Very and more.

Each year this period brings thousands of savings across every product type you can imagine, this year, we’re already loving products like the Boots Showstopper Beauty Box and 44% off OurPlace pans.

But while this sounds like a dream come true, we know all too well how overwhelming and, frankly, annoying this time can be, with companies pestering you non-stop with their so-called savings.

According to YouGov, 35 per cent of Brits said they were less interested in this year’s Black Friday sale, and 63 per cent of those said that was because the ‘discounts were misleading’. Meanwhile, a study conducted by Currys revealed that 66 per cent feel it’s a straight-up ‘con’.

So, that’s what the RadioTimes.com team are here for, to help you navigate the sea of deals and decide when and how to spend your money. Throughout the sale, we’ll be picking out the best discounts and comparing prices across multiple retailers to ensure you’re paying the best price possible.

We’ll always tell you what the original RRP was and how much you’re saving and, most importantly of all, we’ll be completely honest with you if we believe a product isn’t worth your hard-earned cash.

So, without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Black Friday sale, including when it is, when it ends and how to spot a genuine bargain.

Jump to:

When is Black Friday 2025 officially?

Justin Paget via Getty Images

The official date of Black Friday is Friday 28th November 2025.

The holiday always falls on the last Friday of November and the day after American Thanksgiving.

When do the Black Friday 2025 sales start in the UK?

While Black Friday itself doesn’t take place until the end of the month, most retailers run Black Friday sales throughout the whole of November.

Dozens of retailers like AO, Boots and Currys have gone live with their deals, and according to one study from Net Voucher Codes last year’s sale started for some as early as 17th October, so you may have already snapped up a few Black Friday savings.

Which UK retailers have Black Friday 2025 sales live?

Several retailers have already gone live with their sales, we’ll be updating this list constantly as the sales period runs on, so feel free to bookmark this page to refer back to:

What date will other UK retailers start their Black Friday sales?

Here are some of the retailers we’re sure will jump on the Black Friday bandwagon, it’s just a matter of time before they do.

  • Amazon – Amazon has announced their ‘Black Friday Week’ will start at midnight on 20th November until 1st December.
  • Apple – Apple will wait for the official Friday 28th November to launch their sales, but don’t expect much from their own site apart from a few voucher codes and loyalty rewards schemes, the best deals for Apple products can be found on third party sites,
  • Coach – No date confirmed from Coach yet, but last year saw sizeable savings on bags and accessories.
  • Flannels – Flannels are waiting until Friday 28th November to get started.
  • Gymshark – Gymshark will offer 50% off everything from Monday 16th November at 4PM GMT.
  • Nike – Nike has launched some initial Black Friday deals, but we’re expecting more to roll out next week.
  • Oura Ring – No date announced yet for the Oura Ring 4.
  • Pandora – Pandora’s Black Friday week will start on 23rd November, but bear in mind the brand tends to change its deals throughout the week.
  • PlayStation – Last year’s Black Friday sale started on ‘Fake Black Friday’ which would make this year’s the 21st.
  • reMarkable – We’re hoping for big savings on digital notebooks like the reMarkable 2.
  • UGG – UGG’s Black Friday sale has no date yet, but you can sign up for early updates.
  • Uniqlo – Uniqlo normally run their sale in the week before Black Friday (so between the 17th and 21st).
  • White Company – The White Company normally start their Black Friday sales in the week before (so between the 17th and 21st).

Which UK retailers don’t do Black Friday sales?

Here’s a list of retailers who aren’t likely to participate in Black Friday 2025, and what you might be able to expect from them instead:

  • Adanola – Adanola announced in 2023 they would not participate in Black Friday sales, however they are currently running a 10% off deal for new customers.
  • ASKET – The Swedish fashion retailer steers well clear of Black Friday; in fact, customers are unable to purchase online on 28th November. Instead, they’ll be offering free repairs in store.
  • Kotn – Kotn is a sustainable clothing and home décor brand that donate 100% of their sales during the Black Friday weekend to charity. This way, you’ll look good and feel good!
  • Lush – As an ecologically focused company, Lush do not take part in Black Friday. However, you can filter your searches by budget to help save, and they even offer subscription services.
  • Marks and Spencer – Marks and Spencer have not participated in Black Friday sales, but they do tend to hold their own November sales.
  • Next – Next have not taken part in Black Friday since 2020, but they operate a sizeable year-round clearance section on site.
  • Osprey – The travel backpack company eschew Black Friday in favour of Green Friday, which donates to charities including the European Outdoor Conservation Association during the Black Friday period.

When do Black Friday 2025 sales end?

The Black Friday period will officially end on Monday 1st December to make way for the Cyber Monday sales.

In reality though, the whole Black Friday/Cyber Monday period now blends into one mammoth sale, with most of the deals spilling over even into December.

Our advice would always be to snap up a good deal if you see one, but be aware the other deals may pop up as the sale goes on.

What date is Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday takes place the following Monday, so 1st December 2025.

How to spot a genuine deal in Black Friday 2025

Remarkable 2 smart notebook

Just because something has a bright red label on it, or a big flashy percentage, doesn’t mean it’s a genuine saving. Luckily for you, we’ve been dealing with Black Fridays since the dawn of time, so we’ve got all the best tips and tricks for how to spot a real bargain.

Create a wish list and stick to it

In other words, only buy the things you need. It’s so exciting seeing all the different deals popping up, but try not to get sucked into panic buying something you don’t really want and will never use. There will be other sales throughout the year like Boxing Day, so use this time to buy the essentials or Christmas presents.

Sign up for notifications

As we’ve said, prices and savings will fluctuate across Black Friday, so it helps if you can have notifications or newsletters set up to monitor them. For instance, if you have an Amazon wishlist, you can sync it up to any Alexa enabled device, which will notify you when a deal is available.

Always check the RRP

So many retailers are guilty of spotlighting a deal and throwing out percentages that aren’t accurate. So we’d always recommend checking the RRP first. Personally, we use CamelCamelCamel to track the changing price of products (particularly on Amazon) which means we can genuinely find out if something is at its lowest price.

Shop around other retailers

We know how overwhelming it is when so many different retailers are taking part, so you may be tempted to stick to an Amazon or Argos. But it’s always best to shop around and see what you can get elsewhere as some retailers add on cashback schemes, extra perks or free shipping.

Check out older models

It’s always nice when the newest model of a phone or tablet is discounted, but after a long time of working on tech content, we’ve realised that there’s not always a big difference between the different generations of phones and devices.

Check out the iPhone 17 Pro Max stock update, and find more deals in the Technology section. Plus, will the Nintendo Switch 2 get a Black Friday discount and will the PS5 Pro go on sale this Black Friday.

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Is Aisha Hinds Leaving '9-1-1'? How 2026 Return Promo Teases Hen Concerns
TV & Streaming

Is Aisha Hinds Leaving ‘9-1-1’? How 2026 Return Promo Teases Hen Concerns

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Uh-oh, is there another shake-up coming to the 118 when 9-1-1 returns with its next new episode on Thursday, January 8, 2026? The promo and what’s been going on with Hen (Aisha Hinds) suggests that could be a strong possibility.

In the November 13 fall finale, titled “Family History,” Hen began showing some worrying signs. There was what she wrote off as a rash and possible allergic reaction on her hand, then a hand tremor in the middle of a call. Then, at home alone, she collapsed and was unconscious long enough for it to turn from day to night. When her wife, Karen (Tracie Thoms), calling woke her, she lied and said she was stuck at work.

Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) noticed her stumble, but Hen brushed it off and then asked the former nurse about her symptoms, claiming they had been a patient’s. She did, however, latch onto something Maddie said during the conversation, leading to her going to a medical spa for a CT at the end of the episode.

Now, the promo for the January 8 return, which you can watch above, shows Hen talking to Athena (Angela Bassett) and it at least makes it look like she’s filled her best friend in on what’s going on. “I know I gotta tell them,” Hen says. “I’m just not ready for this to be the end of my story.”

Hen’s hand tremor comes up again, this time during a call with a woman in active labor, and she tells Eddie (Ryan Guzman) to glove up. “What?” he asks, confused.

Then, the 118 is called to a fire, and Chimney (Kenneth Choi), now the permanent captain, issues orders, including putting Hen on search and rescue. However, the video ends with her taking off her mask and collapsing. Will this be the point she can no longer hide what’s going on from the others?

This can’t be setting up Aisha Hinds’ exit, right?! Something tells us this will end up being something that can be treated but might mean another change, at least temporarily, at the 118.

What’s your theory about what’s going on with Hen? Let us know in the comments section below.

9-1-1, Season 9 Midseason Return, Thursday, January 8, 2026, 8/7c, ABC

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Death in the Family' Star Jason Clarke on Narcissist Role
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Death in the Family’ Star Jason Clarke on Narcissist Role

by jummy84
written by jummy84

How do you best tell a tragic story that everyone already seems to know? For “Murdaugh: Death in the Family” star and executive producer Jason Clarke, you have a little fun with it. Well, with an asterisk.

“I’ll give it to you straight up: it’s enjoyable being a narcissist,” Clarke said during a recent chat with IndieWire as part of our Pass the Remote panel series, presented in partnership with Disney, to celebrate the art and craft of TV. “It’s enjoyable being a good ol’ boy, you know what I mean? It’s good to be the king! There’s that whole side of it. Narcissism? I looked and thought about that a lot. A lack of empathy as well, ultimately. Which is where he truly ends up, with a lack of empathy. The man stands by his decision, I guess, in still not coming clean.”

Poker Face

In the miniseries, Clarke stars as convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh (complete with Southern accent and rusty red hair), infamous for killing his wife Maggie (Patricia Arquette) and son Paul (Johnny Berchtold) in 2021 following years of interfamily drama, trauma, and oops, yes, other mysterious deaths. For Clarke, tapping into Alex’s most basic (and base) desires was key to unlocking his character.

During the panel, hosted by IndieWire’s own Editor in Chief & Senior Vice President Dana Harris-Bridson, some of the limited series’ cast and crew joined Pass the Remote to talk about their meticulously researched show and what they hope viewers get out of it. Clarke was joined by co-creator and executive producer Erin Lee Carr; co-creator, showrunner, and executive producer Michael D. Fuller; hair department head Katie Ballard; casting director John Papsidera; and makeup department head Addison Foreman.

And while Clarke was joking a bit about enjoying the process, Clarke clearly relished tapping into whatever it is that makes Alex tick and applying it to his performance. He also credited Ballard and Foreman for assisting that transformation, not just through their own craft work, but by similarly diving head-long into a journey through “absurdity and vulgarity.” And Will Ferrell outtakes?

MURDAUGH: DEATH IN THE FAMILY, from left: Patricia Arquette, Jason Clarke, Jim O'Heir, 'Kokomo', (Season 1, ep. 103, aired Oct. 15, 2025). photo: Daniel Delgado Jr. / ©Hulu/Disney / Courtesy Everett Collection
‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family‘©Hulu/Courtesy Everett Collection

“There’s the mechanical way of going through that and processing it, and then there’s the subconscious way of just doing it,” Clarke said. “I’ll say, with Addison and Katie, we used to listen to what you could term narcissistic music and dance. … You have to stay happy! It’s not easy being a full-time narcissist, it’s a full-time job. Katie and Addison, who were in my space so much and were probably two of the only people I let into my space to see my absurdity and my vulgarity at times and my bad temper. … We’d do a lot of things, watch Will Ferrell to laugh, to get into, ‘fuckin’ the plums, just drippin’ down my chin!’ You have to have the big thing, to go out and just think, ‘Fuck it! I’m just concerned about me!’”

Watch the complete video of IndieWire’s “Murdaugh: Death in the Family” panel above. More Pass the Remote panels are available as well on IndieWire’s website and YouTube channel.

“Murdaugh: Death in the Family” is now streaming on Hulu, with new episodes rolling out through Wednesday, November 19, when the series finale will start streaming.

The IndieWire Pass the Remote Winter Edition, presented in partnership with Disney, will celebrate the art and craft of TV through a series of panels rolling out through early December 2025. Check back here for more.

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New 'Star Trek' Movie in the Works From 'Dungeons & Dragons' Duo
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New ‘Star Trek’ Movie in the Works From ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Duo

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, the duo behind “Dungeons & Dragons” and “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” are enlisting in Starfleet. They’ve been hired to write, produce and direct a new “Star Trek” film that will seek to revitalize the franchise after it has languished for nearly a decade without a big screen adventure.

However, as Variety previously reported, the new film will not be a continuation of the J.J. Abrams-led reboot of the series and won’t feature Chris Pine or any of the actors from those movies (Pine starred in Goldstein and Daley’s “D&D” film). In fact, while plot details are being kept under wraps, this project is not connected to any previous or current television series, movie, or prior movie development projects. So you’re out of luck Jean-Luc Picard and Kathryn Janeway!

Since “Star Trek Beyond” opened in 2016, the road to mounting a new film in the franchise has been bumpier than a Klingon’s forehead. Chris Hemsworth almost returned as the (seemingly deceased) father of Capt. Kirk from 2009’s “Star Trek.” Quentin Tarantino almost directed a “Star Trek” movie set in a world of 1930s gangsters. Noah Hawley and Matt Shakman each got so close to directing a “Star Trek” movie that sets were being built, but neither project came to fruition.

In 2024, Variety reported that Steve Yockey (“The Flight Attendant”) was writing a draft for the “final chapter” “Trek” movie starring the cast led by Pine, Zachary Quinto and Zoe Saldaña. And Toby Haynes (“Andor”) had been tapped to direct a “Star Trek” origin story written by Seth Grahame-Smith (“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”). But now both projects appear to be stranded in deep space with life support failing.

Getting a new “Star Trek” out of dry-dock has been a priority for Paramount since David Ellison’s Skydance took control of the company in August, because the series is one of the most enduring properties in the studio’s library. Daley and Jonathan Goldstein are known to Ellison and company, having recently written, directed, and produced the Skydance film “Mayday” starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh, which they produced through their GoldDay banner. It will premiere on Apple TV+.

Daley and Goldstein previously helmed New Line’s comedy “Game Night,” and wrote and directed the studio’s “Vacation” reboot. The duo’s additional writing credits include “Horrible Bosses” and “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2.”

Goldstein and Daley are represented by CAA, Fourth Wall Management, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox.

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High Potential Season 2 Premiere Audience Up Nearly 300% After 35 Days
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High Potential Season 2 Premiere Audience Up Nearly 300% After 35 Days

by jummy84
written by jummy84

EXCLUSIVE: High Potential is still digging up more viewers throughout its sophomore season.

The Season 2 premiere, which aired on September 16, grew to 17.23M multi-platform viewers after 35 days across ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms, per Nielsen data. That’s a 17% increase over last year’s series premiere, which drew 14.71M viewers in 35 days, and an 11% lift over the Season 1 average audience of 15.52M.

It’s also a nearly 300% increase over the same-day audience for the Season 2 debut, which sat around 4.34M, according to Nielsen.

The High Potential Season 2 premiere also had two linear encore airings. When factoring those in, the episode sits around 21.48M viewers in total over the course of 35 days post-premiere.

Season 2 has continued to rake in an impressive audience through midseason, averaging 12.38M viewers per episode after seven days. That is a significant 19% increase over Season 1, which had about 10.38M viewers per episode in the seven-day window.

And, the success is not just due to its promising lead-in from the very popular Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars, either.

Per Nielsen, High Potential draws 40% of its live audience from other sources. On linear platforms alone, High Potential is up 25% over last fall in the seven-day measurement period with 7.59M viewers per episode.

High Potential aired its midseason finale on October 28. Season 2 returns on January 6 in its new 9 p.m. time slot on ABC. Episodes stream next day on Hulu.

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Layla Taylor, Miranda McWhorter, Jessi Ngatikaura, Mikayla Matthews, Mayci Neeley, Taylor Frankie Paul, Jennifer Affleck, Whitney Leavitt and Demi Engemann attend 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' season two premiere on May 9, in Los Angeles, Calif.
TV & Streaming

How to Watch ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Season 3 Free Online

by jummy84
written by jummy84

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may receive an affiliate commission.

After going viral in the #MomTok “soft swinging” scandal of 2022, the nine Utah women behind the social media firestorm continue to share their lives in the third season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.

Following May 2025’s eight-episode season two, ten new episodes of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives are now available to stream exclusively on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

The unscripted reality series stars #MomTok creator Taylor Frankie Paul, who dropped a bombshell to her followers when she revealed that she and her now ex-husband had consensually swapped partners within their friend group. She’s joined by cast members Miranda McWhorter (who was also involved in the original scandal), Demi Engemann, Jessi Ngatikaura, Layla Taylor, Mayci Neeley (who recently released her debut memoir Told You So), Mikayla Matthews, Whitney Leavitt and Jennifer Affleck. The latter two are/were contestants on Dancing With the Stars season 34.

At a Glance: How to Watch The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives S3 Online

  • Premiere Nov. 13, 2025 (all episodes released at once)
  • No. of Episodes 10
  • Stream online Hulu; Hulu on Disney+

Keep reading for more details on how to stream The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season three, including for free.

Where to Stream The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Online

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season three is now streaming exclusively on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+. The new installment spans ten episodes, all available to stream on Hulu alongside the first two seasons.

New subscribers can stream The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives for free with a 30-day trial to Hulu’s ad-supported base plan, which regularly costs $9.99 per month. For the best bang for your buck, opt for the Disney+ and Hulu bundle, which is $12.99 per month for the ad-supported base plan.

Can You Watch The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives on TV?

The short answer is no, you can’t watch The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives on cable. The series streams exclusively on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+, but new subscribers can binge the entire first, second and third seasons for free with the service’s free trial.

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Is Squid Game: the Challenge really that hard?
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Is Squid Game: the Challenge really that hard?

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Add Squid Game: the Challenge to your watchlist

In 2021, South Korean drama Squid Game became a cultural phenomenon — so much so that viewers were desperate to join in. So two years later, a reality show version was created called Squid Game: the Challenge, bringing the deadly games to life with real members of the public competing.

Now, its second series is in full swing, with almost 110,000 people from around the world applying to be one of 456 people chosen to compete for a prize of $4.56 million (about £3.5 million). People are clearly dying to play it — without the actual dying part. All you can hurt in this version
is your pride, as RT can confirm after our own visit to the set.

Squid Game: The Challenge. Netflix

In every other way, however, it feels authentic. Upon entering the vast dorm, my mouth falls open — it’s huge, and looks identical to the series. Soon I’m kitted out in the iconic tracksuit, with intimidating masked guards watching my every move as player 255.

The reality series has had the blessing and help of Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, but while his drama ended with series three, The Challenge has no plans to call game over. “We’d like to go on for as long as possible,” says executive producer Stephen Yemoh. “As long as we can keep finding new, interesting games and 456 people who are willing to put a tracksuit on and come and play.”

With that, I zip up my green jacket and face a host of games, some from the TV show, some newly created. Ready or not…

MINGLE

A group of people in green tracksuits, looking worriedly ahead.

Squid Game: The Challenge. Netflix

In Squid Game series two, players stand on a spinning carousel for Mingle. When it stops, a number is called out and they must form groups of that number and enter the surrounding rooms, then close the door. Onscreen it’s chaotic and dangerous, so when replicating it, the health and safety briefing, as with all the games, was paramount. Stephen Yemoh says, “We had soft closing doors to make sure no one was trapped in any way.” Anna Kidd adds, “The games go through rigorous testing, internally and with supporting artists.”

SLIDES AND LADDERS

A room that's part of the Squid Game experience, it's full of red dots on the floor and bunkbeds

Squid Game: The Experience (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Netflix)

In one of the new games created for the show, players are put in pairs and roll a dice to progress on the board. If they land on a ladder, they go up, and if they land on the dual slide, one transports them further down the board, while the other eliminates them. There are also cards to choose that reveal either an advantage or a disadvantage, with only six teams able to progress. “It couldn’t be flat,” says Kidd, “but if it was vertical, it’d become too big. Our amazing games designer Ben Norman came up with the idea of making it on stepped platforms.”

DEATH BY SQUIB

A birds eye view of Squid Game: The Challenge season 2.

Squid Game: The Challenge. Netflix

Even though the players are eliminated rather than killed, Yemoh explains, “The deaths are so iconic in the actual drama that we needed to visually replicate that, but also make it feel fun and playful.” A special effects company created a pressurised canister for the “squib”, resulting in a burst of black ink (instead of red blood) when a player “dies”, like I did here. “We tried 17 different versions of the nozzle, including a star shape and a triangle, and 12 different versions of the type of T-shirt we needed for it to go through the outfit.” The players have never been explicitly told to act dead, but they always “take their moment” for a theatrical exit. I certainly couldn’t resist.

SQUID GAME STAIRCASE

Squid Game The Challenge contestants gathered together looking at a sign

Squid Game: The Challenge. Netflix

In the second series of Squid Game, the players staged a revolt against the guards, leading to an intense shootout on the pastel staircases. In this series of The Challenge during the Mingle episode, inspired by the drama, the players actually refuse to continue the game at one point, but the team behind the reality show was able to watch series two before release on Netflix, so they were prepared for this eventuality. “We often thought about the revolt, so we had plenty of contingencies in place,” says Stephen Yemoh.

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