Satellite and streaming infrastructure are seeing targeted investment through new ventures and alliances, such as the billion-dollar Equatys direct-to-device project and a new streaming policy group in Washington. Meanwhile, media companies are re-evaluating underperforming assets, with Comcast and Paramount considering a shutdown of SkyShowtime in Europe. On the hardware front, Valve is holding off on a new Steam Deck until suitable next-generation chips become available.
01Company specific
Valve Addresses Development Timeline for Steam Deck Successor
Valve’s refusal to ship a marginal upgrade protects handheld margins by avoiding hardware fragmentation that would split its single-target developer optimization baseline.
theverge.com reports that Valve is still determining the timeline and specifications for a successor to the Steam Deck. Valve designer Pierre-Loup Griffais stated that the company is evaluating how and when to deliver the next-generation handheld device. Valve maintains that a Steam Deck 2 will happen once the right chip becomes available. The manufacturer insists it will not sacrifice power efficiency or battery life for incremental performance gains. Current hardware shortages have not altered Valve's development approach for the upcoming handheld.
Viasat and Space42 Commit Up to $1 Billion to Direct-to-Device Venture
Structuring direct-to-device infrastructure as a shared neutral-host network shifts capital expenditure away from individual telecom operators while creating a dedicated technology contractor revenue stream for Viasat.
Viasat and UAE satellite operator Space42 have committed up to $1 billion in to establish Equatys, a joint venture building a direct-to-device satellite and ground platform. Each company will contribute an initial $400 million, with Space42 slated to invest an additional $200 million in a subsequent funding round. The platform integrates satellite and terrestrial networks using 3GPP NTN standards, allowing standard smartphones and IoT devices to access voice, text, and data services in cellular coverage gaps. Viasat is expected to act as the primary technology contractor for the venture, which will operate a shared network for multiple telecom operators.
Equatys Initial Equity Commitments ($M)
Space42 contributes an initial $400 million alongside Viasat.
Amazon Prime Video Launches Short-Form News Clips Feature
By embedding ad-supported news carousels into living room devices, Amazon leverages its hardware footprint to monetize free short-form video against subscription-reliant streamer rivals.
Techcrunch.com reports that Amazon Prime Video is expanding its service to include short-form news clips covering local and national stories. The new feature is currently available on living room devices and televisions, with rollouts planned for the web and mobile apps on iOS and Android. These clips are housed in the News destination under Trending Topics and Local News carousels. The addition positions Amazon to compete with platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts for younger audiences. Peacock, HBO Max, Netflix, and Disney+ introduced similar short-form features earlier in the year.
Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile Resolve Legal Disputes Over Advertising Campaigns
Settling mutual deceptive advertising suits forces wireless carriers to shift competition away from aggressive switching cost claims and back to core network quality and pricing plans.
channelnewsasia.com reports that Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile have resolved lawsuits accusing each other of deceptive advertising regarding cellphone carrier switching savings. A stipulation of dismissal was filed in Manhattan federal court following a preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Verizon's favor against T-Mobile's saving campaign. Verizon originally sued T-Mobile in February over claims that T-Mobile ads misled customers with savings figures over five years compared with Verizon and AT&T. T-Mobile subsequently filed a countersuit alleging that Verizon's historical advertising campaign was bogus.
SkyShowtime Board Warns Service May Be Sold or Shut Down
A joint-venture streaming service unravels when competing parent studios decide pooling regional distribution rights no longer offsets the customer acquisition costs of maintaining an independent platform.
hollywoodreporter.com reports that Comcast and Paramount Skydance are reviewing strategic for SkyShowtime, their European joint venture streaming service, with a complete shut down among the possibilities on the table. The board of the joint venture informed CEO Monty Sarhan of the review in a Monday letter, which was subsequently shared with staff. The service combines programming from NBCUniversal, Sky Studios, and Paramount across more than 20 European countries, operating with several million subscribers since its formation five years ago. While no final decisions have been made, the review comes as media parents reexamine their streaming footprints amid shifting market dynamics. The service continues to operate normally for customers and partners while the review proceeds.
Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Form Streaming Public Policy Group
Shared lobbying by direct subscription competitors indicates that keeping sports rights behind digital paywalls is now a collective regulatory risk rather than just a bidding battle.
hollywoodreporter.com reports that Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon launched the Streaming Access and Choice Alliance in Washington D.C. on Monday to represent streaming platforms. TechNet is leading the new venture, with its senior VP of federal policy and government relations, Mike Ward, heading the alliance. The group intends to advocate for policies expanding consumer access and supporting innovative viewing experiences as streamers face rising prices and splintered programming. Sports broadcasting will likely be a top priority for the alliance, coming as Prime Video and Netflix host exclusive NFL games and regulators face pressure to keep sports free on broadcast stations.
KT Signs MOU With Amlogic for Media Terminal Chipset Supply
Vertical chipset alliances shield telecom media terminals from hardware shortages while locking in tailor-made silicon for proprietary artificial intelligence features.
KT signed a memorandum of understanding with fabless company Amlogic to establish a stable supply system for media device chipsets. The agreement was concluded at the IBC 2026 exhibition in Amsterdam. The partnership aims to against global semiconductor risks while supporting technical cooperation for advanced functions and system-on-chip solutions in KT media terminals. Alongside the chipset agreement, KT established the KT Global Coexistence Growth Pavilion at the trade show to showcase eight domestic partner companies and their products. This export support initiative follows a previous year in which KT and 18 partners secured over 180 billion Korean won in export contracts across three major international exhibitions. KT will continue its export support program by participating in the ECOC 2026 optical communication exhibition in Spain with five additional partner firms.
Streaming and telecom firms are refining market positioning through strategic partnerships while trimming unprofitable ventures abroad. The key open question is whether joint ventures like SkyShowtime can survive rising costs and intense competition in overseas markets.
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