In this article, we will discuss 8 Up and Coming Streaming Companies and Services.
The global streaming market is poised for significant expansion, projected to grow from nearly $345 billion in 2025 to more than $465 billion by 2030. What began as a shift away from traditional cable has evolved into a highly competitive digital ecosystem, where content is delivered on demand, live, and even interactively.
Streaming is no longer limited to movies and TV shows. Demand for live entertainment, sports, and real-time content has fueled substantial investments in platforms that can provide both live and on-demand experiences. Leading services are broadening their reach through major sports partnerships, including NFL, NBA, MLB, and UEFA rights, while virtual cable providers bundle streaming options and exclusive content deals to capture diverse audiences. Platforms focusing on sports, niche content, and ad-supported experiences are emerging as the next generation of streaming leaders, with Free Ad-Supported TV (FAST) and hybrid subscription models accelerating adoption.
Artificial intelligence is further reshaping the streaming landscape, enabling smarter, faster, and more personalized content experiences. Platforms leverage AI to recommend shows and movies tailored to user preferences, enhance engagement during live events through interactive polls and predictive analytics, and optimize ad targeting, creating new revenue opportunities in ad-supported tiers. According to a Forbes survey of 1,000 Americans, 99% pay for at least one streaming service, with nearly 10% subscribing to more than five. Every respondent uses streaming to watch TV shows or movies, more than three-quarters use platforms for music, and nearly two-thirds for video games, highlighting the ubiquity of streaming in everyday life.
Together, these trends—live sports, interactive experiences, AI-driven personalization, and diversified monetization models—are defining the next frontier of streaming and transforming both how content is consumed and how companies capture value in the digital entertainment ecosystem.
With this context in mind, we have compiled a list of 8 up-and-coming streaming companies and services.
Our Methodology
For this article, we compiled a list of the top publicly traded streaming companies and services. From this list, we selected 8 stocks that completed their initial public offerings within the past seven years. We also included hedge fund sentiment for each stock, sourced from Insider Monkey’s database as of Q3 2025. Finally, the stocks were ranked in ascending order based on the number of funds holding positions in each company.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 427.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 264 percentage points (see more details here).
8 Up and Coming Streaming Companies and Services
8. FuboTV Inc. (NYSE:FUBO)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 11
On January 14, Needham analyst Laura Martin reiterated a Buy rating on FuboTV Inc. (NYSE:FUBO) and set a price target of $4.25, implying meaningful upside from the stock’s $2.57 closing price that day. Broader Wall Street sentiment remains constructive, with the shares carrying a Moderate Buy consensus and an average price target of $4.63, reflecting confidence in the company’s long-term growth trajectory despite near-term industry volatility.
Strategically, the combination of fubo and Hulu + Live TV has created one of the largest live TV streaming platforms in the U.S., with nearly six million subscribers across North America, elevating FuboTV Inc. (NYSE:FUBO) to the position of the sixth-largest pay-TV provider in the region. This expanded scale strengthens FuboTV’s competitive standing, enhances content economics, and provides a more resilient foundation for monetization as live streaming continues to take share from traditional cable. The company is among the up-and-coming streaming companies and services.
Founded in 2014, FuboTV Inc. (NYSE:FUBO) went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2020 and has since established itself as a differentiated over-the-top sports-focused streaming platform serving customers across the United States, Canada, and Spain. The company’s strategy centers on live sports and real-time entertainment, positioning fuboTV to capture audiences that remain highly engaged with traditional pay-TV formats but are increasingly migrating to streaming-based delivery models.
7. iHeartMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ:IHRT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 16
On January 9, Goldman Sachs downgraded iHeartMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ:IHRT) to Sell from Neutral and lowered its price target to $3.50 from $4.00, citing valuation concerns following the stock’s 123% gain in 2025. In its note, the firm expressed growing concerns that shifts in audio consumption behavior and evolving advertising trends have diminished iHeartMedia’s ability to sustain long-term sales growth across its multi-platform audio offerings. Goldman added that these structural changes could pressure revenue durability despite the company’s recent share price performance.
The company delivered results largely in line with expectations during the third quarter of 2025. The company reported adjusted EBITDA of $205 million, closely tracking the midpoint of management’s guidance range of $180 million to $220 million. Strategically, iHeartMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ:IHRT) announced a partnership with TikTok during the quarter, featuring a slate of podcasts from TikTok creators alongside the launch of a dedicated broadcast radio station. This collaboration is designed to broaden audience reach, deepen engagement with younger demographics, and extend the company’s content ecosystem across emerging digital platforms.
iHeartMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ:IHRT) is an American mass media company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Founded in 1972 as a single radio station, the company has evolved into a diversified audio and media platform spanning broadcast radio, digital streaming, and podcasting. iHeartMedia went public in July 2019 and remains one of the largest audio networks in the United States, with a broad national footprint across traditional and digital channels.
6. CuriosityStream Inc. (NASDAQ:CURI)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 19
In early January, Craig-Hallum analyst Jason Kreyer maintained a Buy rating on CuriosityStream Inc. (NASDAQ:CURI). The stock most recently closed at $3.42, while the broader analyst community assigns a Strong Buy consensus and an average price target of $6.00, implying meaningful upside from current levels. This supportive analyst outlook reflects confidence in the company’s growth trajectory and monetization opportunities.
Operational performance continues to reinforce this optimism; in the third quarter of 2025, CuriosityStream Inc. (NASDAQ:CURI) exceeded guidance, delivering revenue growth of 46% year over year to $18.4 million. Licensing revenue increased more than 40% year over year, driven by rising demand for AI training data and expanding relationships with trusted partners. During the quarter, the company fulfilled 1.5 million distinct content assets for nine key partners, underscoring the scalability of its licensing model. CuriosityStream Inc. (NASDAQ:CURI) ended the quarter with $29.3 million in liquidity and no debt, providing substantial financial flexibility. Notably, the company nearly doubled its AI-focused content library, further solidifying its position as a leading video content licensor for artificial intelligence development and long-term data-driven growth.
CuriosityStream Inc. (NASDAQ:CURI) is a U.S.-based media and over-the-top streaming company focused on factual and educational content. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, the company became the first publicly traded streaming platform dedicated to nonfiction content when it began trading on NASDAQ in October 2020.
5. Paramount Skydance Corporation (NASDAQ:PSKY)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 37
Barrington analyst Patrick Sholl reiterated a Hold rating on Paramount Skydance Corporation (NASDAQ:PSKY) on January 27. Shares closed at $11.89 last Monday. Broader sell-side sentiment remains cautious, with the stock carrying a Moderate Sell consensus rating. The average analyst price target stands at $14.08, implying approximately 19.8% upside from current levels, though conviction remains muted given execution and integration risks.
During its third-quarter 2025 earnings call, Paramount Skydance Corporation (NASDAQ:PSKY) reported that Paramount+ added 1.4 million net subscribers in the quarter, bringing the total subscriber base to 79 million. This represented the largest U.S. subscription growth among major streaming platforms since 2023, underscoring improving traction in the company’s direct-to-consumer strategy. Management outlined plans to invest more than $1.5 billion incrementally across theatrical releases and streaming content, signaling a renewed push to strengthen its content slate and competitive positioning.
Paramount Skydance Corporation (NASDAQ:PSKY) is a U.S.-based media conglomerate formed in 2025 through a merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media. Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, the company operates across film studios, direct-to-consumer streaming platforms including Paramount+ and Pluto TV, and a broad television media portfolio encompassing CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV, and related networks. Paramount Skydance began trading publicly following the completion of the merger in August 2025.
Contrarius Global Equity Fund stated the following regarding Paramount Skydance Corporation (NASDAQ:PSKY) in its third quarter 2025 investor letter:
“Importantly, while there has been some rotation within the Fund, certain of the Fund’s holdings that have rerated are still regarded as extremely attractive. Our top three positions at 30 September—Tesla, Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Skydance Corporation (NASDAQ:PSKY) (Paramount)—have been amongst our largest holdings for some time. All three have been large contributors to performance over the past year. while Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount have also performed well of late, they continue to trade well below our estimate of their intrinsic value. Their more recent outperformance should be seen in the context of their underperformance over prior years. While meaningful outperformers over the last year, both Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount have been negative contributors over five years. We believe that there is substantially more value in both. Our Q2 2023 Quarterly Commentary discussed the investment case for both of these companies. In addition, while not necessary for our investment case, we believe that there are meaningful catalysts in the short to medium term from expected consolidation in the US media sector.”
4. Lionsgate Studios Corp. (NYSE:LION)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 39
Sell-side sentiment toward the stock remains constructive. On January 15, Seaport Research raised its price target on Lionsgate Studios Corp. (NYSE:LION) to $12 from $10 while maintaining a Buy rating on the shares, citing strong box office performance for The Housemaid. Broader analyst coverage supports this view, with the stock carrying a Strong Buy consensus and an average price target of $10.25, representing approximately 4.5% upside, reflecting confidence in the company’s asset quality and earnings potential.
Operationally, Lionsgate Studios Corp. (NYSE:LION) continues to demonstrate the strength of its content library and monetization strategy. During the company’s second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings call, management reported record trailing twelve-month library revenue of $1 billion, underscoring the enduring value of its film and television catalog. In parallel, Lionsgate is selectively deploying artificial intelligence tools to enhance productivity, unlock cost efficiencies, and expand creative capabilities, while maintaining strict safeguards to protect its intellectual property from unauthorized AI usage. Together, these initiatives position Lionsgate Studios to drive scalable earnings growth while maximizing the long-term value of its content assets.
Lionsgate Studios Corp. (NYSE:LION) was established and went public in 2024, emerging as a standalone, publicly traded content company following its separation from Lionsgate’s legacy structure. Based in Santa Monica, California, the Canadian-American entertainment company operates across film, television, and digital content, leveraging a deep and globally recognized intellectual property portfolio to drive recurring revenue and long-term franchise value.
3. Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 70
On January 28, UBS raised its price target on Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD) to $30 from $20 while maintaining a Neutral rating on the shares, implying upside from the stock’s recent close of $28.63. The firm commenced trading on the NASDAQ exchange in 2022. At present, its outlook reflects impressive fundamentals across both its content and direct-to-consumer platforms.
According to its recent earnings call, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD) has emerged as the top-performing film studio of 2025, leading the global box office across domestic and international markets. It is currently the only studio to surpass $4 billion in worldwide box office revenue this year, underscoring the strength of its theatrical slate and franchise portfolio.
The company’s streaming platform, HBO Max, has also demonstrated meaningful scale expansion to over 100 countries in 2025. Subscriber growth exceeded 30 million additions over the past three years, reflecting successful international rollout and content monetization. Importantly, the streaming segment has undergone a sharp financial turnaround, with EBITDA expected to exceed $1.3 billion in 2025, compared with a $2.5 billion loss three years ago.
Headquartered in New York City, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD) operates as a global mass media and entertainment company. Established in April 2022 following AT&T’s spin-off of WarnerMedia and its merger with Discovery, Inc., it created a diversified platform spanning film, television, and streaming with improving profitability and cash generation. Warner Bros. Discovery ranks third in the list of up and coming streaming companies and services.
Oakmark Fund stated the following regarding Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD) in its fourth quarter 2025 investor letter:
“Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD) was the top contributor during the quarter. The U.S.-headquartered media company’s stock price surged as multiple parties submitted offers to acquire all or part of the business. Following several rounds of bidding, WBD announced an agreement to sell its Streaming and Studios business to Netflix, while spinning the Global Networks business to shareholders. Paramount Skydance subsequently made a direct $30 per share offer to shareholders for the entire company. We are pleased with the steps the WBD board has taken thus far to unlock shareholder value. We will continue to closely monitor developments as this bidding war unfolds.”
2. Roblox Corporation (NYSE:RBLX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 90
Ahead of the company’s fourth-quarter results scheduled for February 5, Piper Sandler analyst Thomas Champion lowered his price target on Roblox Corporation (NYSE:RBLX) to $125 from $180 while maintaining an Overweight rating. The revised target reflects a more conservative outlook beginning in the second half of 2027, following a sharp 41% share price correction after third-quarter results. While the firm remains constructive on Roblox’s long-term opportunity, Champion cited expectations for decelerating bookings growth and near-term margin pressure driven by elevated investment spending. The analyst also noted that the planned launch of the new game Escape Tsunami for Brainrots! could act as a catalyst for improved performance in early 2026, potentially supporting bookings momentum in the first quarter of that year.
Operationally, Roblox Corporation (NYSE:RBLX) delivered strong results in its third-quarter 2025 earnings report, underscoring continued progress in expanding its share of the global gaming market. Revenue for the quarter reached $1.36 billion, representing a 48% year-over-year increase, while bookings rose 70% to $1.92 billion. The company disclosed that it now captures approximately 3.2% of global gaming bookings, up from 2.3% in the prior year, signaling meaningful market share gains.
Roblox Corporation (NYSE:RBLX) continues to invest heavily in platform innovation, integrating artificial intelligence and proprietary technologies such as Cube 3D and enhanced server authority to improve user engagement, expand content categories, and support long-term ecosystem growth.
Roblox Corporation (NYSE:RBLX) went public via a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange on March 10, 2021. The company is headquartered in San Mateo, California, and was founded in 2004. Roblox operates a user-generated gaming platform that enables developers to create and monetize interactive experiences across a broad range of genres.
1. Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:SPOT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 116
In a report released on January 27, MoffettNathanson initiated coverage of Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:SPOT) with a Neutral rating and a $487 price target, noting that after more than fifteen years of music streaming adoption, subscriber growth in developed markets appears largely saturated. The firm views the next phase of the industry’s evolution as increasingly centered on pricing, adding that there remains significant room for price-led revenue growth as platforms mature.
Operational execution continues to support this optimistic outlook. During the company’s third-quarter 2025 earnings call, Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:SPOT) exceeded expectations across revenue, gross margin, and operating income, reporting total revenue of €4.3 billion and a gross margin of 31.6%. Engagement trends also remain robust, with users streaming video podcasts rising 54% year over year and nearly 500,000 video podcast shows now available on the platform. Together, these metrics underscore Spotify’s ability to monetize its expanding content ecosystem while maintaining operating discipline, reinforcing its long-term growth narrative.
Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:SPOT) is a leading global audio streaming platform founded in 2006 in Sweden, offering a broad and increasingly diversified library of music, podcasts, and audiobooks to users across more than 180 countries. The company went public via a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 2018 and has since expanded its platform beyond music into higher-engagement formats, including video podcasts, reinforcing its position as a global leader in digital audio.
TCW Concentrated Large Cap Growth Fund stated the following regarding Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:SPOT) in its third quarter 2025 investor letter:
“Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:SPOT) (SPOT; Communication Services; 1.21%**) – Headquartered in Sweden, Spotify is the leading audio streaming subscription service with a community of approximately 700 million monthly active users, and over 275 million paying subscribers. The company controls ~1/3 of the global music streaming market, providing SPOT with scale to negotiate with music labels during pricing negotiations. The company manages its business in two segments: premium (~90% of revenues) and ad-supported (~10% of revenues). After not raising prices for over a decade, the company has recently begun to take price with limited impact to customer churn. We believe SPOT has numerous levers to pull to accelerate growth, including adding new users, converting ad-supported users to premium subscribers, and price increases. We are attracted to the company’s scale in a secularly growing market and believe the current share price does not adequately reflect the longer-term cash flow generation potential of the business.”
While we acknowledge the potential of SPOT to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than SPOT and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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