PubMatic is a sell-side ad platform, meaning its cloud software works with content creators themselves. A sell-side platform is a counterparty to a buy-side platform, such as The Trade Desk. The company's profitability has been hit-or-miss in recent years, though it aims to ramp up profit margins in the years ahead.
Media conglomerate companies offer streaming exposure, too
Telecommunications companies have also launched their own streaming services, such as Comcast's (CMCSA +1.44%) NBCUniversal, which introduced Peacock. Comcast spun off its news, sports, and entertainment assets (including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, and others) in 2026, creating Versant (VSNT -1.14%). This separation allows Comcast to focus on growing its broadband, wireless, streaming, studios, and theme park operations.
Many tech giants also offer TV streaming subscription services. Amazon (AMZN -0.47%) has Prime Video, an add-on for Prime e-commerce subscribers. Apple (AAPL -0.32%) TV+ has been a steady addition to the iPhone company's Services segment. And Alphabet's (GOOG -0.12%) (GOOGL -0.15%) YouTube TV is a subscription service designed as an internet-based alternative to cable.
Legacy companies are also offering new ways to consume live TV over the internet as replacements for traditional cable packages and broadcast television. Paramount Skydance (PSKY -0.61%), created through the 2025 merger of Skydance Media and Paramount Global, aims to build on Paramount's legacy in Hollywood to create a leading entertainment company of the future. The combined company operates the Paramount+, BET+, and ad-supported service Pluto TV. The company has also tried to win a bidding war with Netflix for Warner Bros by offering to acquire the entire company (including the television networks that Warner Bros plans to spin out ahead of its Netflix merger).
How to invest in streaming stocks
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to add streaming stocks to your portfolio:
- Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
- Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
- Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
- Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
- Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
- Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.
Tips for Investing in Streaming Stocks
Here are some strategies investors can use to invest in streaming:
- Invest in a pure play streaming company to fully capitalize on the sector's growth potential.
- Buying a more diversified media company as a lower-risk way to invest in streaming.
- Build a basket of streaming stocks (a mini portfolio of companies focused on streaming), or an ETF focused on streaming to gain broad and diversified exposure to the streaming sector.
