Red Coral Universe Releases Entertainment Trend Report for 2026

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Red Coral Universe, an independent streaming platform, has released its entertainment industry trend report for 2026. The report highlights the continued growth in streaming sports and women's sports viewership, the demand for original content over franchises, and Red Coral's commitment to remaining free and ad-supported while prioritizing artists and their creative visions.

Why it matters

As the entertainment industry continues to consolidate, Red Coral Universe stands out as one of the few remaining independent streaming services. By focusing on original, artist-driven content and supporting underrepresented areas like women's sports, the platform aims to provide a unique alternative to the major streaming giants.

The details

The report notes that 2025 was a record-breaking year for streaming sports, with 68% of sports viewers watching live games on TV or through a streaming service. This growth was driven by smaller markets like soccer, golf, and baseball, as well as the continued expansion of women's athletic leagues. Red Coral Universe plans to capitalize on this trend by further investing in its Red Coral Sports division, which already features the Women's Football Alliance (WFA) and the Women's American Basketball Association (WABA). In the realm of content, the report highlights the oversaturation of franchise and IP-driven releases, with more than half of all major studio releases in 2025 being based on existing intellectual property. Red Coral Universe sees this as an opportunity to meet the demand for original content, citing the continued success of independent films like 'Sling Blade' on its platform.

• In 2025, more than half of all major studio releases were franchises, and over 70% of the top 100 most in-demand movies were based on existing IP.
• In 2025, nearly 50% of the top 100 TV series were based on existing IP.