The streaming industry is shifting from a competition focused mainly on gaining subscribers to one centered on bundling and becoming the main gateway to entertainment, The New York Times reports.  Amazon has led this trend by allowing customers to subscribe to other streaming services through Prime Video, with at least 49 million subscriptions to outside services purchased through its platform. Now, companies such as YouTube, Roku and Netflix are following.  YouTube recently signed a five-year agreement to bring Peacock’s content, including popular shows, sports and news, to its $16-a-month premium service. YouTube also allows customers to subscribe to services such as HBO Max and Paramount+ through its platform.  Roku has similarly expanded its “channels” business, with new subscriptions increasing 19% in the second quarter compared with the previous year. Netflix, which has historically avoided working with competitors, is also becoming more open to partnerships. After adding French broadcaster TF1 to its service, Netflix reportedly discussed bringing Peacock and Fox One to its platform, although no deal was imminent.  These changes reflect a major shift in the streaming business. Companies are increasingly concerned with keeping customers engaged and preventing cancellations rather than simply gaining new subscribers.  Consumers also appear interested in using one platform to manage multiple services, with third-party subscriptions growing about 60% over three years.  However, distributing through another company comes with trade-offs, including sharing revenue and losing some direct contact with customers. The New York Times has the full story. A subscription may be required. ...read more read less