By
Paula ParisiOctober 22, 2024
Amazon has launched a new Fire TV Stick HD, supplanting the Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick Lite as its entry level television device. Priced at $34.99 the black stick plugs into the HDMI port at the back or side of most TVs. A micro USB cable and power plug are included. The Fire TV Stick HD streams at up to 1080p HD and also supports HDR, HDR 10, HDR10+ and HLG. While the new device does not feature support for Dolby Vision or Dolby Atmos, its HDMI port will support Dolby-encoded audio. The platform streamlines access to all major streaming services, which of course require independent subscriptions. Continue reading Amazon’s Entry Level Fire Stick HD Adds Alexa Voice Control
By
Paula ParisiOctober 21, 2024
Streaming media giant Netflix continues to post strong revenue growth, with a 15 percent increase to $9.83 billion in Q3, year-over-year. Net income hit $2.36 billion, a 41 percent increase over the same period last year, though the company is forecasting a Q4 dip, to $1.85 billion. Operating margin was up 30 percent (versus 22 percent during the same period last year). Ad-tier memberships increased by 35 percent for the quarter. Overall, global streaming paid subscriptions are up 14.4 percent in the third quarter, for a total of 282.72 million. Continue reading Netflix Q3 Is ‘Most Profitable’ Quarter Ever, Up by 41 Percent
By
Paula ParisiOctober 15, 2024
Apple TV+ will be available as a $9.99 monthly add-on with Amazon Prime Video in the U.S., allowing users to use the service in one app with a single bill, the companies announced. The deal has the mutual upside of adding the cachet of award-winning Apple originals like “The Morning Show” and “Ted Lasso” to Amazon Prime, while getting Apple TV+ in front of Prime’s more than 100 million U.S. households. Apple doesn’t release specific subscriber numbers for Apple TV+, which has reportedly accrued about 25 million paid global subscribers since its 2019 launch. Continue reading Apple TV+ to Be Available as an Amazon Prime Video Add-On
By
Paula ParisiOctober 9, 2024
Freely, the free UK streaming service broadcasters collectively launched in April, has gained a foothold on smart TVs that run Amazon’s Fire TV OS. Backed by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, Freely combines free live linear channels with on-demand content in an ad-supported streaming environment. Since those broadcasters must, by government charter, offer “programming beneficial to the public interest,” there has been concern around keeping them relevant and accessible in the streaming era. The deal between Freely and a tech giant with a popular OS is seen as a big win. Continue reading Amazon Fire TVs to Carry Freely Streaming in the UK This Fall
By
Paula ParisiSeptember 23, 2024
Amazon will become the newest member of the Motion Picture Association (MPA), a move that is likely to have significant ramifications as the e-commerce giant throws its weight behind the global entertainment trade and lobbying organization. As the parent of both the Prime Video streaming service and MGM Studios, as well as the force behind Amazon Web Services, the company has clout across both entertainment and technology at a level that is unparalleled among MPA principals. At $2 trillion, it becomes the largest MPA member by market cap. Netflix, which joined in 2019, is capped at $300 billion. Continue reading Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video Latest to Join the MPA
By
Paula ParisiSeptember 20, 2024
YouTube is going all in on generative AI with nine new generative features announced at the Made on YouTube creator event in New York. Google DeepMind’s AI video generation model, Veo, is coming to YouTube Shorts later this year, enabling “even more incredible video backgrounds, breathing life into concepts that were once impossible to visualize,” as well as six-second standalone AI segments that can be incorporated into short videos. “Imagine a BookTuber stepping into the pages of the classic novel ‘The Secret Garden,’” suggests YouTube Chief Product Officer Johanna Voolich in describing the new AI-powered features. Continue reading YouTube Unveils New AI-Powered Features at Creator Event
By
Paula ParisiAugust 13, 2024
Streaming giant Netflix is partnering with CBS Sports to produce its two Christmas Day football games — the streamer’s first NFL excursion in its three-year deal. The one-year CBS agreement is for production services only, and does not cover on-air talent. Netflix is still exploring its talent options. CBS Sports announcers Tony Romo and Jim Nantz are reportedly under consideration, although Netflix is said to also be pondering a move that would allow it to create an on-camera team that would allow it to put its own stamp on the talent and the games. Paramount Global’s CBS will receive a production fee and promotional spots in the streamed games. Continue reading CBS Sports to Produce Two Christmas NFL Games for Netflix
By
Rob ScottAugust 8, 2024
Ahead of next week’s scheduled “Made by Google” event, which is expected to promote the company’s next generation of Pixel hardware and AI tools, Google is already unveiling new products, including a fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat with Matter support, and the anticipated 4K HDR Google TV Streamer — a $99.99 set-top box and successor to the Chromecast. The new entertainment hub — shipping September 24 — reportedly provides significantly better performance; integration with Google Home, Thread and Matter for improved connectivity across devices; and new Gemini AI functionality. Continue reading Gemini-Driven 4K Google TV Streamer Replaces Chromecast
By
Paula ParisiAugust 7, 2024
Max, the streaming service formerly known as HBO Max, has redesigned its homepage with features designed to foster personalization and help fight search fatigue. Last month Max rolled out “whole page optimization,” with added rows of personalized content across the entire homepage. Since that change went well, according to parent Warner Bros. Discovery, the company is doing more along those lines, emphasizing an algorithm-driven approach to content curation, similar to that used by Netflix. Viewing history and selection patterns now inform recommendations as to which shows, movies or content categories users might like. Continue reading Max Embraces Homepage Personalization After Positive Tests
By
Paula ParisiAugust 5, 2024
AI media firm Runway has launched Gen-3 Alpha, building on the text-to-video model by using images to prompt realistic videos generated in seconds. Navigate to Runway’s web-based interface and click on “try Gen 3-Alpha” and you’ll land on a screen with an image uploader, as well as a text box for those who either prefer that approach or want to use natural language to tweak results. Runway lets users generate up to 10 seconds of contiguous video using a credit system. “Image to Video is major update that greatly improves the artistic control,” Runway said in an announcement. Continue reading Runway’s Gen-3 Alpha Creates Realistic Video from Still Image
By
Paula ParisiJuly 23, 2024
Streaming rose to 40.3 percent in June, setting a record as it nudged past the previous single-category high point of 40.1, set by cable in June 2021. The percentage marks the highest share of TV ever reported in the three years since Nielsen debuted its monthly measurement report The Gauge. Google’s YouTube and Fox’s Tubi both claimed personal bests, respectively hitting 9.9 and 2.0 percent of TV viewing. Four streaming platforms achieved double-digit usage growth: Disney+ (+14.8 percent), Tubi (+14.7 percent), Netflix (+11.8 percent) and Max (+11.0 percent) — each with 20 percent or more of that growth attributable to younger viewers. Continue reading Nielsen: Streaming Reps 40 Percent Share of June TV Viewing
By
Paula ParisiJuly 22, 2024
Netflix reported that its popular streaming service has added 8.05 million subscribers during Q2, a healthy gain from 5.89 million newcomers during the same period a year earlier. The streamer’s total of more than 277 million worldwide customers makes it by far the largest subscription service of its kind. Revenue climbed to $9.56 billion, a nearly 17 percent second quarter gain that outperformed its own projections. Subscriptions on the ad-supported tier grew 34 percent compared to Q1. Amidst upheaval in more traditional media environs, Netflix seems to be gliding along, closing Thursday with a market valuation of $277 billion. Continue reading Netflix Reports Q2 Subscriber Growth as Revenue Tops $9.5B
By
Paula ParisiJuly 22, 2024
Verizon is offering a year of Netflix Premium at no charge to Verizon Mobile and Home Internet customers who buy an annual subscription to Peacock Premium through its content subscription hub +play. That’s a $275 value (at $22.95 per month) in exchange for a $79.95 Peacock plan, according to the telecom company, which rebranded last month, launching a host of promotional plans in the lead-up to its 2025 silver jubilee. The offer, which started last week, ends August 31. The Peacock push dovetails with parent company NBCUniversal’s presentation of the 2024 Paris Olympics. NBC Sports coverage of the Olympics will include streaming on Peacock. Continue reading Verizon Offering Free Netflix Premium with Peacock Purchase
By
Paula ParisiJune 28, 2024
Verizon has restyled its logo and is making a more concerted push for a slice of the home market with the launch of a myHome bundle that pitches savings for those combining home Internet, live TV, streaming, and connected home services like cloud storage. Modeled after the company’s myPlan mobile package, myHome is available to new and existing Verizon customers who can choose among Fios, 5G Home or LTE Home Internet for prices starting at $35 per month. Subscribers can add streaming for $10 per platform and opt for a live-TV package of either Fios TV (where available) or YouTube TV. Continue reading Verizon Revamps Its Logo, Adds Discounted Streaming Deals
By
Paula ParisiJune 25, 2024
A federal jury in Las Vegas has convicted five men for illegal streaming operations perpetrated through a company called Jetflicks, which generated millions of dollars in subscription revenue while causing “substantial harm to television program copyright owners,” according to the Department of Justice. Jetflicks, which charged customers $9.99 per month, had a catalog that included “hundreds of thousands” of copyrighted TV episodes, larger than the combined offerings of Netflix, Hulu, Vudu and Amazon Prime, prosecutors said, explaining the outfit “used sophisticated computer scripts and software to scour pirate websites for illegal copies of television episodes.” Continue reading DOJ Scores Criminal Conviction Against Operators of Jetflicks