Religious Broadcaster Wants ‘Carry One, Carry All’ Regime for Virtual MVPDs

A religious broadcaster says new federal rules are needed for it to obtain carriage on streaming services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV. One Ministries Inc. is turning to the FCC for help, claiming so-called virtual multichannel video programming distributors (vMVPDs) are neglecting its Christian-formatted KQSL San Francisco.

Anthem Sports & Entertainment To Launch TNA Plus With Endeavor Streaming

The wrestling-based streaming service launches Jan. 5 on Android TV, Fire TV and Roku.

 

‘Twisted Metal’ Renewed For Season 2 At Peacock

Talking TV: Fox Weather Marks A Second Anniversary

Britta Merwin, a Fox Weather meteorologist and co-host of its morning block, says the network’s success so far stems from its unique distribution strategy. A full transcript of the conversation is included.

Fox Weather To Present ‘Into The Storm: Fox Weather Honors The First Responders Of 2023’ On Dec. 9

Fox Weather will present Into the Storm: Fox Weather Honors the First Responders of 2023, a special dedicated to the heroic work of first responders, on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 8 p.m. […]

Meta, HBO Make PTC’s Naughty List, AppleTV+, Bentkey On Nice List

Parents Television and Media Council (PTC) has revealed that Meta and HBO have made its annual Naughty List for targeting children with harmful content, while AppleTV+ and Bentkey were chosen for its […]

Allen Media’s Local Now Adds 2 Vice Media FAST Channels

The addition of Vice News and Vice Fast brings more than 200 hours of programming to the Local Now platform.

‘Harlem’ Renewed For Season 3 At Amazon Prime Video

‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ Renewed For Season 2 By Netflix

Disney+ Officially Adds Hulu In Beta Launch Of ‘One-App Experience’; Full Rollout Set For March 2024

Disney has added Hulu as a sixth vertical on the home screen of Disney+, with the integrated “one-app experience” officially launching today in beta. Plans call for the full rollout of the combined app next March. The launch scheme, initially announced last month during Disney’s quarterly earnings call, comes as Disney is in the process of buying out Comcast’s one-third stake in Hulu and becoming its full owner.

Varnish Software Appoints Fredrik Borg New CEO

Varnish Software, a provider of caching, streaming and content delivery software solutions, has appointed Fredrik Borg its new chief executive officer. The company says the new appointment “underscores Borg’s remarkable […]

Facing Pressure In India, Netflix And Amazon Back Down On Daring Films

When the U.S. streaming giants, Netflix and Amazon’s Prime Video, entered India seven years ago, they promised to shake up one of the world’s most important entertainment markets, a film-obsessed nation with more than 1 billion people and a homegrown moviemaking industry with fans worldwide. In the last four years, however, a chill has swept through the streaming industry in India as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party tightened its grip on the country’s political discourse and the American technology platforms that host it. Today, a culture of self-censorship pervades the streaming industry in Indiaetflix, manifesting in ways both dramatic and subtle.

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Sets Season 5 Premiere On Paramount+ For Springv

‘Barbie’ Sets Streaming Release On Max

Greta Gerwig’s billion-dollar movie will also launch an American Sign Language version.

‘Cruel Intentions’ Series Finally A Go At Amazon

Peacock Hits 30 Million Paid Subscribers

Peacock now has 30 million paid subscribers, Comcast President Mike Cavanagh revealed during an investor conference hosted by UBS on Monday. The latest figure comes after the streaming service topped 28 million paid subs during the NBCUniversal parent’s third quarter report. Cavanagh reiterated previous guidance that the service is projected to hit peak losses of $2.8 billion in 2023.

‘Central Park’ Is ‘Done’ After Three Seasons At Apple TV+, Josh Gad Says

Spotify To Cut 17% Of Global Workforce

Headcount will be reduced across the company, founder and CEO Daniel Ek said in a blog post.

‘Reacher’ Grabs Early Season 3 Renewal At Amazon

Media Stocks Jump After Report Says Apple, Paramount Are Discussing Streaming Bundle

Apple And Paramount Discuss Bundling Their Streaming Services

Apple and Paramount Global have discussed bundling their streaming services at a discount, the latest attempt by rival entertainment giants to team up as they look to make their offerings more affordable and attractive. The companies have talked about offering a combination of Paramount+ and Apple TV+ that would cost less than subscribing to both services separately, according to people familiar with the discussions. The discussions are in their early stages, and it is unclear what shape a bundle could take, they said.

Peacock Offers Luxury Dry Cleaning Service To VIPs To Promote New ‘Monk’ Movie

Speedvision FAST Channel Added To Google TV Lineup

X And Tivo Patent Holder Square Off In Dueling Lawsuits

X, formerly known as Twitter, is in a pair of legal battles with Adeia, an entity spun out of Xperi that holds a trove of patents, including property with ties to TiVo.

Talking TV: WCBS Widens Its Community Reporting Web In NYC

Johnny Green, president and GM of CBS-owned WCBS New York, and Sarah Burke, the station’s VP and news director, say its community-focused reporters are gaining traction — and trust — in the neighborhoods where they’ve been embedded, a strength to draw on in a fractious news year ahead. A full transcript of the conversation is included.

Rosenworcel: Congress Needs To Decide Legal Status Of Video Streamers

Streaming services like YouTube TV and Sling TV don’t have to worry about becoming the legal equivalent of cable TV or satellite TV companies any time soon through action by the FCC. That was that the implicit message that FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel left with Capitol Hill on Thursday when she was pressed for a regulatory update on the video issue by the leader of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

COMMENTARY

For Streaming, It’s Only The Beginning

Former FCC chair Mignon Clyburn says regulations shouldn’t stifle the progress of indie streamers serving underrepresented audiences.

Paramount+ Announces Exclusive Discount For AARP Members

Streaming Services Will Double Number Of Pricing Tiers In 2024

The top subscription streamers are set to more than double the number of available pricing tiers in 2024, introducing options that include access to premium content, yearly contracts, bundles, and more, according to Deloitte’s annual TMT (technology, media, and telecom) predictions for next year. “Will there be the right option for everyone, will it help the streamers grow, and will it reduce churn? Or will it be like a restaurant with a 15-page menu … so many choices that consumers can’t make up their minds?” the firm asks in its study.

NASCAR To Include Streaming In New 7-Year Media Rights Deal That Welcomes Amazon, TNT & Max

The new media rights deal is worth $7.7 billion when the previously announced $1.1 billion agreement with The CW is included. NASCAR did not reveal monetary figures at the news conference held at the Music City Center one day before its season-ending awards ceremony.

For Streamers, Not All Churn Is Bad, New Research Finds

Services should compete for certain high-value subscribers, even if they’re likely to drop out eventually, Magid says.

Fox Weather Expands Distribution To Dish Network And Sling Freestream

Fox Weather, Fox News Media’s free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) weather service has expanded its distribution to include Dish Network and Sling Freestream subscribers effective today. In making the announcement […]

ViewLift Powers Newly Relaunched NHL TV Apps

The National Hockey League and sports streaming provider ViewLift have relaunched NHL, free apps available across a range of device platforms that allow hockey fans to create a customized feed of the […]

Cable, Satellite Providers Risk ‘Fading Into The Background Faster’ Than Expected

Comcast, Charter, Altice USA, Dish, Verizon Fios shed 1.16 million subscribers in Q3, while streamers Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV and Fubo added 727,000.

‘Friends’ Viewership Surges Following Matthew Perry’s Death; ‘Suits’ Gives Up No. 1 Nielsen Spot To ‘No Hard Feelings’

For the first time since June, Suits did not manage to surpass 1 billion minutes viewed during the week of October 23-29. With 997 million minutes viewed, the USA Network legal drama came in second on Nielsen’s streaming charts during this interval. This brings to an end its 18-week streak of reaching over 1 billion minutes, which, while impressive, is actually not the record holder. Audiences also took some time to commemorate the life of Matthew Perry, following the actor’s sudden death on Oct. 28. In just the few hours until this interval closed, Friends tallied 583M minutes viewed, pushing it to No. 7 on the acquired titles list.

Fubo Launches ‘Fubo Radio,’ AI-Powered FAST Music Audio Channels

Fubo is bringing AI-powered streaming music audio-only channels to its virtual MVPD service with the help of partner Super Hi-Fi. Fubo on Tuesday announced the launch of 10 fully branded free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel radio stations, collectively dubbed “Fubo Radio,” on its sports-centric live TV streaming platform in the U.S.

Jeff Grossman, Amy Kuessner Upped To EVP Programming For Paramount+, Pluto TV

Paramount Streaming has elevated the top programming executives at flagship platform Paramount+ and free, ad-supported service Pluto TV. Jeff Grossman, most recently EVP, content & business operations, Paramount Streaming for Paramount+, has been named EVP, Programming, Paramount+. Amy Kuessner, most recently Pluto TV’s EVP, content strategy and global partnerships, has been named EVP, programming, Pluto TV. Both report to Tom Ryan, president-CEO, Paramount Streaming, and will closely collaborate in their new roles.

Network & Affils Celebrate One Year Of ‘NBC News Daily’

At a time when competition between streaming and broadcasting often drives a wedge between networks and their affiliates, the year-old NBC News Daily appears to be an unusual example of cooperation. The one-hour newscast, designed to replace the long-running soap opera Days of Our Lives when it moved from NBC to Peacock in 2022, appears on both the NBC News Now streaming channel and all of NBC’s affiliates and ratings are rising.

Allen Media’s Local Now Adds Newly-Launched Time FAST Channel

Allen Media Group’s free streaming service for local news, weather, sports, traffic, and entertainment in America – Local Now – said today it’s adding the Time FAST channel. The Time FAST channel, powered by Time’s premium digital […]

Local Streaming Channel Neighborhood TV Now Available On Xumo Play

Cox Media Group (CMG) today announced that its newly launched local streaming channel Neighborhood TV will be available on Xumo Play beginning Dec. 1. Neighborhood TV (NTV), which formally launched in August 2023, is a free […]