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The satellite operator is suing Univision in federal court, alleging that it distributed Mexican soccer games via Facebook in violation of their carriage agreement. Last month, Univision moved to dismiss the suit. Dish responded on Friday, contending that nothing in the agreement permits Univision to repackage programming and “then allowing that content to be given away for free.”

A recent Netflix email scam has been targeting subscribers of the popular streaming service telling them that their account is about to be canceled. The well-designed, individualized fake email convinces customers to update their account information to avoid suspension.

“Netflix will not be involved with any further production of ‘House of Cards’ that includes Kevin Spacey,” the company said in a statement Friday night. Netflix said it will work with the show’s production company MRC to evaluate whether it will continue without him.

With its ability to provide programming on demand, streaming-video services are akin to a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. Little wonder, then, that CBS has chosen its “All Access” streaming video service to launch a new version of The Twilight Zone, the seminal sci-fi series that opened each week with a distinctive introduction from creator Rod Serling that used those aforementioned words.

As promised, Nielsen is releasing more and more viewership measurements it’s mined from Netflix data — including for Stranger Things 2. The company released its latest, and most interesting, SVOD measurement to date on Thursday afternoon — citing an audience of 15.8 million viewers, nearly 11 million of them adults 18-49, watching the sophomore premiere episode, “Chapter One,” within three days of its launch.

Illegal TV-streaming outfits may generate upwards of $840 million in fees from consumers who pay for their services, which average around $10 per month, according to the study by bandwidth-management systems vendor Sandvine. The company said it collected the data for the study from North American wireline broadband service provider customers.

Netflix is said to be in very early stages of development of multiple ideas for a potential House of Cards spinoff following a Kevin Spacey sexual harassment claim and news that the upcoming sixth season will be the show’s last.

Though the decision to end the series was announced on Monday, the decision to pull the plug on the series was made several months ago, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the decision.

YouTube TV, the “skinny bundle” pay-TV service that launched in the spring via web browsers, Google Chromecast and a mobile app, officially is entering the living room. A new app optimized for smart TVs and connected devices launches this week with availability only on Android TV sets, but by the end of the year YouTube plans to roll it out to major distribution partners including Samsung, Apple TV, Roku and Xbox.

With $262 billion in cash and securities in its coffers, Apple has the money to make as much TV as anyone, but some in Hollywood are beginning to wonder whether it has a clear strategy. Apple isn’t interested in the types of shows that become hits on HBO or Netflix, like Game of Thrones — at least not yet. The company plans to release the first few projects to everyone with an Apple device, potentially via its TV app, and top executives don’t want kids catching a stray nipple.

The news comes after programming chief Roy Price resigned from the streamer following allegations of sexual harassment. Sharon Tal Yguado will take over and head all scripted shows. Lewis’ departure follows news that he faced conflict of interest allegations at Amazon, where he cast his girlfriend, actress Yara Martinez, in the streamer’s scripted drama The Tick.

The video streaming giant said it will use the proceeds of the senior notes offering for capital expenditures and “strategic transactions.”

Hulu said today that it has added nine Fox affiliates to its virtual pay-TV service. Hulu said it now has deals with more than 290 TV stations and has more than two stations locked in for 80% of U.S. TV households.

It would be nice to think that former Amazon Studios chief Roy Price resigned from his job because company founder and CEO Jeff Bezos simply couldn’t tolerate the idea that one of his key executives had sexually harassed a key producer. But something else may have also played a role in the decision to finally make a change: Bezos, it seems, simply wasn’t happy with how Price was running Amazon’s TV business. Now that Price is gone, Hollywood is wondering whether his departure will mark the beginning of an even bigger shake-up at the streamer.

Netflix is planning to spend approximately $8 billion on programming next year, and anime is set to play a big role in the company’s plans. Netflix has 30 different anime projects that are in varying stages of development.

Verizon feels that OTT streaming customers shouldn’t bear the brunt of a retransmission impasse between their internet provider — often a cable operator — and programmers, and wants the FCC to consider this in any reform of the retransmission consent process.

Verizon Communications Inc. is aiming for a spring 2018 launch for its new online TV service, which has been delayed at least twice as the telecommunications giant grapples with how to compete in the media world, according to people familiar with the matter. While Verizon has shared its plans with TV networks, the timing of the web-based, live TV service’s introduction remains tentative and could be further postponed.

CBS’ streaming sports video service will launch “soon,” according to CBS Interactive President Marc Debevoise. Unlike ESPN’s upcoming streaming service — which will focus on sports that don’t quite fit on the linear channel — the new CBS service will emphasize sports news and talk instead of live games.

Analyst Michael Nathanson says broadcasters’ biggest weapon against SVODs is their live sports and news content. That gives them a key edge against cable, which can no longer compete with the aggressive scripted content investments coming from the likes of Netflix, Hulu and Amazon. (Photo: Wendy Moger-Bross)

Content owners are about to get a lot more insight into viewership of shows on Netflix, which has long held such sought-after ratings data close to the vest. Nielsen is offering a new service that will let media subscribers see how many people watched their shows — and their rivals’ shows — on Netflix.

Netflix says it may spend as much as $8 billion on content in 2018 — a figure that could make it the biggest content buyer of any media or technology company. The company slipped the figure into its quarterly letter to shareholders, adding that it had $17 billion in content commitments over the next few years, and is expected to spend between $7 billion and $8 billion on content in 2018.