Entertainment News

This living topic covers the latest shifts and trends in streaming services and sports entertainment. It provides detailed analysis of the evolving landscape, including the growing role of streaming platforms in broadcasting sports events like the NFL and NBA, and partnerships between streaming services and sports leagues. Additionally, it highlights the increasing prices and bundling strategies of major streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, and Peacock. The topic also discusses consumer responses to these changes, including the growing dissatisfaction with cable providers and the rise of cord-cutting. Furthermore, it touches on legal actions against monopolistic practices in the entertainment industry, exemplified by lawsuits against Live Nation and Ticketmaster.

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Disney+ officially takes a shot at password-sharing customers

Here we go again. Disney+ has announced an update to its policies where it – like Netflix – intends to start charting an account-sharing fee to anyone who shares their account with someone outside their household.

During the company’s latest earning call, CFO Hugh Johnston said Disney's password crackdown will start in a matter of months. 

"Beginning this summer, Disney+  accounts suspected of improper sharing will be presented with new capabilities to allow their borrowers to start their own subscriptions," Johnston said.

"Later this calendar year, account holders who want to allow access to individuals from outside their household will be able to add them to their accounts for an additional fee."

Not a surprise

Surprised by this? You shouldn’t be. “Following Netflix’s implementation of its account-sharing clampdown, which has seen over 20 million new subscribers come on board, it’s not a huge surprise to see Disney following suit,” Roger Palmer from WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com, said. 

“Netflix charges $8 for each “extra member” subaccount, which is slightly more expensive than its ad-supported tier, which many account sharers might have moved over to.”

Where is this all going?

Disney+ probably didn’t come to this decision quickly. The Mouse recently raised its monthly subscription price by 27% to $13.99, which resulted in a loss of 1.3 million subscribers. Hulu, on the other hand, increased its subscriber count after raising its prices, indicating that the impact of price hikes can vary across different services.

Nor has raising rates hurt Netflix. After it lost more than a million subscribers in 2022, it came back with a roar in 2023, adding those 20 million Palmer referenced.

Then, it played its hand with a big price hike. According to The Streamable, anyone who wants to get all of Netflix’s best features on its top tier currently has to pay $22.99 per month – an increase of $15 per month (188%) in nearly 17 years. So, consumers must think it's worth paying for.

However, with the cloud of price hikes, a little programming sunshine might soon make an appearance, particularly for sports fans.

Just last month, Prime Video raised the price of ad-free streaming by $3 per month, bringing regional sports channels to its platform through an investment in Diamond Sports Group.

Major League Soccer moved its games primarily to streaming in 2023, as well. The NBA wants to sell its next rights deal to a streaming service, and HBO wants a piece of the sports action, too.

Here we go again. Disney+ has announced an update to its policies where it – like Netflix – intends to start charting an account-sharing fee to anyone who...

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Here are the most talked about Super Bowl ads of 2024

Super Bowl games always attract a lot of celebrities, but for Super Bowl LVIII there may be more celebrities in the commercials than in the stands. Every brand, it seems, found one or more celebrities to help sell its products.

“Friends” stars Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer reunited in an Uber Eats ad while David and Victoria Beckham also appear in a spot for the food delivery service. Aubrey Plaza and Nick Offerman, co-stars from “Parks and Recreation,” teamed up to praise Mountain Dew.

M&M had plenty of star power with Scarlett Johanssen, backed up by former NFL stars Dan Marino, Terrell Owens and Bruce Smith. Marino also appears in a Michelob Ultra ad with soccer sensation Leo Messi.

BMW tapped Christopher Walken to extoll the virtues of its luxury cars while Skechers brought back 1980s celebrity Mr. T to help CBS broadcaster Tony Romo sell slip-on sneakers.

History lesson

Oreo cookies take viewers on a trip through history, showing how the course of world events might have been altered through the use of a decision-making aid called “twist on it.” By twisting the cookie apart, a decision is influenced by whichever side of the cookie has the cream.

Star power

People love to hate Tom Brady but he takes it so good-naturedly. Seven Super Bowl rings and a mountain of money probably make him less sensitive to criticism. 

BetMGM plays on that with this spot, teaming Brady with hockey great Wayne Gretzky and comedian Vince Vaugh, in which Brady has already won more than his fair share and is excluded from the blackjack table.

State Farm also harnesses star power by enlisting Arnold Schwarzenegger for a new action movie, starring as Agent State Farm. The company released the first of the two-parter before the game but is keeping the finale under wraps. Here’s part one.

Funniest

Okay, humor is subjective. That said, Paramount+’s commercial featuring Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Peppa Pig, the CBS Sports broadcast crew and a transformer was just weird enough to strike our funny bone. But you be the judge.

The ETrade babies are back for another Super Bowl appearance but their 2024 commercial seemed to have lost a step when compared to earlier spots. Tina Fay’s commercial for Booking.com shows her many sides, but she’s ultimately upstaged by Glenn Close.

The NFL is expecting a record audience for Super Bowl LVIII, especially since the Kansas City Chiefs and Taylor Swift’s boyfriend are in the game. With a 30-second ad going for around $7 million pop, it could also be a record haul for CBS, the network airing the game.

Super Bowl games always attract a lot of celebrities, but for Super Bowl LVIII there may be more celebrities in the commercials than in the stands. Every b...

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Watch the Super Bowl for free? You’ve got options!

This Sunday, if you don’t have an antenna or a cable package and you want to watch the Super Bowl for free, you do have options.

CBS has the broadcast rights this year – its 21st Super Bowl if anyone is counting – and that gives most everyone in a Top 100 TV market easy access to the broadcast, either at home or at a local bar.

If you live outside a major metro, though, you should first try Paramount Plus. It's CBS’ parent company and it’s offering a free, one-week trial.

There’s no promo code required, and you can stream on various devices. Just remember to cancel before the trial ends if you do not wish to continue the service.

There’s also FuboTV’s free week-long trial that includes access to sports channels including the Super Bowl. Sign up now and remember to cancel after the game to avoid charges.

If you live right outside a major city, you could hurry over to Amazon and buy an Over-The-Air (OTA) Antenna for $25 or so. That way, if the nearest CBS station is within spittin’ distance, you’ll be able to watch it for free, the old-fashioned way. 

The last two options are DirecTV and Hulu+ Live TV. Both offer free trials that include access to the Super Bowl. Again, just cancel it after the game or a monthly subscription will show up on your credit card for sure.

One other word of warning

Make sure to take advantage of these offers promptly, as they may not be available on the day of the Super Bowl itself. 

This Sunday, if you don’t have an antenna or a cable package and you want to watch the Super Bowl for free, you do have options.CBS has the broadcast r...

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Disney+ now available for free for millions

Disney+ for free? Yes, but only in an ad-supported version and only for Charter Communications’ Spectrum TV Select customers.

Still, that's a lot of folks since Spectrum counts 32 million consumers in its customer database.

As part of the two companies’ coming to terms on a new distribution agreement, Charter video customers can now turn on their TVs and stream entertainment from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, including movies, TV shows and original programs.

The only thing they need is a Xumo Stream Box or any type of Disney+ supported device (Roku, XBox, Chromecast, etc.)

“The inclusion of Disney+ alongside a curated lineup of our TV channels brings the best of both worlds from Disney’s unrivaled entertainment portfolio to Charter’s video customers,” said Justin Connolly, president of Platform Distribution, at The Walt Disney Company.

“Our goal has always been to meet consumers where they are, and these collective offerings will maximize value for Spectrum TV Select customers while simultaneously broadening the audience of our advertiser-supported streaming services.”

Move over, Netflix?

Is Disney trying to angle its way to king of the streaming mountain? It may be.

According to data presented by Statista, Disney+ is expected to count over 205 million hybrid subscribers of its ad-supported or subscription-based tiers by 2028, or three times more than its biggest rival, Netflix.

If you're someone who keeps up with the Joneses, the OnlyAccounts researchers pointed out that you may have to get used to ads. It found that over 85% of Disney+ subscribers will use the ad-supported plan by 2028.

You can expect even more bundling

Streaming subscription bundles spiked during the 2023 holiday season, but this latest move from The Mouse could signal even more.

Guess who's to blame -- or is it bless? It's you, the consumer. According to data from subscription analytics provider Antenna, about one-fourth of subscribers to major streaming services have canceled at least three of them over the past two years — nearly double the cancellations two years ago.

Dan Goman, CEO and founder of Ateliere Creative Technologies, a digital media supply chain solution that supports some of the largest digital streaming platforms in the world, told ConsumerAffairs that while this sounds like a victory for streaming subscribers, it could turn out to be the just the opposite.

“In my opinion, the overall impact on consumers is likely to be mixed, but perhaps mostly negative in the long run," Gorman said. "On the upside, bundling services will make things more affordable, offering a plethora of content at a better value, with more innovative package options than traditional cable bundles, including valuable third-party services – a trend we're already observing.

“However, there are significant drawbacks. While these large bundles often include a vast array of content, much of it may not align with consumer preferences."

Goman says where streaming users will feel the pinch is in not being able to choose all the content they want, coupled with the absence of à la carte options.

"Consumers will be forced to completely change their content access approach - and this will happen very rapidly.”

Disney+ for free? Yes, but only in an ad-supported version and only for Charter Communications’ Spectrum TV Select customers.Still, that's a lot of fol...

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NY Attorney General alleges SiriusXM traps customers in contracts

Have you tried to cancel your subscription with SiriusXM, only to be met with increasing difficulties and a long, complicated process? You’re likely not the only one. 

New York Attorney General Letitia James recently filed a lawsuit alleging that SiriusXM traps consumers in their contracts, making it intentionally difficult to cancel their plans

“Having to endure a lengthy and frustrating process to cancel a subscription is a stressful burden no one looks forward to, and when companies make it hard to cancel subscriptions, it’s illegal,” said James. “Consumers should be able to cancel a subscription they know longer use or need without any issues, and companies have a legal duty to make their cancellation process easy.” 

Employees are encouraged to make things harder

Currently, in order for consumers to cancel their accounts, they need to either call SiriusXM’s customer service line, or chat with a representative online. According to SiriusXM’s own data, that process takes on average 30 minutes online and around 12 minutes over the phone. 

However, the suit claims SiriusXM employees are encouraged and trained to make the canceling process extra difficult for consumers, so these interactions often take far longer than those estimates. 

“The company trains its agents to keep customers on the phone or in the chat for a lengthy six-part conversation that includes asking a series of questions and then pitching the subscriber as many as five retention offers, all to delay cancellation,” the attorney general’s alleges. “When customers decline the offers, agents are trained not to take ‘no’ for an answer and to keep bombarding customers with questions or offers until they either relent or become frustrated.” 

Based on the Attorney General’s report, SiriusXM has approximately 35 million subscribers. The goal of the lawsuit is to not only have SiriusXM revamp its cancellation process to make it easier, smoother, and simpler for customers, but to also recoup the money subscribers have lost. 

Have you tried to cancel your subscription with SiriusXM, only to be met with increasing difficulties and a long, complicated process? You’re likely not th...

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FCC cracks down on cable providers' junk fees

If you’ve ever tried to cancel your cable service, it’s possible you were gobsmacked by junk fees. Fed up trying to respond to all those complaints, the Federal  Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to initiate a proposed rule barring cable providers from charging "early termination fees” that can often exceed $200, like it did Karen of Redondo Beach Calif., when she tried to cancel her Spectrum contract.

If you want to think of this as a shell game, you’re entitled to it. You may cancel your service for any number of reasons – moving, financial hardship, or poor service.

According to Mark Chen at Billsmart, you’re probably going to get charged an early termination fee unless you’re dead or in the military, and even in those cases, you’ll need to provide proof.

A tough battle made tougher

The Biden administration has had some wind at its back on the issue of junk fees up to now, but not in this situation. 

The Commission’s efforts are already facing major headwinds from cable providers and trade groups. Accountable.US spokesperson Liz Zelnick said that despite what consumers want, those groups are dropping tens of millions of dollars lobbying against federal efforts.

“CEOs chasing profits would rather make excuses for junk fees than consider it’s a big reason why so many of their customers are cutting the cord,” she said. 

“Americans should have the power to end services they don’t want without being price-gouged with hundreds of dollars in termination junk fees.”

But do you have that power? Sadly, little or nothing at all. The best thing you can do is ask for some mercy on the fees, be sent to someone in “retention” and ask for a better deal, or just suck it up, pay what they’re asking for, and chalk it up as a bad experience.

Ah, the fine print

You see, these companies have “fine print” on their side – and when you signed up for the service, you agreed to what’s in that fine print as was the case with Michelle from South Milwaukee Wisc., when she tried to cancel her Spectrum service.

Michelle’s understanding was that she would get an “adjusted bill,” but when that adjustment never appeared and she called back, the company’s tune changed a bit.

“I was advised today that there is fine print on the bill that says that it doesn't matter when you cancel your service you will have to pay until the end of the billing cycle," she wrote

"At no point during my conversation when I was canceling service, did the agent tell me this, in fact, just the opposite as I already stated above, she said I would get an adjusted bill in the next couple of days."

It's another reason to pay these things with a credit card and let the credit card company do your fighting for you. There’s no guarantee, but as ConsumerAffairs has found out several times over the last year, credit cards do offer more consumer protection than almost anything else. Just sayin’...

If you’ve ever tried to cancel your cable service, it’s possible you were gobsmacked by junk fees. Fed up trying to respond to all those complaints, the Fe...

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Canceled celebrities 2023: Who’s lost the most net worth?

“If enough people on social media agree to ‘cancel’ you, then it doesn't matter how big your platform is, your livelihood will be affected.”

So says social media influencer Paige Michael, who has 171,000 Instagram followers on her fitness channel @peanutphysique. She knows the stakes because like anyone whose reputation is made online, she has seen firsthand how quickly and aggressively social media tides can turn a person—especially a celebrity—from massive success to target of boycott and online vitriol. 

What exactly does getting “canceled” look like? “People very much ‘team up’ and hide anonymously behind their phone screens to deteriorate someone's platform,” she told ConsumerAffairs. 

“The algorithms are designed to reward content that triggers strong emotional reactions, where users interact the most by sharing, leaving longer comments, and often immediately reacting to the post,” Cassaundra Kalba, senior publicist at Society22 PR, told us. “This mechanism can contribute to a mob mentality.”

It happens a lot and a ConsumerAffairs review of Internet estimates about canceled celebrities suggests the extraordinary size of the financial damage that can be done to whoever is being held accountable.

Most recently, actor Danny Masterson was roasted on social media after being convicted of rape. Musician R Kelly experienced a similar fate after being convicted of sexual abuse. Both reportedly saw their net worth decline.

Actor Kevin Spacey was recently acquitted of sex abuse charges in the U.K. But already, over the previous six years, the online reaction had cost him his reputation and tens of millions in net worth, according to The Things, an entertainment industry publication.

But some celebrities have been canceled for a lot less than criminal activity. Will and Jada Smith suffered a public relations disaster after Will Smith’s infamous slap of Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars but it didn’t seem to affect their pocketbook.

James Corden was publicly shamed after he allegedly yelled at the wait staff at a New York City restaurant. Armie Hammer found himself on the defensive in January 2021 after an anonymous Instagram account shared messages allegedly sent by Hammer, detailing conversations with women about sexual fetishes.

Anti-Semitic comments were costly to musician Kanye West in 2022. He has been dropped by everyone from his lawyer and agent to lucrative endorsement partners like Adidas.

Olivia Wilde came under a barrage of online criticism for the way she handled staffing issues during the production of “Don’t Worry Darling.”

Below is a chart of recently canceled celebrities and the estimate published on various websites, from Celebritynetworth to Yahoo, of what it has cost them. 

According to the chart, Elon Musk has seen the largest decline in net worth after he acquired and made changes at Twitter, changing the name to X. Comedian Dave Chappell, meanwhile, actually saw his net worth increase after being called out for including LGBTQ jokes in his routine.

Michael says cancel culture probably wouldn’t exist without social media. Kalba, the Society22 PR professional, agrees.

"The psychology behind social media interactions fuels cancel culture,” Kalba told us. “Users pile on the condemnation without fully understanding the situation at hand because doing so provides a sense of belonging and moral validation in a large, faceless virtual crowd.”

While holding individuals accountable is important, Kalba says, the rush to judgment seen in cancel culture raises important questions about fairness. 

“As we navigate this era, it is crucial to find a balance where mistakes are called and confronted, but there's also space for dialogue, growth and forgiveness by the public," she said.

“If enough people on social media agree to ‘cancel’ you, then it doesn't matter how big your platform is, your livelihood will be affected.”So says soc...

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Spotify is adding audiobooks for Premium subscribers

Spotify is making a play for audiobook fans, adding 150,000 titles to its premium level of service that will be available at no extra charge. The addition is rolling out first in the UK and Australia and will be available in the U.S. before the end of the year.

As a start, Spotify is offering each Premium individual, as well as plan managers for Family and Duo accounts, 15 hours of listening per month. They can listen to as many titles as they want, skipping from one to another, as long as the only listen to 15 hours per month.

At a press event in New York, Spotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek made no secret that the move is a direct challenge to Amazon subsidiary Audible.

“Audiobooks today have one big dominating player,” Ek said. “And just like in music and podcasting, we believe that many more consumers want to consume audiobooks and want to listen to audiobooks.”

Spotify Premium plans start at $10.99 a month. Audible Premium Plus includes a 30-day free trial, then charges $14.95 a month. In addition to audiobooks, podcasts, and other audio features, Audible Premium Plus members can download one audiobook a month to keep.

One-stop listening

“We believe that offering personalized music, podcasts, and audiobooks on a single platform gives you a superior way to connect with your favorite artists, podcasters, creators, and authors—all in one spot,” the company said in its announcement. “Not only can you listen to some of your favorite authors’ works, but you can also tune into podcasts where fans dissect the most minor details of a story and find the hidden meaning in every sentence, without leaving the app. 

Spotify got into the audiobook business in a big way a year ago when it purchased audiobook distributor Findaway. Audiobooks make up only 7% of the total book market but the segment is growing, notching about 20% growth year-over-year.

Spotify is making a play for audiobook fans, adding 150,000 titles to its premium level of service that will be available at no extra charge. The addition...

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Streaming services are dealing like crazy

That $100-off NFL Sunday Ticket and NFL+ deals we told you about recently? Looks like those were just the beginning.

A number of tech sources say the floodgates have opened and now everyone from Apple to YouTubeTV are rolling out their own red carpet deals trying to lock consumers in for the fall when new movies and shows typically pop up like crazy.

“Back in the old days of cable, keeping your TV bill in check required routine calls to customer service, followed by desperate pleas for a lower rate and/or threats to cancel your service,” CordCutterWeekly’s Jared Newman, says.

“With streaming TV, things work a bit differently. While you can’t call up Netflix or HBO to ask for a lower price, you can often snag discounts on streaming services if you know where to look.”

Streaming service deals

Newman’s latest A-Z list of hard-to-beat deals (as of August 25, 2023) includes the following and lists detailed instructions on his site:

Apple TV: Get three months for free from Best Buy or Target, or two months direct from Apple. New subscribers only, but with Apple’s Family Sharing, multiple family members can redeem these offers and share with the rest of the group.

Bally Sports+: Save $5 per month in select markets.

DirecTV Stream: $10 off your first three months.

NFL Sunday Ticket: In addition to the $100-off Fanduel deal ConsumerAffairs already reported, football fans can get the service for $50 off through YouTube, plus four months of Max for YouTube TV subscribers. 

Paramount+: One month free (including Premium) with promo code BILLIONS, BIGBROTHER25, or THECHI. New and returning subscribers only.

Peacock: Save $3.50 per month on Premium (with or without ads) with code NTSEL3HMWTDP54N.

Sling TV: Get half off your first month, or get five months of Orange+Blue+Sports Extra for $274. New subscribers only.

Starz: Get three months of Starz for $3 per month.

YouTube TV: First three months for $65 per month. (Reg. $73 per month.) Frontier and WOW internet customers can save $10 per month for a year. New subscribers only.

Newman suggests that if you can’t take advantage of a “new subscribers only” deal because you signed up with the company earlier, consider using a masked or secondary email address to sign up again.

“You can also set up a limited-use credit card so you don’t get auto-billed at regular price after the promo period,’ he said.

Mashable is also all over the dealscape and particularly excited about Paramount+’s deal because the service is home to all of the favorite classic MTV and Nickelodeon faves, not to mention a load of live sports via CBS Sports. Paramount+ also has the new’ish Scream VI, and recent seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race. 

Its “best deals” list – again, as of Aug 22, 2023– includes these:

Disney+:Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ (with ads) — $12.99/month (save $12.98/month); and Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ (no ads) — $19.99/month (save $15.98/month).

Max: The streaming service formerly known as HBO Max is loaded with deals: 

Netflix: Netflix also has a couple of partnership deals going, such as:

No 'deals,' but there are also 'free trials'

The Mashable folks say there are several services that aren’t offering deals, per se, but that they do offer some decent free trials, especially if someone wants to binge on a program they’ve been dying to watch.

Those are:

Amazon Prime Video: No current subscription deals, but try it with a 30-day free trial.

AMC+: No current deals, but try it with a seven-day free trial.

FuboTV: Interested consumers can test out the service with a seven-day free trial or skip the trial to get 20% off. And new subscribers get 30 days free of FuboTV Pro if you're a My Best Buy Plus or Total member (save $74.99).

Philo: No current standalone deals, but try it with a seven-day free trial.

Showtime: No current standalone deals, but try it free for 30 days with Paramount+ using code NEWHOME.

That $100-off NFL Sunday Ticket and NFL+ deals we told you about recently? Looks like those were just the beginning.A number of tech sources say the fl...

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The economy seems to be doing fine. Maybe we should thank Taylor Swift.

At the beginning of the year, many economists expected the U.S. to be in a recession by now. The fact that we aren’t can probably be attributed to a still strong labor market and growing corporate earnings.

But a 33-year-old singer could have something to do with it as well. Taylor Swift’s Eras tour has been crisscrossing the U.S. for months as she has performed in sold-out stadiums. Her legions of dedicated fans sometimes travel great distances to attend her performances, filling hotels and restaurants, sometimes days before and after the concerts.

After Swift performed in Philadelphia, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia acknowledged her impact.

“Despite the slowing recovery in tourism in the region overall, one contact highlighted that May was the strongest month for hotel revenue in Philadelphia since the onset of the pandemic, in large part due to an influx of guests for the Taylor Swift concerts in the city,” the bank noted in the Fed’s “Beige Book” report.

After Swift performed three sold-out concerts in Chicago in June, the tourism marketing organization Choose Chicago reported hotels in the city saw record occupancy and revenue during that period.

Hotels are jumping on the bandwagon

Businesses in cities where Swift is scheduled to appear now eagerly anticipate her arrival, along with the throng of her fans, all eager to spend money. In late July, as Swift headed for Santa Clara, Calif., local hotels took full advantage. 

Some hotels, booked to capacity with “Swifties,” arranged tailgate parties before the concert at Levi Stadium. Tourism officials were ecstatic.

"The Taylor Swift effect, it's even bigger than I anticipated," Christine Lawson, CEO of Discover Santa Clara, told KTVU-TV.

Lawson said that hotel occupancy in Santa Clara was at nearly 100% the week of the concert, at a time when rooms normally go begging. 

Boosting a normally slow period

"July and the weekends, in particular, are slow in Santa Clara,” she said. “They’re not our peak times of the year. So this has a great financial impact for us, from an economic standpoint, just to have the hotels full. Everyone will be going to the restaurants." 

It’s estimated that by the time the Eras tour ends, including its international stops, it will have raked in $1 billion. But the multiplier effect of her fans’ spending is even greater, as not only hotels and restaurants benefit, but also bartenders, hairstylists, and Uber drivers. One tourism official compared the concerts’ effect on cities to hosting a Super Bowl.

In late July the U.S. government reported that the economy grew by 2.4% in the second quarter, a much higher rate than expected. 

At the beginning of the year, many economists expected the U.S. to be in a recession by now. The fact that we aren’t can probably be attributed to a still...

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Tired of watching the same old same old on the streaming services? There are ways around that.

Photo (c) J Galione - Getty Images

Streaming video services continue to move closer to – dare we say it – the old days of cable. After seeing its peers test the waters of ad-supported streaming, Amazon is reportedly dipping its toe in that water, too.

And with the proliferation of free ad-supported (FAST) networks, video consumers can find almost anything they want for free, especially “classic” content – such as old movies and TV shows.

But new research shows that many of the streaming services are loaded with old content and fewer non-original shows, and it’s starting to make consumers rethink why they’re spending an average of $48 a month on streaming when it’s not as special as it used to be.

New research from All About Cookies shows that what consumers really want is a 60/40 mix – new (to them) content 60% of the time they use a streaming platform, and rewatching content the other 40% of the time. That data begs the question where can someone find all the new content they crave without wasting money on being fed too much old stuff? 

Well, it’s not Hulu or Disney+, that’s for sure. Among the top 25 titles on each service, Disney+ is the platform with the oldest movies on average (10 years). Hulu has the oldest shows on average (10 years) among its most watched and is also the platform with the fewest original shows (4).

If it’s new content you want, then…

Knowing which type of viewer you are may make a difference in where you choose to spend $10-20/month. Someone who wants to get their fill of The Sopranos or South Park is better off at HBO, but if you’re constantly on the prowl for new, original content, the researchers said that Netflix or Prime are probably the best bets. 

“Some platforms are intentionally pushing out new content like crazy, vs. paying for old content,” Derick Migliacci, leader of the All About Cookies team, told ConsumerAffairs, citing Amazon Prime as a good example with their originals making up the majority of their most-streamed. “With more networks launching their own platforms, this is only going to get more segmented and consumers are going to either need to pay way more or need to pick and choose more carefully – a more well-rounded platform may be a better long-term selection for the price.”

You ask how to find all the new stuff without wading through screen after screen of content the service is pushing. As far as Netflix is concerned, MUO (Making Use Of) says there are five ways to do that: skipping the home page and going directly to the “new” section; using the Netflix mobile and TV app; following Netflix on social media; use the website “What’sOnNetflix”; and track Netflix shows using Reelgood.

All About Cookies also recommended sites like justwatch.com that can tell you where any title is streaming at any given time. Or, to get a sense of what’s on each platform in general, sites like Flixpatrol will tell you the most watched titles across different time periods, including what’s hot right now. 

Photo (c) J Galione - Getty ImagesStreaming video services continue to move closer to – dare we say it – the old days of cable. After seeing its peers...

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ESPN will reportedly become a stand-alone streaming channel

True sports fans might subscribe to cable TV simply to get ESPN programming. But what if it were available as a streaming option?

In an exclusive report, the Wall Street Journal says that’s about to happen. Quoting people “familiar with the matter,” the Journal reports the Disney-owned channel is laying the groundwork to offer its “flagship” channel to viewers as a streaming subscription. 

The network also owns other sports channels, including ESPN 2. It’s not immediately clear if any of those other channels would be included.

If you are a current cable TV subscriber it doesn’t mean ESPN would disappear from your package. The Journal says the company would continue to offer ESPN to cable companies that want to continue carrying it.

What it means for sports fans, however, is that they would not be required to pay for cable TV if all they wanted was sports programming provided by ESPN. The content would be available through any smart TV with a subscription.

According to the Journal, there is no timeline for implementing this change. But the sources cited by the Journal said the move from an exclusive cable-TV platform to the internet was “inevitable.”

ESPN’s current subscription offering is limited to ESPN+, which debuted in 2018. It’s a streaming service with some live programming that includes some golf, Major League Baseball, hockey and scripted and unscripted programming.

True sports fans might subscribe to cable TV simply to get ESPN programming. But what if it were available as a streaming option?In an exclusive report...

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Goodbye HBO, hello Max

HBO Max is trimming off its old branding deadwood and relaunching as just plain ‘ol “Max.” Starting May 23, the streaming service will roll out an updated app alongside its updated name, and one that includes a sizable bonus – the full Discovery+ catalog.

HBO has a strong resume when it comes to delivering unique and critically acclaimed content. However, Dan Goman, CEO & founder of Ateliere, told ConsumerAffairs that its 30-year history also comes with some negative perceptions.

For some viewers, HBO is nearly synonymous with adult-themed shows/programming – “which can be a problem if you are trying to reach a very broad audience that cuts across age groups, demographics, etc.” The Discovery library, he says, addresses that.

Will the price go up, too?

Good news: HBO’s change does not affect prices. Base prices will remain steady at $10 a month with ads and $16 without ads. However, if you’re a 4K HDR aficionado, you’ll have to pay $20 a month for the “Ultimate” plan which also includes four simultaneous streams. Existing subscribers are lucky because they’ll get six months of Ultimate for free.

Max’s new plan for new subscribers breaks down like this: 

  • Max Ad-Lite: $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year (16% savings); is ad-supported; and subscribers can stream in full HD on two devices at the same time.

  • Max Ad Free: $15.99 a month or $149.99 a year (over 20% savings); comes with no ads;  and subscribers can stream in full HD on two devices simultaneously plus do as many as 30 offline downloads.

  • Max Ultimate Ad Free: $19.99 a month or $199.99 a year (over 16% savings); no ads; and users can stream in 4K UHD on four devices simultaneously, plus download up to 100 shows offline. 

Goman thinks Max’s pricing is right in the pocket.

“I don’t believe the product will be an issue for consumers,” he said, adding that he really likes the fact that consumers are getting several options on prices and are not forced to take-or-leave-it pricing.

“I believe they’re thinking about pricing in the right way - in that they are offering multiple options, including an ‘Ad Lite’ version that’s $9.99 per month, which is certainly in the range in terms of the consumer's perceived value, which a recent study indicated is somewhere in the $7.50 per month."

As far as what subscribers will get, ConsumerAffairs found a lot of worthwhile stuff in the come-hither content of the “Ultimate” tier. On top of the 4K quality, there’ll be full libraries of “Harry Potter,” “Game of Thrones,” “The Last of Us,” “The Lord of the Rings,” “The Dark Knight Trilogy” and more. Also included are 4K UHD versions of all Warner Bros. movies released this year and in the future.

Max won’t just be a TV-only thing, either. Subscribers can access it online at Max.com, on phones, tablets, streaming players, and game consoles. 

HBO Max is trimming off its old branding deadwood and relaunching as just plain ‘ol “Max.” Starting May 23, the streaming service will roll out an updated...

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GoogleTV adds 800+ channels and goes on in all 'free' content

Google has announced that it’s jumping in with both feet on “Free Ad-supported Streaming” (FAST). Effective immediately, it’s layered in 800-plus channels on its GoogleTV service,  a smart TV operating system that runs on television sets, digital media players, soundbars, and set-top boxes.

Until now, its content depended on aggregating an estimated 50 better-known brands such as A&E, Comedy Channel, FoxNow, Disney+, and Peacock.

Now joining the lineup will be free live-linear channels such as Tubi, Plex, three channels devoted to nothing but “CSI,” classic movie channels, a “90201” channel, Hindi/Spanish/Japanese channels, Hallmark movies, and various national and local news channels among the 800 additional choices. 

“From breaking news to blockbuster movies and everything in between, there's something for everyone. And with no subscriptions or fees, it's never been easier to jump in and start watching,” Google’s Nick Staubach said.

Everything will be available via the new “Live” tab and scrolling down a cable line-up. Plus, to make it as hassle-free as possible, there are no downloads or app installations necessary. The Live tab can be found on any TV that has Chromecast pre-loaded, which includes Google TV devices and ones that it powers like TCL, Phillips, TCL, and Sony.

What this could mean to Roku

In its announcement, Google said it now has "more free TV channels in one place than any other smart TV platform." That's a shot across the bow of Roku for sure, and since Google is the proverbial elephant in a lot of rooms, not to mention having had a spat with Roku before, this could put Roku in a tough spot.

Maybe we should’ve said a “tougher spot.” A recent report by S&P Market Intelligence found that Google's Android TV, and its offspring, Google TV, are tightening up any gap with Roku's dominance in the U.S.

This high noon showdown could be interesting, but what it could really do is elevate the consumer’s choices and availability of content. As they say, stay tuned…

Google has announced that it’s jumping in with both feet on “Free Ad-supported Streaming” (FAST). Effective immediately, it’s layered in 800-plus channels...

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Shopping for summer concert tickets? Here's how not to get ripped off

Ticketing for the summer concert season is starting to turn up the volume.

With 1980s acts like Madonna and Duran Duran returning to the stage, Beyonce cashing in on her Grammy haul, and Guns ‘n Roses trying to wrap up a three-year tour, music fans are biting at the bit to be part of the scene.

Problem is, ticket prices have never been higher. When ConsumerAffairs looked at StubHub, Ticketmaster, and other ticket platforms, people were asking as much as $134 for nosebleed tickets to see Beyonce, and anyone who wants to be down front to see Springsteen is looking at a price tag of more than $450 a seat.

And that’s now – in March. As summer dates get closer, it’s a toss-up as to prices.

Artists whose tours aren’t the money machine they thought they’d be might be cutting prices and artists who are hot could see third-party sellers jacking their ticket prices way up.

There’s also the problem of trust. After Ticketmaster was called in before Congress for botching ticketing for Taylor Swift’s tour, music lovers have a right to be skeptical and concerned, especially about the new wave of “dynamic pricing.”

Until this mess gets corrected, consumers have to take care of themselves

For the moment, ticket prices aren’t coming down and those exorbitant fees aren’t walking off the stage, either. But when the main concert promoter or venue’s tickets are sold out and the only way to buy one is the secondary market, ticket buyers need to protect themselves.

ConsumerAffairs went straight to several secondary ticketing companies to get their best suggestions for a positive experience and here’s what we found. 

Don’t pay cash and never, ever buy tickets on social media! VividSeats’ Julia Young said that doing business that way leaves a ticket buyer without any protection. “More importantly, check for Third Party Confirmation and make sure the site is a member of the National Association of Ticket Brokers (NATB),” she said.

If a site says you have to enter your credit card information to see the price of a ticket, get out of there! “If a site doesn’t want to show you either an all-in price from the start inclusive of service and other fees, or at least have a toggle to allow you to view the ticket price with estimated fees included, that’s a sign that they don’t want you to be able to comparison shop with competing marketplaces,” Sean Burns at TicketNetwork advises. “That strategy signifies they are betting on the fact that you are committed to purchasing from them by the time you see the final price, even if it’s higher than the same tickets elsewhere.”

There is no “ideal” time to buy. Brett Goldberg, co-founder and co-CEO of 11-year-old TickPick, told ConsumerAffairs that like everything else, there’s an algorithm at play in the event ticket world and there are several factors that go into the "best time" to buy. For instance, the number of tickets available, the matchup, day of week, etc. all play a factor in the price.

“If you are comfortable with the price point, then we encourage you to purchase the tickets. If you wait until the last minute then it is encouraged that you are in a location with good internet connection to ensure you receive your tickets asap if the event is quickly approaching,” he said.

Goldberg also suggests trying to look on both a ticket seller’s website and its app because sometimes the percentage of service fees can differ on the same marketplace depending on which one you’re on.

Read reviews. Not all ticket buyers have the same experiences with ticket sellers. At ConsumerAffairs, some sellers get 5-star reviews, some get 1-star. If you’re considering using a certain company, it would be smart to see what other consumers think of them. If there’s a consistent problem with customer service, then you may be better off somewhere else. 

Ticketing for the summer concert season is starting to turn up the volume.With 1980s acts like Madonna and Duran Duran returning to the stage, Beyonce...

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Romance novels promise to heat up Valentine’s Day

Photo (c) Phaungphet Kweanthong Eye/Em - Getty Images

Publishers of romance novels no doubt saw rising sales as Valentine’s day approached. The genre is growing in popularity as a new generation of readers and audiobook listeners has embraced the stories of passion and romance.

NPR recently reported that members of the Book $!u+z Romance Book Club in Baltimore drew more than 20 enthusiastic members to its first in-person meeting since the pandemic. At the first meeting in 2019, only two people showed up.

Andi Arndt, an award-winning audiobook narrator, has brought to life more than 600 books over her career – approximately 400 of them romance novels. She is a top-selling narrator of contemporary romance as well as popular non-fiction and fiction books, such as Notorious RBG by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik, and The Hazards of Time Travel by Joyce Carol Oates.

“Romance readers and listeners are not just reading by themselves, they’re participants in a very vibrant community that covers historical romance, things like paranormal romance, contemporary romance, and many other subgenres,” Arndt told ConsumerAffairs. Subgenres can cover lots of bases, from motorcycle club romance to military romance. 

Currently, romance books account for about 23% of book publishing activity in the U.S. Arndt says the fan base is highly committed, with many of her listeners telling her they read or listen to a book a day.

An escape

So, what’s the appeal? Maybe, with all the fear and uncertainty that seems to grip modern life, a good romance novel is a much-appreciated escape.

“Romance listeners say over and over they like knowing that everything is going to turn out okay, you’re going to get the happily ever after,” Arndt said. “Technically, a book cannot be a romance if it doesn’t have a happily ever after or a happy for now at the end. You know, whatever may be going on in people’s lives, if they have a lot of stress and a lot of worries, they know that when they dive into a romance, in the book at least, everything’s going to be okay.”

When Arndt attends public events she gets lots of feedback from her listeners who tell her they love the stories and the characters in their favorite books.

“With audiobooks, they feel like they know you, which is interesting because they’ve spent so much time with you in their ear,” she said.

Audiobooks have grown in popularity because “readers” can consume them while doing other things, such as driving or taking a walk. According to Audible, the current top-selling romance novel is “It Ends With Us,” by Colleen Hoover and read by Olivia Song.

Photo (c) Phaungphet Kweanthong Eye/Em - Getty ImagesPublishers of romance novels no doubt saw rising sales as Valentine’s day approached. The genre is...

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YouTube TV plans to show off what it can do with pro football starting with this weekend’s Super Bowl

Football fans will have more bells and whistles thrown at them for the upcoming Super Bowl than they’ve ever had before – if they’re NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers and if they spend a good amount of their Super Bowl LVII viewing on YouTube TV.

Until now, NFL Sunday Ticket has been living on DirecTV, but starting this Fall Google-owned YouTubeTV will take over and the streaming services think it’s a perfect time to promote the digital enhancements fans will get when the shift takes place.

“We think there are a lot of great opportunities to differentiate the user and creator experience with our unique capabilities,” Google Chief Business Officer Philipp Schindler told market analysts during a recent earnings call. “Every YouTube viewer who’s interested in the NFL can now have one-click access to the full offering of Sunday Ticket. This will be the first time that Sunday Ticket is available à la carte for fans.”

Google seems determined to make sure its $2 billion annual investment will pay off, too. Schindler hinted that viewers will get a host of features like chatting, commenting, and picture-in-picture functionality.

It’s not free, but the “free trial” angle could work for you

Mind you, all these bells and whistles aren’t a free thing. YouTube TV costs $65 per month – but if you want to play the “free trial offer” angle, you can watch for free, then decide if you want to stick with the plan that offers the first three months for only $55 per.

If you do sign up, you’ll be able to watch YouTube TV’s Super Bowl anywhere – on your desktop or laptop computer’s web browser or phone or tablet apps as well as apps on Apple TV, Samsung and LG smart TVs, Google Chromecast, and gaming consoles for Xbox and PS4/PS5.

Football fans will have more bells and whistles thrown at them for the upcoming Super Bowl than they’ve ever had before – if they’re NFL Sunday Ticket subs...

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HBO Max is now available on Amazon Prime Video

For those looking to simplify their streaming services, the latest news from Prime Video and HBO Max is certainly going to be exciting. 

Amazon has announced that HBO Max will once again be available through Prime Video. After the two streamers took a hiatus in 2021, the companies have worked together to provide a simpler streaming experience for customers. 

Currently, Prime subscribers can purchase the ad-free version of HBO Max for $14.99 per month. This comes with access to 15,000 hours of movies, TV shows, documentaries, and docu-series that are exclusive to HBO Max. 

For current Prime subscribers, having the Prime Video app will grant you access to content from HBO Max – no additional downloads or apps are necessary. While the subscription costs extra, it can be canceled at any time. 

“We strive to offer customers the best and widest selection of premium content available for their everyday viewing experience,” said Cem Sibay, vice president of Prime Video. “It’s been a truly milestone year for Prime Video, and we are humbled by the viewer engagement and critics’ response to our marquee releases. Now with the addition of HBO Max again, customers can easily add this subscription and enjoy even more award-winning and fan-favorite entertainment on Prime Video.” 

“Our common goal is to delight customers with great content and continue to collaborate so we can best serve our subscribers,” said J.B. Perrette, CEO and president of global streaming and games at Warner Bros. 

Prime is expanding its reach

In addition to HBO Max, Prime Video expanded this year to include Thursday Night Football. The partnership between Amazon and the NFL has been so successful that the groups announced the first ever Black Friday game to be streamed on Prime Video in 2023. 

At the five-week mark of the season, Thursday Night Football games were averaging 11 million viewers each week on Prime Video. This was up nearly 50% from the 2021 season – prior to the agreement between Amazon and the NFL. 

For those looking to simplify their streaming services, the latest news from Prime Video and HBO Max is certainly going to be exciting. Amazon has anno...

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Disney+ subscription price will soon rise to $10.99 per month

Consumers who enjoy Disney+ will soon have to pay a little more for the service.

In the company's Q2 earnings call, CEO Bob Chapek said Disney+ added 14.4 million new subscribers in the second quarter – a performance he called “excellent.” Now sitting pretty with more than 220 million subscribers on its books, the company has decided that Disney Plus Premium is worth another $3 per month.

Come December, subscribers will have to pony up $10.99 per month to keep using the premium version of the service. However, those who don't want to pay that much will have access to a new ad-supported tier that will be priced at $7.99 per month.

“With our new ad-supported Disney+ offering and an expanded lineup of plans across our entire streaming portfolio, we will be providing greater consumer choice at a variety of price points to cater to the diverse needs of our viewers and appeal to an even broader audience,” said Kareem Daniel, Chairman, Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution.

ConsumerAffairs found that Disney+ fans can still get a deal on their subscription if they're willing to pay for a year upfront. Those who go that route will pay $109.99 for their year of service as opposed to $131.88 if they paid a monthly rate.

What Disney+ plans to offer for the extra cost

While some might think that Disney+ is primarily aimed at children, Disney officials say that isn't the case. They point out that almost half of Disney+ subscribers are adults without kids.

With its ownership of ABC, ESPN, FX, Hulu, and National Geographic, the company has a lot of content to pick from. In fact, it claims that, collectively, it has access to 100,000 movie titles, TV episodes, original shows, sports, and live events.

Chapek said Disney+ also has more than 500 local original titles in various stages of development and production in the pipeline, and 180 of those titles are slated to premiere this fiscal year.

Consumers who enjoy Disney+ will soon have to pay a little more for the service.In the company's Q2 earnings call, CEO Bob Chapek said Disney+ added 14...

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New NFL+ streaming app is now available for football lovers

Football fans who want to catch every moment of pro football action this season are getting their wish. The National Football League (NFL) announced that the league’s new exclusive video streaming subscription service – NFL+ – is now available everywhere.

NFL+ subscribers can access live out-of-market preseason games, live local and primetime regular season games, postseason games, live local and national audio for every game, NFL Network shows on-demand, NFL Films archives, and other football content on their phones, tablets, and other devices that can stream audio and video.

"Today marks an important day in the history of the National Football League with the launch of NFL+," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "The passionate and dedicated football fans are the lifeblood of the NFL, and being able to reach and interact with them across multiple platforms is incredibly important to us.”

What NFL+ offers

The league said NFL+ marks the next evolution of the NFL's direct-to-consumer offering, building upon what the league developed with NFL Game Pass back in 2003.

To its credit, the NFL has made the service very affordable as far as subscriptions go. NFL+ is available in the NFL App across all app stores for $4.99/month or $39.99/year. If fans want extra, more granular content like full and condensed game replays, they can upgrade to NFL+ Premium for $9.99/month or $79.99/year. Premium subscribers will also get the new All-22 Coaches film add-on -- a new twist that allows viewers to gain a view of the game from above of the game that shows what all 22 players are doing on any given play. 

The only thing missing on NFL+ is that it won’t initially include exclusive regular-season games. Companies like Amazon own the rights to some NFL games for the next 7 to 11 years. However, that could change depending on how viewership habits develop.

“It’s another option we’ll consider with all of our other options,” Hans Schroeder, executive vice president and chief operating officer of NFL Media, said. “We are really excited about where NFL+ can go. As quickly as media and the sports distribution business continues to change and evolve, there are lots of different factors.”

NFL Sunday Ticket isn’t going away

The two million subscribers to NFL Sunday Ticket don’t have to sweat losing that subscription – at least not for a while. However, how they access that subscription may change in the short term.

DirecTV’s rights to the service have ended, and the NFL wants the next buyer of the service to pay more than $2 billion for it. The league is reportedly reviewing pitches from Apple, Amazon, and Disney to take over the service next. 

Football fans who want to catch every moment of pro football action this season are getting their wish. The National Football League (NFL) announced that t...

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HBO and HBO Max gain 13 million subscribers in 2021

In the world of streaming, all the clamor lately has been on Netflix’s fall from grace. But where did all those eyeballs that Netflix lost go? Disney+ certainly got its fair share, but the old dog in the game – HBO – added 13 million subscribers in 2021 between its main service and HBO Max, growing its revenue stream to $7.7 billion in subscription revenue.

Added together, HBO and HBO Max have a combined 76.8 million subscribers worldwide. Admittedly, that’s a far cry from Netflix’s 221.64 million subscribers or Disney+’ 129.8 million, but parent company AT&T was gleeful about how HBO is performing. Company officials stated in a recent earnings report that the growth was driven by both international and domestic retail subscriber gains.

What makes HBO so attractive?

While Netflix and Amazon Prime have tried to expand their content libraries, HBO concentrated more on original programming, first-run exclusives, made-for-cable movies, and documentaries. Along the way, it kept its competitors’ hands off of content from Universal Pictures and 20th Century Studios, Sesame Street, and Wimbledon. Now that Warner Bros. and Discovery are part of the family, HBO has everything from Elmo to Wonder Woman all to itself.

“The first thing to know about HBO Max is that it has everything on HBO,'' CNET reported in a comparative review of Netflix and HBO Max. “Max also has exclusive originals that "normal" HBO  subscribers won't be able to watch.” 

“In general, HBO Max is ramping up its new originals, and we expect that to increase over time. Though its 8.0 rating is neck-and-neck with Prime Video, HBO Max consistently drops new releases, possesses a large back catalog and offers smooth, user-friendly features,” Rayome and Jackson said.

In the world of streaming, all the clamor lately has been on Netflix’s fall from grace. But where did all those eyeballs that Netflix lost go? Disney+ cert...

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YouTubeTV and Disney come to terms on a streaming agreement

Google’s YouTube is ending 2021 on a high note – and with more for its subscribers. After reaching a deal to keep YouTube on Roku’s streaming platform, Disney and Google came to terms on Sunday to distribute Disney’s various channels on subscriber-based YouTube TV.

"We appreciate Google's (GOOGL) collaboration to reach fair terms that are consistent with the market, and we're thrilled that our robust lineup of live sports and news plus kids, family and general entertainment programming is in the process of being restored to YouTube TV subscribers across the country," Disney said in a statement Sunday.

The two sides failed on their original attempt to find a deal on Friday. Google decided to play hardball by dropping Disney-owned channels such as ESPN and ABC from its platform. It even decided to offer subscribers a $15 discount while Disney programming was sitting on the sidelines. 

The gambit worked, Disney returned to the negotiating table, and YouTube TV started restoring access to Disney-owned channels – including FX, National Geographic, the ACC and SEC sports networks, and local TV stations that carried Disney’s ABC-TV network.

Unhappy YouTubeTV users will get $15 back

YouTubeTV said it will stand behind the $15 discount it promised to subscribers who were impacted by Disney’s content missing in action from YouTubeTV. 

“For active members who have not yet received that $15 discount on their monthly bill, you will automatically receive a one-time credit on your next bill with no action needed,” YouTubeTV said in a blog post. 

“For members who were impacted and have initiated the cancellation process, we would love to welcome you back. Visit tv.youtube.com/membership and click ‘Add’ to return the Base Plan to your membership. If you resume your membership before you lose access, we will still honor the one-time $15 credit on your bill. We’ll update this website soon with more details.”

Rate hikes may be coming

Cord-Cutter Confidential’s Jerad Newman told ConsumerAffairs that he was surprised the blackout happened in the first place, but he wasn’t surprised that the companies resolved their differences quickly. 

“The only question now is whether the new deal will result in more price hikes to come,” he said.

Newman stated that when streaming companies like Disney and YouTubeTV square off, it often comes down to how much subscribers are forced to pay to get those services.

“Just like on the cable and satellite side, TV networks are constantly pushing for higher carriage fees, while providers such as YouTube TV want to keep prices down to avoid driving customers away,” Newman wrote in a blog post

Even if YouTubeTV got what it wanted, Newman said Disney still holds the cards on what piece of the action it wants for itself. Although YouTubeTV hasn’t raised its rates for more than a year, it’s possible that prices may go up now that it’s added the Hallmark channels and presumably agreed to pay something extra to keep Disney in its line-up.

“Given that Disney’s bundle channels are the most expensive on cable, it’s hard to see YouTube TV’s costs going anywhere but up in the end,” he said.

Google’s YouTube is ending 2021 on a high note – and with more for its subscribers. After reaching a deal to keep YouTube on Roku’s streaming platform, Dis...

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Hulu to raise its prices again in October

Love Hulu? Enough to pay another dollar a month? The streaming service hasn’t made a big to-do about it, but beginning October 8, its monthly rate will go up by $1 a month.

That means Hulu’s ad-supported service will shoot up to $6.99 a month, and its ad-free service will increase to $12.99 a month. The price for the Hulu live TV plan and the Disney bundle — which includes Disney+, Hulu with ads and ESPN+ — will stay put at $13.99 a month, most likely because that rate was adjusted (by 18%) in November of 2020.

No thanks to Disney

The streaming service subscription game tends to be follow-the-leader. If Netflix — the master of inching up rates — can raise its prices without suffering a mass exodus of its subscribers, others are likely to follow suit. But Hulu took a gamble in 2019 by lowering its ad-supported tier from $7.99 to $5.99 a month in an effort to counteract Netflix’s price increase that year. 

Things changed after Disney bought a major stake in Hulu, and prices have continued to increase little by little since — not only for Hulu but for Disney's other streaming investments.

Earlier this year, Disney raised the cost of Disney+ by $1 a month, moving the monthly price to $7.99. Then, in July, it raised the price of ESPN+ to $6.99 a month.

When will this end? “Given that this is the first price increase for Hulu since their price lowering, we’re hoping it doesn’t raise any further,” commented Dana E. Neuts at Subscription Insider. “However, with more and more people cutting cords with their cable companies, Hulu and Disney are hoping to cash in on that extra dollar per month.”

To the contrary, Jared Newman of Cord Cutter Weekly thinks the hand Disney is playing is both smart for them and good for the consumer.

"Thankfully, Disney is an outlier, running Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ as separate services serving different needs while giving users who want all three a means of getting them at a discount," Newman said.

"That means cord cutters can subscribe to just the ones they want, and Disney can bring more expensive sports coverage to ESPN+ without destroying the value of its other offerings. Those who argue that we have too many streaming services fail to realize that the alternative would be even worse."

Hulu subscribers raise service issues

A dollar a month is not likely to kill Hulu’s subscriber base, but the quality of service might. ConsumerAffairs reviewers have beset Hulu with 52 1-star ratings in the last year, many of which raised concerns about the quality of its streaming service.

“I can't and when I say I can't, I mean, I can't get through a show without Hulu losing connection at least 3 times. This means when I am streaming live, I usually miss about half the show as I have to login again every time which takes forever!” wrote Angela of Texas, commenting on her technical woes with Hulu.

”I have contacted Hulu several times and they have me reboot and clear out the cookies every time which does nothing. To add insult to injury, they recently went up $15 per month on their pricing and are the most expensive app I have, and I can't even watch it most the time.”

Several reviewers beefed about the company's customer service. “Signed up with Verizon free Hulu/Disney/ESPN+ I received all 3. No charges from ESPN or Disney. Hulu is the only company who continues to charge my bank account,” wrote William of North Carolina. 

“I am paying my upgraded Verizon phone bill, I am owed Hulu for free in the contract. Hulu claims I cannot use my email address. They are unable to change anything. The fix Hulu offered was to change my email I’ve used for 20 years and cancel the Disney/ESPN/Hulu from Verizon and start all new with a new account. Hulu, you aren’t that special … canceled the service but I still pay.”

Love Hulu? Enough to pay another dollar a month? The streaming service hasn’t made a big to-do about it, but beginning October 8, its monthly rate will go...

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Amazon to give Music Unlimited subscribers up to six months of free Disney+

Amazon announced Monday that Amazon Music Unlimited customers in the U.S. and Canada can get up to six months of free Disney+. 

Existing subscribers to Amazon’s ad-free music streaming service can get three months of Disney’s streaming service, while new Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers can activate six months of Disney Plus. Current subscribers to Disney+ aren’t eligible for Amazon’s “Disney+ on Us” promotion.

“Amazon Music customers will now be able to watch films like Disney and Pixar's Luca and Marvel Studios' new series Loki,” the company said in an announcement. “In the coming months, Disney+ will be launching additional new series, including Monsters at Work (July 7th) and Turner & Hooch (July 21st).” 

Disney is releasing new titles on the service every week. The company has said that users can expect 100 new titles from Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic to be added to Disney Plus each year. 

Eligible customers can redeem the promo or and sign up for an Amazon Music Unlimited subscription here

Amazon’s music streaming service has a catalog of approximately 75 million songs and podcasts. The service is priced at $8 a month for Prime members or $10 per month for non-Prime members. Alternatively, subscribers can pay $80 for the whole year. 

Amazon announced Monday that Amazon Music Unlimited customers in the U.S. and Canada can get up to six months of free Disney+. Existing subscribers to...

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Amazon buys MGM’s library to bolster its streaming services

In the race to have the largest library of streaming content on the planet, Amazon has just pulled into the lead by buying Metro Goldwyn Mayer’s (MGM) immense library of over 4,000 beloved films and 17,000 TV shows. 

With the stroke of a pen on a check for $8.45 billion, Amazon now owns movie classics like12 Angry Men and The Pink Panther, favorites like Rocky and Silence of the Lambs, the rights to upcoming films like House of Gucci starring Lady Gaga and the new James Bond flick “No Time to Die”, and TV series like The Handmaid’s Tale and Fargo.

“The real financial value behind this deal is the treasure trove of IP in the deep catalog that we plan to reimagine and develop together with MGM’s talented team. It’s very exciting and provides so many opportunities for high-quality storytelling,” said Mike Hopkins, Senior Vice President of Prime Video and Amazon Studios. 

Kevin Ulrich, Chairman of the Board of Directors of MGM called it a historic day, adding that the “opportunity to align MGM’s storied history with Amazon is an inspiring combination.”

Streaming gets more expensive

The unexpected COVID-19 outbreak that forced people to stay at home was a boon to streaming services. As people grew fond of all they found on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, and other platforms, entertainment moguls figured that consumers wanted more.

There’s certainly lots of money to be had in streaming services. A recent study from ResearchNester predicts that global video streaming revenue will grow from 17.5 billion in 2020 to nearly 55 billion by 2028.

And where does that revenue come from? The consumer. After adding 26 million new subscribers worldwide in the first half of the 2020 pandemic, Netflix decided that if it raised its prices a dollar or two a month, that would make its bottom line even fatter. 

On Thursday, the company raised the prices of its standard and premium plans to $13.99 (from $12.99) and $17.99 (from $15.99) per month, about the same jump in price it took in 2019. Hulu also tweaked its prices in late 2020, increasing the cost of its live streaming option from $54.99 to $64.99 per month. Google’s YouTubeTV also raised its rates from $50 per month to $65.95 per month last July. 

Maybe it’s time for an audit of all your streaming services. “These rate increases can add up over time without you noticing, as all of them rely on ‘evergreen’ automatic payments and yearly renewals via your credit card. That means if you want to cancel, you have to go out of your way to opt out of renewal,” said Lifehacker’s Mike Winters.

“The danger comes in the fact that it’s easy to overlook these increases over time, which can be substantial—just look at Hulu’s live TV plan, which has gone up by $25 per month over the last few years. That’s a lot of money if you aren’t paying attention to what you’re being charged.”

In the race to have the largest library of streaming content on the planet, Amazon has just pulled into the lead by buying Metro Goldwyn Mayer’s (MGM) imme...

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Online gambling surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, study finds

COVID-19 lockdowns over the last year have significantly impacted consumers’ behavior. Recent studies have found that more time at home during the pandemic has led to both positive and negative outcomes; some consumers have experienced personal growth during this time, while others have relied heavily on alcohol.

Now, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Bristol found another way that consumers passed time during lockdown orders: online gambling. According to their findings, regular gamblers were much more likely to participate in online gambling while at home over the last year when compared to before the pandemic. 

“This study provides unique real-time insights into how people’s attitudes and gambling behavior changed during lockdown, when everyone was stuck inside and unable to participate in most social activities,” said researcher Alan Emond. “The findings reveal that although many forms of gambling were restricted, a minority of regular gamblers significantly increased their gambling and betting online. As with so many repercussions of the pandemic, inequalities have been exacerbated and particularly vulnerable groups were worse affected.” 

Analyzing pandemic gambling trends

The researchers first analyzed responses from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), which started before the pandemic, and had participants answer questions about their gambling habits and other lifestyle behaviors. Based on those responses, the researchers conducted two more surveys about gambling during the pandemic, which included data on more than 2,600 adults. 

Overall, the trend was clear: participants were gambling more during the pandemic than before it. While in-person betting decreased, online betting on games like bingo or poker surged during lockdown orders. Those who were regular gamblers prior to the pandemic were more than six times as likely to increase their betting during the pandemic. 

The researchers learned that men were more likely than women to gamble, and many engaged in some form of online betting at least once per week. Financial troubles made participants more likely to engage in online gambling during lockdown orders. 

It’s also important to note that as gambling increased, alcohol consumption also increased. Heavy drinking at least once a week was linked with an increase in online gambling among all of the study participants. The researchers worry about the impact that both gambling and alcohol can have on consumers’ physical and mental well-being, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“The strong link between binge drinking and regular gambling is of particular concern, as they are both addictive behaviors, which can have serious health and social consequences,” Emond said. “With the wider availability of gambling through different online channels, vulnerable groups could get caught in a destructive cycle. A public health approach is needed to minimize gambling harms.” 

COVID-19 lockdowns over the last year have significantly impacted consumers’ behavior. Recent studies have found that more time at home during the pandemic...

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AT&T, WarnerMedia, and Discovery combine assets to become the next streaming content giant

The room at the top of the streaming world just got a little more crowded. AT&T and Discovery have announced a decision to take WarnerMedia’s premium entertainment, sports, and news assets and combine them with Discovery's nonfiction and sports businesses to create a premier, stand-alone global entertainment company.

This news may sound vaguely familiar to some. And it is. Less than three years ago, AT&T's WarnerMedia announced its intent to launch a new streaming service by late 2019. But if the key addition of Discovery doesn’t give Disney and NBC/Universal a run for their money, nothing will. The result will be a massive “pure play” content portfolio containing more than 100 brands: HBO, Warner Bros., Discovery, DC Comics, CNN, Cartoon Network, HGTV, Food Network, the Turner Networks, TNT, TBS, Eurosport, Magnolia, TLC, Animal Planet, and more. 

It’s a heavy price for the two companies to pay, but one that could have a huge payoff. In an announcement, Discovery CEO David Zaslav -- who will run the new venture -- said the new company will start with $55 billion in debt and that the company revenue goal for its first full year of business -- 2023 -- is budgeted at $52 billion. 

Investors who own stock in either company will also see some shifting around. If you’re an investor in AT&T, your new stock will represent 71% of the new company whereas Discovery shareholders will own 29% of the new company. 

What consumers can hope to gain

The new company starts out with a lot of shareable content -- some 200,000 hours of “iconic programming,” according to the companies. While Zazlav didn’t show all his cards, he suggested that consumers should see more original content from “under-represented storytellers and independent creators,” as well as a sizable investment in family-friendly nonfiction video content.

"During my many conversations with [AT&T’s CEO John Stankey], we always come back to the same simple and powerful strategic principle: these assets are better and more valuable together. We believe everyone wins... [including] consumers with more diverse choices,” Zaslav said. 

“We will build a new chapter together with the creative and talented WarnerMedia team and these incredible assets built on a nearly 100-year legacy of the most wonderful storytelling in the world. That will be our singular mission: to focus on telling the most amazing stories and have a ton of fun doing it.”

The room at the top of the streaming world just got a little more crowded. AT&T; and Discovery have announced a decision to take WarnerMedia’s premium ente...

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Disney+ subscription price will soon go up

The price of a Disney+ subscription is set to go up on March 26, so consumers who want to save a little money may want to sign up now. The monthly cost of a Disney+ subscription will soon go up by $1 to $8 per month, or $80 upfront for an entire year. 

The pricing changes will also affect the Disney Bundle, which gives consumers access to  Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. The price of the package will increase from $12.99 per month to $13.99 per month, or from $18.99 per month to $19.99 per month for the plan that includes an ad-free Hulu experience.

The company said at the end of last year that it would have to raise prices in order to recoup the losses it’s incurred from investing in new content. Over the past year, Disney+ has debuted a number of new shows like WandaVision, The Mandalorian, and new Marvel and Star Wars content. It has also added new releases like Soul and added classics like Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. 

Disney announced this week that Cruella and Black Widow will be released in May and July, respectively, on Disney+ as $30 Premier Access titles. The one-time $30 Premier Access fee lets consumers watch brand new movies as many times as they want as long as they remain a Disney+ subscriber. 

The price of a Disney+ subscription is set to go up on March 26, so consumers who want to save a little money may want to sign up now. The monthly cost of...

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Regal Cinemas to reopen hundreds of locations next month

Following an extended period of being closed to the public due to the pandemic, Regal Cinemas has announced that it will reopen around 500 of its U.S. locations on April 2. 

“Regal is thrilled to welcome our guests back to the movies in April,” Regal wrote on Twitter. “Select theatres will be opening April 2, in time for ‘Godzilla vs. Kong.’ Additional theatres will be opening in the weeks to follow.”

The movie theater chain said it will have a number of health and safety measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as limiting attendance to between 25 percent and 50 percent. Some other changes that the company said it will implement include:

  • Operating at limited capacity and requiring guests to wear masks;

  • Increasing fresh air intake by 50 percent to 100 percent to help air circulate throughout auditoriums;

  • Leaving two seats between parties in theaters to help with social distancing; 

  • Changing concession stand procedures to include reduced menu offerings and social distancing between registers; and 

  • Allowing guests to make food and drink purchases via the Regal app.

Welcoming moviegoers back

Regal, which is owned by Cineworld, made the decision to shutter its theaters six months ago as COVID-19 restrictions went into effect. But with many businesses reopening, the chain says it’s ready to fulfill its vital role in communities across the U.S.

"We have long-awaited this moment when we can welcome audiences back to our Regal theatres and restore our essential role within the communities we serve," said Mooky Greidinger, Chief Executive Officer of Cineworld. 

"With the health and safety of our customers, staff, and communities as our top priority, we continue to take all the necessary precautions and abide by our CinemaSafe guidelines to confidently provide a safe and comfortable experience. With capacity restrictions expanding to 50% or more across most U.S. states, we will be able to operate profitably in our biggest markets."

Following an extended period of being closed to the public due to the pandemic, Regal Cinemas has announced that it will reopen around 500 of its U.S. loca...

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Amazon Prime secures exclusive rights to NFL Thursday Night Football

The National Football League (NFL) has reached a multi-year deal with Amazon for exclusive rights to Thursday Night Football games on Amazon Prime, beginning with the 2023 season.

The league’s first-ever exclusive deal with a streaming service further blurs the line between broadcast television and streaming video.

Under the terms of the deal, which runs for 10 years, Prime will be the exclusive outlet for 15 Thursday Night Football games each season, along with one pre-season game. All games will air on Prime Video as part of a Prime membership.

“NFL games are the most-watched live programming in the United States, and this unprecedented Thursday Night Football package gives tens of millions of new and existing Prime members exclusive access to must-watch live football on Prime Video,” said Mike Hopkins, senior vice president of Prime Video and Amazon Studios. 

The NFL and Amazon began a relationship in 2017 when Prime simulcast some Thursday night NFL games. Last season, Amazon had exclusive broadcast rights to one Thursday night game, a late-season match-up between the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals, which drew an estimated 11.2 million viewers.

Other media deals

The Amazon deal was one of many the league announced with other, more traditional broadcast outlets. The $100 million package ties up the NFL for 11 years with CBS, ESPN/ABC, Fox, and NBC. 

"These new media deals will provide our fans even greater access to the games they love.  We're proud to grow our partnerships with the most innovative media companies in the market," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. "Along with our recently completed labor agreement with the NFLPA, these distribution agreements bring an unprecedented era of stability to the league and will permit us to continue to grow and improve our game."

Most of the other deals continue existing relationships. However, the new agreement gives ABC rights to televise two Super Bowls while continuing its existing exclusive agreement with ESPN to broadcast Monday Night Football.

The National Football League (NFL) has reached a multi-year deal with Amazon for exclusive rights to Thursday Night Football games on Amazon Prime, beginni...

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AT&T to count HBO Max usage toward customers’ data caps

After previously stating that it wouldn’t do so, AT&T announced on Wednesday that it will begin counting time spent streaming content from HBO Max toward monthly data caps. The company informed customers that it would no longer offer “Data Free TV” on its video apps beginning March 25.  

The decision was made after a federal court upheld California’s net neutrality law, which prohibits "zero rating" or sponsored data streaming. AT&T said California’s law will extend beyond state borders since “a state-by-state approach to ‘net neutrality’ is unworkable.” 

“We regret the inconvenience to customers caused by California’s new ‘net neutrality’ law,” the company wrote in a blog post. “Given that the Internet does not recognize state borders, the new law not only ends our ability to offer California customers such free data services but also similarly impacts our customers in states beyond California.”

As a result of the change, customers will have to be connected to Wi-Fi in order to avoid having the content watched on HBO Max counted toward their data limits. 

AT&T added that it “strongly advocate[s]” for Congress to adopt federal legislation that provides “clear, consistent and permanent net neutrality rules for everyone to follow” and makes internet access available and affordable to all Americans.

After previously stating that it wouldn’t do so, AT&T; announced on Wednesday that it will begin counting time spent streaming content from HBO Max toward...

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AMC Theatres to open 98 percent of its locations by this Friday

AMC Theatres feels it’s safe to come out of the pandemic woods and reopen. 

A year after closing all of its locations due to COVID-19 concerns and six months after claiming it was on shaky ground financially, the movie theatre chain announced on Thursday that it will have 98 percent of its U.S. locations open by this Friday, March 19. By March 26, the company says it should have 99 percent of its theatres open to the public.

Moviegoer health is priority #1

At the top of its reopening checklist, the company is putting an emphasis on moviegoers’ health, and it feels like it has all the safety measures in place to meet that challenge. The company’s efforts in that regard include a slate of Safe & Clean policies and protocols developed in consultation with Clorox and with faculty at the Harvard University School of Public Health. 

One of the more important additions emphasized in the company’s announcement is the upgrade of its air filtration system. The upgrade includes MERV-13 air filters, which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says can trap smaller particles like viruses.

Here are some other health-conscious additions that returning moviegoers will find:

  • Social distancing & automatic seat blocking in each auditorium

  • Mandatory mask wearing

  • Easy availability of disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer

AMC is also taking a hard line on employee health. Managers and crew members will have their temperatures checked before they begin their shift. If anyone has a fever or coronavirus-like symptoms, they will be required to self-quarantine until they are symptom-free for at least 72 hours.

Changes at the concession stand

AMC isn’t letting down its guard anywhere, including the concession stand. Moviegoers will have to verbally request condiments like ketchup, mustard, relish, buttery popcorn topping, and salt, but napkins, cup lids, and straws are available to grab and go.

The company is also changing how drink and popcorn refills are managed. Customers will have to ask the concessions crew for a new cup to refill their drink or a new tub to refill their popcorn. 

AMC Theatres feels it’s safe to come out of the pandemic woods and reopen. A year after closing all of its locations due to COVID-19 concerns and six m...

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Budweiser and other major brands will be absent from Super Bowl LV

The day after the Super Bowl, there is as much “water cooler” chatter about the commercials as there is about the game. This year, there will be fewer commercials to talk about.

A number of companies that traditionally make commercials for the big game have announced that they will forego ads during this year’s telecast. Instead, they’ll be redirecting that spending toward an assortment of public-spirited causes.

Anheuser-Busch’s Budweiser beer, a fixture during the game’s commercial breaks for over three decades, is sitting out the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It released this YouTube video on Monday announcing its decision and explained that it will use the money it would have spent on the expensive advertisements to support an Ad Council campaign to provide information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine.

“A key learning from 2020 is that we must prioritize humanity and purpose,” said Marcel Marcondes, U.S. CMO, Anheuser-Busch. 

Marcondes says any ads the company airs won’t be for its flagship product. Instead, he says the messages will be designed to ”provoke us to think about what matters most in life.”

Concern about the optics

Industry analysts say major brands are being careful not to damage their images. The optics of splashy, celebratory ads might not play so well with the public against a backdrop of a pandemic that has thrown millions out of work, closed thousands of businesses, and claimed the lives of more than 400,000 Americans.

Pepsi has said it will not air the number of commercials it has in past years. However, the soft drink giant remains the sole sponsor of the Super Bowl halftime show.

Rival Coca-Cola will also take a seat on the bench. It released a statement to CNBC, saying it had decided to focus on “investing in the right resources.” Coke has also been a victim of the pandemic, seeing its sales suffer over the last 10 months since a huge amount of its product is sold through bars and restaurants.

Fewer car ads

In recent years, Hyundai has been a regular sponsor of the most-watched sporting event of the year. But not in 2021.

A company spokesperson said the decision was likely for this year only and was "based on marketing priorities, the timing of upcoming vehicle launches, and where we felt it was best to allocate our marketing resources."

Audi is also taking a hiatus from advertising during this year’s game. In a statement, it said it is taking 2021 to “focus on new endeavors.”

The game’s newest sponsor, Little Caesar’s pizza, is also calling a timeout. The company, which aired its first Super Bowl commercial last year, said it doesn’t have a new message to share.

The day after the Super Bowl, there is as much “water cooler” chatter about the commercials as there is about the game. This year, there will be fewer comm...

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AT&T drops AT&T TV Now to simplify offerings

AT&T has announced that it’s merging AT&T TV Now and AT&T TV in an effort to bring “more value and simplicity” to its streaming service offerings. 

“AT&T TV Now has merged with AT&T TV to bring you the best live and on-demand experience,” the company said in an update on its website. 

Although the telecom and media giant has stopped allowing new sign-ups for AT&T TV Now, existing users will be able to continue using the service without disruptions or price changes.  

AT&T TV Now was designed to replace the company’s “DirecTV Now” satellite service, which launched in November 2016. The “skinny bundle” offering was initially priced at $35 per month and offered cord-cutters more than 100 channels. However, AT&T raised the price over time, and many early adopters stopped using the service. 

Going forward, the telecom’s AT&T TV offering -- which is more similar to traditional cable than AT&T TV Now -- will be offered with a month-to-month payment option. Current contracts will remain in effect, but customers can move to the month-to-month plan once their current contract expires. 

Prices for the non-contractual options start at $70 per month. That price gets customers an Entertainment package that includes ESPN, CNN, and FX, as well as local broadcast channels and 20 hours of cloud DVR. For $10 extra per month, the company will add additional DVR storage. 

Consumers can also choose to sign up for a two-year contract. Doing so drops the price of the Entertainment package’s first-year price to $60 per month. In the second year, that price increases to $93 per month. 

AT&T; has announced that it’s merging AT&T; TV Now and AT&T; TV in an effort to bring “more value and simplicity” to its streaming service offerings. “...

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AMC secures $100 million investment, but it says it will need more to avoid bankruptcy

AMC Theatres has secured a $100 million investment to help keep the beleaguered movie chain afloat, but it says it still needs another $750 million of additional liquidity to fund the company’s cash requirements through the end of 2021.

Mudrick Capital came to AMC’s rescue with the additional funding. The company is an investment firm specializing in distressed credit investing, focused on “find(ing) investments with attractive risk reward ratios.” It also holds second lien notes issued by AMC and, if need be, will convert $100 million of existing AMC debt into AMC common stock.

If all else fails?

Should AMC fail to get more help, it repeated that it may have to enter bankruptcy proceedings. While 400 of its nearly 600 U.S. theaters are still open, bankruptcy may force it to close the rest of those theaters’ doors.

“Given the uncertainty regarding our ability to raise material amounts of additional liquidity and the uncertainty as to the time at which attendance levels might normalize, substantial doubt exists about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time,” AMC said in a regulatory filing.

Another COVID-19 casualty

It’s no surprise, but AMC puts much of the blame squarely on the pandemic’s shoulders. 

“A significant spike in coronavirus cases, together with delays of major movie releases or the direct or simultaneous release of movie titles to the home video or streaming markets in lieu of theatre exhibition, have led to theatre closures, prevented the opening of theatres in major markets and have had, and are expected to continue to have in the future, a material adverse impact on theatre attendance levels and our business,” AMC said.

The company’s finger-pointing toward delays and simultaneous releases of movies was aimed directly at Warner Brothers, who recently decided to release its entire 2021 movie slate on its streaming service HBO Max and in theaters simultaneously. AMC has fretted about this possibility for months, and it said in the filing that other studios may follow. 

AMC found some respite over the summer with Universal, which it struck a deal with to make movies available sooner outside of theaters. However, that’s the only handshake deal it has been able to make so far.

AMC Theatres has secured a $100 million investment to help keep the beleaguered movie chain afloat, but it says it still needs another $750 million of addi...

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Disney+ tacks on $1 to its monthly subscription price

Disney+ is raising its monthly subscription price to $7.99 a month, a $1 increase. The new price will go into effect March 26, 2021. 

With the price hike, subscribers will pay $79.99 per year. Disney is also raising the price of the Disney Bundle -- which has Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Plus -- to $13.99 a month (also a $1 increase). 

Since launching in November 2019, Disney+ has amassed a whopping 86.8 million subscribers. During a four-hour presentation for investors on Thursday, Disney said it’s putting a lot of money into new content and needs to raise prices for subscribers as a result. 

As many as 20 new Marvel and Star Wars series and more than two dozen Disney and Pixar movies or series are headed straight to Disney+, according to the company. Disney+ will be the first to receive movies like “Pinocchio,” starring Tom Hanks and directed by Robert Zemeckis, and “Peter Pan and Wendy,” starring Jude Law (both of which are still in production).

The price increase comes a little over a month after fellow streaming giant Netflix raised the prices of its standard and premium subscription plans. At the time, Netflix’s COO and chief product officer Greg Peters said Netflix will “occasionally go back and ask [customers] to pay a little bit more to keep that virtuous cycle of investment and value creation going.” 

Disney+ is raising its monthly subscription price to $7.99 a month, a $1 increase. The new price will go into effect March 26, 2021. With the price hik...

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Hulu hikes price for its +Live package by $10 a month

Hulu is raising the roof on its rates for their Hulu + Live TV package by $10 per month -- an aggressive 18 percent increase over the current $54.99 price. It’s the third major price hike for a live TV streaming service in 2020, and it brings Hulu up to the same price point as YouTube TV and FuboTV, both of which started charging $65 per month during the summer.

Hulu subscribers have reportedly been notified about the price increase and have until December 18 to fish or cut bait from the service. Hulu’s on-demand streaming service has 32.5 million subscribers for a total of 36.6 million Hulu subscribers. 

Streaming services are Disney’s new cash cows

The price jump comes just days after Disney CEO Bob Chapek praised Hulu’s live TV offering during the company’s quarterly earnings call, saying its subscription base was “growing rapidly.”

Actually, Chapek has several reasons to be happy. Disney has 120 million paid subscribers between Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+. If the company can get half of Hulu’s current 36.6 million subscribers to pay the extra $10 per month, it becomes a bonafide cash cow, bringing another $180 million a month to the table. 

“We’ve got a product that we’re really excited about and ... it really gives the utility that consumers might normally find from the cable or satellite subscriber and be able to get it over-the-top directly to their homes,” Chapek said on the call. 

ConsumerAffairs’ Hulu reviewers seem to agree with Chapek, giving the service close to a 4-star rating and applauding the service for everything he says it offers.

Is cord-cutting still worth it?

While bundling streaming services seems like a smart idea, by the time you add up a few to get what you consider the perfect little personal network, it may not be. Things can add up quickly when a service increases its rates a dollar here or there. A good case in point is Netflix, which has bumped up its subscription price five times in the last 10 years.

“Sad as it is, we shouldn’t be surprised,” mused cord-cutting watcher Jared Newman. “If there was any doubt left about how the pay TV industry would respond to cord cutting, this latest price hike makes the endgame clear: There will be no pivot toward flexible packages, lower prices, or the mythical a la carte cable TV service. The prevailing strategy is now a scorched earth one, with routine price increases imposed on a shrinking number of pay TV subscribers.”

Hulu is raising the roof on its rates for their Hulu + Live TV package by $10 per month -- an aggressive 18 percent increase over the current $54.99 price....

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AMC launches private theater rental program

AMC Entertainment has announced that it’s launching a private theater rental program

The movie theater chain was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and recently reported a staggering $905.8 million quarterly loss. Company officials are hoping to bolster revenue by offering consumers the option of renting out an entire theater for as little as $99. 

On its official website, AMC said private screenings will have COVID-19 safety measures in place, and the number of guests allowed in each theater will be capped at 20. 

“As part of our AMC Safe & Clean initiative, private movie showings can accommodate 1-20 total guests (host included), so the auditorium can remain at 40% capacity (or less based on municipality guidelines), leaving plenty of space for social distancing,” the company said. 

Masks will be required “unless you are actively enjoying food or drinks,” AMC said. The company added that outside food and drink may not be brought into private screenings. 

Test showed significant interest

Consumers who rent out a theater can choose from one of the movies AMC is offering. The theater chain is currently offering 17 films including “Jurassic Park” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” New releases -- such as “Tenet,” “The War With Grandpa” and “Freaky” -- can be viewed for a higher price of between $149 to $349, depending on location.

AMC said it recently tested the program and it drew “110,000 inquiries around the country” in the span of a month -- more than four times higher than the total number of requests it got in all of 2019 for private theater rentals.

“The results and feedback from our guests about AMC Safe & Clean have been overwhelmingly positive, and Private Theatre Rentals at AMC provides an additional layer of safety and security to those moviegoers who are looking to see movies with just their family members and friends,” Elizabeth Frank, executive give president of worldwide programming and chief content officer, said in a statement. 

“It’s unprecedented for AMC to receive 110,000 contacts in four weeks about a private theatre rental, based only on word of mouth and organic publicity, and we are excited about and appreciative of the interest this has sparked among AMC guests,” she said. 

AMC Entertainment has announced that it’s launching a private theater rental program. The movie theater chain was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and...

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Netflix raises its monthly subscription price again

It’s full steam ahead at Netflix. After adding 26 million new subscribers worldwide in the first half of the 2020 pandemic, its users are going to have to pony up another dollar or two per month starting soon. 

On Thursday, the company raised the prices of its standard and premium plans to $13.99 (from $12.99) and $17.99 (from $15.99) per month, about the same jump in price it took in 2019.

While that price increase might appear incidental, it could sure mean a lot to Netflix’s bottom line. Tacking on a dollar or two per month to its 73 million U.S. subscribers and an estimated 195 million worldwide is a healthy shot of black ink to the company’s bottom line. 

The changes to expect

The big change for Netflix is the monthly subscription price, but there a few other items that Netflix users should take note of:

  • When the price will go upSo as not to be surprised when the price increase comes, current Netflix subscribers will be notified 30 days before any rate change happens. They should be ready to see the updated prices on their bill sometime in the next two months, according to a comment Netflix made to CNBC.

  • Basic plan changes. The basic plan holds steady at $8.99 a month, the same price Netflix rolled out in 2019.

  • Free trials. Will there be more free trials? Those appear to be in limbo. While Netflix continues to offer free trials outside of the U.S., it recently closed the lid on the promotion in the U.S. and began emphasizing that it lets subscribers cancel anytime at no cost.

  • Streaming qualityWhile Netflix didn’t mention any changes in quality, ConsumerAffairs reminds Apple Mac users who want to use their computers to stream Netflix 4K (reportedly when Apple’s next system software, macOS Big Sur, is released) that Netflix will only stream in 4K to Macs that have a T2 security chip.

Becoming part of the conversation

As ConsumerAffairs read the transcript for its latest earnings call, our biggest takeaway was that Netflix wants to be fundamental in the viewer’s go-to streaming services. 

Netflix’ co-founder, Wilmot Reed Hastings, said the company has come to realize there are no gimmicks or techniques, but that it’s really about member satisfaction. In his words, “If we please you on a Wednesday night, you're more likely to come back on a Thursday night.”

“Primarily, what we're trying to do in our marketing is get people to talk about those things that they're watching and got to get it into the conversation … and to excite the fan base so that when they're talking about a movie, they're talking about a Netflix movie. And when they're talking about a TV show, they're talking about a Netflix TV show. And that's the thing that we're building toward every day,” added Theodore A. Sarandos, the company’s Co-CEO, Chief Content Officer & Director.

It’s full steam ahead at Netflix. After adding 26 million new subscribers worldwide in the first half of the 2020 pandemic, its users are going to have to...

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Moviegoers starting to feel confident about returning to theaters

A new survey of U.S. moviegoers from Comscore shows that movie fans are starting to feel more confident heading off to a theater, mostly because of the aggressive safety procedures implemented by exhibitors. 

The survey results are a welcome sigh of relief for theaters, especially for the country’s largest theatre chain, AMC, which was about to throw in the towel after trying every trick it could -- including 15-cent movies -- to try and stay afloat while moviegoers hunkered down at home bingeing on Netflix and other streaming services. 

The key takeaways

Comscore’s survey revealed three key insights into the rehabbed moviegoer experience:

  • Consumers had positive experiences. An impressive 92 percent had a positive experience at the movies with 60 percent of those saying, “It was great, glad to be back at the movies.”

  • Boredom was a driving factor: Pandemic-driven boredom turned out to be a big reason why movie fans have returned to the box office. Fifty-one percent say they were driven back to the movies by their desire to socialize, particularly with their friends and family, and get back to normal outside-the-home routines.

  • New films brought in customers. Finally, aside from going to the movies being considered a safe activity, recently released blockbuster films were considered very compelling as “a new film I had to see” was one of the most important factors in their decision to return to the movie theater.

“Now that US moviegoers have begun going back to the multiplex, exhibition is clearly doing a great job of creating an environment that exudes the essential values of health and safety in the era of COVID-19,” said Paul Dergarabedian, Senior Media Analyst, Comscore. 

“A great in-theater experience combined with new and exciting movies from the most notable studios are a combination that is resonating strongly with audiences who are responding enthusiastically to their big screen theatrical experience.”

Trivia nights and classrooms?

Yes, the public’s perception that it’s safe to return to the theaters is a good sign, but not every theater has the muscle and reserves that a chain like AMC does. In some situations, smaller operators are turning to other ways to generate some income while the pandemic is still a factor.

In its coverage of the situation, CNBC found that National Amusements, owner of the Showcase Cinemas chain, is working with libraries to show movies that are based on books and also with museums to play documentaries that are tied to exhibits.

Another creative play or two came from the smaller players. Some turned parking lots into concert venues, others traded blockbuster opening weekends for trivia nights, and some of the more future-thinking ones cut deals with local colleges to rent out the space for in-person learning.

“We’ve made the commitment to keep our doors open, keep our people working,” Jason Ostrow, vice president of development at Texas-based chain Star Cinema Grill, told CNBC “Their sole purpose is to innovate and find ways to drive business however they can.”

A new survey of U.S. moviegoers from Comscore shows that movie fans are starting to feel more confident heading off to a theater, mostly because of the agg...

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AMC Theatres says it could be out of business by the end of the year

How bad have things gotten for the movie industry? So bad that AMC Theatres, the planet’s biggest movie chain, says it could completely run out of money by the end of the year. 

Early Tuesday, the company said that its cash on hand would be "largely depleted" by the end of 2020 or early 2021. It noted two reasons for that, including a "reduced movie slate for the fourth quarter" and "the absence of significant increases in attendance from current levels."

Holding out hope

Despite the dire picture and the misfortune of other movie chains, AMC thinks it has two ways out of its money problem. If more customers started buying tickets, that would help. So would finding new ways to borrow money.

However, the film industry isn’t helping to make that first wish happen. As an example, Sony Pictures said it’s not releasing movies that it thinks have big box office appeal -- like ‘Morbius’ and ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ -- until the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is over. Other filmmakers are following suit, pushing films like Marvel's "Black Widow" and the new James Bond "No Time to Die" to 2021. 

Over at Universal, company brass have decided to take an alternate route of skipping coronavirus-shuttered theatres altogether by going direct to digital. That move paid off handsomely, with ‘Trolls: The World Tour’ raking in nearly $100 million in three weeks. Pixar also went the digital route, pulling "Soul" from theaters to debut on Disney's streaming service Disney+.

It can’t be said that AMC hasn’t tried to find something that works. Earlier this year, it reopened some of its theatres with a 15-cent ticket deal. After Universal did its end-around with ‘Trolls,’ AMC struck a deal with the film company that drastically shortened the length of time that films have to play in theaters before they can be parceled out for on-demand, rental, or for sale. That was apparently nothing more than a band-aid when the chain needed a giant tourniquet.

For the moment -- or until cash reserves completely dry up -- AMC is keeping 520 of its 600 locations open. If it can get people back inside, it promises a healthy and safe environment by requiring social distancing and mask wearing all the way up to high tech solutions like electrostatic sprayers, HEPA vacuums, and enhanced air filtration. 

How bad have things gotten for the movie industry? So bad that AMC Theatres, the planet’s biggest movie chain, says it could completely run out of money by...

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Regal Cinemas to close U.S. theaters on October 8

​Regal Cinemas will temporarily close all 536 of its locations in the U.S. on October 8 due to limited consumer demand and a “challenging theatrical landscape.” Regal’s parent company, Cineworld Group, said Monday that the pandemic has led to prolonged theater closures in key markets, which has taken a massive toll on its business. 

Additionally, studios haven’t been releasing new movies due to suppressed demand and the popularity of streaming. The lack of new movies has, in turn, perpetuated low demand, even after Regal implemented new COVID-19 protocols. 

"This is not a decision we made lightly, and we did everything in our power to support a safe and sustainable reopening in the U.S.– from putting in place robust health and safety measures at our theatres to joining our industry in making a collective commitment to the CinemaSafe protocols to reaching out to state and local officials to educate them on these initiatives.

“We are especially grateful for and proud of the hard work our employees put in to adapt our theatres to the new protocols and cannot underscore enough how difficult this decision was," said Mooky Greidinger, CEO of Cineworld.

Will resume business at “appropriate” time

Regal said it will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation as it pertains to its business. The theater chain said it hopes to resume operations “at the appropriate time, when key markets have more concrete guidance on their reopening status and, in turn, studios are able to bring their pipeline of major releases back to the big screen.” 

In the U.S., the suspension of operations will affect about 40,000 jobs. Cineworld will also be suspending operations at 127 Cineworld and Picturehouse cinemas in the U.K.

​Regal Cinemas will temporarily close all 536 of its locations in the U.S. on October 8 due to limited consumer demand and a “challenging theatrical landsc...

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Disney+ launches new co-watching feature

With the pandemic still keeping consumers at home, Disney+ has added a new co-watching feature to enable friends and family to watch movies together while in different places. 

The streaming platform’s new GroupWatch feature was already in the works before the COVID-19 pandemic, but company officials said they sped up its timeline for deployment in light of the circumstances.  

The new Disney+ feature will let people synchronize movie viewings, enabling friends and family to stay connected even while physically apart. The technology doesn’t require a browser extension and will work on any device. 

Watching with other subscribers

Jerrell Jimerson, chief product officer for Disney’s streaming services, said the co-watching feature was designed to be “super easy for consumers to use.” After selecting “GroupWatch” from the Details menu of a movie or show on Disney+, users can invite up to six other Disney+ subscribers to participate in the viewing. 

Once the movie or show has started, participants can play, rewind or fast forward the video for the whole group and share emojis in response to what’s happening. Jimerson said that although the feature doesn’t have a chat option, other communication capabilities could soon be added.  

“There are other opportunities to integrate communication capabilities, but we haven’t shared any timing on those things,” he told TechCrunch.

The new co-watching feature was launched Tuesday. It works on the Disney+ website, smart TVs and connected devices, and on the Android and iPhone apps. 

With the pandemic still keeping consumers at home, Disney+ has added a new co-watching feature to enable friends and family to watch movies together while...

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AMC to reopen some of its theaters next week with 15-cent movies

AMC is planning to reopen 100 of its theaters next week with new safety measures and 15-cent movies.

The movie theater chain said Thursday that it will offer “moves in 2020 at 1920 prices” on opening day, August 20. After that, the company will be offering $5 tickets to movies like "Inception," "Black Panther," "Back to the Future," and "The Empire Strikes Back.” 

Guests will be required to wear masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The company said it will be selling masks at the theater for a dollar. AMC will also be allowing fewer guests into theaters to promote social distancing, stepping up cleaning procedures, and upgrading its ventilation systems. 

“Masks are required for guests and crew throughout the theater,” AMC said on its website. “Your mask must cover your nose and mouth and fit snugly around your face and chin. Neck gaiters, open-chin bandanas and masks with vents or exhalation valves are not acceptable at this time.” 

Reopening two-thirds of theaters 

AMC has delayed its reopening several times amid the ongoing health crisis. The chain initially planned to reopen theaters with a mask-optional policy, but consumer backlash prompted it to scrap that plan. AMC said in June that it would reopen on July 15, but a lack of movies being offered by studios forced it to push back that date. 

The company now says that two-thirds of its 600 U.S. theaters will be open by September 3. The rest of its locations will open "only after authorized to do so by state and local officials.”

"We are thrilled to once again open our doors to American moviegoers who are looking for an opportunity to get out of their houses and apartments and escape into the magic of the movies," Adam Aron, AMC's CEO, said in a statement on Thursday.

A full list of AMC theaters that will be reopening next week can be viewed on the company’s website.

AMC is planning to reopen 100 of its theaters next week with new safety measures and 15-cent movies.The movie theater chain said Thursday that it will...

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AMC Theatres and Universal strike deal to make movies available sooner outside of theaters

AMC Theaters, the U.S. largest movie theatre chain, and Universal have shaken hands on a new agreement that drastically shortens the length of time that films have to play in theaters before they can be parceled out for on-demand, rental, or for sale to a meager 17 days. 

Seventeen days might seem like an odd number, but it ensures that AMC will have a minimum of three weekends to play host to movie lovers. Typically, the standard release window runs somewhere between 70 days and 90 days.

COVID-19 prompts change in movie industry

The two movie giants have been wrestling for months over release windows -- a move brought on when Universal went direct to digital with Trolls: The World Tour and skipped traditional movie houses altogether.

Like many other things these days, the COVID-19 pandemic had a hand in that move. When Universal originally set a release date of April 10, 2020 for the Trolls movie, it had no idea theatres would be shut down and people forced to quarantine.

So instead of waiting until things got back to normal, Universal took an alternate route that paid off handsomely. Inside of three weeks, Trolls: The World Tour raked in nearly $100 million according to The Wall Street Journal. That’s more than Universal made with the first Trolls movie altogether.

Universal liked what it saw with that move and decided it was going to continue that release model. That got AMC’s dander up, and the chain’s CEO Adam Aron fired back, calling Universal’s plan “unacceptable” and threatening to ban all future Universal releases from AMC Theaters. 

Is the entire movie industry headed this way?

Yes, Trolls: World Tour is an example of where the industry is probably headed. Yes, AMC is in some serious financial trouble. And yes, iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, Google Play, and other digital platforms are taking a larger slice of the pie. But despite Universal’s good fortune, there doesn’t seem to be much uptake from its movie studio peers to leapfrog theatres completely.

A prime example would be WarnerMedia, whose CEO John Stankey told The Hollywood Reporter that theatrical films “have always been a major part of our ecosystem. I fully expect that as we evaluate our business going forward, we will continue to champion creative work that is worthy of the theatrical experience.”

AMC Theaters, the U.S. largest movie theatre chain, and Universal have shaken hands on a new agreement that drastically shortens the length of time that fi...

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Disney World reveals plans for a phased reopening

Get out your mouse ears -- Disney World is gearing up for a reopening.

In a pitch to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force in Florida on Wednesday, Disney proposed a phased reopening of Walt Disney World Resort theme parks that is planned to begin on July 11.

With Shanghai Disney Resort and Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort already reopened and operating smoothly, Disney feels it has all the proper safety and sanitation measures in place to move things forward.

The new timeline

Pending Orange County and state approval, here are the dates Disney World attractions will reopen:

Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. A phased reopening for the general public will begin July 11.

EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. July 15 is the requested date for those two park sections. 

Expect changes

Disney’s devotees may not get the same exact experience they had the last time they visited a park if they plan to go during the reopening. The company said that visitors should expect changes on how the theme parks will be managed all the way down to how cast members will engage with guests and “create magical Disney memories.”

Its list of modifications goes like this:

Deliberate approach. Disney is not simply opening the gates and letting everyone in. It’s taking a phased approach with limits on attendance and controlled guest density that aligns with guidance on physical distancing. 

Until further notice, experiences that draw large group gatherings, such as parades and nighttime spectaculars, are on hold. The “high-touch” like makeovers, playgrounds, and character meet and greets are also temporarily unavailable. Nonetheless, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Snow White will still be roaming the park grounds to entertain and bring some smiles.

New reservation system. There will be no more going to the ticket window when you get there and buying an admission on the spot. Attendance will be managed through a new reservation system that will require all guests to secure their reservation in advance. 

No new ticket sales or hotel reservations. For visitors who have an existing ticket, they’re good to go. However, the resort is pausing new ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel reservations. Additional details are available on the Disney Parks Blog.

Resorts and campgrounds reopen June 15 and June 22. Disney Vacation Club resorts in Vero Beach, Florida, and Hilton Head, South Carolina, will open to members and guests starting on June 15. Vacation Club resorts at Walt Disney World and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground plan on reopening June 22.

Shopping and dining. The World of Disney retail shop at the Disney Springs shopping and dining complex at Walt Disney World has already reopened. The remainder of those venues will be phased in over the next month or so. 

Enhanced safety protocols. Disney is taking its responsibility in this area seriously and asks guests to do the same. “Our destinations will continue to follow enhanced safety protocols based upon applicable guidance from health authorities and government agencies,” the company said in a news release. 

Those new protocols include anyone 3 years old or older -- even cast members. Here are the new requirements:

  • Face coverings: Guests will be required to wear appropriate face coverings in theme parks and common areas of resort hotels. 

  • Temperature checks: All guests will undergo temperature screenings prior to entering a theme park. To add another layer of safety for visitors, cast members will also have temperature checks. 

  • Paying for things: Cashless transactions are preferred. 

Get out your mouse ears -- Disney World is gearing up for a reopening.In a pitch to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force in Florida on Wednes...

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MoviePass files for bankruptcy and prepares to liquidate

There have been a lot of “disrupter” businesses in the last decade that threatened to shake up the status quo. MoviePass is one that just didn’t work out.

MoviePass presented itself as a subscription service that allowed consumers to see an unlimited number of movies in theaters for a monthly subscription fee. The company filed for bankruptcy this week and said it would liquidate its assets.

In the end, MoviePass faced some headwinds that other disrupters like Uber and AirBnb didn’t. It didn’t help that the Hollywood box office went into a nosedive over the last couple of years. There just weren’t that many movies that consumers wanted to see.

At the same time, Nexflix was spending billions of dollars on content. For the same subscription fee, consumers could stay at home and watch great content, usually on big-screen 4k TV sets.

Not much of a surprise

The bankruptcy did not come as much of a surprise. In September, MoviePass lowered the curtain, suspending operations and not saying when, or if, it would resume. In July, the service informed its subscribers that it would be temporarily interrupting service while it worked on improving its app. Prior to that, it had been forced to change its business model numerous times in an effort to overcome financial struggles. 

At its peak, MoviePass was able to sign up nearly 3 million subscribers who paid $9.95 a month. But as there was less and less to see at movie theaters, subscribers dwindled to a low of 225,000 in April of last year.

When it filed for bankruptcy this week, the company listed, by name, 12,000 subscribers it said were creditors -- who had paid in advance and were owed refunds. According to CNN, that list took up 174 pages of the filing.

MoviePass’ problems gained momentum in 2018 when it suffered severe cash flow issues. In early 2019, the parent company was delisted on the NASDAQ stock exchange. 

There have been a lot of “disrupter” businesses in the last decade that threatened to shake up the status quo. MoviePass is one that just didn’t work out....

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NBCUniversal joins the streaming wars with the launch of Peacock

NBCUniversal is joining the streaming sweepstakes, announcing the launch of a new video service called Peacock. 

The service, which will debut later this year, is made up of three tiers: a limited content package that will be free, a premium tier that will contain ads, and an ad-free platform.

Peacock will offer more than 600 movies and 400 series, as well as live and on-demand content across news, sports, late-night, and reality. 

Parent company Comcast is one of the nation’s largest cable TV providers, so the new service appears carefully designed not to cannibalize that revenue. Peacock Free will be available to everyone at no charge so there’s less pressure for cord-cutting.

Over 7,500 hours of programming

Peacock’s free tier will offer more than 7,500 hours of NBCUniversal programming. Subscribers will get next-day access to current seasons of new broadcast series, complete classic series, popular movies, curated daily news, and sports programming that includes Olympics coverage.

Peacock Premium is another ad-supported tier but costs $4.99 a month. It will include about twice the amount of content offered on the free tier. It will be provided at no charge to 24 million Comcast and Cox subscribers.

The third tier is just like Peacock Premium but without ads. That will be provided to subscribers for $9.99 a month. The service will be available to Comcast and Cox subscribers in April and will roll out for all other consumers in July.

“This is a very exciting time for our company, as we chart the future of entertainment,” said Steve Burke, chairman of NBCUniversal. “We have one of the most enviable collections of media brands and the strongest ad sales track record in the business. Capitalizing on these key strengths, we are taking a unique approach to streaming that brings value to customers, advertisers and shareholders.”

Following Disney

Peacock follows the wildly successful launch of Disney+ in late 2019. Sandwiched in between AppleTV+ at $4.99 a month and Netflix’s basic service at $8.99 a month, Disney+’s initial price is $7 per month. Because Disney now owns Hulu and already had ESPN in its portfolio, consumers who add in services from either of those two channels will get an extra $5 off, creating a $13 a month bundle for Disney+, Hulu (with ads), and ESPN Plus.

Disney says it has signed-up more than 10 million subscribers to its new video service since launching in early November. Peacock has now made the streaming field even more crowded.

While more options are good for consumers, it may be an even bigger challenge to figure where to spend a monthly subscription budget. For its 13th annual Digital Media Trends survey released in March 2019, Deloitte surveyed more than 2,000 digital consumers across the U.S. and found that nearly half said the rapidly growing market for streaming services is causing them to experience “subscription fatigue.”

Deloitte’s survey showed strong growth in streaming video subscription services, with 69 percent of households now subscribing to one or more.

NBCUniversal is joining the streaming sweepstakes, announcing the launch of a new video service called Peacock. The service, which will debut later thi...

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Disney+ is here, large and in charge

The Mouse is officially in the house. 

Say hello to Disney+, the new subscription video on-demand (SVOD) streaming service from the Walt DIsney Company. The service is making its debut Tuesday in the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands.

All in all, Disney+ will have at its fingertips close to 7,000 television episodes and 500 films. To kick-start the service, the company will lean heavily on five properties: 

  • Star Wars: Included will be the first six films of the Star Wars franchise, plus The Force Awakens and Rogue One

  • National Geographic: Since Disney owns 73 percent of National Geographic Partners, it’s a no-brainer to include all that National Geographic already has on the shelf and in current production. National Geographic will also be producing the documentary series Magic of the Animal Kingdom and The World According to Jeff Goldblum.

  • Pixar: The animation studio is a motherlode of its own with 21 feature films, including all the Toy Story movies, Finding Dory, Coco, and The Incredibles.

  • Marvel: Most of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films will all be available from day one; however, seven films -- Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp, The Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Spider-Man: Far From Home -- won’t be available for a while because the rights to many of those were previously licensed to Netflix. In other cases, the distribution rights for some films are shared with different studios (e.g., Sony Pictures for the Spider-Man films).

  • Disney: As any video-consuming person knows, this is a goldmine of its own. The entire Disney film library, including films currently in the "Disney Vault" -- Pinocchio, Fantasia, Snow White, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, etc. -- will eventually find their way into the channel. And for the D'oh!’ers among you, Disney+ also owns the rights to the first 30 seasons of The Simpsons, and those are expected to be part of the lineup at launch. 

To sweeten the deal for Disney-loving consumers, the service has also created a boatload of new original -- and exclusive -- series and movies. Those include High School Musical: The Musical: The Series; Forky Asks a Question (Forky, by the way, is a character in Toy Story); a new version of Lady and the Tramp; and the video version of the young adult novel Stargirl.

How do you get Disney+ and what does it cost?

Out of the chute, Disney+ will be available on the web, so consumers can use their computers to watch its content. Offerings can also be found on certain apps -- like its own Disney+ app, Android TV, and Apple TV -- and devices such as Roku, PlayStation 4, a variety of smart TVs, and both Amazon’s Fire HD and Fire TV.

The company deserves kudos for going the distance for consumers with disabilities so they can also enjoy the service. The app will offer support for closed captioning, descriptive audio, and navigation assistance.

Cost-wise, it appears to be a good deal -- or at least a competitive one. Sandwiched in between AppleTV+ at $4.99 a month and Netflix’s basic service at $8.99 a month, Disney+’s initial price will be $7 per month. And because Disney now owns Hulu and already had ESPN in its portfolio, consumers who add in services from either of those two channels will get an extra $5 off, creating a $13 a month bundle for Disney+, Hulu (with ads), and ESPN Plus.

Goodies galore -- and one little bump in the road

With all that will be taking place over the next year or so with NBC-Universal’s new streaming service, changes at Hulu, and the recent roll-out of AppleTV+, Disney+ is starting out gloves off and in full bravado, daring competitors to match its consumer offerings and allowing subscribers to:

  • Get it for free -- or close to free, anyway. CNET reports that Verizon is giving away a whole year of Disney+ with its Unlimited plans;

  • Watch commercial-free;

  • Concurrently stream video content on up to four registered devices with no up-charges;

  • Have access to unlimited downloads of shows and movies on the Disney+ app to watch offline later on up to 10 mobile or tablet devices, with no constraints on the number of times a title can be downloaded per year; and

  • Share with up to seven other people. Interestingly, at least as far as ConsumerAffairs’ report on Netflix, HBO, and other SVODs going after consumers who allow others outside their household to use their subscription, Disney+ says that subscribers “can set up to seven different profiles.” There’s not one mention of “household,” “family,” or finger-wag warning that users better not let others ride on their subscription’s coattails. 

The bump in the road? CNN reported that as many as 8,415 site visitors experienced issues as soon as the service launched. Users were greeted by error pages starring Disney's own Wreck-It Ralph.

"Unable to connect to Disney+," said the error page, with Wreck-It Ralph holding a WiFi signal, reading, "There seems to be an issue connecting to the Disney+ service." 

However, the issue turned out to be temporary. EntertainmentWeekly reported that it was able to get the service going after a few restarts of the Disney+ app.

Around and around and around we go…

...and where this streaming service merry-go-round stops, nobody knows.

With all the buy-outs, shake-outs, and roll-outs in the streaming service game, the next couple of years will be interesting to say the least. 

“While competition is generally considered a positive thing for consumers, and rightly so, there can be too much of a good thing, as subscribers of video streaming services may soon come to learn,”  says Statista’s Felix Richter. “The industry that was once dominated by Netflix could become too fragmented for its own good.”

What Richter is essentially saying is that all the little pieces that Netflix had licensing deals for and could lose in the shake-out might force consumers to piecemeal their perfect world of shows together by subscribing to multiple services to get all they want. Cases-in-point are Friends, The Office, and the Disney and Marvel movies -- all of which consumers could find inside Netflix.

However, that smorgasbord is closing down: Disney is pulling its content out of Netflix; Friends will move to HBO Max in 2020; and shows like The Office and Parks and Recreation will eventually be exclusive to NBC-Universal’s new Peacock service.

“For consumers this means either limiting their content choices or subscribing to multiple streaming services rather than just one,” Richter says. “For existing streaming services, Netflix in particular, the situation is also highly dangerous. According to a survey conducted by Morning Consult and the Hollywood Reporter earlier this year, many Netflix subscribers would cancel their subscription in case the service loses some of the aforementioned content.”

The Mouse is officially in the house. Say hello to Disney+, the new subscription video on-demand (SVOD) streaming service from the Walt DIsney Company....

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Netflix to offer $2 billion in debt to fund content creation

Netflix announced Monday morning that it’s planning to offer another $2 billion in debt to fund its investment in content. The streaming giant also offered $2 billion in new debt for the same purpose back in April. 

The company said it intends to use the net proceeds from its latest offering “for general corporate purposes, which may include content acquisitions, production and development, capital expenditures, investments, working capital and potential acquisitions and strategic transactions.”

The move comes ahead of the November launch of highly anticipated streaming services from both Disney and Apple. 

Rising streaming competition

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings insisted last week that the company isn’t particularly worried about new competition in the streaming market. In a letter to shareholders accompanying its third quarter earnings report, Netflix said Apple TV+ and Disney+ aren’t likely to bump Netflix from its current spot as an industry leader. 

Hastings said that Disney is going to be a “great competitor,” but he assured investors that the new services will only bolster the streaming industry’s ability to compete with linear TV.  

“We’re all relatively small compared to linear TV,” Hastings said. “So we’re not really competing with each other, but with broadcast.”

Netflix executives said the launch of the new streaming services will be “noisy” and may bring “some modest headwind” to its near-term growth. However, the company said it doesn’t anticipate a big impact on its long-term growth. 

Netflix’s latest investment will help to fuel and sustain its expansive content lineup, which it says is crucial to keeping its subscriber numbers up.  

Netflix announced Monday morning that it’s planning to offer another $2 billion in debt to fund its investment in content. The streaming giant also offered...

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Netflix not worried about competition in streaming market

On Thursday, Netflix released its third quarter earnings report and said in an accompanying letter to shareholders that it’s not particularly worried about the November launch of Apple TV+ and Disney+. 

While the new streaming services do represent “increased competition,” Netflix said the soon-to-launch services won’t offer consumers the same amount and selection of content that it currently does. 

“The upcoming arrival of services like Disney+, Apple TV+, HBO Max, and Peacock is increased competition, but we are all small compared to linear TV,” the company said. “While the new competitors have some great titles (especially catalog titles), none have the variety, diversity, and quality of new original programming that we are producing around the world.” 

‘Modest headwind’ 

The streaming giant said the rollout of Apple TV+ (on November 1) and Disney+ (on November 12) may bring “some modest headwind” to its near-term growth. However, it expects to bounce back and “grow nicely” in the long term. 

CEO Reed Hastings said the newcomers to the streaming market don’t represent a “big change” in the competitive landscape, but he admits that linear TV providers do still pose a threat. 

“We’re all relatively small compared to linear TV,” Hastings said, according to CNBC. “So we’re not really competing with each other, but with broadcast.”

With new services on the way, Hastings predicted that more consumers will begin subscribing to multiple streaming services because of their unique content offerings. As a result, they’ll stop paying for linear TV and have more to spend on streaming services. 

“In our view, the likely outcome from the launch of these new services will be to accelerate the shift from linear TV to on demand consumption of entertainment,” he said. 

On Thursday, Netflix released its third quarter earnings report and said in an accompanying letter to shareholders that it’s not particularly worried about...

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AMC launches new streaming service

In an effort to contend with competition from the at-home streaming service industry, theater chain AMC Entertainment is launching its own streaming program, according to the New York Times. 

The service, dubbed AMC Theatres On Demand, will offer about 2,000 movies for U.S. consumers to rent or buy, allowing them to stream shows at home after they’ve left theaters. Prices will range from $3 and $6 for rentals and $10 and $20 for purchases.

AMC reportedly struck deals with five major movie studios -- Disney, Warner Bros., Universal, Sony, and Paramount -- who signed on to offer their movies on the platform. 

The theater chain previously introduced a service called AMC Stubs, which allowed subscribers to see up to three movies per week at movie theaters.

“The addition of AMC Theatres On Demand, which extends our movie offerings for AMC Stubs members into their homes, makes perfect sense for AMC Theatres, for our studio partners and for our millions of movie-loving guests,” Adam Aron, CEO and President, AMC Theatres, said in a statement. “Through the launch of AMC Theatres On Demand, we can reach movie lovers directly and make it easy for them to access films digitally.”

The company says new releases will become available on the service the same time they become available digitally, “following the traditional theatrical window set by each studio for each movie.” 

Consumers can rent or purchase movies on AMC’s website or mobile app, or through a Roku or SmartTV. AMC said it plans to add more services and devices “in the near future.” The full service is set to launch this week.

In an effort to contend with competition from the at-home streaming service industry, theater chain AMC Entertainment is launching its own streaming progra...

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YouTube is the preferred video-streaming platform among teens

Teens prefer YouTube to Netflix, according to a survey released this week by Piper Jaffray. The firm’s semiannual “Taking Stock With Teens” survey found that 37 percent of teens’ daily video consumption is spent on YouTube, while 35 percent is spent on Netflix. 

Piper Jaffray, an investment bank, said the demographic’s increasing preference for watching videos on YouTube instead of Netflix can be attributed to the platform’s “wide array of teen-oriented content,” such as music videos, video game streaming, and influencer videos. 

While YouTube was teens’ video-viewing platform of choice, the survey found that Netflix was more popular among teens compared to Hulu and Amazon Prime Video. Of the 9,500 teens surveyed, Hulu was preferred by 7 percent and Amazon Prime Video was preferred by just 3 percent of teens. 

Piper Jaffray analysts said competition in the subscription streaming service industry is to be expected in the coming months when Disney launches its Disney+ service and Apple launches Apple TV+ -- “but we believe the market will support multiple players, with Netflix leading the way,” the analysts said. 

"Looking into 2020 and beyond, despite increasing competition from Disney and Apple, we are optimistic regarding ongoing international sub growth and price increases,” the analysts wrote.

The survey also found that cable TV consumption has continued to drop among teens, just as it has among other demographics. Just 12 percent of teens’ daily video time was spent watching cable TV, which represented a 2 percent decrease from the firm’s spring survey and a 14 percent decrease since 2016 when that number was 26 percent.

Teens prefer YouTube to Netflix, according to a survey released this week by Piper Jaffray. The firm’s semiannual “Taking Stock With Teens” survey found th...

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Court blocks FCC rule changes on broadcast media ownership

A federal appeals court has vacated a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule that would have liberalized media ownership rules.

In a 2-1 vote, the Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the agency did not “adequately consider the effect its sweeping rule changes will have on ownership of broadcast media by women and racial minorities."

The court ruled against the FCC because it said it "cited no evidence whatsoever regarding gender diversity," the judges wrote. The FCC had previously stated that there was no available data on female media ownership.

The court said the FCC’s failure to address the impact on female ownership was egregious enough but added that the agency failed to properly consider the evidence of minority ownership.

Drastic changes

Rules covering radio and TV station ownership have changed drastically in the last 40 years. It was not that long ago that the FCC prevented one company from owning more than seven AM, FM, and TV stations, and none in the same market.

Today one company may own hundreds of stations, including multiple stations in a single market.

The FCC adopted a rule in 2017 that eliminated some of the cross-ownership rules, declaring that they had little effect on diversity of ownership. 

The court ruling also overturned a 2018 FCC order that created a special program to help new players in the broadcast industry. The court found that the FCC's definition of "new entrant" made "no overt reference to race, gender, or social disadvantage." 

The FCC says it plans to appeal the court’s ruling. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai complained that the Third Circuit Court of Appeals has consistently assumed FCC authority, attempting to block the agency from modernizing broadcast regulations.

A federal appeals court has vacated a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule that would have liberalized media ownership rules.In a 2-1 vote, the...

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MoviePass shuts down indefinitely

MoviePass announced on Friday that it would be shutting down its service on Saturday, September 14. At this time, it’s unclear whether the movie subscription service plans to resume service at any point in the future. 

In a press release, MoviePass parent company Helios and Matheson Analytics said the company’s "efforts to recapitalize MoviePass have not been successful to date." 

"The Company is unable to predict if or when the MoviePass service will continue.” Helios and Matheson Analytics wrote. “The Company is continuing its efforts to seek financing to fund its operations."

In July, MoviePass informed its subscribers that it would be temporarily interrupting service while it worked on improving its app. Prior to that, the company had been forced to change its business model numerous times in an effort to overcome financial struggles. 

Refunds promised 

The service was able to amass nearly 3 million subscribers by offering a $9.95 per month subscription plan, but profitability challenges ensued and subscriber numbers dwindled. As of April, MoviePass’ subscriber count was down to 225,000. 

On its website, MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe assured subscribers that they will be given a refund for any period of service they had already paid for.  

“Subscribers will not need to request a refund or contact MoviePass customer service to receive a refund,” Lowe wrote. “Subscribers will not be charged during the service interruption. At this point, we are unable to predict if or when the MoviePass service will continue.” 

"We still deeply believe in the need for the MoviePass service in the marketplace, to maintain affordable access to theaters and provide movie lovers with choices of where to go to the movies," he continued. "Although we do not currently know what the future holds for the MoviePass service, we hope to find a path that will enable us to continue the service in the future."

MoviePass announced on Friday that it would be shutting down its service on Saturday, September 14. At this time, it’s unclear whether the movie subscripti...

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CBS and Viacom plan to merge once again

CBS and Viacom, two entertainment companies that once were one company, are joining forces once again. The two entertainment companies have announced an all-stock merger that will form a new company called ViacomCBS Inc.

Should the deal close as expected, CBS’ broadcast network will be part of an entertainment package that will include Viacom's MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central, as well as its Paramount film and TV studio and CBS’ showtime cable network.

Bob Bakish, who heads Viacom, will become CEO of the new company. He’s confident the merged operation can shake things up in the industry.

“Our unique ability to produce premium and popular content for global audiences at scale – for our own platforms and for our partners around the world – will enable us to maximize our business for today, while positioning us to lead for years to come,” Bakish said. 

Not unexpected

Wall Street had been pushing for months for the former partners to patch things up and get back together. The announcement was hardly a surprise to investors who say both companies will be much stronger under one roof.

Industry analysts say the combined company will own a number of powerful consumer brands, as well as one of the largest libraries of valuable intellectual property. The collection includes more than 140,000 TV episodes and more than 3,600 film titles.

The two companies have spent more than $13 billion on content in the last 12 months and that level of investment is expected to continue. The combined company will own the lucrative Star Trek and Mission Impossible franchises.

Broadcast and cable

The combined company will also have one foot in broadcasting and another in cable. While its stations cover key U.S. markets, its cable operations will reach more than 4.3 billion cumulative TV subscribers worldwide. Internationally, it will own broadcast networks in the UK, Argentina and Australia, as well as pay-TV networks across more than 180 countries. 

It will also have significant global production capabilities across five continents – creating content in 45 languages.

CBS and Viacom merged for the first time in 1999, only to split apart in 2005. But as other media mergers took place around them the two companies found themselves much smaller than their rivals and at a competitive disadvantage.

CBS and Viacom, two entertainment companies that once were one company, are joining forces once again. The two entertainment companies have announced an al...

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Disney reveals entertainment bundle for Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+

Cord-cutters rejoice! Another new streaming service bundle has been announced that will deliver sports, TV shows, movies, and children’s content.

Disney announced this week that it will be bundling ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney+ into one package that consumers can access for $12.99 per month. The offering will become available on November 12.

Disney has been positioning itself to be a major player in the streaming space over the last year. In May, the company took total control of Hulu in a deal with Comcast. The company also announced details for Disney+ back in April; that service will provide consumers with access to kid-friendly classic movies, over a dozen Pixar films, and newer titles that are scheduled for release this year. 

“If consumers want sports, they can subscribe to ESPN+. If they want adult content, they can subscribe to Hulu, and if they want family, there’s Disney(+),” Disney CEO Bob Iger pointed out at the time.

With the new bundle option, that choice may have just gotten easier.

Cord-cutters rejoice! Another new streaming service bundle has been announced that will deliver sports, TV shows, movies, and children’s content.Disney...

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Cord-cutting is becoming the norm for many consumers

If you’ve cancelled your cable TV subscription and are relying on video streaming services for your entertainment, you are no longer just a trend-setter. You may soon be in the majority.

A new forecast from eMarketer predicts that the number of pay TV households in the U.S. will drop by 4 percent by the end of the year to around 86.5 million homes. It further expects the freefall to continue, with pay TV subscriptions falling below 80 million by 2021.

In fact, eMarketer researchers say it won’t be long before there will be as many households going without a pay TV subscription as there are subscribers. The company suggests the industry has arrived at a tipping point, with more consumers preferring to subscribe to services like Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu that cost little more than $10 a month.

That space is about to get even more crowded as Disney, WarnerMedia, and Apple get ready to launch streaming services of their own. And then there’s YouTube, which costs nothing.

Follow the money

According to eMarketer, money may have a lot to do with the wave of cord-cutting. The researchers say pay TV providers have responded to their loss of business by trying to increase profit margins. 

They often offer an attractive introductory price that surges once that limited time period ends. Subscribers often drop the service once the price goes up. There is also little flexibility if a subscriber asks for a lower price in return for not cancelling.

While pay TV services are losing customers, they are also facing higher costs -- which is putting many companies in an increasingly difficult position.

"Their answer has been to raise prices across the board, and it seems that they are willing to lose customers rather than retain them with unprofitable deals," the authors wrote.

Previous research

eMarketer’s research is in line with previous reporting on the subject. Earlier this year, the Convergence Research Group projected that 34 percent of American cable and satellite TV subscribers would cut the cord by the end of 2019.

These consumers sometimes opt for personal bundling of services like Hulu or Sling, where they subscribe to specialty channels they have a particular interest in, like the SEC Sports Network.

Live programming, it seems, is the main thing keeping consumers paying more to subscribe to pay TV services. Sports fans depend on ESPN to see games, and political junkies are hooked on CNN, MSNBC, and FOX News.

Local news, of course, is still available for free over the air. Viewers may need an external antenna, but they can receive it in HD over a regular TV set if they live near a TV station.

If you’ve cancelled your cable TV subscription and are relying on video streaming services for your entertainment, you are no longer just a trend-setter. Y...

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MoviePass temporarily shuts down to make improvements

MoviePass, a movie subscription service that has struggled to stay afloat amid profitability hurdles, has announced that its app and website have been temporarily shut down while it makes “improvements.” 

“For the past several months, MoviePass has been working hard to improve our groundbreaking subscription service to ensure it meets the vision that we have for it,” the company wrote on its website. “We are temporarily not accepting new subscribers as we work on these improvements.”

MoviePass said it estimates the process will take several weeks.

Financial issues

MoviePass sought to win consumers over with its initial $10 a month all-you-can-watch deal. But in 2018, its subscriber numbers plunged as the company faced repercussions from its unsustainable business model. 

In an effort to turn its troubles paying vendors and theatres around, the company changed its subscription plans and limited the number of movies subscribers could see. But customers who had become frustrated with the changes and quit the service drove MoviePass’ subscriber count down to 225,000 by April 2019 from more than 3 million last year, according to Variety

MoviePass said it plans to spend the next several weeks trying to “recapitalize in order to facilitate a seamless transition and improved subscriber experience once the service continues.”

The temporary shut down is necessary for the company to work on a revamped version of its app, MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe said in a statement.

“There’s never a good time to have to do this,” Lowe said. “But to complete the improved version of our app, one that we believe will provide a much better experience for our subscribers, it has to be done.”

MoviePass, a movie subscription service service that has struggled to stay afloat amid profitability hurdles, has announced that its app and website have b...

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Comcast will pay 9.1 million to Washington State to settle ‘slamming’ charges

A Washington State court has ordered Comcast to pay nearly $9.1 million for allegedly charging consumers in the state for a service protection plan without their consent. The court found that the unauthorized charges affected about 31,000 Comcast customers in the state.

In addition to the penalties paid to the state, Comcast has been ordered to make restitution to affected consumers.

“Comcast refused to accept responsibility for its egregious conduct that resulted in Washingtonians losing money every month for a product they did not want or request,” said Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson. “Instead of making things right for Washingtonians, Comcast sent an army of corporate lawyers into court to try to avoid accountability.”

The $9.1 million penalty is the largest trial award in a state consumer protection case in Washington, even before restitution to taken into consideration. In a statement, Comcast said it is pleased to have resolved the matter and has “fully addressed” the issues raised in the lawsuit.

Allegedly hid the true cost

The court found that Comcast added the additional subscription to the accounts of 30,946 Washingtonians without their knowledge or consent. Additionally it found that the company’s sales reps did not disclose the trust cost of the plan when they sold it to more than 18,000 other consumers.

The court ruled that Comcast must refund affected consumers and pay 12 percent interest on the restitution. The court did not specify the amount of restitution.

“Despite Comcast’s systemic guidelines and policies, the practice of subscribing customers without meaningful consent was widespread,” the judge wrote in his ruling.

Reviewed the tapes

Ferguson says a review of 1,400 customer call recordings and internal company documents shows the sales reps were adding the additional charges to customers’ accounts without their consent and that the company knew they were doing it.

The attorney general says that in at least 34 percent of customer accounts connected to the calls, Comcast added the charge without consent, sometimes after the customer had declined the plan.

The practice is known as “slamming” and was widely used by telephone companies nearly two  decades ago to switch a customer’s long distance service without their permission. Ferguson charges that Comcast did not respond to numerous complaints about the alleged “slamming” until his office filed its lawsuit in 2017.

Ferguson’s complaint says Comcast collected more than $85 million in gross revenue from Washington in monthly charges for the service plan.

A Washington State court has ordered Comcast to pay nearly $9.1 million for allegedly charging consumers in the state for a service protection plan without...

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Video streaming providers start to fight back in the binge-and-cancel game

With cable and satellite video providers playing carrot-and-stick with their “introductory price” scheme and then walloping the consumer with a more costly “regular” rate after the introductory period is over, consumers are doing the same thing back to the providers by playing the “binge-and-cancel” game.

On Thursday, Axios laid out a new study showing that more than 30 percent of all consumers are likely to cancel a subscription streaming service after the show or series they are watching has ended. A more timely data point came out of that Axios/Harris poll, which revealed that 16 percent of HBO subscribers say they planned to cancel their subscriptions once “Game of Thrones” completed its run.

Not all consumers play this game, but evidence is growing that most people plan to hang onto subscription services for less than 6 months after their original sign-up. The bulk of those gamers are from Gen Y millennials at 44 percent. Those numbers drop off slightly with older millennials (41 percent), baby boomers (34 percent), and Gen Xers (30 percent).

An interesting side note in Axios’ research is that the subscription service game is less likely to occur when consumers primarily rely on cable as their primary source. The reasons are logical: consumers don’t want to go through the hassle of rewiring their system and returning the cable box. Signing up or cancelling streaming services can be done online without having to talk to anyone who begs you to stay or offers an “if you’ll stay” deal.

Where this game is headed

Streaming services are onto the binge-and-cancel game and are doing their best to plug the dike. Many are tossing in additional services -- like Spotify recently offering free Hulu with a subscription. Others -- like Amazon Prime -- are creating cultural events like the pop-up delicatessen it rolled out in an effort to buoy its comedy series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”

This game is going to take a while to play out, so buckle up. Companies are already wheeling and dealing like crazy. Only last week, ConsumerAffairs wrote about the NBCUniversal-Disney-Comcast swap meet.

This week came news that  WarnerMedia is launching its own streaming video subscription service later this year. That one alone could be a disrupter, simply from the fact that it has the rights to fan favorites like Friends, Seinfeld, and The Big Bang Theory.

With cable and satellite video providers playing carrot-and-stick with their “introductory price” scheme and then walloping the consumer with a more costly...

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NBCUniversal, Hulu, Disney, and Comcast involved in a video streaming swap meet

Does cutting the cable cord still make sense? The verdict on that is a while in coming, but the provider market is getting very crowded.

On Thursday, SubscriptionInsider reported that NBCUniversal will join streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, CBS All Access, and Disney+ starting in 2020, but it will give the direct-to-consumer model its own spin.

Specifically, NBC’s ad-supported service will be free to consumers who pay for live TV. As far as what constitutes “live TV,” a regular cable TV subscription such as Spectrum or Comcast should do the trick. So will a satellite service like DirecTV (owned by AT&T).

However, for those who are all-out cord-cutters, NBC’s streaming service will run about $10 a month, but -- and there’s always a but, isn’t there? -- those subscribers will not have access to television shows that play at a pre-scheduled time (“live linear” channels) or same-season shows.

That $10 price tag could change at any time. According to CNBC, Comcast’s original plan was to price the NBCUniversal streaming service for about $12 a month. Then, Disney -- a new player in the streaming game -- priced its new service at $6.99 per month. So, it was either proceed or recede for Comcast, and it decided to lower the price.

To add more drama to this can of worms, Disney took control of Hulu from Comcast this week, which put NBCUniversal in a position of having to up its rate on Hulu, decide whether it wants to still have some of its content on Hulu, and what price it’ll charge if it chooses that option. NBC has three years to make that decision.

If Hulu seems to be at the heart of a lot of these deals, it is. Earlier this year, Spotify offered Hulu as a free add-on to new premium subscribers and students.

This dance is far from over

As you can see, this whole cut-the-cord dance is a) far from something the consumer knows what they’re getting from whom; and b) very complicated.

In addition to Hulu, NBCUniversal, Disney, and Comcast, there’s an entire army of other services wanting consumers’ love: Roku, Amazon’s Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube TV, PhiloTV, PlutoTV, FuboTV, PlayStation Vue, and Apple. The Apple TV app was rolled out to 100+ countries earlier this week via an app that works on Phone, iPad, Apple TV, and select Samsung smart TVs. An AppleTV+ app offering original shows and movies will debut this fall.

Puzzled?

The complication is deciding which streams/channels you really want. One can easily tap into upgrades like HBO, Starz, et al on many of the services, but things get knotty after that.

If you want to subscribe to, say, a service that has your primetime favorites as well as a specific sports channel, you might find yourself subscribing to multiple services. At that point, cobbling all your preferences together could cost you more than you’re paying from a single cable or satellite provider.

“In trying to simplify streaming video sign-ups, these … services have created new complications,” writes Jared Newman, TechHive’s Cord-Cutter Confidential blogger.

Not only do they all make blanket promises like “anywhere,” “anytime,” “unlimited access,” “exclusives,” and “something for everyone,” but Newman points out that there’s also an infinite parade of long-tail stuff like NickHits and Secret Golf that the consumer automatically gets as part of their subscription.

“Each service has a different set of features, along with different restrictions on which devices you can use. They can also be more expensive than individual apps that offer annual subscriptions. And because the biggest streaming services don’t support these Channels marketplaces at all, you still have to deal with multiple apps and billing systems in the end.”

Newman says that if the TV networks are going to befuddle the consumer, then the consumer might want to play the “free trial” game in return.

“With all these new subscription marketplaces comes the ability to burn up more free trials,” Newman said. “Just sign up for a trial to HBO via Amazon Channels, cancel immediately, and enjoy your free week of binge-watching ‘Barry.’ Rinse and repeat with Apple TV Channels and Roku Premium Subscriptions, and then move on down the line to other services like Showtime and Starz.”

Does cutting the cable cord still make sense? The verdict on that is a while in coming, but the provider market is getting very crowded.On Thursday, Su...

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Disney gains total control of Hulu

Disney and Comcast announced Tuesday that Disney will assume full operational control of Hulu, effective immediately.

Under the deal, Disney -- which recently became a majority owner of Hulu -- has agreed to pay Comcast at least $5.8 billion for its Hulu stake within five years.

The agreement states that Comcast's ownership in Hulu will never be less than 21 percent. For its part, Disney has guaranteed that Hulu’s equity value at the time of any sale will be at least $27.5 billion.

NBCUniversal has the right to decide in three years to pull its shows from Hulu altogether and put them on its own service, which is set to debut in 2020. Comcast’s split with Hulu will be complete by 2024.

Supporting its streaming efforts

The pact is another indicator that Disney is serious about competing in the streaming market.

Last month, the company unveiled its new Disney+ streaming service, set to launch in November of this year. The $7 a month streaming platform will include all of Disney's family-friendly classics, 18 of Pixar’s 21 movies, and content from the “Star Wars” franchise and “Avengers” series.

Meanwhile, Disney will use Hulu to provide content that is geared towards adults. The company gained access to content from FX under its $71 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox.

“We are now able to completely integrate Hulu into our direct-to-consumer business and leverage the full power of The Walt Disney Company’s brands and creative engines to make the service even more compelling and a greater value for consumers,” Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger said in a statement announcing the agreement.

Disney and Comcast announced Tuesday that Disney will assume full operational control of Hulu, effective immediately.Under the deal, Disney -- which re...

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New study finds more and more consumers are cutting the cord

Earlier this year, ConsumerAffairs reported that the rate of cord-cutting has continued its meteoric rise. Recent reports show that AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon’s first-quarter loss ran precariously close to a million subscribers.

Now comes a new report forecasting a loss of 4.56 million American households by the end of 2019.

The Convergence Research Group -- consultants in the internet, content, telecom, and technology arena -- found that 34 percent of American cable and satellite TV subscribers will cut the cord by the end of 2019 and likely opt for a personal bundling of services like Hulu or Sling, where they subscribe to specialty channels they have a particular interest in, like the SEC Sports Network.

Taking the leap of faith

Cutting the cord and cobbling together the services that are most important is all personal preference. While it would be nice if a streaming provider like Hulu offered every single thing you want, it’s likely you’ll either have to find an additional provider that offers what you’re looking for or learn to live without it.

“Tried cord cutting once a number of years ago but just couldn’t live without all the channels and eventually went back to cable,” posted one user on CordCutters’ Facebook page. “But now that we’ve got all these live streaming and OTA (over-the-air) channels I’ve since cut the cord again and will never go back.”

Despite how much a consumer dislikes having to pay for cable or satellite TV, cutting that cord and creating the perfect bundle can be expensive -- maybe more than basic cable.

“There was hope within the TV industry that skinny bundles from ‘virtual MVPDs (multichannel video programming distributor)’ such as YouTube TV, Hulu and DirecTV Now would help fight cord-cutting,” is how Digiday views the current landscape.

“And to some extent, these services have done that — but at what is proving to be a steep cost. Now, these services are raising prices and looking for other bundling and distribution options in pursuit of profitability and sustainability. What that ultimately proves, yet again, is a very simple fact: No matter how you slice, dice or bundle it, live TV is expensive.”

Please don’t go

Unfortunately for consumers, there are streaming providers that seem to want to hold on to customers at all costs.

“Verizon FIOS is trying hard to lose customers,” writes one ConsumerAffairs reviewer. “I wanted a specific package that I had already been using, I signed a new 2-year contract with the understanding (including an agent sharing with me and assuring me that I will have the channels I watch in particular a golf channel) that I will get the channels I really wanted.”

“They shared the list of channels, etc. Then within two weeks, I found that they had migrated the golf channel to another package. To get it, I need to pay an additional $10 a month. So, the motto of Verizon seems to be, ‘Let's screw the customer. Provide him with a contract and then renege on it.’"

Earlier this year, ConsumerAffairs reported that the rate of cord-cutting has continued its meteoric rise. Recent reports show that AT&T;, Comcast, and Ver...

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Disney’s new streaming service may impact Netflix’s subscriber base

Just under 14.5 percent of Netflix subscribers say they might leave the streaming platform and get Disney+, according to a survey recently conducted by Streaming Observer. That figure would represent a loss of almost 9 million customers for Netflix, which would translate to about $117 million in lost revenue per month.

About 37 percent of Netflix subscribers (or about 22 million users) said they would try Disney’s $7-per-month streaming service, and one in five Netflix subscribers said they are planning to subscribe to both streaming services.

Parents of young kids were more than twice as likely as non-parents to say they would prefer Disney+ over Netflix.

Family-friendly content may compel parents

Of the 602 Netflix users who participated in the survey, 23 percent of users who were parents with children aged 15 and younger said they might cancel Netflix for Disney+. Just 10 percent of respondents without children said they may cancel.

“While Netflix has been steadily adding more kids content to its library, it’s hard to imagine it can match what Disney offers on this front, which could be a source of concern for the streaming giant,” the survey said.

During a first-quarter earnings discussion, Netflix founder and CEO Reed Hastings said that he doesn’t “anticipate that [Disney+ and other new streaming services] will materially affect [Netflix’] growth.”

However, Disney recently said it intends to grow its subscriber base quickly over the next few years by luring consumers with a more affordable monthly fee compared to rival streaming services. Disney said the service’s $7 a month (or $70 a year) price tag is intended to make the service “accessible to as many consumers as possible.”

The company forecasts that it will have amassed between 60 million and 90 million subscribers by the end of 2024. The service is set to launch on November 12.

Just under 14.5 percent of Netflix subscribers say they might leave the streaming platform and get Disney+, according to a survey recently conducted by Str...

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Disney announces pricing for upcoming streaming service

At an “investor day” event on Thursday, Disney revealed additional details about its forthcoming streaming service called Disney Plus, which will compete with video streaming services such as Netflix.

Disney said its new ad-free service will cost $7 a month, or $70 a year. By comparison, Netflix charges a $13 monthly fee to consumers who subscribe to its most popular plan -- a recently announced increase of $2.

The company said Disney Plus, which will launch on November 12, will include all of Disney's kid-friendly classics, 18 of Pixar’s 21 movies, and new titles that will hit theaters this year.

The platform will also include some content that may be of interest to parents, including “Star Wars” movies and all 30 seasons of “The Simpsons” (the latter thanks to its acquisition of 21st Century Fox). Disney Plus will not, however, include any sports content.

“If consumers want sports, they can subscribe to ESPN+. If they want adult content, they can subscribe to Hulu, and if they want family, there’s Disney(+),” CEO Bob Iger said, according to CNBC.

Iger said the platform’s affordability compared to rival streaming services is intended to make the service “accessible to as many consumers as possible.” Disney forecasts that by the end of 2024, it will have amassed between 60 million and 90 million subscribers.

The company told investors that it expects to spend about $1 billion on original content for the service next year and $2 billion by 2024.

At an “investor day” event on Thursday, Disney revealed additional details about its forthcoming streaming service called Disney Plus, which will compete w...

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Disney bans smoking, vaping, and large strollers from its parks

If you’re the type of parent who likes to block walkways with your child’s massive stroller while smoking a vape pen at Disneyland, get prepared to make some changes.

Disney announced yesterday that smoking, vaping, and oversized strollers will be banned from its parks in California and Florida starting May 1.

The parks will no longer have designated smoking areas, meaning that smokers will have to partake outside the gates. As for strollers, Disney says that the devices must be no wider than 31 inches and no longer than 52 inches. Stroller wagons are also prohibited. If a parent’s stroller does not comply, they can rent one from the park for $15.

Disney enthusiasts say that the new rules seem reasonable.

"Restricting stroller size and prohibiting wagon strollers will, hopefully, eliminate the traffic problems they can cause -- blocking walkways, bumping into guests (especially the little ones) and taking up space in queues and elsewhere," the editor of one Disney fan site told CNN.

If you’re the type of parent who likes to block walkways with your child’s massive stroller while smoking a vape pen at Disneyland, get prepared to make so...

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Survey finds many consumers are experiencing ‘subscription fatigue’

At an event on Monday, March 25, Apple is expected to announce the launch of its TV and movie streaming service. However, as the market for streaming services continues to expand, a new survey finds consumers are beginning to suffer from “subscription fatigue.”  

For its 13th annual Digital Media Trends survey, Deloitte surveyed more than 2,000 digital consumers across the U.S. and found that nearly half (47 percent) said the rapidly growing market for streaming services is causing them to experience subscription fatigue.

Deloitte’s survey showed strong growth in streaming video subscription services, with 69 percent of households now subscribing to one or more.

But with more than 300 streaming services now available to choose from -- and in some cases, multiple subscriptions and payments to keep track of -- many consumers are “beginning to feel weighed down” by the number of options and subscriptions to manage.

Crowded market

The new findings come ahead of the launch of several new streaming services, including one from Disney (called Disney+) expected to launch later this year, a service from HBO and Time Warner, and a service from NBCUniversial that will launch next year.

Many upcoming services will focus on offering their own original content, which may translate to the need for many consumers to subscribe to multiple services to ensure they can watch the content they like.

Deloitte’s survey found that over half of consumers (57) surveyed said they feel frustrated when content they enjoy disappears or is no longer on a particular streaming service.

Deloitte predicts that these changing consumer attitudes could lead streaming providers to develop “the next generation of the home entertainment platform” by creating a service that would combine video streaming, music, and gaming all under a single umbrella.

At an event on Monday, March 25, Apple is expected to announce the launch of its TV and movie streaming service. However, as the market for streaming servi...

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Netflix says it won’t be part of Apple’s new TV app

Competition continues to heat up in entertainment media with Apple’s expected announcement next week that it is launching a video streaming service.

The company has an event scheduled for March 25 at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, Calif., and it has done nothing to temper expectations. The tagline on the event announcement was “It’s show time” and featured a film-inspired countdown.

While it’s not clear what programming will be available, it is known that Netflix content will be absent. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has confirmed that Netflix won’t participate in Apple’s venture, saying he prefers that people watch Netflix content on the Netflix platform.

Netflix entered the conversation because it is believed Apple will offer subscriptions to other video content channels through its app. Meanwhile, 9to5Mac reports Apple has signed a number of deals to produce original content, including with Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Anniston,  Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell, as well as with directors J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg.

Users reportedly will be able to subscribe to Apple’s content and use the app to watch other content they subscribe to, such as HBO.

A premium price

An analyst at Goldman Sachs told Bloomberg News that he expects the Apple Video subscription to cost about $15 a month. That’s slightly more than both Netflix and Amazon Prime.

While Apple is gathering content for the small screen, MoviePass is launching a limited-time promotion for big screen content. It’s offering an “uncapped” subscription plan for $9.95 a month for a limited time if the subscriber pays for a full 12 months. Those who prefer to pay monthly will pay $14.95, $5 off the regular price.

“We are – and have been – listening to our subscribers every day, and we understand that an uncapped subscription plan at the $9.95 price point is the most appealing option to our subscribers,” said Ted Farnsworth, Chairman and CEO of MoviePass’ parent company, Helios and Matheson Analytics Inc.  

Farnsworth says the company has had to modify its service a number of times in order to “continue delivering a movie-going experience to our subscribers.” The company changed its subscription plan at least twice in 2018.

Competition continues to heat up in entertainment media with Apple’s expected announcement next week that it is launching a video streaming service.The...

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The pace of cord-cutting picked up speed last year

Nearly 3 million pay TV subscribers cut the cord last year, with AT&T’sDIRECTV taking the biggest hit, according to an industry report.

Leichtman Research reports the largest pay TV providers in the U.S. lost 2.8 million subscribers in 2018 as more consumers increasingly turned to over the top (OTT) sources of video services. The numbers are worrisome for the industry since cord-cutting nearly doubled from 2017.

Much of the attrition occurred among satellite TV providers. DIRECTV lost more than 1.2 million subscribers last year, up from 554,000 the year before.

In all, satellite TV providers accounted for the lion’s share of cord-cutting, losing more than 2.3 million customers last year.

Cable losses were slightly less

Losses were slightly less among the top six cable TV providers. They shed 910,000 customers last year, an increase over the 680,000 they lost in 2017. Top cable providers together lost 1.9 percent of their customers last year, compared to a 1.4 percent loss in 2017.

There were losses across the board except in the telephone companies’ video services. While the overall category lost ground, AT&T’s U-verse actually added 47,000 subscribers. The category saw its total losses fall from 885,000 in 2017 to 245,000 last year.

While traditional sources of programming lost customers, internet-delivered sources continued to see gains. The top publicly reporting internet-delivered (vMVPD) services, Sling TV and DIRECTV NOW, added about 640,000 subscribers in 2018. That’s significantly fewer than the  1.6 million net adds in 2017.

Lost 3.1 percent of its customers

“The pay-TV market saw net losses increase in 2018.  Overall, the top pay-TV providers lost 3.1 percent of subscribers in 2018 compared to a loss of 1.6 percent in 2017,” said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group.

Leichtman says the pay TV industry peaked in the first quarter of 2012. Since then, he says about 6 million consumers have cut the cord.

“This reflects a decline of about 10,000,000 subscribers for traditional services, offset by the addition of about 4,000,000 subscribers for the publicly reporting vMVPD services,” he said.

The three largest cable companies lost 730,000 customers last year. Comcast lost 371,000; Charter lost 244,000; and Cox lost 115,000 subscribers.

Nearly 3 million pay TV subscribers cut the cord last year, with AT&T;’s DIRECTV taking the biggest hit, according to an industry report.Leichtman Rese...

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AT&T announces new management team for its media content business

AT&T has begun consolidating its media content assets, acquired in the Time Warner acquisition, in an effort to streamline its entertainment properties.

The move could lead to cost-cutting that would undoubtedly be applauded on Wall Street. Investors have worried in recent months about the level of AT&T debt and the consolidation appears aimed at making the company’s entertainment products more cost-effective.

WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey announced that Robert Greenblatt, most recently chairman for NBC Entertainment, will become chairman of WarnerMedia Entertainment and Direct-to-Consumer.

Other changes were also announced. Jeff Zucker becomes chairman of WarnerMedia News & Sports, and president of CNN. Kevin Tsujihara will continue as Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. with additional responsibilities including a new global kids and young adults business.

Gerhard Zeiler has been elevated from the position of president, Turner International to WarnerMedia chief revenue officer.

Establishing brands

“We have done an amazing job establishing our brands as leaders in the hearts and minds of consumers,” said Stankey. “Adding Bob Greenblatt to the WarnerMedia family and expanding the leadership scope and responsibilities of Jeff, Kevin, and Gerhard – who collectively have more than 80 years of global media experience and success – gives us the right management team to strategically position our leading portfolio of brands, world-class talent and rich library of intellectual property for future growth.”

AT&T’s acquisition of Time Warner gives its distribution system access to a huge amount of content. The announced changes are designed to give the combined companies the agility and flexibility needed to build WarnerMedia’s brands across a variety of evolving distribution models with an emphasis on the company’s original programming.

“I’m honored to be joining WarnerMedia during such an exciting time for the company and the industry as a whole, and I look forward to working alongside the many talented executives and team members across the company,” Greenblatt said. “WarnerMedia is home to some of the world’s most innovative, creative and successful brands and we’re in a unique position to foster even deeper connections with consumers.”

Opposition to the merger

The U.S. Justice Department went to the mat in an effort to block the merger of AT&T and Time Warner.

The merger was announced in 2016 and drew strong opposition from then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, then engaged in a feud with CNN, a Time Warner property. While poles apart politically, Trump and Bernie Sanders, a democratic socialist senator from Vermont who was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, were both against the merger.

At the time, Sanders urged the U.S. Justice Department to challenge the deal, saying it "represents a gross concentration of power that runs counter to the public good."

In the end, the Trump Justice Department found no grounds to block the merger. Just last week a federal appeals court found there was no justification for blocking the merger, which took place months earlier.

Last year, the combined companies began piecing together the elements of new content distribution systems, including streaming, and indicated that HBO would play a greater role in its content mix.

AT&T; has begun consolidating its media content assets, acquired in the Time Warner acquisition, in an effort to streamline its entertainment properties....

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MoviePass delisted by Nasdaq following tumultuous 2018

MoviePass ended Wednesday with one foot in the grave.

Less than two weeks after MoviePass subscribers filed a class action lawsuit for pulling a “bait and switch” con, and less than a month since the company went back to its original subscription model in an attempt to win back subscribers, the grim reapers at the Nasdaq have delisted the company.

Once and for all?

The situation is looking bleak for the once-popular movie subscription service. MarketWatch reports that HMNY, the stock for Helio & Matheson Analytics (H&M), MoviePass’ parent company, was suspended from trading when the markets opened on Wednesday. However, the stock will still be available to traders via the over-the-counter market system, where trading can be done directly between two parties, without the supervision of an exchange.

Nasdaq sent H&M word in December that its stock would be delisted if it failed to maintain the minimum $1 bid price and the company appealed, but with no success. H&M has an extra 15 days to ask for one reprieve, but the company says it has no plans to make that move.

What about my movie subscription?

Consumers who are signed up for the movie subscription service can still take advantage of it, at least for the time being.

An H&M spokesperson told CNN that the delisting "has no effect on the day-to-day business operations" of Helios & Matheson and its subsidiaries, including MoviePass, adding that there’s a possibility that MoviePass may be in for a partial spin-off.

MoviePass ended Wednesday with one foot in the grave.Less than two weeks after MoviePass subscribers filed a class action lawsuit for pulling a “bait a...

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Super Bowl ratings hit record 10-year low

Average viewership for Super Bowl XLIII dipped below 100 million, marking the first time since 2009 that ratings were that low.

Nielsen said yesterday’s game scored a 44.9 household rating, a five percent decrease from last year and the lowest score since the 2009 game.

The New England Patriots’ 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams also made for the lowest-scoring game in Super Bowl history, and it was widely described by football fans as one of the most boring games they had ever seen. But that may not have been the only factor.

Amid allegations of racism, unfair calls, and other problems plaguing the NFL, people across the country called for a Super Bowl boycott this year. In New Orleans, Saints fans and others even organized a massive street party to give boycotters alternate entertainment to the big game. Reporters on the scene said the festival was more fun than the actual game.

Average viewership for Super Bowl XLIII dipped below 100 million, marking the first time since 2009 that ratings were that low.Nielsen said yesterday’s...

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Bud Light uses the Super Bowl to start a conversation about corn syrup

What would Super Bowl commercials be without a little controversy?

Anheuser Busch set off the Twitterverse with its commercial promoting the fact that Bud Light contains no corn syrup while the ingredient is part of beers made by the MillerCoors.

While that might not seem offensive to many consumers and viewers of last night’s game between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams, the folks who grow corn didn’t like it one bit.

“America’s corn farmers are disappointed in you,” the American Corn Growers Association (ACGA) said in a tweet directed at Bud Light. “Our office is right down the road! We would love to discuss with you the many benefits of corn!”

The tweet then went on to thank Miller and Coors for supporting the corn industry, thereby making the commercial’s point. In case you missed it, the commercial is below.

Implies that corn syrup isn’t good

In the commercial, Anheuser Busch never explains why its Bud Light product is better because it doesn’t use corn syrup, but it implies that’s the case.

Corn syrup is a sweetener used in place of sugar in a wide range of processed foods and beverages, but there is a difference between regular corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which is also widely used in processed foods and beverages. The two are often confused.

Dr. Mike Roussell, who writes a nutritional blog, says HFCS is made up of approximately 45 percent glucose and 55 percent fructose. Plain corn syrup is simply glucose, “the most basic sugar molecule.”

Recent studies have suggested HFCS’s high caloric content may play a role in the obesity epidemic, something the beverage industry has pushed back against with research of its own.

A study published on a National Institutes of Health website says the consumption of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) increased more than 1000 percent between 1970 and 1990, far exceeding the changes in consumption of any other food group.

“HFCS now represents greater than 40 percent of caloric sweeteners added to foods and beverages and is the sole caloric sweetener in soft drinks in the United States,” the authors wrote.

While MillerCoors took to Twitter last night to point out that none of its products contain HFCS, it  claimed “a number” of Anheuser Busch products do. It also claimed that Miller light has fewer calories and carbs than Bud Light.

What would Super Bowl commercials be without a little controversy?Anheuser Busch set off the Twitterverse with its commercial promoting the fact that B...

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Another year, another go for MoviePass

Here we go again…

MoviePass is attempting to revitalize itself for the umpteenth time. Since ConsumerAffairs started writing about the subscription service’s woes, we’ve seen a myriad of changes ranging from subscription plans to a fraud investigation to taking out a $5 million emergency loan to keep the wolf away from its door.

On Thursday, the company decided to return to the core of its original model.

Here’s the deal

Through all its ups and downs, the company firmly believes that it’s found a way to, at minimum, break even. And breaking even is a lot better that throwing in the towel, so -- for now -- here’s MoviePass’ new 3-tiered subscription plans:

  • Select: Choose from a selection of available 2D movies in the app. The available movies are published weekly. See up to three movies per month. Prices vary by zip code -- ConsumerAffairs saw a range from $9.95 to $14.95 per month.

  • All-Access: Choose from ALL 2D movies in MoviePass’ theater network. See up to three movies a month. Prices vary by zip code -- ConsumerAffairs saw a range from $14.95 to $19.95 per month.

  • Red Carpet: Choose from ALL movies in MoviePass’ theater network -- with IMAX and REAL D 3D movies included. See up to three movies per month. Prices vary by zip code -- ConsumerAffairs saw a range of $19.95 to $24.95 per month.

MoviePass claims that it’s beginning to win back subscribers and is feeling a much better vibe than it had in the last year.

“I feel like we’re turning a corner,” Khalid Itum, executive VP of MoviePass, told Variety. Itum also let the cat out of the bag that, coming next week, there’s “some sort of unlimited program” that will give subscribers the clearance to see all the movies they want.

Here we go again…MoviePass is attempting to revitalize itself for the umpteenth time. Since ConsumerAffairs started writing about the subscription serv...

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Hulu to drop price of its most popular plan

Just one week after Netflix raised monthly subscription prices, Hulu has announced that it will be dropping the price of its basic plan to $5.99 per month starting February 26. Hulu’s most popular, ad-supported plan previously cost $7.99 per month.

In its announcement, Hulu also revealed that it will be raising the price of its Live TV plan to $45 per month -- an increase of $5. The streaming service’s on-demand plan without ads will remain unchanged at $12 per month.

Staying competitive in the streaming game

With new streaming services being launched all the time, Hulu is aiming to stay competitive in the video streaming sector.

Netflix announced last week that its most popular plan will now cost $9 per month, up from $8. Netflix said it occasionally raises prices to help offset content costs. At the start of last year, the company said it planned to spend around $8 billion on original TV shows and movies in an effort to boost its subscriber numbers.

While Hulu’s price drop won’t equate to an increase in its revenue, the move “could lock in customers ahead of key streaming launches from media giants,” CNBC noted.

AT&T is set to launch a three-tiered streaming service in late 2019. NBCUniversal also revealed recently that it will be launching its own streaming service for those who pay for traditional TV, and Disney is also gearing up to launch two of its own streaming services.

Hulu announced earlier this year that it added eight million new subscribers in 2018, bringing its total to 25 million. The streamer still has some catching up to do with Netflix, which had about 58 million subscribers as of last fall.

Just one week after Netflix raised monthly subscription prices, Hulu has announced that it will be dropping the price of its basic plan to $5.99 per month...

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YouTube TV expands to subscribers nationwide

As of today, YouTube TV is available to consumers nationwide. On Wednesday, Google said that its TV streaming service will reach 98 percent of U.S. households; the remaining two percent will be reached “shortly thereafter.”

Prior to today’s announcement, YouTube TV was available in the “top 100” markets in the U.S. The service has now been launched in another 95 markets.

“Just in time for the Big Game, you can now bring together some tasty game day snacks with the full experience of YouTube TV,” the company said in a blog post. “That’s exciting news for living rooms, cord-cutters, and cord-nevers in neighborhoods far and wide, from Bozeman to Gainesville, Anchorage to Yuma, and Erie to Topeka.”

More than 60 live channels

The $40-a-month service, which launched in 2017, includes live-streaming from over 60 networks like CNN, ABC and FOX. It also includes local affiliate coverage, premium networks like STARZ for an additional monthly charge, and cloud DVR recording with no storage space limits. To see what channels are available in your area, simply enter your zip code on the company’s website.

YouTube TV saw its subscriber count grow between January 2018 and July 2018, from 300,000 at the start of the year to 800,000 by mid-summer. The company has not shared an update on how many YouTube TV subscribers there currently are.

The expansion puts the service in a position to compete with live-TV streaming rivals such as Sling TV and AT&T’s DirecTV Now, which now have 2.5 million and 1.8 million subscribers, respectively.

As of today, YouTube TV is available to consumers nationwide. On Wednesday, Google said that its TV streaming service will reach 98 percent of U.S. househo...

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NBCUniversal to launch its own streaming service in 2020

NBC has announced that it plans to launch a free, ad-supported streaming service for customers who pay for cable in early 2020.

The service will include 1,500 hours of NBC-TV shows, such as Saturday Night Live, Parks and Recreation, and “hundreds of hours” of Universal movies, the company announced Monday. For those who don’t subscribe to a pay-TV service, the service will cost $12 each month as an ad-free, standalone service.

The launch of NBC’s streaming service is “contingent on striking deals with the largest pay-TV providers, which it hasn’t yet done,” CNBC reported, citing a source with knowledge of the company’s plans.

“Still, the product will be free for customers of those providers, so NBC doesn’t plan on any challenges when it comes to inking those agreements,” the news outlet said.

Banking on ad revenue

The service will be free to Comcast Cable and Sky pay-TV subscribers. However, NBC will air between three and five minutes of ads per hour, said NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke.

“We think we can get around $5 a month from people who would use a free service,” Burke told the Hollywood Reporter.

“One of the interesting things about this that makes it different and innovative is that we’ll have a big emphasis on free-to-consumer,” Burke said. “We want to create a platform that has significant scale and can scale quickly. The best way to do that, is make it free to consumers and leverage the fact that NBCUniversal’s sister company is a cable company and now owns Sky.”

Prior to the announcement, Disney and AT&T’s Warner Media both said they will launch video-streaming services of their own at the end of 2019. CBS already offers ad-supported streaming for sports and news, as well as a subscription streaming service called CBS All Access. Fox News launched its Fox Nation subscription service toward the end of last year.

NBC has announced that it plans to launch a free, ad-supported streaming service for customers who pay for cable in early 2020. The service will includ...

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Amazon, IMDb launch free streaming service

Amazon and IMDb, a site the online retailer has owned since 1998, have officially launched a free streaming video channel that will be available in the U.S. on the IMDb website and Amazon Fire TV devices.

IMDb Freedive currently offers a selection af around 130 movies and 29 TV titles, but Amazon plans to continually expand the selection and rotate out content. IMDb said the service will soon be “available more widely, including on IMDb’s leading mobile apps.”

"Customers already rely on IMDb to discover movies and TV shows and decide what to watch," IMDb CEO Col Needham said in a statement. "We will continue to enhance IMDb Freedive based on customer feedback and will soon make it available more widely, including on IMDb's leading mobile apps."

A few movies users can watch for free through the platform include "Awakenings," "Monster," "The Illusionist," "The Last Samurai" and "True Romance." Some of the TV shows currently available include "The Bachelor," "Fringe," "Heroes" and "Without a Trace."

Since the service is ad-supported, it doesn’t require a subscription. Freedive joins other ad-supported video on-demand services, including The Roku Channel, Tubi, Vudu, YouTube, and PopcornFlix.

The addition of IMDb Freedive to the growing lineup of streaming options comes on the heels of a recent IAB study showing that 73 percent of adults who typically watch streaming over-the-top (OTT) video say they watch ad-supported OTT video.

Amazon and IMDb, a site the online retailer has owned since 1998, have officially launched a free streaming video channel that will be available in the U.S...

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A new plan to rescue MoviePass shows up at the box office

Here we go again.

MoviePass is rolling out its umpteenth pricing plan. This time, the movie subscription service swears it’s got it right. Not that the company hasn’t said that before, but it’s holding out hope that there’s still a few believers out there.

Mind you, there’s a 50-pound can of if’s, and’s, or but’s, but here’s the basics:

Select plan - $10 a month: Subscribers can see three movies per month, but they’ll have to pick from a menu of titles MoviePass will announce weekly. Subscribers can forget seeing a flick during opening weekends or anything other than standard-issue 2D movies.

All Access plan - $15+ a month: Same as the Select plan except moviegoers can see their choice of any three 2D movies they like.

Red Carpet plan - $20+ a month: Like the others, there’s a cap of three movies a month, but subscribers can also see specially-formatted films such as 3D or IMAX.

Will it work this time?

"What we announced is a solid business plan that will be profitable,” said Mitch Lowe, MoviePass’ CEO, in an interview with CNN. "It actually accelerates our point of time of being profitable versus the go-to-a-movie-everyday (model)."

What Lowe seems to be banking on is the 85 percent of consumers who go to the movies three times a month or less. In MoviePass’ way of thinking, the remaining 15 percent go to the movies so much that it jeopardizes the 85 percent that make the model profitable.

"We already know what the average usage will be in this model and, believe me, it’s closer to one than it is three," Lowe said.

Casual fan or aficionado?

If you live in New York City, where the price of going to a movie runs $16.81 a person, or Silver Springs, Maryland, where an average ticket runs $14.42, rolling the dice on a $15 subscription may make sense. But if you live anywhere else, you should weigh the cost of going to see what you want when you want versus having to kowtow to a restrictive plan like MoviePass’ basic tier.

If there are movie aficionados on your Christmas list, CNN reported that Lowe felt they might be "better served" by AMC’s subscription service, "Stubs A-List."

Here we go again.MoviePass is rolling out its umpteenth pricing plan. This time, the movie subscription service swears it’s got it right. Not that the...

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Nexstar agrees to purchase Tribune Media

Nexstar Media Group has agreed to purchase Tribune Media for $6.4 billion, a deal making it the largest broadcast operation in the U.S.

The acquisition comes just four months after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rejected Sinclair Broadcasting’s bid to acquire Tribune. The agency rejected the merger on technical grounds, citing objections to the deal’s structure.

The Sinclair deal also drew opposition from a number of consumer groups that said it concentrated too much media power within one company. It remains to be seen if the Nexstar-Tribune deal draws the same objections.

Tribune Media owns 42 TV stations reaching approximately 50 million households. They would join Nexstar’s 174 stations, giving it an exceptionally large broadcast footprint. According to Nexstar, the combined companies would reach 39 percent of U.S. households.

Fifty percent audience boost

Nexstar CEO Perry Sook says the merger would increase his company’s audience reach by 50 percent.

“Furthermore, the addition of the Tribune Media broadcast assets further expands our geographic diversity, as pro forma for the completion of the transaction, we will serve 18 of the nation’s top 25 markets and 37 of the top 50 markets,” Sook said.

If the deal is approved it would give Nexstar the largest number of TV stations in the U.S., surpassing Sinclair’s 194. Tribune Media has been seeking a buyer since 2012, when it emerged from bankruptcy. It sold off its newspaper assets in 2014.

Based in Chicago, Tribune not only owns TV stations but also cable network WGN America, which reaches 77 million households. It also owns several web-based media operations.

Potential opposition

The deal could face the same kind of grassroots opposition that lined up against the Sinclair bid. The ACLU, American Cable Association, and Communications Workers of America opposed Sinclair’s attempt to buy Tribune, insisting that Sinclair’s conservative edge was not the reason. Rather, the group said it was too many stations for one company to own.

Under current regulations there is no numerical limit on the number of stations one company may own, although the FCC will consider potential overlap in individual markets when two broadcasters merge.

Under the Communications Act of 1934, broadcasters could not own more than seven stations and they could not own more than one station in a single market. That stipulation fell by the wayside as broadcasting began to be deregulated in 1982.

Nexstar Media Group has agreed to purchase Tribune Media for $6.4 billion, a deal making it the largest broadcast operation in the U.S.The acquisition...

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AT&T to launch streaming service with three subscription tiers

AT&T revealed during a presentation in New York to investors that it will use its acquisition of Time Warner to roll out a three-tiered streaming service in late 2019.

Each level of the upcoming streaming service will offer the following, according to The Hollywood Reporter:

  • First tier. An entry-level option that will be “movie-focused” and include films from WarnerMedia’s catalogue.

  • Second tier. A “premium” level that includes WarnerMedia TV series and “blockbuster movies”

  • Third tier. The top level will be an option that “bundles content from the first two plus an extensive library of WarnerMedia and licensed content,” likely to include shows from HBO.

John Stankey, chief executive of WarnerMedia, told reporters on Thursday that the ultimate goal is to have subscribers want access to all three tiers.

"We really want the customer to want all three tiers," he said. "We want the customer to commit all the way."

The multi-tiered approach lets customers start at a price point that is financially comfortable for them but is intended to sow the desire to shell out more for original TV shows and access to WarnerMedia’s extensive collection of films and television series. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson didn’t say how much each tier would cost.

Competing with Netflix

Disney -- which is set to become Hulu’s majority shareholder once its acquisition of 21st Century Fox is finalized -- is also gearing up to launch new streaming video service in 2019. Disney is reportedly looking to offer a digital bundle option for consumers that will include Hulu and ESPN+.

Companies are rolling out streaming services in an effort to compete with Netflix, which currently has more than 137 million subscribers. AT&T’s DirecTV Now online streaming service is going to lose subscribers this quarter as well as next.

Stankey said competitors like Netflix "should expect their libraries to get a lot thinner" over the next 18-24 months.

“We want to broaden the relevant demographic base,” Stankey told investors. “Our goal now is to open the aperture. We want to pick up more content and get more engagement on digital content.”

"We are well positioned for success as the lines between entertainment and communications continue to blur," Stephenson said. "If you're a media company, you can no longer rely exclusively on wholesale distribution models. You must develop a direct relationship with your viewers. And if you're a communications company, you can no longer rely exclusively on oversized bundles of content."

AT&T was given the green light to merge with Time Warner in June. The acquisition cost $84.5 billion.

AT&T; revealed during a presentation in New York to investors that it will use its acquisition of Time Warner to roll out a three-tiered streaming service...

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YouTube launches lower-cost YouTube Music and Premium plans for students

YouTube is now offering lower-cost YouTube Music and YouTube Music Premium subscription plans for full-time students at an accredited college or university in the U.S.

The new student plans for YouTube Music and YouTube Premium give eligible students “discounted access to a world of music, original series and movies —  all ad-free and at a wallet-friendly price,” YouTube said in a blog post.

YouTube Music Premium plans cost $5 per month for students instead of the usual $10 per month, while YouTube Premium costs $7 per month instead of $12 per month.

Students who sign up before January 31, 2019 can take advantage of a special promotion that offers YouTube Premium -- a platform on which consumers can watch ad-free videos and get access to YouTube Originals -- for $5.99 per month instead of $6.99. That rate that will remain in place for the length of their student membership (for up to four years, says YouTube).

With its new plans for students, YouTube is positioning itself to compete with rival Spotify, which is currently promoting a $4.99 per month student package that includes its music service, as well as Hulu with limited commercials and the TV channel Showtime.

For now, YouTube’s student plans are only available to full-time college students in the U.S., but YouTube says it will extend the offer to more countries in the future.

YouTube -- which launched its streaming services last year -- revealed in May that it had 1.8 billion logged-in monthly users. It hasn’t yet released an estimate of how many users are paying subscribers to YouTube Premium or YouTube Music Premium.

YouTube is now offering lower-cost YouTube Music and YouTube Music Premium subscription plans for full-time students at an accredited college or university...

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Disney to pour billions into its theme parks

Disney will be investing around $24 billion to “supercharge its theme park division,” according to a report from the New York Times. The company will spend more money on parks than it did on Marvel, Lucasfilm, and Pixar combined (more than $15 billion).

Disney’s parks, resorts, and other vacation destinations -- a roster that includes six locations in America, France, China, and Japan, as well as the Disney Cruise Line -- will receive new attractions and immersive upgrades.

“It can’t just be special — it has to be spectacular,” Bob Chapek, Disney’s theme park chairman, told the Times.

‘Enhancement on steroids’

Chapek, who described the overall expansion plan as “enhancement on steroids,” said a major goal is to add capacity to Disney’s most popular parks (Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea). Other locations will get upgrades that will help spread visitors more evenly throughout the grounds.

“You can only let so many people in a park before you start to impede on satisfaction level,” Chapek said.

Several resorts will get “Frozen” and Marvel rides, and a “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” park is headed to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida next year. The latter will feature provide guests with an interactive experience where they can board an Imperial Star Destroyer or “pilot” the Millennium Falcon.

Star Wars enhancements will also arrive at its hotel, where Disney is expected to unveil an experience of sleeping aboard a luxury Star Wars starship. In place of regular windows, the company will have screens projecting a view of space as the ship travels through the galaxy.

Disney’s investment in its Cruise Line will also be significant. The company has ordered three new ships costing roughly $1.25 billion each. Disney is also buying 746 acres on a Bahamian island to build a second Caribbean port.

Parks continue to do well

The company’s parks and resorts have continued to do well in recent years. They’ve seen a 100 percent increase in profits over the last five years. Disney reported an estimated $4.5 billion for the 2018 fiscal year, according to The Times.

“It’s the highest return on investment that Disney has,” said bank analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Jessica Reif.

By contrast, the company’s TV networks, like ESPN and ABC, pulled in a profit of $6.6 billion, a 3 percent decline.

Disney will be investing around $24 billion to “supercharge its theme park division,” according to a report from the New York Times. The company will spend...