Author: Roger Cheng
Recent Post:
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Streaming ‘Subscription Cycling’ is the New Normal As Consumers Get More Selective
When it comes to streaming services, loyalty is pretty much dead. The new normal is “subscription cycling,” being opportunistic about which services you’re currently paying for, and switching when that hit show ends its run. That’s according to television analytics firm Samba TV, which released its state of the TV report on Thursday. The study…
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MLB Commissioner Targets 2025 Season For League-Owned Streaming Service
Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said he wants to launch a league-owned direct-to-consumer streaming service for the 2025 baseball season. “Realistically, my target to having a digital package I can take to market would be for the ’25 season,” Manfred said at an owners meeting in Florida, according to The Athletic (paywall). MLB.tv already gives…
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The Tennis Channel is in Play as Parent Sinclair Looks For Investors
Broadcasting company Sinclair is potentially looking for an investor to partner up on to help run its Tennis Channel, according to Front Office Sports. Sinclair, which also owns or operates nearly 300 television stations across the U.S., hired investment bankers to advise it on a potential deal, the report said. While the term “explore strategic…
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The CW Quietly Launched a Free, Live Streaming Platform With 12 Channels
With little fanfare, The CW has launched a free, ad-supported live streaming service with 12 channels. The service is available on The CW’s website under the “Channels” section. Clicking on it will bring you live feeds from a dozen channels, ranging from Ion to the Game Show Channel and Mystery Science Theater 3000. Cord Cutters…
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Mint Mobile Slammed For ‘Misleading’ Ad Promoting its $15/Month Plan
Mint Mobile’s ads touting a promotional rate of $15 a month for wireless service didn’t adequately disclose how much customers would actually have to pay, the National Advertising Review Board ruled on Thursday. The NARB, which is part of the non-profit BBB National Programs, said that its marketing failed to disclose that customers would need…
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FCC Fines Nexstar $720,000 For Negotiating in ‘Bad Faith’ For its FOX and MyNetworkTV Stations
The Federal Communications Commission slapped Nexstar with a $720,000 fine after slamming the broadcasting giant for negotiating in “bad faith” with a telecom company to carry its local FOX and MyNetworkTV stations. Nexstar proposed terms of its retransmission agreement to Hawaiian Telecom that included a provision preventing the telecom company from filing a complaint with…
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Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Concert Film Will Be an Exclusive on Disney+
Disney+ will be the exclusive home of pop sensation Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert film, CEO Bob Iger said on the company’s fiscal first-quarter earnings call. The streaming service will be getting a special “Taylor’s Version” of the film, which includes a performance of Cardigan and four acoustic songs not seen in the theatrical or…
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Netflix’s Ad-Based Plan is Missing Some Key Titles
The difference between Netflix’s cheaper ad tier and its premium plans isn’t just in price — it’s also the amount of titles available for you to watch. That’s right. It might be hard to notice those missing titles with the flood of content that is available, but it’s a significant number. What’s on Netflix Editor…
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Disney’s Password Crackdown Begins, With Customers Notifications Coming This Summer
Walt Disney has already laid down the groundwork to start cracking down on password sharing, but it won’t start alerting subscribers until the summer. That’s according to Disney Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston, who disclosed on a Wednesday earnings call that the effort would kick off in the coming months. He said that the company…
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Disney CEO Says ESPN Streaming Option Will Launch in August 2025
Disney CEO Bob Iger said that ESPN will launch its standalone streaming service in August 2025, touting the experience as “unlike anything available in the market today.” The service, which brings together the full suite of ESPN channels, will be highly interactive, and include digital integrations of services like ESPN Bet and fantasy sports. It’ll…