We’re only a week into the new year, but we’ve got plenty to discuss. Several companies have shared some of their plans for next week’s CES 2021. And we already have our first new streaming service launch of the year. Meanwhile, Roku ended the week by acquiring the content left behind after Quibi’s closure.
Here’s what happened in the world of cord cutting and streaming.
Breaking News
Here are some of the top streaming stories from the past week.
Roku Acquires Quibi Content to Stream Exclusively on The Roku Channel
We reported on rumors of a possible deal, but by the end of the week, Roku officially confirmed it has acquired Quibi’s content. The company plans to offer the slate of movies and shows on The Roku Channel, meaning audiences will still be able to check out the content various groups had produced for the ill-fated Quibi.
Find out more about the Roku/Quibi deal here.
Discovery+ Launched This Week: Here’s What to Know About the New Streaming Service
We’ve already seen our first new streaming service of 2021, in the form of Discovery+, which promises thousands of episodes from a wide range of Discovery networks and brands. We also took a tour of the new service in a video this week to see what Discover+ has to offer.
Learn more about the new service’s launch here.
Samsung’s CES 2021 Lineup Includes Neo QLED, Massive MicroLED TVs
CES 2021 kicks off next week and several big-name companies have offered up previews of their latest gear. In Samsung’s case, that includes a new arsenal of TVs, including the company’s new Neo QLED line. We’ll have much more on CES 2021 next week, of course.
Check out Samsung’s new gear here.
Sony’s 2021 Bravia XR TV Line Will Feature Fancy ‘Cognitive’ Processing and Google TV
Sony also spent some time this week previewing what it has in store for CES 2021. Headlining the company’s offerings is a new line of LCD and OLED TVs known as the Bravia XR line, boasting what the company calls “cognitive intelligence.”
Find out what Sony has planned for 2021 here.
Industry Report
What’s the latest on the industry?
Roku Now Has Over 50 Million Active Accounts
Roku shared some preliminary numbers for its fourth quarter of 2020 and it looks like the streaming platform has surpassed 50 million active accounts. The company reportedly added some 14 million accounts during the year.
Learn more about Roku’s Q4 here.
Former Disney & Discovery Execs Will Launch New Service, Struum, This Spring
A new service called Struum aims to make it easier to discover niche and specialty streaming services. The subscription-based offering is expected to launch later this year and we’re looking forward to learning more about how it’ll work soon.
Read about Struum’s initial announcement here.
Hulu with Live Adds 14 Channels in Expanded Deal with ViacomCBS
A new deal between Hulu and ViacomCBS will bring some 14 additional channels to Hulu with Live. The news follows recent price hikes that saw the monthly price jump from $54.99 per month to $64.99.
Learn more about the new deal here.
FuboTV Expected to Reach 545,000 Subscribers in Q4
FuboTV also shared some early Q4 numbers and the company expects around 545,000 subscribers once fourth quarter figures are officially in. Revenue is also expected to range between $94 and $98 million, which would be a 77% increase year-over-year.
Find out more about FuboTV’s Q4 here.
Deal Alert
Save some cash with these current and upcoming deals.
Roku is Giving Away 50 New Roku Ultras
To celebrate surpassing 50 million active users, Roku announced it’s giving away 50 new Roku Ultras, which we reviewed late last year. You can find out more in our post linked down below.