This week saw Roku launch its newest operating system update, Roku OS 11. Meanwhile, satellite internet provider Starlink announced it’s raising monthly rates, and Bally Sports’ DTC streaming platform may arrive this summer (now that Major League Baseball is back).
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 to Launch OS 11 with New Sound Modes, Home Screen Improvements & More
Roku announced its latest software update, Roku OS 11. As is often the case, this newest update offers a variety of new features and improvements, including a new photo-sharing feature called Roku Photo Streams.
See what’s new in Roku OS 11 here.
YouTube Unveils New Navigation Menus and Banner Art, Adds 4,000 Free Titles
YouTube has added thousands of TV show episodes to its free lineup this week. The company says many are available in 1080p resolution and they’ve added new navigation menus and banner art to improve the viewing experience.
Check out YouTube’s newest additions here.
Bally Sports DTC Streaming App To Include 5 MLB Teams, Expected for Summer Launch
While earlier reports suggested Bally Sports would launch a direct-to-consumer sports streaming service during the second quarter, Major League Baseball’s lockout may have pushed plans back a bit. New rumors suggest five MLB teams will be part of the package, which could arrive this summer.
Find out what Bally Sports could have planned here.
Report: Al Michaels Heads to Streaming, Set to Join Kirk Herbstreit for Amazon’s ‘Thursday Night Football’
It looks like longtime play-by-play announcer Al Michaels is headed to Amazon to call games for Thursday Night Football. He’s reportedly joining Kirk Herbstreit in the broadcast booth for Prime Video’s coverage starting later this year.
Read more about Amazon’s broadcasting duo here.
Hardware Spotlight
A look at the latest streaming and cord-cutting gear
Samsung Accepting Preorders for Some 2022 TVs, Including its First QD-OLED Model
Samsung announced that it’s started accepting preorders for its 2022 lineup of TVs. And while that lineup includes many models we first learned about back at CES 2022 in January, the company also revealed its first QD-OLED (Quantum Dot Organic Light Emitting Diode) model.
Check out pricing info on Samsung’s latest TVs here.
Industry Report
What’s the latest on the industry?
Spectrum is Doubling Internet Starting Speeds to 200 Mbps in All Markets
Charter Communications announced it’s increasing speeds in all its markets. Soon, new and existing customers should have access to a claimed baseline of 200 Mbps.
Learn more about Spectrum’s speed increases here.
SpaceX Will Raise Starlink’s Monthly Price by 11%
SpaceX informed customers of its Starlink satellite internet service that it’s raising prices for current and future customers. The price increase applies to monthly rates as well as the cost of hardware.
Check out the details on Starlink’s price hike here.
Deal Alert
Save some cash with these current and upcoming deals.
Best Streaming Deals This Weekend: Get Dune for 60% Off, Save on Roku, Fire TV, and More
This week’s streaming deals include a discount on the 2021 version of Dune and Vizio’s 55-inch M7 Series. Roku fans can also take advantage of a deal on the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, while the Fire HD 8 tablet is discounted significantly this weekend.