It was another week packed with cord cutting and streaming news. Netflix is trying out some new features and The Roku Channel showed up on Fire TV platforms. Meanwhile, AT&T’s decision to stop selling DSL could have a big impact and CBS is trying to stand out a bit more.
Breaking News
Here are some of the top streaming stories from the past week.
Netflix Tests Some ‘Still Watching’ Options
There are confirmed reports that Netflix is testing out a version of its famous, or perhaps infamous, “Still Watching” feature that gives subscribers a few options to choose from. For those that are part of the test, the “Are you still watching?” prompt is followed by options like “Ask again later,” “Play without asking again,” and “I’m done.”
If you select “Ask again later,” the prompt will pop back up like it does for most users, but choosing the “Play without asking again” option means you can keep bingewatching uninterrupted.
Are you still interested in Netflix’s test? Find out more here.
A New and Popular Hub is Coming to Netflix
Netflix is also rolling out a New and Popular tab to highlight — wait for it — new and popular content. User should soon see a section for upcoming content, as well as what’s trending via a Top 10 row. There’s also a “Worth the Wait” section with key titles on the horizon; it’s meant to encourage you to stick around so you don’t miss out on hot, new shows and movies in the future.
Read more about Netflix’s New and Popular hub here.
You Can Finally View Disney Films in 4K HDR Via iTunes
While Apple’s iTunes has supported 4K and high-dynamic range content for years, Disney’s been a major holdout, leaving its films stuck at 1080p resolution at best. Things are starting to change, though, as we’re seeing Disney content, including its Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars brands, offered up in ultra high-definition 4K with HDR support.
Find out more about Disney’s 4K content (including free upgrades) here.
The Roku Channel is Now Available on Fire TV
The Roku Channel continues to branch out from the company’s streaming boxes. We recently saw a standalone app dedicated to The Roku Channel and its content. And now, the free streaming platform is available on Amazon’s Fire TV devices here in the US.
Check out which Fire TV devices are supported here.
Deal Alerts
Save some cash with these current and upcoming deals.
Fire TVs Are Seeing Some Pre-Prime Day Discounts
Prime Day is right around the corner (Oct. 13-14), but we’re already seeing some solid cord cutting and streaming deals leading up to the main event. Make sure to follow the action at Cord Cutters News for all the latest deals as they go live.
Learn more about early deals here.
Industry Reports
What’s the latest on the industry?
AT&T’s Decision to Drop DSL Could Impact Low-Income Households.
AT&T says it’s no longer selling DSL internet service and focusing on tech like fiber and wireless moving forward. There’s concern the decision could leave those in rural areas with fewer options.
Read more about AT&T’s DSL decision here.
CBS Rebrands to Stand Out
CBS is trying to reinvigorate its storied brand by introducing a catchy new jingle and changing CBS Television Studios to just CBS Studios to better reflect the work its doing on a variety of mediums.
Learn more about the new CBS here.
Roku Says We’re Streaming More — A Lot More
Roku’s latest survey suggests we’ve cranked up our streaming habits in 2020, and tuned into traditional TV less and less. A lot of us are also cutting the cord because of the cost, and many have multiple streaming services. While the survey helps advertisers refine their efforts, there’s lots of interesting info for consumers as well