YouTube TV (YTTV) is the leading live TV streaming service, offering the best blend of channels, price, and additional features, such as unlimited DVR. Being backed by Google has also given YTTV a bargaining power that many competitors can’t match.

Unfortunately, that hasn’t stopped YTTV and Paramount from reaching an impasse in their negotiations. Google informed customers Wednesday evening, February 12.

With YouTube TV, our goal is to offer you the content you love, delivered the way you want it. To make this happen, we enter into agreements with network partners to make their content available on YouTube TV. As such, we’ve been negotiating with Paramount to reach a fair agreement that allows us to keep their channels, including CBS, on YouTube TV without compromising the value of our service. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we’ve been unable to reach an agreement.

On February 13, 2025, all Paramount channels will likely become unavailable on YouTube TV. If this happens, this will impact previous Library recordings from these channels, Paramount content in the Entertainment Plus package, and add-on services like Paramount+ with SHOWTIME and BET+. Should Paramount content become unavailable, we will continue to update our Help Center with the latest.

We know how frustrating and disruptive it is to lose channels you enjoy on YouTube TV, and we’re committed to providing you with the best possible entertainment experience. That’s why we’ll continue advocating on your behalf to offer you more flexibility in how you watch your favorite sports and shows while preserving the value of our service. It’s our goal to restore Paramount content to YouTube TV, but if we do not come to an agreement and their content is unavailable for an extended period of time, we’ll offer our YouTube TV subscribers an $8 credit. You can still watch Paramount shows and movies by signing up for their streaming service, Paramount+, starting at $7.99/month. For more information on how we’re addressing our Paramount+, BET+, and Entertainment Plus subscribers, please visit our Help Center.

YTTV says it will continue to try to resolve the issue with Paramount. Ultimately, a possible resolution will hinge on whether Paramount believes it can pick up enough Paramount+ subscribers to offset losing Google/YTTV as a distribution partner.

Apple announced the immediate availability of the Android version of the Apple TV app on its website.

The Apple TV app is now available to download from Google Play on Android mobile devices — including phones, tablets, and foldables — offering Android users access to hit, award-winning Apple Original series and films on Apple TV+, along with MLS Season Pass, the home of Major League Soccer.

The app also includes the ability to resume playing across various platforms.

The Apple TV app on Android includes key features like Continue Watching to pick up where a user left off across all their devices, and Watchlist to keep track of everything they want to watch in the future. The app streams seamlessly over Wi-Fi or a cellular connection, and includes the ability to download to watch offline.

Apple emphasized the wealth of content it provides.

With the Apple TV app on Android, Android users can now subscribe to Apple TV+, which offers compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment. The service’s hit titles include series like Severance, Slow Horses, The Morning Show, Presumed Innocent, Shrinking, Hijack, Loot, Palm Royale, Masters of the Air, and Ted Lasso. Subscribers can also access Apple Original films like Wolfs, The Instigators, The Family Plan, Killers of the Flower Moon, CODA, and more.

Just in time for Major League Soccer’s 2025 season, Android users can also subscribe to MLS Season Pass. Available through the Apple TV app, the subscription service offers fans every MLS match in one dedicated location with no blackouts, plus an array of exclusive content, in-depth coverage, and analysis. All 30 MLS clubs will be in action as the league kicks off its 30th season the weekend of February 22.

Apple TV+ is also the home of Friday Night Baseball — a weekly Major League Baseball double-header with no local broadcast restrictions. New for 2025, Apple TV+ subscribers can also enjoy Sunday Night Soccer, a weekly primetime standalone match showcasing MLS’s most compelling matchups.

Android users can download Apple TV via the Google Play Store.

Fubo and Disney have been locked in a legal battle, with Fubo challenging Disney’s plans to create a sports-oriented streaming service with Fox and Warner Brox. Discovery. The two companies have agreed to a deal that ends the legal battle, one that sees Disney purchase a 70% stake in Fubo. Fubo co-founder and CEO David Gandler will lead the combined business.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Disney to create a consumer-first streaming company that combines the strengths of the Fubo and Hulu + Live TV brands,” said Gandler. “This combination enables us to deliver on our promise to provide consumers with greater choice and flexibility. Additionally, this agreement allows us to scale effectively, strengthens Fubo’s balance sheet and positions us for positive cash flow. It’s a win for consumers, our shareholders, and the entire streaming industry.”

“This combination will allow both Hulu + Live TV and Fubo to enhance and expand their virtual MVPD offerings and provide consumers with even more choice and flexibility,” said Justin Warbrooke, Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Development, The Walt Disney Company. “We have confidence in the Fubo management team and their ability to grow the business, delivering high-quality offerings that serve subscribers with the content they want and offering great value.”

The combined business will have more than 6.2 million subscribers, still behind YouTube TV’s more than 8 million subscribers, but in a solid second-place. Fubo and Hulu + Live TV will still be available separately, although the combined company will be in a better position to negotiate content agreements.

The companies touted the benefits of a combined company.

Following the closing of the Transaction, Fubo will be governed by a board of directors with the majority appointed by Disney, as well as independent directors. Gandler will also serve on the board of directors continuing as Fubo’s CEO. The Transaction will provide the combined company with the resources and support of Disney, and the existing Fubo management team will continue to focus on driving growth and profitability.

The Transaction will also enable Fubo shareholders to benefit from synergies of the combination. The combined business will realize synergies through more flexible programming packaging to cater to all audiences, greater innovation, and sales and marketing opportunities.

The deal does not include Hulu’s traditional subscription video on demand (SVOD) service, only it’s live TV service. Should the deal fail for various reasons, including failure to receive regulatory approval, Disney will pay Fubo a $130 million termination fee.

What Analysts Say

As stated, the deal took the industry by surprise, with virtually no one anticipating this end to Disney and Fubo’s legal battle. That shocked continued as analysts broke down the deal.

“Frankly, we didn’t see this one coming,” wrote Bernstein analyst Laurent Yoon in a report, via The Hollywood Reporter. “We didn’t expect Disney (or anyone) to effectively acquire a troubled vMVPD asset with, at best, an uncertain future. What we missed was Disney’s willingness to spin off its own vMVPD business – which essentially operates with zero margins (dilutive to expanding direct-to-consumer (DTC) margins going forward) – and its need to create additional price tiers for sports fans (Venu and perhaps through Fubo) to mitigate the downside from [the ongoing] pay-TV decline.”

“Financially speaking, this combination with Fubo doesn’t move the needle much, but strategically we think it’s a good move to help consolidate the distribution business further, which could open up more opportunities in carriage negotiations as well as in developing more programmatic advertising,” wrote Macquarie media and tech analyst Tim Nollen, also via The Hollywood Reporter. “For Fubo, it’s a neat resolution to the key issues that have weighed on it for some time now – combining with Disney provides it much more scale, and resolves the Venu dispute. New Fubo should therefore hasten the growth of streaming sports, providing it the goal it has long sought – to be a sports focused DTC service.”

YTTV users were disappointed by a substantial price hike, with Google announcing users would have to pay $10 more per month, beginning in January 2025. The price hike will bring the monthly cost to $82.99, instead of the $72.99.

While the new price is still relatively reasonable, especially compared to competing products, $82.99 is nonetheless more than some are willing or able to pay. Fortunately, there’s a simple way to keep the existing price for a while longer.

Spotted by users on Reddit, attempting to cancel one’s YTTV subscription leads to Google offering a $10 a month promo code for staying subscribed. This writer can attest to the fact that the trick works, having secured the $10 promo.

When trying to cancel, Google will first recommend altering the plan, dropping premium channels, etc. Continuing past option that will lead to the promo code being offered. Once the promo is accepted, the user should receive the following email:

Hi [user],

Congratulations. A promotional offer has been applied to your account. We value your membership and are excited to continue to provide you with high quality entertainment with 85+ channels, unlimited DVR, and more.

To review or make changes to your subscription, go to your YouTube TV settings.

Start Watching

Thanks,

The YouTube TV team

YouTube TV (YTTV) is one of the leading live TV streaming services, and is widely considered by many critics to be the best of the available options. When the service first started in 2017, YTTV cost a very modest $35. In the following years, the service has seen a number of price hikes, but the most recent one brings it to a whopping $82.99.

The company notified users in an email, blaming the rising cost of content and investments in the infrastructure necessary to maintain a high quality of service.

Below is the email in its entirety:

Hi [user],

YouTube TV has always worked hard to offer you the content you love, delivered the way you want, with features that make it easy to enjoy the best of live TV.

To keep up with the rising cost of content and the investments we make in the quality of our service, we’re updating our monthly price from $72.99/month to $82.99/month starting January 13, 2025.

We don’t make these decisions lightly, and we realize this has an impact on our members. We are committed to bringing you features that are changing the way we watch live TV, like unlimited DVR storage and multiview*, and supporting YouTube TV’s breadth of content and vast on-demand library of movies and shows.

The price of your YouTube TV Base Plan membership will change in your first billing cycle on or after January 13, 2025, and will be charged to your payment method on file going forward. To view your current plan, go to Settings > Membership for updated information. If you are currently on a trial or promotional price for the Base Plan, that promotion is still honored and unchanged.

We hope YouTube TV continues to be your service of choice, but we understand that some of our members may want to cancel their subscriptions. As always, family managers have the ability to pause or cancel anytime. You can find more information in our Help Center.

With lots of exciting shows and live events ahead in the new year, we’ll continue to strive to deliver the best of TV, all in one place. Thank you for being a loyal YouTube TV member.

Sincerely,

The YouTube TV team

YTTV Alternatives

Users looking for a YTTV alternative have fairly limited options, each with some significant downsides.

Fubo

Fubo is a sports-focused streaming service that still offers a wide range of non-sports channels. Like YTTV, Fubo can serve as a full replacement for traditional TV, with one big caveat: Fubo does not carry Turner channels, meaning it does not have TNT, TBS, and a few other popular channels.

The company has shown a willingness to sue media companies over unfair distribution terms, winning some court victories. As a result, it’s entirely possible the company may regain access to the Turner channels, either through paying the high price for them, or suing for fairer terms.

In the meantime, the service starts at a comparable $79.99 per month.

Sling TV

Sling TV is the cheapest option that still provides a full TV streaming service. The company has a somewhat confusing price plan, offering two different plans, Orange or Blue, one of which focuses on sports and the other traditional content.

The plans are a good option for individuals who have a strong preference for or against sports content, saving them money by not forcing them to pay for content they’re not interested in. Users interest in both types of content can get both Orange and Blue for a mere $55 per month.

The big caveat with Sling is that, aside from a few select markets, the company does not provide local channels, such as ABC, NBC, Fox, or PBS affiliates. The omission is one of the reasons Sling is able to provide its service as cheap as it does. Users who want those channels can still access them with an antenna. It’s even possible to integrate those channels with the Sling service via an AirTV DVR device.

DirecTV Stream

DirecTV Stream is probably the most complete YTTV alternative, with no major channels or content missing. As the name suggests, DirecTV Stream is effectively the same thing as the DirecTV satellite service, but served via internet stream instead of satellite.

Unlike Fubo or Sling, DirecTV has the most complete channel lineup, rival and possible exceeding YTTV in some ways. The service also provides those most traditional TV-style experience.

Unfortunately, DirecTV is the most expensive option, starting at $101.98 and going up to $129.99, depending on the chosen package.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, despite the most recent price hike, YTTV remains the most cost-effective solution that still offers the widest selection of the most common channels and content.

Walmart announced its plans to purchase VIZIO in early 2024. The acquisition gives the company access to VIZIO’s line of TVs, as well as its SmartCast Operating System. The company says it plans to use the OS to drive new shopping experience for its customers.

“VIZIO offers great products at great prices that customers love. They’ve always put customers at the center of their business – and that’s core to Walmart’s values and the omnichannel experiences we’re excited to roll out,” said Seth Dallaire, executive vice president and chief growth officer, Walmart U.S. “VIZIO has also expertly changed their business over time, like building and quickly scaling a profitable advertising business. Pairing it with Walmart Connect will be impactful and allow us to invest in our business even further on behalf of our customers.”

“Since the inception of VIZIO, our mission has been to provide incredible value, great technology, and award-winning innovation,” said William Wang, CEO and founder of VIZIO. “Today, with the tremendous number of resources from Walmart, we will continue to further accelerate that mission around the best home entertainment experience.”

Why the Acquisition Could Be Horrible News for Consumers

TVs have become one of the hottest markets for advertisers, much to consumers’ chagrin. As if it’s not enough for people to purchase the TV and pay for cable, satellite, or streaming services, companies seem hell-bent on inundating consumers with advertisements in every, single, possible venue…including their TV interfaces.

The fact that Walmart intends to do just this is the reference to Walmart Connect, which the company describes below:

Walmart Connect, the retailer’s closed-loop, omnichannel retail media business in the U.S., grew 26 percent in Q3 this year. The business offers Walmart suppliers and sellers attractive opportunities to reach their desired customers no matter where, how and when they shop. Walmart Connect continues to innovate to bring to life distinct omnichannel solutions – across on-site and off-site digital properties and in stores – for brands of all sizes to accelerate shared growth. The business experienced 60 percent advertiser growth in Q3 of FY25, working with suppliers, emerging brands, Marketplace sellers and – more recently – nonendemic brands.

Unfortunately, based on this acquisition, it seems Walmart plans to join the fray and inundate people with ads—not only for its own products and services, but also Walmart’s suppliers and sellers.

The deal is worth #2.3 billion, or $11.50 per share in cash.

DirecTV announced in late September 2024 that it was pursuing a deal to purchase EchoStar’s video streaming business, including both Dish TV and Sling TV. The deal was short-lived, however, with DirecTV abandoning it after Dish noteholders rebuffed DirecTV’s proposal, which would have required them to take a loss on Dish’s debt.

“While we believed a combination of DIRECTV and DISH would have benefitted all stakeholders, we have terminated the transaction because the proposed Exchange Terms were necessary to protect DIRECTV’s balance sheet and our operational flexibility,” said Bill Morrow, CEO of DIRECTV. “DIRECTV will advance our mission to aggregate, curate, and distribute content tailored to customers’ interests by pursuing innovative products and providing customers with additional choice, flexibility, and control. We are well positioned for the future with a strong balance sheet and support from our long-term partner TPG.”

Dish has been struggling recently, with the company trying to roll out its 5G network in a bid to become the fourth national wireless carrier in the US. The company has faced regulatory losses, massive customer churn, and a ransomware attack that brought the company to its knees.

It’s unclear how the deal’s breakdown will impact Dish over the long haul, but it’s definnitely another setback for the company.

Netflix has been pushing into games for the last couple of years, snapping up a number of gaming studios that aligned with its goals. The company planned on releasing a AAA gaming title for PC, as evidenced by a job posting in late 2022.

We’re looking for a creative and highly-skilled Game Director to help us forge the game direction and creative vision on a brand-new AAA PC game. As Game Director, you will be the creative leader of one of Netflix’s first generation of internally developed original games.

Despite its ambitious goals, Game File is reporting that Netflix has shut down Team Blue, a drastic move considering the studio has yet to release a single AAA title.

This is not the first setback Netflix has experienced. In mid 2022, some 99% of Netflix customers had never played any of its games. With 221 million subscribers at the time, that meant that only 1.7 million had tried the company’s games, and they had only been downloaded 23.3 million times.

Netflix repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to gaming, but the closure of Team Blue raises new questions about the future of games within Netflix.

YouTube Music fans are in for a disappointment, with the company losing access to SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers) content.

One of the benefits of YouTube is its bargaining powering. As one of the leading streaming services, the company has the ability to negotiate deals that would be difficult for smaller players. For the sake of its users, hopefully it will be able to come to a new agreement with SESAC soon.

our music license agreement with SESAC has expired without an agreement on renewal conditions despite our best efforts. for this reason, we need to block certain music content on YouTube in the US

— TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) September 28, 2024

Online platforms have increasingly switched from selling consumers digital goods to merely licensing them. The practice has drawn growing criticism, especially as companies later disable or revoke access to content or games that customers have paid for.

Catch our chat on California’s new digital content licensing law!

Calfornia’s AB 2426 legislation addresses this, forcing companies to be honest about whether they are selling content, or just leasing it.

The bill, which has already passed and been signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, was authored by Jacqui Irwin.

Existing law makes it unlawful for any person doing business in California and advertising to consumers in California to make any false or misleading advertising claim. Existing law makes a person who violates specified false advertising provisions liable for a civil penalty, as specified, and provides that a person who violates those false advertising provisions is guilty of a misdemeanor.

This bill would, subject to specified exceptions, additionally prohibit a seller of a digital good from advertising or offering for sale a digital good, as defined, to a purchaser with the terms buy, purchase, or any other term which a reasonable person would understand to confer an unrestricted ownership interest in the digital good, or alongside an option for a time-limited rental, unless the seller receives at the time of each transaction an affirmative acknowledgment from the purchaser, or the seller provides to the consumer before executing each transaction a clear and conspicuous statement, as specified. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The law is a welcome counter to what has become a common practice in the computer software, gaming, and digital media industries, and will hopefully help provide customers with what they need to make informed decisions.

According to Android Authority, YouTube Premium is seeing price hikes in multiple regions, including much of Europe, parts of Asia, and at least one country in South America. Unlike some streaming service price hikes, that are usually the equivalent of a couple to a few dollars, YouTube Premium’s price hike is a massive jump in some cases.

Tune in to our chat about YouTube Premium’s latest price hike—again!

As spotted by AA, one Reddit user points out that the new YouTube Premium price makes it more expense than several other services combined.

Yeah I just canceled. This increase makes YouTube by far the most expensive streaming service, clocking in at more than what I pay for Amazon Prime, Netflix and HBO combined. And all just to avoid ads, since I don’t use YouTube Music anyway.

Similarly, Swedish users are seeing a 60% price increase.

YouTube has waged a war on third-party apps and ad blocking software, as well as rolled out additional ad formats. With price hikes like these, it’s easy to see why the company has been so eager to eliminate other options and push people toward paid accounts.

The MPA is the leading lobby group for the movie industry. Its existing members include Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, Sony Pictures, The Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Netflix.

“The MPA is the global voice for a growing and evolving industry, and welcoming Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios to our ranks will broaden our collective policymaking and content protection efforts on behalf of our most innovative and creative companies,” said Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the MPA. “MPA studios fuel local economies, drive job creation, enrich cultures, and bolster communities everywhere they work. With Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios among our roster of extraordinary members, the MPA will have an even larger voice for the world’s greatest storytellers.”

“Amazon’s mission is to entertain customers around the world with compelling film and television. In order to do that, we must support storytellers, while also helping to sustain a robust entertainment industry that works for both studios and our creative partners,” said Mike Hopkins, Head of Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios. “We are proud to join the MPA and its member studios in their collective efforts to protect creators, content, and consumers worldwide.”

Prior to officially joining the MPA, Amazon had worked closely with the group. In addition, Amazon purchased MGM in 2022, which had been an MPA member for decades.

Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios has worked with the association since 2017 as a governing board member of the MPA’s Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), the world’s leading anti-piracy coalition. Additionally, MGM was a member of the association from 1928 until 2005. Rivkin recruited Netflix to join the association in 2019.

The fact that two of the seven MPA members are streaming services is a strong indication just how powerful and important streaming video companies have become.

AnandTech has been a popular source for information and reviews on the latest computer, smartphone, and tablet hardware since it was founded in 1997. Unfortunately, as Editor-In-Chief Ryan Smith writes, the site is shutting down, effective August 30, 2024.

It is with great sadness that I find myself penning the hardest news post I’ve ever needed to write here at AnandTech. After over 27 years of covering the wide – and wild – word of computing hardware, today is AnandTech’s final day of publication.

For better or worse, we’ve reached the end of a long journey – one that started with a review of an AMD processor, and has ended with the review of an AMD processor. It’s fittingly poetic, but it is also a testament to the fact that we’ve spent the last 27 years doing what we love, covering the chips that are the lifeblood of the computing industry.

While not providing a great deal of detail, Smith attributes changes in the market for the decision.

The years have also brought some monumental changes to the world of publishing. AnandTech was hardly the first hardware enthusiast website, nor will we be the last. But we were fortunate to thrive in the past couple of decades, when so many of our peers did not, thanks to a combination of hard work, strategic investments in people and products, even more hard work, and the support of our many friends, colleagues, and readers.

Still, few things last forever, and the market for written tech journalism is not what it once was – nor will it ever be again. So, the time has come for AnandTech to wrap up its work, and let the next generation of tech journalists take their place within the zeitgeist.

Fortunately, AnandTech’s publisher will keep the site live so users can continue to research past content, as well as keeping the forums active.

And while the AnandTech staff is riding off into the sunset, I am happy to report that the site itself won’t be going anywhere for a while. Our publisher, Future PLC, will be keeping the AnandTech website and its many articles live indefinitely. So that all of the content we’ve created over the years remains accessible and citable. Even without new articles to add to the collection, I expect that many of the things we’ve written over the past couple of decades will remain relevant for years to come – and remain accessible just as long.

The AnandTech Forums will also continue to be operated by Future’s community team and our dedicated troop of moderators. With forum threads going back to 1999 (and some active members just as long), the forums have a history almost as long and as storied as AnandTech itself (wounded monitor children, anyone?). So even when AnandTech is no longer publishing articles, we’ll still have a place for everyone to talk about the latest in technology – and have those discussions last longer than 48 hours.

It’s sad to see such a distinguished tech site close its doors, but at least its existing content will continue to be available.

The Chromecast has been a popular product, with Google saying it has sold more than 100 million devices over the last 11 years. Despite its success, or because of it, Google is retiring the device.

After 11 years and over 100 million devices sold, we’re ending production of Chromecast, which will now only be available while supplies last. The time has now come to evolve the smart TV streaming device category — primed for the new area of AI, entertainment and smart homes. With this, there are no changes to our support policy for existing Chromecast devices, with continued software and security updates to the latest devices.

Google goes on to point out that the streaming market and the technology behind it has changed dramatically since the Chromecast’s introduction, necessitating a change.

Since then, technology has evolved dramatically. Streaming and smart TVs abound. We invested heavily in embedding Google Cast technology into millions of TV devices, including Android TV. Android TV has expanded to 220 million devices worldwide and we are continuing to bring Google Cast to other TV devices, like LG TVs. Thousands of apps support casting, making it easier than ever to watch your content from your phone and tablet on the big screen. So we are taking the next step in evolving how streaming TV devices can add even more capabilities to your smart TV, built on top of the same Chromecast technology.

Google has introduced the Google TV Streamer, a device that is far more powerful and capable than the Chromecast it replaces.

For a premium streaming experience, you need a premium streaming device. Google TV Streamer offers an improved processor, double the memory and 32GB of storage for faster app load times and smoother navigation than previous generation Chromecast. And with 4K HDR with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, every detail, sound and image feels like a cinematic experience.

You can connect your Google TV Streamer to a Wi-Fi network, or use an ethernet port for faster, buffer-free streaming with snappier navigation and app loading or switching. We designed Google TV Streamer to sit in front of your TV, rather than tucked behind it, to improve connectivity across your smart home devices.

The new device gives users access to a plethora of content, all while integrating AI to help make choosing the right content easier.

Streaming has boomed in popularity, meaning more options for what to watch than ever before. Google TV Streamer offers access to 700,000+ movies and shows through streaming apps like YouTube TV, Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV and more, in addition to live TV with 800+ free channels. To make it easier to find what to watch, Google TV Streamer uses Google AI and your preferences to curate content suggestions across all of your subscriptions, organized conveniently in one place. You can even build watchlists with recommendations for every member of your home.

And thanks to Gemini technology on Google TV, you can now get full summaries, reviews and season-by-season breakdowns of content, so finding your next marathon-watch just got easier.

Google TV Streamer is available for $99.99 and will be available on September 24. Users can pre-order starting August 6.

Amazon announced the deal in a blog post:

Amazon Prime Video and the NBA today announced an 11-year media rights agreement, beginning with the 2025-26 NBA season. In a landmark deal, Prime Video will present exclusive global coverage for 66 regular-season NBA games, including an opening-week doubleheader, a new Black Friday NBA game, and all games from the Knockout Rounds of the Emirates NBA Cup, including the in-season tournament’s Semifinals and Finals.

As part of the deal, Prime Video will also be the destination for NBA League Pass, both in the US and internationally.

“The digital opportunities with Amazon align perfectly with the global interest in the NBA,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “And Prime Video’s massive subscriber base will dramatically expand our ability to reach our fans in new and innovative ways.”

“Elevating our partnership with Amazon allows us to provide more games and access to fans who subscribe to Prime Video around the world at a time of historic interest in the WNBA and women’s basketball,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “Amazon has demonstrated its dedication to the growth of our sport throughout our current partnership and will now be a significant contributor to the long-term sustainability of the WNBA for the players, league, and teams.”

In a post on LinkedIn, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy voiced how thrilled he was with the deal:

Couldn’t be more excited about the long-term agreement we just signed with the NBA.

Starting in the 2025-26 season, Prime members will be able to stream an exciting slate of regular season games, the NBA Cup in-season tournament, the entire postseason play-in tournament, first and second round playoff games, and NBA conference finals every other season.

We’ve also expanded our relationship with the WNBA, and will be streaming 30 regular season games annually, 1/3 of all playoff games, and three WNBA finals over the 11 years.

We are honored to work with these amazing products and leagues, and can’t wait to keep innovating the viewing experience for fans.

The deal is a big win for Amazon’s streaming service in an increasingly competitive industry where exclusivity deals are key to preventing user churn.

Streaming have multiplied at an alarming rate, with many studios and major channel groups offering a paid service of their own. As a result, rather than being able to pay one low price to gain access to all available options, consumers are increasingly getting bled dry, $5 and $10 at a time.

Unfortunately, Hallmark is the latest to add to the trend. According to CNET, the feel-good brand will be rebranding Hallmark Movies Now as the new Hallmark Plus, completely with a price raise as well. Whereas the old service was $6 per month, or $60 per year, the new service will cost $8 a month, or $80 per year.

The new service will feature a combination of movies, series, and unscripted reality content.

A Vision for the Future

David Ellison, a young media mogul and CEO of Skydance Media, believes that integrating cutting-edge technology is crucial for transforming legacy media. “He is in this for the next 30 or 40 years,” Greenfield noted. “This is not a quick fix. This is not an easy lift.” Ellison’s long-term vision contrasts sharply with the typically short-term focus of traditional media executives.

Ellison asserts that legacy media has largely failed to incorporate best-in-class technology across its operations. This failure isn’t limited to streaming services but spans the entire business model. “They are not tech, and they have not brought those disciplines together,” Greenfield emphasized. The crux of the issue lies in not just adopting technology but also creating a synergy between content production and technological innovation.

The Content Conundrum

For technology to make a significant impact, there must be substantial content to leverage it. “They have to make a ton of content, invest in a ton of content, and get people to watch it,” Greenfield explained. Paramount Plus serves as a stark example of this dilemma, as it currently struggles with low viewer engagement. The platform’s limited content slate, especially with the impending end of popular shows like Yellowstone, underscores the need for a significant increase in content production.

Greenfield suggests that success hinges on the ability to ramp up content creation dramatically while simultaneously boosting technology investments. “That will be the test: can they make a ton of content while also dramatically ramping the technology spend and make them work in harmony together?” he posed.

Navigating the Industry Decline

The broader context of the interview touched on the challenges facing the entire media sector. Companies like Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery are experiencing significant stock declines, reflecting the broader struggles of the industry. “There is no proof that anybody can figure out how to navigate the decline of linear television and the growth of streaming,” Greenfield remarked.

Digital-native companies like Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube are currently leading the streaming landscape, leaving traditional media companies scrambling to catch up. This stark reality underscores the difficulty of transitioning from a legacy model to one that fully embraces digital and technological advancements.

Incentives and Investments

Despite the challenges, there are substantial incentives for legacy media companies to innovate. Ellison and his partners at RedBird Capital have invested billions of their own money into transforming their media assets. “They have a significant option grant that comes to fruition. They are obviously heavily incentivized to make this work,” Greenfield noted.

This financial commitment indicates a serious effort to leverage technology for business transformation. However, the path to success remains uncertain and fraught with challenges.

Looking Ahead

The future of legacy media depends on its ability to adapt to a rapidly changing technological landscape. Integrating AI and cloud computing can potentially streamline operations, enhance content delivery, and improve viewer engagement. However, these technologies must be paired with a robust content strategy that meets the demands of modern audiences.

As Greenfield aptly summarized, “The real test will be whether legacy media can harmonize content production with technological investment and navigate the tumultuous transition from linear to digital platforms.”

The road ahead for legacy media is undeniably challenging, but with the right combination of innovation, investment, and strategic foresight, there remains a glimmer of hope for these storied institutions to not only survive but thrive in the digital age.

Paramount has been going through a difficult transition. Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish resigned unexpectedly in April, and the company was reportedly in merger talks with Skydance, as well as the Sony Pictures and Apollo Global Management duo. Shari Redstone, who controls more than three-quarters of the voting stocks, was rumored to favor a deal with Skydance.

According to ABC News, Redstone said the deal will help fortify Paramount in a competitive industry.

“Given the changes in the industry, we want to fortify Paramount for the future while ensuring that content remains king,” said Redstone, who is also Paramount Global chairwoman.

Skydance was founded by David Ellison, Oracle founder Larry Ellison’s son. ABC reports that Ellison will become chairman and CEO of “New Paramount,” as long as regulators sign off on the deal.

With nearly 80 million monthly active users, Tubi has quickly become one of the biggest streaming platforms, a point the company makes in a funny series of ads in which it declares itself more popular than divorce, babies, water fountains, or Old Faithful.

“The idea for more popular than popular things came from the brief our strategists wrote,” explained Carl Peterson, creative director at Mischief who worked on the idea with partner Eleanor Rask. “They had a line in there about how if Tubi viewers were a country, it would be bigger than France. We thought that was pretty compelling so we just ran with it. Like, babies are common, but when you learn that Tubi is actually way more popular than babies – that felt sticky to us.”

The company is building on that popularity by launching in the UK. The platform will launch with more than 20,000 movies and TV episodes. The company says it is committed to delivery content suited to the UK market.

“Tubi has spent the last decade honing our approach to vast, free and fun streaming in North America, and we feel that now is the perfect time to bring that recipe to UK audiences,” said Anjali Sud, CEO of Tubi. “We are launching with one of the largest and most diverse content libraries in the UK, designed to indulge viewers in everything from blockbusters to original stories to hidden gems. Most importantly, we’re committed to listening to what resonates with UK fans, and bringing them more and more of what they love.”

“At a time when traditional programming feels homogenous and when finding what to watch feels like a chore, Tubi has been effective at delivering delight beyond the monoculture with content that appeals to diverse and vibrant fandoms,” said David Salmon, EVP and Managing Director of International at Tubi. “We believe that we can build a brilliantly broad, culturally ambitious offering that puts UK audiences back at the centre, and makes it fun and easy to enjoy great entertainment from around the world.”

Tubi has won praise for its streaming platform, solid content, and free price. Expanding in the UK should help the platform gain even more users, enabling it to leverage its scale to continue delivering great content.

The company made the announcement on its website:

On Spotify, users discover and enjoy music, podcasts, and audiobooks, with various plans that meet our listeners’ needs. We offer subscriptions for every stage of life and household, depending on how listeners like to stream. And we’re now offering even more options for eligible U.S. subscribers, who can choose one of the plans below.

Basic

• Enjoy the music streaming benefits of your Premium plan without the monthly audiobook listening time. Starting at $10.99/month for eligible users.

At $10.99, the Basic plan is just $1 less than the Premium Individual, at $11.99. While not a big difference, it’s still nice that users can choose not to pay for a feature they may not use.