HiTechEdge

Tag: streaming TV

  • Fandango Merges Vudu With Its Own Streaming Service

    Fandango Merges Vudu With Its Own Streaming Service

    A little over a year after purchasing Vudu from Walmart, Fandango is merging the service with its own under the Vudu name.

    Vudu was Walmart’s foray into the streaming TV market, before selling it to Fandango in April 2020. Fandango, known for selling movie tickets, has operated its own streaming service, but it has failed to gain as much traction as Vudu, let alone their larger rivals.

    The company clearly sees combining the two services, under the Vudu name, as the best option moving forward. The company told TechCrunch the Vudu brand has a loyal following that is quite a bit larger than the FandangoNOW user base.

    Existing FandangoNOW customers will automatically be transferred to the new service, without losing any of their existing content. Customers will have access to more than 200,000 movies and TV shows, for rent or purchase, in addition to thousands of streaming titles for free.

    A stronger Vudu is good news for consumers, and the streaming industry at large.

  • IMDb TV App Available On More Platforms

    IMDb TV App Available On More Platforms

    IMDb, the free streaming service owned by Amazon, has released apps for iOS and Android.

    IMDb currently offers an impressive library of streaming content, but it has traditionally been hampered by a lack of availability. The streaming content was available via Amazon Prime, but the service has been rolling out dedicated apps in recent months, on both smart TVs and streaming devices.

    The IMDb TV app is now available for iOS and Android, giving streaming fans even more ways to access free content.

  • Apple Making a Play for NFL Sunday Ticket

    Apple Making a Play for NFL Sunday Ticket

    Apple may be preparing to enter the the streaming TV big leagues, with a play for the NFL Sunday Ticket.

    In the battle for the streaming TV market, sports is one of the most important keys to success. A strong emphasis on sports has allowed fuboTV to quickly go from a small upstart to one of the major competitors at the top of the streaming food chain.

    Apple appears ready to get in on the action, and is in early talks for the rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket, according to The Information, via The Verge. The NFL Sunday Ticket would give Apple the ability to broadcast all football games not available on local stations.

    Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand says the negotiations have not officially begun, but the NFL has had preliminary talks with companies, including Apple.

    If Apple is able to secure NFL Sunday Ticket, it would be a game-changer for the company’s Apple TV+ service.

  • YouTube TV Adds 4K Support…For a Price

    YouTube TV Adds 4K Support…For a Price

    YouTube TV has announced support for 4K video, although it comes at a $20 premium.

    YouTube TV is one of the leading streaming platforms and has become a popular option among cord cutters. The platform has similar pricing ($65 per month at time of writing) as Hulu with Live TV and fuboTV, although it does have some competitive advantages. Chief among them is unlimited DVR space.

    The company is looking to add another major advantage in the form of full 4K content, something that most platforms have only limited support for. The caveat is that YouTube TV will charge more per month for 4K.

    4K Plus will be available at an additional $19.99/month, but right now, new users can get a one-month free trial and then a price of just $9.99/month for one year.

    Customers who upgrade to the 4K plan can also enjoy unlimited simultaneous streams at home, up from the three streams currently allowed. In addition, content can be downloaded to a phone or tablet for on-the-go watching.

    The company is also adding 5.1 Dolby audio for all members.

    Overall, the upgrades are welcome additions and help cement YouTube TV’s position as leader of the streaming pack. Nonetheless, $20 a month is a rather steep price for what are largely unnecessary upgrades.

  • HBO Max Rolls Out in 39 Additional Territories

    HBO Max Rolls Out in 39 Additional Territories

    HBO Max is expanding beyond the US, rolling out in 39 territories in Latin America and the Caribbean.

    HBO Max is AT&T’s streaming service, and has operated exclusively in the US. As more and more customers cut the cord, the streaming service has been a bright spot for AT&T, especially as DirecTV shed subscribers by the millions prior to AT&T spinning it off.

    As the company doubles down on HBO Max, global expansion is a priority, making today’s announcement an important step in that direction.

    “Over our first year since launch, fans in the U.S. have chosen HBO Max as one of their favorite streaming platforms. With today’s launch, we are introducing our global platform and providing a brand new user experience to millions of fans across Latin America and the Caribbean. There couldn’t be a better place to begin our global journey, as WarnerMedia has been a favorite and trusted source for compelling and entertaining content for the whole family,” said Johannes Larcher, Head of HBO Max International.

    HBO Max has committed to producing 100 local originals in Latin America, in addition to providing access to fan-favorite sports and programming.

    “The big day has finally arrived, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. HBO Max launches in our region with an unprecedented offer rewarding our first wave of subscribers and sure to delight our fans by making our collection of movies and TV series more accessible and more affordable than ever before. This past year with its unprecedented health and economic crises has been challenging for our fans from Tijuana to Tierra del Fuego, and so we are thrilled to bring some joy and inspiration to the entire community through this exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime launch offer,” stated Luis Durán, General Manager of HBO Max for Latin America.

  • Amazon Offering $9 Billion for MGM

    Amazon Offering $9 Billion for MGM

    On the heels of news Amazon was in talks to acquire MGM, a new report says the offer on the table is $9 billion.

    Amazon is already one of the leading streaming platforms, thanks to its Prime Video service being bundled with its Amazon Prime package. Nonetheless, the company has enjoyed critical and popular success with shows like Bosch and The Man in the High Castle. Reports emerged yesterday that Amazon was in talks to purchase MGM in an effort to boost its content catalog even more.

    According to a new report by Variety, Amazon is offering $9 billion to make the deal happen. MGM was reportedly looking for a buyer as early as December, but Amazon has emerged as the front-runner among possible suitors.

    MGM has an extremely deep movie catalog, boasting the James Bond franchise, Hobbit, the Rocky/Creed franchise, The Silence of the Lambs, The Magnificent Seven and Four Weddings and a Funeral. It’s TV catalog includes the Stargate franchise, Fargo, Vikings, American Gladiators and more.

    A successful deal would be a major win for Amazon and give it a leg up in the streaming wars.

  • Amazon May Purchase MGM to Boost Its Media Content

    Amazon May Purchase MGM to Boost Its Media Content

    Amazon is considering purchasing MGM in an effort to boost its already impressive TV offerings.

    Amazon Prime is one of the leading TV streaming platforms, with some 200 million subscribers. The platform has an impressive list of original content, including Bosch, The Man in the High Castle, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and more.

    According to The Information, via AppleInsider, Amazon is considering acquiring MGM in a bid to further its media library. MGM owns Epix and has a large library of film and TV franchises, such as James Bond, The Handmaid’s Tale, Fargo, Shark Tank and others.

    It is unclear how far along the discussions are, so it’s possible nothing will happen. Should a deal be reached, however, it could give Amazon a significant advantage in an increasingly competitive streaming TV market.