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  • Netflix brings its thin mobile games library to all Android users

    Netflix brings its thin mobile games library to all Android users

    Netflix is pretty serious about games and while the company doesn’t have a pedigree when it comes to this part of the entertainment industry, it needs to start somewhere if it wants a seat at the big revenue earners’ table.

    After testing its games service in selected regions, Netflix announced today that its entire catalog of games is now available for all Android users who pay for a Netflix subscription. Although the library is quite thin, we’re promised more titles in the future.

    Starting today, Netflix subscribers can play five mobile games: Stranger Things: 1984, Stranger Things 3: The Game, Shooting Hoops, Card Blast, and Teeter Up. It’s important to mention that these games don’t feature any ads, additional fees and in-app purchases, so all you need is a Netflix subscription.

    Netflix subscribers will see a dedicated games row and games tab on their Android devices where they can select any game to download. These games can be played on multiple devices on the same account. Keep in mind that some games may require an internet connection, but there are some that you can play offline.

  • YouTube adds ‘continue watching’ feature to mobile

    YouTube adds ‘continue watching’ feature to mobile

    YouTube is once again testing out a new feature, and this one isn’t only for Premium users, but seems to be slowly making its way across the platform to all. In a bid to further enhance video watching continuity across devices, the YouTube platform is introducing a new “continue watching” feature for Android and iOS mobile devices.

    A feature like this already exists on the web version of YouTube (shown below), which allows users to continue watching a video from where they last left off, even after getting off the computer and using YouTube on mobile in between.

    YouTube is already the second most popular “social media” app—ranking second only to Facebook across the globe, and beating out WhatsApp in active user count. YouTube is the place where you can get lost in videos of every genre imaginable, from science and educational videos to video game streams, conspiracy theories, keeping up with your favorite vloggers, and the list goes on.

    And because of its widespread popularity, it’s only natural that the video app provides no less than a streamlined watching experience across all platforms it is used on.

    Once the new “continue watching” feature rolls out to your own handset, this will mean that even if you were watching a YouTube video on your laptop and your battery dies, or you have to go somewhere, you are able to whip out your phone at any time, open the YouTube app, and you will see the mini-player at the bottom, allowing you to open up the last YouTube video you never finished. It will start playing at most a couple of seconds back from where it dropped off, on whichever device played it previously.

    Naturally, in order for your mobile YouTube app to be able to sync your watched videos between various devices, you need to make sure you are logged into the same Google account on your computer, tablet, and phones.

    The “continue watching” feature for YouTube on mobile is no longer in beta phase, either, so although we don’t know exactly how YouTube is going about rolling it out, you can likely expect it to hit your phone anytime in the coming weeks.

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  • Netflix brings new Play Something feature to Android users

    Netflix brings new Play Something feature to Android users

    Play Something is a new feature that Netflix begun testing back in April in select markets on Android devices. Today, the company announced that it will make Play Something available to all Netflix users on Android.

    The new feature is Netflix’s take on the “shuffle” function that many music streaming services offer. Although it’s been available on desktop for quite some time, Play Something has only been added to Android this week.

    Unfortunately, iOS users won’t benefit from the new shuffle feature, but Netflix announced that it will start testing Play Something on iOS in the coming months. This means that it’s unlikely that iPhone/iPad users will be getting a similar feature this year.

    In the same piece of news, Netflix released another feature called Fast Laughs. It’s a TikTok-like feature but for movies and TV shows. Fast Laughs was launched on iOS early this year and it’s now making its way to Android devices in select markets, including Australia, Canada, Ireland, India, Malaysia, Philippines, United States, and the UK.

    Last but not least, the long-awaited Downloads for You tool will be coming to iOS next month, Netflix announced today. Currently, the option to automatically download movies and TV shows to watch offline based on viewing history is only available on Android devices.

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  • Disney raises prices at Hulu effective October 8

    Disney raises prices at Hulu effective October 8

    Hulu was one of the few streaming services that didn’t increase prices this year. Unfortunately, that’s about to change as Disney has just confirmed that Hulu price tiers will be increased effective October 8.

    The price of Hulu’s live TV service plans will increase by $1 starting October 8. Taking into consideration the new price hike, Hulu’s ad-supported tier will cost $6.99 per month, while the ad-free tier will be going up to $12.99 monthly.

    The Hulu price hike follows the other increases in recent months at ESPN+ and Disney+. The report mentions that the reason for the price increase could be the addition of thousands of Bollywood titles and Hotstar originals to the streaming service.

    Also, the new price for Hulu’s tiers might make the Disney Bundle more appealing for those who wish to save some bucks (36% to be more precise). Hulu confirmed that the price of the Disney Bundle will not change due to the price increase. It’s also important to mention that the price hike won’t affect Hulu + Live TV plans.

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  • Disney+ may close gap with Netflix by 20 million subscribers this year

    Disney+ may close gap with Netflix by 20 million subscribers this year

    Ever since Disney+ got off to a strong start in November 2019, you might have noticed Netflix executives wearing more frowns than usual. While Netflix is the top provider of streaming video content on this planet, Disney+ has used its strong slate of Marvel-related programming and original Pixar titles to pick up ground on Netflix. Last week Disney reported that it had 116 million subscribers during the second quarter compared to the consensus expectations of 112.8 million.

    For the three months from April through June, 12.4 million new subscribers joined Disney+; compare that with the measly 1.5 million net new subscribers that joined Netflix during the same three-month period. During the previous quarter Netflix added 4 million net new subscribers and expects 3.5 million for the current quarter. If you’re wondering if Disney can surpass Netflix at the current rates, let’s look at the numbers.

    According to Rosenblatt analyst Mark Zgutowicz, Disney+ is approximately 90 million subscribers behind Netflix but should pick up 20 million new customers on Netflix this year. If this were to continue, Disney would jump over Netflix in five years.

    Many analysts never expected Disney+ to challenge Netflix as they considered the former to offer content mostly for children unlike the more varied categories of video streams that Netflix offers. The truth, however, is that Disney+ has content for subscribers of all ages from pre-schoolers to adults. The recent Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) based mini-series including WandaVision and Loki put up some huge ratings and Disney has already announced that Thor’s brother will star in another season of the show.

    Globally Netflix has 209 million paying subscribers with 74 million of these customers living in the U.S. and Canada. Including Hotstar, Disney’s high volume but low revenue service in India, Disney+ has 116 million users worldwide. If you add Hulu and ESPN, the grand total for Disney’s streaming services amounts to close to 174 million subscribers.

    If Netflix and Disney+ are considered numbers one and two when it comes to streaming video content, HBO Max might be a legitimate third place challenger. It has 67.5 million global subscribers with 47 million of them in the states. It also outperformed Netflix in Q2 by adding 3.6 million global subscribers and 2.8 million in the U.S. It’s ARPU weighs in at $11.90.

    One area where Netflix holds a huge lead over Disney+ is with the average revenue per user (ARPU). In the U.S. Netflix garners $14.54 per subscriber compared to the measly global ARPU of $4.16 that  Disney+ has been collecting. That figure has been hit hard by Hotstar’s strong growth. Disney CEO Bob Chapek has announced that November 12th will be “Disney+ Day” with the company using cross-promotion to bolster subscription numbers.

    Rivals to Disney+ and Netflix include Amazon Prime Video, but the $12.99 monthly cost of the service actually covers the free overnight shipping that Prime members are known to receive with Amazon’s streaming video inventory basically a free throw-in. More than 175 million Prime members streamed Amazon’s video content over the last year, but you cannot compare the service to Netflix or Disney+.

    NBCUniversal’s Peacock adds paid subscribers with free users to generate a metric it calls “sign-ups.” Thanks to the platform’s Olympics coverage, Peacock had 54 million sign-ups, up 12 million on a sequential basis. Viacom/CBS has various streaming services (Paramount+, CBS All Access, Showtime, and other smaller services) that add up to 42 million subscribers. That is up 6.1 million subscribers sequentially for a 17%  quarter vs. quarter hike.

  • TikTok is testing a custom paid video format called Shoutouts

    TikTok is testing a custom paid video format called Shoutouts

    TikTok creators are about to get another tool to help them make money. The top-grossing app in H1 2021 is apparently testing a Cameo-like feature called Shoutouts.

    The new format will allow TikTok users to request custom videos from their favorite creators and pay for them with in-app currency.

    The new feature is available for some creators in Turkey and Dubai but there’s no information on when Shoutouts will arrive in other countries.

    You pay upfront when you submit a request and then wait for up to three days for your creator to accept. Then, in a week or so, you should receive your custom video in your direct messages (after it’s been reviewed and approved by TikTok – this isn’t OnlyFans, guys).

    Earlier this month, TikTok announced that it will be introducing longer videos (already rolling out), allowing users to upload up to three minutes’ worth of content.

    Shoutouts is the last addition to a slew of new TikTok features, including the recently introduced TikTok Jump – mini-widgets that creators can link to within their videos.

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  • YouTube users running iOS will soon be able to use PiP to multitask

    YouTube users running iOS will soon be able to use PiP to multitask

    YouTube said today that its Premium subscribers using iOS are currently receiving support for the iOS 14 picture-in-picture mode. All U.S YouTube users running iOS will eventually get this mode regardless if they have a Premium subscription or not. Explaining what picture-in-picture does, YouTube said in a statement that, “Picture-in-Picture (PiP) allows users to watch YouTube videos in a small mini player while simultaneously browsing outside of the YouTube app on their mobile device.”

    YouTube reiterated what we said in the first paragraph. “We’re starting to roll out PiP (picture-in-picture) for YouTube Premium members on iOS and plan to launch PiP for all U.S. iOS users as well.” With this feature, YouTube users will be able to shut the YouTube app and continue viewing the video that they were watching from a small pop-up window.

    There had been certain workarounds that YouTube users with an iPhone could use on mobile Safari to get PiP to run. That would include asking the mobile browser to run the desktop version of YouTube. That workaround has been blocked and frankly, based on what the Google unit is saying today, there really is no reason to put together a workaround for YouTube PiP on iOS.

    Android users viewing YouTube for free already have had the ability to view YouTube video using PiP for multitasking. For years, YouTube had constantly tried to get iPhone users to sign up for the Premium service by promoting PiP multitasking. But soon, even YouTube non-subscribers will be able to use PiP to multitask in the U.S.

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  • Netflix Online store offers limited-edition merchandise

    Netflix Online store offers limited-edition merchandise

    Netflix will launch an online store to sell limited-edition apparel, lifestyle merchandise, and collectibles based on Stranger Things, Lupin, and other popular shows, the streaming giant said on Thursday.

    Netflix.shop will be available in the United States starting on Thursday and expand to other countries in the coming months, Netflix said in a blog post.

    The video streaming pioneer is facing a growing list of competitors offering their own streaming services with new movies and TV shows. In April, Netflix fell short of Wall Street projections for new subscribers.

    The online store offers a new source of revenue for Netflix and expands its product line beyond the items it sells through partners such as Target and Walmart.

    Merchandise in the online shop will be “carefully selected high-quality apparel and lifestyle products,” the company said.

    Items debuting this month include streetwear and action figures based on anime series Yasuke and Eden” and apparel and decorative items inspired by French crime thriller Lupin, Netflix said. The Lupin products were developed with the Louvre museum.

    In the future, the company plans to introduce products based on hit series “The Witcher” and “Stranger Things” and Netflix logo-wear from Japanese fashion house BEAMS.

    Netflix has also created video games based on shows Stranger Things and La casa de Papel (Money Heist).

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  • Apple TV app fully entering the world of Android TV

    Apple TV app fully entering the world of Android TV

    Once in a blue moon, something beautiful happens when it comes to the relationship between Apple and Google, and in this case, that is the complete introduction of the Apple TV app to all modern devices with Android TV.

    The search engine giant said that starting today, the Apple TV app will be available throughout the “Android TV OS ecosystem,” which means that the streaming service is no longer limited to just Sony Bravia TVs and Chromecast with Google TV but is now released to other media and streaming devices manufactured by companies like Xiaomi, OnePlus, Nvidia, and more.

    The news of Apple lowering its ecosystem garden walls broke when Nvidia shared that the Apple TV app will be coming to their Shield TV streaming box at the Computex virtual conference this week. Later on, a tweet from a Xiaomi executive further cemented the news by confirming that the app is coming on all of their Android TV products.

    Apple extends an extra pair of hands for those who own one or more of their devices in the form of a one-year subscription to the Apple TV+ streaming service. A very welcome gesture that will without a doubt attract even more people to their already popular streaming service, especially considering the generous periodic extensions of this offer that they’ve showcased up until now.

    In a very Apple fashion, they also make it easier for you to set up and sign in through your device by offering the option to do it via scanning a QR code that shows up in the app with your iPhone or iPad.

    All’s to say, it seems that Apple is starting to loosen up its historical tight grip on its ecosystem, resulting in a wider audience reach for them and more flexibility for us in our choice and preference, which I will welcome any day.

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  • Disney+ blows past 100 million subscriber milestone even as its growth starts to slow down

    Disney+ blows past 100 million subscriber milestone even as its growth starts to slow down

    As heated as the battle for global supremacy in the crowded video streaming space may have seemed just a couple of years ago, it has become increasingly clear in recent months that the market is largely headed for a duopoly.

    That’s because the likes of Apple TV+, HBO Max, and Peacock are not really going anywhere while Disney+ is practically going everywhere, growing at a Netflix-threatening pace quarter after quarter.

    As expected at the end of last year, the late 2019-released streaming service has concluded the first quarter of 2021 well above the 100 million subscriber mark. Namely, Disney Plus counted a grand total of 103.6 million users around the world as of April 3, up from “just” 94.9 million subscribers on January 2, 2021.

    That’s a huge number for the ever-expanding Walt Disney Company no matter how you look at it, inching closer to Netflix’s industry-leading 208 million paid subscriber base last updated in April for Q1 2021.

    While the gap between the two streaming giants may seem substantial (because it is), Disney+ has impressively managed to eat away at the global champ’s advantage ever since it made its debut back in November 2019. This year’s first quarter is no exception, although for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, both Netflix and Disney+ failed to meet the expectations of industry pundits.

    Following 29 and 28 percent surges in worldwide subscribers in Q3 and Q4 2020 compared to their previous quarters, Disney+ had to settle for the aforementioned 8.7 million sequential growth, equating to less than 10 percent, which was still more than enough to outpace Netflix’s modest 4 million or so gain during Q1 2021.

    If current projections hold up, Disney+ could reach anywhere between 230 and 260 million paid global subscribers by the end of 2024, which is when the streaming platform’s parent company originally expected the service to sit at no more than 90 million users.

    In comparison (although it’s obviously not a very fair one), Netflix broke the 100 million barrier at some point in 2017 after being founded in 1997 and branching out from the DVD sales and rental business to the online world in 2007.

    Meanwhile, in case you’re wondering, mum’s the word on the paying subscriber figures of Apple TV+, which pretty much tells you everything you need to know about the much-hyped platform that essentially saw daylight at the same time as Disney+.

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  • HBO Max cheaper ad-supported plan reportedly coming in June

    HBO Max cheaper ad-supported plan reportedly coming in June

    HBO Max is already one of the most expensive streaming services in the United States, and that gave WarnerMedia an idea. Last month, the media giant confirmed plans to introduce a cheaper ad-supported plan for those who can’t afford to pay $15 per month for the regular plan.

    However, WarnerMedia did not say when the plan will be launched and how much it will cost. CBNC claims sources close to the company say HBO Max will introduce a cheaper service in June that will cost just $9.99.

    The new ad-supported plan will be available via AT&T at first, but pay-TV distributors might be willing to accept the cheaper service too, even though they would get a lower revenue percentage per user.

    It’s also important to mention that HBO Max will not run ads during original shows, but everything else will be peppered with commercials; that’s something that WarnerMedia has already confirmed last month.

    Initially, WarnerMedia considered a much cheaper $4.99 ad-supported plan that would offer just HBO Max content, but the company decided to go for a more varied product in the end.

  • Hulu app finally adds support for higher resolutions on Android TV

    Hulu app finally adds support for higher resolutions on Android TV

    It’s hard to understand why Hulu has been limiting streaming resolutions to 720p on Android TV until now, but just about every other streaming service offers at least support for 1080p. Not to mention that most of its competitors in the US have already upgraded their streaming services to 4K resolution at no additional costs.

    Thankfully, Hulu has decided that it finally time to upgrade its streaming service and offer customers at least the same level of quality the competition currently offers. The Hulu app for Android TV now features two additional streaming options: 1080p and 4K.

    Keep in mind though that to benefit from these improvements, your Android TV device must support these resolutions. There’s no official word on the changes, but many Reddit users that own Android TV devices like the 2019 Shield TV noticed Hulu can now stream at 1080p resolution.

    At least one 2017 Sony Bravia TV user confirmed the Hulu app now supports 4K streaming. It looks like these improvements are slowly rolling out to Hulu customers across the US, so we’re not sure when exactly they’ll be available to everyone.

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  • Disney+ is raising its US prices today

    Disney+ is raising its US prices today

    Disney+, which as of this month has 100 million subscribers, is nothing short of a global phenomenon thanks to its huge catalog of Disney, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars, and National Geographic content.

    That catalog keeps growing in size, though, so Disney+ has decided that now’s the right time to raise its prices in the United States, after already increasing them in Europe last month.

    Starting this Friday, March 26, the monthly cost of Disney+ is going up by $1 to $7.99 per month. The Disney subscription service is also raising the price of its yearly subscription plan, from $69.99 to $79.99.

    Disney offers a bundle subscription package that includes Hulu and ESPN+, in addition to Disney+. The ad-supported tier will go from $12.99 to $13.99 a month on Friday, while the ad-free version is going from $18.99 to $19.99 per month.

    The good news is that you still have time to get Disney+ at its original price. Today is your last chance to sign up to Disney+ for $6.99 per month or $69.99 a year. The same can be said for the Hulu & ESPN+ bundle.

    As a reminder, here are some of the popular movies and TV shows Disney+ offers:

    • The Mandalorian
    • Falcon and the Winter Soldier
    • WandaVision
    • Mulan
    • Soul
    • Incredibles 2
    • Avengers: Endgame
    • Marvel Studios: Legends
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  • HBO Max reveals plans to introduce ad-supported subscription tier in 2021

    HBO Max reveals plans to introduce ad-supported subscription tier in 2021

    HBO Max is the most expensive streaming service of its kind at the moment, as subscribers must pay $14.99 per month to access its offering. However, the company confirmed plans to introduce a cheap alternative for those who can’t afford the high price of a monthly subscription.

    The news was revealed as part of a recent call with investors, along with information about HBO Max’s expansion worldwide. First off, AT&T stated that it expects HBO Max to reach around 150 million subscribers by 2025, which will become possible after expanding the service to 60 international markets this year (39 in Latin America/Caribbean region and 21 in Europe).

    Also, AT&T confirmed plans to launch an ad-supported option (AVOD) in June but didn’t offer any details about pricing. WarnerMedia chief Jason Kilar reaffirmed HBO Max’s commitment to its customers to provide them with original shows and premieres of Warner Bros movies.

    However, he said that the new ad-supported plan will not have access to day-and-date premieres of Warner Bros movies, although everything else will be the same. Also, he confirmed that HBO Max doesn’t plan to put ads on HBO’s original series.

    According to the company’s estimations from October 2019, HBO Max and HBO have around 90 million subscribers. The ad-supported version of HBO Max will only be available in the US in June.

  • Paramount, the Netflix’s newest rival starts streaming today

    Paramount, the Netflix’s newest rival starts streaming today

    Paramount+ launches today to give the world exactly what it needs during a pandemic-another streaming app service. Even though we were aiming for sarcasm with that comment, there are statistics showing that streamers are doing well. Disney+, with its highly recognizable brand and videos for just about everyone, said last month that it had 94.9 million subscribers and forecast that it would have 230 million to 260 million by 2024.

    With content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, Disney+ has enough movies, television shows, and documentaries to suit everyone. It also has the most streamed program in the world right now with Marvel’s WandaVision MCU spinoff. The leading streamer on the planet, Netflix, had over 203 million global subscribers as of the end of last quarter. Last May, HBO Max became the newest streamer and was guaranteed a decent-sized viewing audience thanks to the $425 million it shelled out to be the exclusive streaming home for popular sit-com Friends.

    Until March 31st, you can get a one-month free trial of Paramount+. After your free month is over, subscription rates in the U.S. start at $5.99 per month for the service (more on this below). Most of the current television shows on the service come from CBS/Viacom and there are listings that you will be familiar with including cop drama Blue Bloods, starring Tom Selleck (just don’t let him talk about reverse mortgages), courtroom hit Bull, and police drama FBI. There are also older shows in the Paramount+ library such as Hot in Cleveland and Reno 911. Paramount+ is also the exclusive streaming home for the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise.

    Just like its rivals, Paramount+ will try to attract subscribers by producing original content including Kamp Koral, an animated series about Sponge Bob’s younger years. A Frasier reboot starring Kelsey Grammer is on tap and popular kids’ show Rugrats is back with new episodes, this time created using CGI. Programming for the streamer comes from CBS, BET, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, MTV, and the Smithsonian Channel.

    The Paramount+ app is available from the Google Play Store and the App Store which means that it is available for all Android phones and tablets and can be installed on all iPhone units, the iPod touch and iPad slates. It also can be used with Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, Portal TV, PlayStation 4, Samsung TV, Vizio TV, LG TV, Roku, Xbox, and Xfinity Flex. There are two subscription options for Paramount+ subscribers. The one with Limited Commercials offers over “30,000 episodes and movies, originals, live sports and news with limited commercial interruptions” and is priced at $5.99 a month or $59.99 for a year (which works out to more than a 15% savings for paying a year in advance).

    The second subscriber option is ad-free service. Besides watching content without ads, those with this tier of service are allowed to download content to view offline. The price of this subscription tier is $9.99 per month, or $99.99 for a full year of service. (Pay a year in advance to receive a 15% discount). Each subscription allows content to be viewed over three devices simultaneously and profiles can be created for each member of your family. With Paramount+, users can cancel or change their plan at any time. Thus, there are no commitments.

    Demand for major streaming services has been on the rise. Recently Disney+ was able to hike its monthly subscription price from $6.99 a month to $7.99 a month. While that doesn’t sound like a huge increase for Disney+ members, it is a big deal for Disney since it adds over $90 million a month or over $1 billion into Disney’s coffers over the course of one year.