VOD : Streaming services news, offers and general chit chat

[TimeLord2018]

WarnerMedia-Discovery Merger Gets Green Light From U.S. Regulators
https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/att...ce-1235175744/

[1andrew1]

Channel 4 to premier Hollyoaks on streaming

The long-running programme becomes the first UK soap to premiere on a streaming service on an ongoing basis. New episodes will be available in the morning, followed by linear showings that evening on E4, and Channel 4 the following day.

The new scheduling is the latest move in line with the Future4 strategy outlined by Channel 4 Chief Executive, Alex Mahon last year, with scripted content to be primarily commissioned to debut on All 4 before linear

broadcast.servicehttps://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2022/02/11/channel-4-to-premier-hollyoaks-on-streaming-service/

[TimeLord2018]

Amazon's $8.5 billion MGM pursuit taking more time for antitrust look

Amazon.com's (AMZN -3.6%) $8.5 billion deal to acquire MGM Studios (OTC:MGMB) is likely to take a while to wrap up, as the Federal Trade Commission continues to pore over it for antitrust concerns, according to Deal reporter

While the FTC could go either way, the Amazon/MGM deal is viewed as having fewer antitrust issues than AT&T's pursuit of Time Warner - a deal that the DOJ challenged unsuccessfully.

Meanwhile, the Amazon/MGM deal was notified to the European Commission on Feb. 8, with a provisional deadline for a Phase I decision coming March 15.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/379933...st-look-report

[RichardCoulter]

Discovery+ are to start showing adverts on a reduced price subscription tier from 16/3/22. Emails now being sent out.

This includes the free Discovery+ service that Sky customers get.

[TimeLord2018]

From March 16, the discovery+ Entertainment Pass is changing. The price will go down from £4.99/month to £3.99/month, and from £49.99 to £39.99 if you pay for a full year in advance.

The new price point, however, means adverts will now be added to the service. According to Discovery, the ads will be limited, and will be “less than half the amount of ads viewers experience through linear television.”


Those who wish to view the content without adverts, will have to subscribe to the Entertainment + Sports pass, which will remain ad-free, at its current price point – £6.99/month or £59.99/year.


Note: As of this writing, there’s a limited-time 50% discount on the annual Entertainment+Sports pass, if you sign up directly.

We’re told that those who subscribe to Discovery+ via Amazon’s Prime Video Channels, will not get the Ad-Lite option at this time, and the price will remain at £4.99/month (for the no-sports tier). However, Discovery is working with Amazon on the launch of the ‘Ad-Lite’ product on Prime Video in the future.

https://www.cordbusters.co.uk/discov...dding-adverts/

[BenMcr]

What is old is new again? Thought the whole point of paying for streaming is that it is ad free

Why should I pay and get ads too? Either do it free to access + ads, or paid and no ads.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

What is old is new again? Thought the whole point of paying for streaming is that it is ad free

Why should I pay and get ads too? Either do it free to access + ads, or paid and no ads.

I suppose they will argue that this is the same as with linear pay TV.

[BenMcr]

Yup, and that's been had over pay TV too.

But what I mean specifically is the pitch of streaming was that it's not the pay TV model - no ads was part of the reason it became popular.

[RichardCoulter]

True.

What became pay TV was free at the beginning though (even Sky Sports) until they had enough people using it. Then, in 1993, that all changed.

I've always suspected that the streaming services would eventually follow the American model.

[Legendkiller2k]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Discovery+ are to start showing adverts on a reduced price subscription tier from 16/3/22. Emails now being sent out.

This includes the free Discovery+ service that Sky customers get.

Worth noting the £6.99p/m tier with Eurosport will continue to be add free (exempt live broadcasts ofcourse).

[epsilon]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

True.

What became pay TV was free at the beginning though (even Sky Sports) until they had enough people using it. Then, in 1993, that all changed.

I've always suspected that the streaming services would eventually follow the American model.

I was amused by comments in a Radio Today podcast from a Bauer employee discussing their premium streams. It was suggested that they would eventually have something of interest to their advertisers in the premium content.

I guess when the audience is hooked it gets easier to bring back the ads.

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Yup, and that's been had over pay TV too.

But what I mean specifically is the pitch of streaming was that it's not the pay TV model - no ads was part of the reason it became popular.

Don't buy it and it will soon die,but I guess people will. Whether it enough is an other question . Think 3d TV , or is that still alive and kicking an,aside saw 7 blue ray players in charity shops in the last week or so . Are they in death throws

We gave our Blu-Ray player to a local charity shop last week, along with around 400 DVDs - we never used it/watched them.

[Raider999]

Originally Posted by Hugh

We gave our Blu-Ray player to a local charity shop last week, along with around 400 DVDs - we never used it/watched them.

Presumably you must have done at some stage, otherwise you have wasted £5k+.

Never understood buying films, I try never to watch them more than once.

Haven’t watched them last couple of years (hence why they were given away).

We used to watch them, often were given them as birthday/Christmas presents.