Erik Gruenwedel
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DirecTV Stream: Lipstick on Pay-TV Pig
AT&T’s pending launch of standalone “DirecTV Stream” as the new brand name for its declining satellite pay-TV businesses (i.e. DirecTV, AT&T TV, and U-verse) marks the telecom’s latest makeover in a disastrous M&A legacy. Marketing the platform with 15.9 million combined subs as a gateway (i.e. Roku and Fire TV) to third-party subscription streaming platforms … Continue reading “DirecTV Stream: Lipstick on Pay-TV Pig”
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Is Shine Off Online Pay-Television?
Lost in the hoopla of Disney+ surpassing 103 million subscribers in the second quarter (ended April 3) was the reality that the online TV market leader, Hulu + Live TV, lost 200,000 subscribers during the same quarter. The 5% decline from 4 million subs likely attributed in part to a $10 price hike Disney imposed … Continue reading “Is Shine Off Online Pay-Television?”
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DirecTV Stream: Lipstick on Pay-TV Pig
AT&T’s pending launch of standalone “DirecTV Stream” as the new brand name for its declining satellite pay-TV businesses (i.e. DirecTV, AT&T TV, and U-verse) marks the telecom’s latest makeover in a disastrous M&A legacy. Marketing the platform with 15.9 million combined subs as a gateway (i.e. Roku and Fire TV) to third-party subscription streaming platforms … Continue reading “DirecTV Stream: Lipstick on Pay-TV Pig”
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Is Shine Off Online Pay-Television?
Lost in the hoopla of Disney+ surpassing 103 million subscribers in the second quarter (ended April 3) was the reality that the online TV market leader, Hulu + Live TV, lost 200,000 subscribers during the same quarter. The 5% decline from 4 million subs likely attributed in part to a $10 price hike Disney imposed … Continue reading “Is Shine Off Online Pay-Television?”
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HBO Downsizes Apps, Increases Confusion
As expected, WarnerMedia is consolidating its HBO Go, HBO Now and HBO Max apps in an attempt to declutter the brand’s over-the-top video offerings to consumers. In the process, however, the corporate umbrella to Warner Bros., HBO and Turner has seemingly complicated matters. With the high-profile HBO Max spearheading WarnerMedia’s OTT aspirations, the former Time … Continue reading “HBO Downsizes Apps, Increases Confusion”
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In the COVID-19 Era, Where’s Apple TV+?
As the spread of the coronavirus forces millions to “shelter-in-place” globally, home entertainment distribution, including subscription streaming video, is expected to surge as households stream increasing amounts of content. While Disney+ launched operations in select European countries, and Netflix shows no signs of slowing as its original shows (i.e. “Tiger King”) continue to dominate viewer … Continue reading “In the COVID-19 Era, Where’s Apple TV+?”
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Mr. ‘Disney’s’ Wild Ride
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride has been a mainstay at Disneyland since the amusement park opened in 1955. On March 23, 2020, at high noon Disney experienced a wild ride of a different kind: Wall Street. On that day at lunch time, Disney’s stock dropped to $81.57 per share, the media giant’s lowest stock valuation since … Continue reading “Mr. ‘Disney’s’ Wild Ride”
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Home Entertainment ‘Social Distancing’ — Boon or Double-Edged Sword?
With movie theaters shuttered and government officials calling on people not to congregate in groups larger than 10, home entertainment, including transactional VOD and packaged media, is getting a boost from consumers sequestered at home during the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Universal Pictures said it is releasing select theatrical titles concurrent with home entertainment … Continue reading “Home Entertainment ‘Social Distancing’ — Boon or Double-Edged Sword?”
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The Night Sports Turned Off the Lights
The evening of March 11 seemed like any normal night for Disney-owned ESPN, with evening NBA telecasts between the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, and Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans, respectively, rounding out a broadcast schedule that was preceded by the University of North Carolina playing Syracuse University in the ACC Tournament in … Continue reading “The Night Sports Turned Off the Lights”
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Can Netflix’s ‘The Irishman’ Avoid Awards Letdown at 92nd Oscars?
Netflix’s expansive marketing push for Martin Scorsese’ mobster movie, The Irishman, paid dividends Jan. 13 when the film was nominated for 10 of the streaming pioneer’s record-setting 24 Academy Awards nods. The three-and-a-half hour movie was nominated for Best Picture, Supporting Actor (Al Pacino, Joe Pesci), Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Film Editing, Production Design, Costume Design … Continue reading “Can Netflix’s ‘The Irishman’ Avoid Awards Letdown at 92nd Oscars?”
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Netflix Leaves Globes With a Whimper
Fueled by 34 nominations, including 17 for movies, Netflix entered the Jan. 5 Golden Globes Awards in Los Angeles a heavy favorite to take home the hardware. In the end, the SVOD behemoth walked off with just two Globes: Laura Dern’s win for Marriage Story and Olivia Colman starring in the third season of “The … Continue reading “Netflix Leaves Globes With a Whimper”