Telecommunications
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‘The Shawshank Redemption’ Debuting on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Digital Sept. 14
The Shawshank Redemption will debut on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray combo pack and digital Sept. 14 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. The 1994 film received seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Morgan Freeman), Best Original Score and Best Screenplay, and marked the feature directorial debut of its screenwriter Frank Darabont, nominated for his … Continue reading “‘The Shawshank Redemption’ Debuting on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Digital Sept. 14”
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‘Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard’ Tops Vudu and FandangoNow Charts
Lionsgate’s sequel The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard topped both the Vudu and FandangoNow charts for the week ended July 25. Both Vudu and FandangoNow are transactional VOD services owned by Fandango. An action comedy starring Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson and Salma Hayek, The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard debuted for digital purchase July 27. In the film, the world’s most lethal odd … Continue reading “‘Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard’ Tops Vudu and FandangoNow Charts”
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Parks: U.S. Pay-TV Industry Lost More Than 18 Million Subscribers From 2014 to 2020
The U.S. pay-TV and high-speed internet markets keep going in opposite directions. Cable keeps losing viewers, while the streaming business continues to see gains. New data from Parks Associates estimates that from 2014 to 2020, domestic pay-TV providers lost more than 18 million subscribers, while the broadband market exploded, with 40% of broadband households receiving … Continue reading “Parks: U.S. Pay-TV Industry Lost More Than 18 Million Subscribers From 2014 to 2020”
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Disney+, Verizon Partner to Deliver Streaming Content Faster to Consumers
The Walt Disney Company and Verizon recently began testing advanced content caching technology affording Fios fixed network subscribers faster access to Disney+ streaming content. Based on specifications developed by the Streaming Video Alliance and Verizon’s existing edge caching capabilities, the companies have collaborated on a trial platform that stores the most requested streaming video content, … Continue reading “Disney+, Verizon Partner to Deliver Streaming Content Faster to Consumers”
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Interpret: Half of Consumers Who Plan Smart-TV, Streaming Media Play Purchase are First-Timers
Half of consumers who plan to purchase a smart-TV or a streaming media player within the next three months will be first-time buyers, according to new data released June 29 by Interpret. The remainder are existing owners who are replacing their streaming device, upgrading to a newer version, or switching to a new brand. According … Continue reading “Interpret: Half of Consumers Who Plan Smart-TV, Streaming Media Play Purchase are First-Timers”
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CFO: Verizon to Up Free Entertainment Offers on 5G, Sticking With Fios TV
Verizon has made news in recent years offering its wireless subscribers free 12-month access to Apple Music, Disney+, Discovery+ and most recently, Apple Arcade and Google Play Games. As the telecom expands its 5G Network nationwide, expect to see enhanced third-party entertainment options, according to CFO Matt Ellis. Speaking this week on the virtual Credit … Continue reading “CFO: Verizon to Up Free Entertainment Offers on 5G, Sticking With Fios TV”
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CEO: Verizon Embracing Third-Party Streamers, Not Content
Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg on May 25 said his first move as chief executive was to transition Verizon away from emulating other media companies locked in a streaming arms race. “That was a very deliberate decision already three years ago when I declared that we are not going to buy linear content,” he said. Instead, … Continue reading “CEO: Verizon Embracing Third-Party Streamers, Not Content”
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CEO Stankey Says AT&T Key to HBO Max Success
AT&T just announced it is spinning off a 30% minority stake in WarnerMedia for $43 billion, the latter including Warner Bros., Turner, HBO and HBO Max. AT&T CEO John Stankey contends the Max subscription streaming platform launched last summer would not be “where it is today” without the assistance and support of the telecom giant. … Continue reading “CEO Stankey Says AT&T Key to HBO Max Success”
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Report: Pay-TV Q1 Sub Losses Decline Slightly
Quarterly pay-TV subscriber losses have become a regular thing in an era of over-the-top video distribution. So there was news this week when longtime television services monitor Leichtman Research Group found that the largest pay-TV providers in the U.S. — representing about 95% of the market — lost 60,000 fewer combined subscribers in the first … Continue reading “Report: Pay-TV Q1 Sub Losses Decline Slightly”
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Verizon Adds 5G to 60 Sports Arenas; Inks Deal With 15 NBA Teams
With the NBA playoffs upon us, and increasing numbers of fans allowed back into sports arenas, Verizon May 20 announced the deployment of 5G Ultra Wideband in 14 sports arenas and multiyear agreements as the exclusive 5G partner of the 15 NBA teams who play at these venues. The deal brings the total number of … Continue reading “Verizon Adds 5G to 60 Sports Arenas; Inks Deal With 15 NBA Teams”
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Report: 1 Million U.S. Homes Added Broadband in Q1, Down From 2020
The nation’s top multichannel video providers may be losing subscribers to over-the-top video distribution, but the same providers are also the top ISPs — delivering the broadband required to stream Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video into homes. New data from Leichtman Research found that the largest cable and telecom providers in the U.S. — … Continue reading “Report: 1 Million U.S. Homes Added Broadband in Q1, Down From 2020”
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CEO: Comcast Added 1 Million Broadband Subs Annually for Past 15 Years
A silver lining to pay-TV operators in the burgeoning over-the-top video ecosystem has been the the requisite need for high-speed Internet to stream Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and Peacock into homes and on portable devices. Comcast, the largest cable TV operator in the country, has seen its pay-TV subscriber base hemorrhage members — more than 1.5 … Continue reading “CEO: Comcast Added 1 Million Broadband Subs Annually for Past 15 Years”