Top News Story
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Netflix Crushes Q1 New Subscriber Estimates
Netflix April 16 said it added record 7.4 million new subscribers in the first quarter (ended March 31) – topping Wall Street estimates of 6.5 million. The service added 5.4 million subs internationally, compared to 1.96 million (1.45 million forecast) in the United States. International operations now account for 50% of revenue and 55% of … Continue reading “Netflix Crushes Q1 New Subscriber Estimates”
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Netflix Turns 21, Co-Founder Reed Hastings Talks Facebook
Netflix quietly turned 21 years old on April 14, and co-founder/CEO Reed Hastings was on a stage in Vancouver, BC, discussing lessons learned from the recent data breach scandal at Facebook. During a Q&A on the last day of the Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) conference, Hastings, who has been on Facebook’s board of directors since … Continue reading “Netflix Turns 21, Co-Founder Reed Hastings Talks Facebook”
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Indie Company Rises With New Vision
“Roseanne” is once again a success on TV — and capitalizing on that reboot is a company flying quietly under the radar with digital rights to the classic Roseanne Barr series and others from television production stalwart Carsey-Werner. That company is FilmRise, which, along with CEO Danny Fisher and his partners, has risen from the … Continue reading “Indie Company Rises With New Vision”
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Comcast, Netflix Expand Partnership
Comcast and Netflix April 13 announced an expansion of their partnership that gives the cabler the ability to include a Netflix subscription in new and existing Xfinity packages. In 2016, after years of resistance, Comcast offered Xfinity subs direct-access to Netflix. The SVOP behemoth has quickly become one of the most popular voice searches and … Continue reading “Comcast, Netflix Expand Partnership”
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‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Remains No. 1 Disc Seller
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi easily held onto the top spot on the national home video sales charts the week ended April 7. In staying No. 1 for a second consecutive week, the latest “Star Wars” sequel outsold the week’s No. 2 title, Sony Pictures’ Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, … Continue reading “‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Remains No. 1 Disc Seller”
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NAB: 70% of PlayStation Vue Streaming on Non-PS Devices
About of 70% of subscriber streaming on PlayStation Vue occurs through non-PlayStation devices, Dwayne Benefield, VP, head of PlayStation Vue, told attendees April 11 at the Streaming Summit at the NAB Show in Las Vegas. About 80% of streaming is for live TV. Launched in 2015 by Sony, PS Vue joined Dish Network’s Sling TV … Continue reading “NAB: 70% of PlayStation Vue Streaming on Non-PS Devices”
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U.K. Regulator Mandates Disney Into Sky Takeover Offer
The Panel on Takeovers and Mergers, a U.K. regulatory board, April 12 ruled the Walt Disney Co. be forced to match Fox’s $14.4 billion cash offer for British pay-TV service Sky should its $52.4 billion acquisition of select 21st Century Fox assets succeed. Fox currently owns 39% of the satellite TV operator. The panel mandated … Continue reading “U.K. Regulator Mandates Disney Into Sky Takeover Offer”
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Netflix’s ‘On My Block’ Sees Big Spike in Demand, Parrot Analytics Data Shows
Netflix’s “Stranger Things” solidified its hold on the No. 1 spot on the top 10 digital originals chart for the week ended April 7, with a nearly 7.3% spike in demand, according to Parrot Analytics’ Demand Expressions data. A new Netflix digital original, “On My Block,” shot up to No. 2 from No. 5 the … Continue reading “Netflix’s ‘On My Block’ Sees Big Spike in Demand, Parrot Analytics Data Shows”
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Redbox Counters Disney With Amended Lawsuit
The day after the Walt Disney Co. filed an amended lawsuit against Redbox alleging copyright infringement, the kiosk vendor countered with its own amended litigation. The suit, filed April 10 in Los Angeles District Court, accuses Disney – and new co-defendant Anderson Merchandisers LLC – of copyright misuse, false advertising, unfair competition and “tortuous interference” … Continue reading “Redbox Counters Disney With Amended Lawsuit”
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Hulu, Spotify Offer Joint Subscription Plan
As expected, Hulu and music streaming service Spotify have partnered to offer a combined $12.99 monthly plan — $4.99 less than subscribing to each service separately. The two over-the-top platforms had earlier offered a combined $4.99 plan to college students. The move comes as Hulu attempts to bridge a significant subscriber gap with Netflix and … Continue reading “Hulu, Spotify Offer Joint Subscription Plan”
