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Sling TV, ESPN and Fox Now arrive on Oculus Go
Back in June, Oculus launched Oculus TV, a way for you to watch shows and movies from a string of partners on a virtual 180-inch display. Now, Sling TV, ESPN and Fox Now are joining the fray, so you'll have more ways to watch live TV, sports and movies through the wireless headset.
Apple's TV app gets live and on-demand shows with PS Vue integration
PlayStation Vue, Sony's sneakily growing video service, has earned the distinct honor of being the first streaming TV provider to be integrated into Apple's TV app. Subscribers will now be able to watch live and on-demand content through the TV app on Apple TV, iPhone and iPad, instead of only in the PS Vue app.
Hulu considers a skinnier live TV bundle
A year and a half after getting into the live TV game, Hulu may make some changes to its live offerings. In a new "skinnier" package, Hulu could offer less live channels but more shows on-demand. Hulu CEO Randy Freer told The Information that reshuffling the programming mix could help improve the company's bottom line.
YouTube TV apologizes for World Cup downtime with a free week
In the middle of Wednesday's World Cup semifinal match between England and Croatia, YouTube's live TV service suffered an unfortunately-timed outage (not unlike ones we've seen from Sling or Hulu). Naturally, it enraged YouTube TV subscribers who had picked up the service specifically to catch live broadcasts like that game, and now it's offering an apology in the form of a credit. In an email that went out to customers, YouTube TV promised a free week, which for customers on its standard $40 per month plan should amount to $10 off. It also noted that DVR'd recordings of the full match should be available in the Library -- if you can stand to watch that one again.
Nielsen to include YouTube TV viewing figures in its local ratings
As users cut cords and go with live TV streaming services like Hulu and Sling TV, it gets harder for broadcasters to gauge those all-important ratings -- especially on a local level. Now, Nielsen has announced that it will start measuring local TV audiences for YouTube TV, one of the newest cord-cutting TV services. That will give advertisers "a full account of all viewing activity, irrespective of distribution channel," said Nielsen's Jeff Wender.
Hulu's new guide provides fast access to live TV
Hulu has gradually improved access to its live TV service over the past year. Now, however, it's ready for a proper overhaul. The streaming provider has launched a new live TV guide that promises speedier access to channels. If you have an Amazon Fire TV, a recent Apple TV, a Nintendo Switch or an Xbox One, you can quickly see what's airing (including your most recently viewed channels) and either watch or record them. You'll also find a lightning bolt near the home icon that jumps directly to live TV on the last channel you watched. Needless to say, that could prove a time-saver if you're a sports fan who usually returns to the same channel.
Hulu's live TV service is now available on LG smart TVs
Hulu continues to slowly roll its new UI and Live TV out following additions last fall on computers and game consoles. Now you can enjoy the streaming television service on most current LG WebOS Smart TVs, this year's Samsung Tizen Smart TVs and two more Roku devices.
Netflix isn't chasing the competition into sports or live TV
Fresh off of its Oscars win for Icarus, a documentary about Russia's doping epidemic in sports, Netflix held a press event at its Hollywood headquarters. There, inside a 280,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art studio that it just opened last year, CEO Reed Hastings talked about the state of Netflix and the industry as a whole. The setting seemed fitting, considering the company is planning an $8 billion investment in original content for 2018 alone. That programming strategy is what makes Hastings confident that Netflix's future is bright, especially as it faces increased competition from the likes of Amazon, Hulu and, soon, Disney. The latter of which is also a partner, since it owns all of the Marvel franchises that Netflix has built a mini-verse around.
Hulu's Cloud DVR adds more control over what episodes to record
Along with 60fps support and some new options for Olympic viewing, Hulu is also improving its cloud DVR. Mimicking other DVR platforms, now Hulu TV subscribers will have more choices of what to record when they add a show to "My Stuff" for automatic recording. Instead of simply recording new episodes, viewers can tell it to stash reruns too, or just bookmark the show without recording episodes at all. For shows already in MY Stuff, users can go in and adjust the settings as they prefer. The new feature is rolling out on iOS, Apple TV (4th gen.), Xbox, Amazon Fire TV devices, Nintendo Switch and 2017 Samsung Smart TVs now, with other devices coming soon.
Hulu adds 60fps support for select live TV channels
Just a few days after Hulu added a new way for sports fans to customize their Olympic coverage, the company is back with another bit of news for sports fans. Subscribers to Hulu's live TV service will be able to watch their favorite games at 60 frames per second (fps) on select channels. The higher frame rate, common on video game platforms, will help you follow the quick action in broadcasts like March Madness and the Winter Olympics. "This was one of the most-requested features by our viewers," the company wrote in a Reddit announcement.
Plex on Android now works more like a 'real' DVR
Plex recently turned your devices into virtual DVRs through its live TV update, but there have been limitations: you couldn't timeshift to replay an important moment, and watching a show while it recorded required a second TV tuner. Not much of a replacement for a real DVR, is it? The situation just got much better, however, as Plex has updated its Android app with support for both timeshifting and, as you might expect, watching a live show while in mid-recording. If you missed a crucial play in the big game or just want to repeat what someone said, you can skip back just like you would with a conventional DVR.
Plex can beam Live TV broadcasts on Roku
With the launch of Live TV and DVR in June, Plex took a big step toward becoming an all-round media replacement. Since then, it's wasted no time in introducing the feature to more platforms, including Android and Apple TV. Not to be left behind, Roku devices are now getting Plex Live TV, too. But there's a catch: You can't yet schedule recordings through Plex DVR on the streaming player. Plus, the perk is still reserved for Plex Pass subscribers (who pay $5 per month, $40 per year, or $120 lifetime for a bunch of extras). To soften the blow, Roku owners will be able to watch recordings from other supported platforms, including iOS, the Plex web app, Android, Android TV, Apple TV and iOS. The release is currently in beta, and is expected to roll out to all Plex Pass subscribers next week. All you need to get set up is a compatible tuner connected to a TV antenna or cable jack, and you can leave the rest to Plex.
Hulu makes it easier to find what’s on its live TV service
Hulu keeps refining its live TV service, introducing new changes to the interface and programming aimed at helping its customers find things they want to watch, whether live or on-demand. The streaming service is available on a ton of devices, including Roku, Xbox 360, Fire TV and your Mac or PC via the web. The company is adding features to its refreshed interface, too. Today, head of experience at Hulu, Ben Smith, announced a new channel guide that's been added to the web version of Hulu to help you find what's on live TV more easily than before.
Hulu's refreshed look arrives on PlayStation consoles
Hulu has brought a revamped user interface (along with its Live TV service) to a variety of devices, including Amazon Fire TV, Xbox 360 and even your Mac or PC. Now the streaming company has brought the updated interface to Sony's PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 gaming consoles. Unlike the roll out to the previous devices, PlayStation users won't get Hulu's Live TV service, likely due of Sony's competing PS Vue product. Sling TV's live service is also unavailable on Sony consoles at this time.
Hulu adds the CW to its live TV service
If you're using Hulu's new live TV service for your cord-cutting needs, you'll find a new network available soon. Hulu just announced that the CW (home to shows like Jane The Virgin, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Supergirl, Arrow and The Flash) will be available to stream live. That's the fifth major broadcast network to join Hulu, alongside Fox, CBS, NBC and ABC. Naturally, this means you'll be able to watch any of those aforementioned CW shows live when they air; additionally, Hulu will be adding the local station broadcasts so that you'll see the same programming that you'd see when watching over the air.
Watch Hulu's live TV service on your Mac or PC
It's been a month since Hulu added its live television service to the Amazon Fire TV and only a day after the company announced Xbox 360 compatibility for its subscribers. Now the company that Disney, Fox, NBC and Time Warner owns is putting its subscription-based live streaming product on PC and Mac.
Hulu's live TV service is now available on Xbox 360
If you're still watching Hulu on your Xbox 360, here's some great news for you. The on-demand streaming service has just expanded its new "Hulu Experience" interface to the almost 12-year-old Microsoft console. The best part is that you won't have to do a thing — the update will happen automatically. Plus, you'll have the option to subscribe to Hulu's live TV plan, currently in beta, right from your console.
YouTube’s live TV service is available in half of all US homes
While other services, including Hulu, PlayStation Vue and SlingTV, have been available for a while now, YouTube TV is catching up fast. Launched in April to five basic metropolitan areas, the company added 11 new markets this July. Now, the live TV service has just announced 14 more markets, making its "skinny bundle" available to half the homes in the US. Subscribers to the YouTube service will also get two new networks, Newsy and the Tennis Channel for no extra charge, starting now. Customers in Boston will be able to stream the Red Sox's pennant race on sports network NESN for free, too. The company is also planning to expand to 17 more markets in the coming weeks and months.
fuboTV recruits CBS to take on cordcutter rivals
Folks generally cut the cable cord to save money, but fragmentation means you might have to subscribe to more than one service. Case in point is fuboTV, which focused on international soccer (football, for our international readers), but not much else, when it launched a $10 monthly service in 2015. To attract a broader audience, it later introduced a $35 Premier bundle with more regular TV channels. As part of that, fuboTV has now gone live with CBS, making it a viable rival to services like DirecTV and Sling TV.
Verizon can't find partners for its Sling-style TV service
Verizon has been trying to get its own Sling TV-like live TV streaming service off the ground, but that effort has apparently hit some snags. The operator plans to offer dozens of channels, including CBS and ESPN, to compete with rivals, including Dish's Sling TV and AT&T's DirecTV Now. However, it hasn't been able to sign enough broadcasters to kick off the effort, according to a report from Bloomberg. That means the launch, originally scheduled for the summer, may be put off until after the fall.
