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Sling TV's free streaming comes to Android and Amazon devices
Sling TV offers cord-cutting cable packages and movie rentals, but until recently you needed a subscription starting at $25 per month. Earlier this year, however, it unveiled a free streaming option for select episodes of Hell's Kitchen, Project Runway and other shows, but only on Roku devices. Now, Sling TV is rolling out the same deal on Android and Amazon smartphones, tables and TVs, letting you enjoy limited programming without an account.
Vizio's updated Alexa app can search for movies and TV shows
VIzio has updated its SmartCast TVs with a better Alexa experience that will greatly expand the basic functionality they've had up until now. By enabling Vizio's new Alexa skill, you'll be able to simply ask for a show like This is Us, and SmartCast TVs will find it across multiple apps, complete with pricing and video formats. You can then use Alexa to launch apps like Amazon Prime Video or Hulu.
Jordan Peele's 'The Twilight Zone' premieres on CBS All Access April 1st
After beaming Star Trek back to its TV show roots, CBS All Access reached even further back in time for its next original, The Twilight Zone. Today CBS announced that the first two episodes of Jordan Peele's reboot will premiere on the streaming service on April Fool's Day. New instalments of the anthology series will then follow weekly on Thursdays from April 11.
Netflix sets international release for George R. R. Martin's 'Nightflyers'
Netflix is looking to give SyFy's Nightflyers show a new lease of life on February 1st, when it lands on the streaming platform for viewers outside the US. Based on George R. R. Martin's 1980s novella, the thriller follows a group of scientists aboard the Nightflyer starship in search of alien life in the year 2093. Martin described it as "Psycho in space," so we can assume things don't go according to plan.
Hiding in plain sight: The YouTubers' crowdfunding piracy
I never imagined I would be watching Kitchen Nightmares, starring the world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsay, in my downtime on YouTube. I knew of Ramsay and his ruthlessness from shows like Hell's Kitchen, but I had never heard of Kitchen Nightmares until a few weeks ago, when an episode popped up on YouTube's Trending section. Next thing you know, I'm hooked and watching full episodes of it on my phone instead of the usual sneaker videos. But aside from Ramsay's rants at owners of filthy restaurants, something else caught my attention -- these uploads weren't from Fox, which owns the rights to the show in the US. Instead, they were from an unofficial channel called "Kitchen Nightmares Hotel Hell and Hell's Kitchen." And as if that wasn't brazen enough, the owner explicitly asked viewers for donations to fund the uploading of copyrighted content.
Nobody knows if Snapchat shows are actually successful
Snapchat hasn't been coy about its obsession with making original video content. Snap Inc., its parent company, sees TV-like programming as the holy grail and key to its long-term success. The quick, raw, disappearing videos that made Snapchat popular with teens are no longer enough to keep users locked in. Especially as Instagram has started stealing its most popular features, like Stories. Snapchat won't admit it, but Facebook may have inadvertently driven its push into original programming. Conquering that world won't be easy, and right now there are more questions than answers about whether Snapchat shows are working and how viable they are.
Hulu cancels 'Difficult People' after three seasons
Just like regular TV shows, streaming originals get cancelled too. And, Hulu's Difficult People is the latest series on the chopping block. The comedy created by and starring Julie Klausner, and exec produced by Amy Poehler, will not be returning for a fourth season, according to Deadline.
'Stranger Things 2' premiere was watched by 15.8 million people
Netflix's original shows feel like must-watch TV, but how many people are actually watching? The streaming giant won't divulge its viewership data, so it's fallen on Nielsen to plug the hole. Now, the audience-tracking firm is offering its first insights into what a hit Netflix show looks like -- and, the numbers are big. Fittingly, the initial set of Netflix ratings are for Stranger Things 2 -- the follow-up to the '80s throwback thriller that remains ingrained in the cultural zeitgeist. According to the results, the first episode of the second season was watched by 15.8 million people in the US within the first three days. Binge watchers also tuned in, with 326,000 people streaming all nine episodes on the first day.
Amazon's next show follows Ken Block's 'Gymkhana' tour
Ken Block is drifting his way onto Amazon Prime Video. The rally driver, and DC Shoes co-founder, is known for making viral videos of his racecar exploits with his collaborators at Hoonigan Media Machine. As part of his Gymkhana series, Block has left tire marks on the Universal Studios backlot, the streets of San Francisco, and an antique French autodrome.
Hulu drops the first trailer for its Marvel exclusive ‘Runaways’
While Netflix is home to the lion's share of Marvel TV shows, Hulu will soon get a slice of the action. Announced last year, Runaways is set to land on the streaming service next month. In the meantime, Hulu's released the first trailer for the show to coincide with New York Comic Con.
Hulu scores new and old episodes of 'Will & Grace'
Will & Grace is set to return to our screens next week. But, its fabulous comeback won't just be relegated to network television. The show's original run, and its new episodes, are also making their on-demand debut on Hulu. The streaming service, which now produces its own Emmy award-wining shows, just nabbed every single episode of the hit programme. You can binge watch all eight seasons of Will & Grace starting today, which should prep you for the revival (with each new episode set to hit Hulu the day after its TV premiere). Alongside pay TV, the show will also be available on the NBC app.
Netflix anime parody 'Neo Yokio' loads up on star power
If you were wondering why the next Vampire Weekend album is taking so long, now you have your answer. It seems lead singer Ezra Koenig has been busy working on an anime with his celeb pals. We heard rumblings about it in the past (from Jude Law and Koenig) and now we're getting the first official trailer, directly from Netflix. The show, dubbed Neo Yokio, hits the streaming service on 22 September.
Apple bolsters its TV unit with more top Sony talent
Seasoned execs from the world of network television are dotted all around video services. Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon have all made big hires from TV land to help boost original programming. And, it seems Apple has been taking notes. Keen to launch its own competitive line-up of exclusive shows, the tech giant is adding yet more execs to its TV unit. The same unit that has $1 billion to play around with for new content. And, that may one day shoot its productions on its very own Hollywood studio lot. You can't accuse Apple of being shy about its ambitions.
Amazon picks up James Gunn's 'Starsky and Hutch' reboot
Hot off the blockbuster success of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, director James Gunn is reviving a TV classic for Amazon. The tech giant's studio arm has landed the rights to the Starsky and Hutch reboot, with Gunn penning the script alongside his brother Brian Gunn, and cousin Mark Gunn.
Watch the trailer for Amazon's answer to 'Black Mirror'
Amazon Prime viewers in the US will soon be treated to the new anthology series Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams. As you may have guessed from its title, the show is based on the work of the illustrious sci-fi author, who continues to influence pop culture long after his death in 1982. To whet your appetite, you can now feast on the programme's first trailer, which comes by way of Australian streaming service Stan (or Channel 4, if you live in the UK).
Facebook 'Watch' section launches as a platform for TV shows
Get ready for a new tab in Facebook on the web, mobile and TV apps, as the social network has announced it's replacing the video button with "Watch." Watch is "a new platform for shows on Facebook," and why that doesn't yet explain why we'd want one, but given Silicon Valley's obsession with the format, it's not hard to imagine why this is what we're getting. At first, Watch will be available to a "limited subset" of US users, before rolling out to more people here over the next few weeks.
Next 'MST3K' DVD box set could be its last
The cult of Mystery Science Theatre 3000 is currently in full swing. There's the gleefully cheesy Netflix revival, which came off the back of a successful Kickstarter from the show's creator Joel Hodgson. And, Twitch recently aired a six-day long MST3K binge-fest for b-movie devotees. While streaming services have stepped in to continue its legacy, those seeking physical copies of the show are in for a hard time. Distributor Shout! Factory's plans to release more DVDs of the series just hit a speed bump. In a post on the show's Facebook page, it claims that MST3K Volume 39 will "likely" be the last collection of unreleased episodes of the show.
Hulu is the new home of old TGIF sitcoms
Hulu's collection of classic sitcoms already includes Seinfeld and The Golden Girls. Now, its library is getting even bigger with the addition of several shows from ABC's TGIF comedy line-up. The likes of Perfect Strangers, Full House, and Family Matters were Friday night staples for viewers across America in the nineties -- and soon, they'll be available for you to (legally) binge online. Hulu's latest deal with Warner Bros. Television also includes Step by Step and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper. All five shows (totaling 800 episodes) will hit the streaming service on September 29th.
You only have to log into NBC's app once across Apple devices
It's much easier to fire up This is US and SNL on iPhones and iPads now that NBC's iOS app finally works with Apple's single sign-on (SSO). You simply have to activate the feature on your device by going to Settings > TV Provider and typing in your cable TV credentials to log into all the apps you have that support it. This update will sound even better if you have an Apple TV, since the network's tvOS application worked with SSO from the start.
Apple is looking to make its own Netflix-beating TV shows
Apple is planning on investing in original TV shows, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. With iPhone sales on the decline, people close to the company have revealed that it will attempt to gain Apple Music subscribers by adding original video content to the service. While this move has been rumoured since the relaunch of Apple TV, the company has apparently now started reaching out to Hollywood producers, planning to offer original video content by the end of 2017.
