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ESPN+ is the sports-streaming cord-cutters have been waiting for
After months of rumors and speculation about what it would look like or how much it would cost, ESPN's standalone streaming service is finally launching today. It's called ESPN+ and it's priced at $5 a month, which will get you both live and on-demand content that, according to the company, is geared toward underserved sports fans. The first thing you should know about ESPN+ is that it isn't meant to replace the traditional ESPN network but rather is designed to be complementary to it. With the streaming offering, for instance, you won't have access to ESPN's flagship show, SportsCenter. Instead, ESPN+ will have its own original programming, including shows that will focus on news, scores and highlights about specific sports and leagues.
YouTube TV apps for Apple TV and Roku are coming in early 2018
If you were hoping for the dedicated YouTube TV app to show up on your Roku or Apple TV this year, you will need to wait just a little longer. When announced back in October, we were told that apps were headed to the Xbox One, Apple TV and Roku "in the coming weeks." When reached for comment, a Google spokesperson claimed that there is no delay, and that the roll out is happening as planned.
Plex News launches to keep cord-cutters informed for free
Plex has continued to grow beyond its simple media playback roots, and today it adds another new feature that brings something extra to your library of video, music and pictures: news. Plex News builds on the acquisition of Watchup earlier this year by using a machine learning-powered system for finding news from 190+ publisher partners (including CNN, CBS and Al Jazeera) that it presents to you -- for free. The ad-supported service is ready for you to personalize, but it can also use that AI brain to monitor what you like and get smarter about finding related content -- which may be linked to recent privacy policy changes.
Comcast's $15 Stream TV service launches in the Boston area
On the heels of Time Warner Cable's streaming test for its internet customers, Comcast's Stream TV is live in the Boston area. That's if you're paying for Xfinity internet service, of course. Announced back in July, the service gives cord cutters who still use Comcast for web access the ability to stream all of the live television from major networks, HBO and a library of on-demand options for $15 a month. Sorry sports fans, it doesn't include ESPN, and you can only watch live broadcasts from the comforts of home. However, the on-demand movies and TV shows can be streamed while you're on the go.
A closer look at Dish's Sling TV service
If you've been looking to give cable the boot, Dish's announcement of a $20-a-month service that brings you TV channels over the internet may be the most exciting news of CES. Sling TV doesn't quite have the robust network lineup as Comcast, Time Warner and others, but big names like ESPN, CNN, TNT, TBS, Food Network have signed on. What's more, the subscription includes a movie rental feature, and it'll be available on a handful of smart TVs, Roku players, Amazon Fire TV (and Fire Stick), Xbox One, Nexus Player, Android TV and both Android and iOS mobile platforms when it arrives later this year. That means that if you're already itching to opt in, it won't be too difficult to find a compatible device. Read on for a quick walkthrough of the interface, and for all the details, consult more of our Sling TV coverage.
1 in 8 say they will cut back on cable bills -- but probably won't
You remember that story about the boy who cried wolf, right? Well the claim that people are going to cut the cord is starting to get like just it. Year after year we read the results of surveys that say people are going to cut the cord, like this one from the Yankee Group, but then when the official numbers come in we learn that earnings from cable and satellite subscriptions are at an all time high. Sure this could be the year things change, the year when price increases prove too much when there are so many other options. Sure, anything could happen, but honestly we just don't see it. Not only will people say just about anything in a survey, but without the questions posed to respondents, it is really impossible to know how realistic these results are.
