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Microsoft simplifies its Windows Insider testing program
Windows Insiders can now choose between Channels instead of rings.
French inventor is first to cross English Channel using a hoverboard
It took a second try, but Franky Zapata has become the first to cross the English Channel using a hoverboard. The French inventor used his jet-powered Flyboard Air to travel the 22 miles from France to England in 22 minutes, briefly landing on a boat to replace his kerosene-filled backpack. The board wasn't slow, either -- Zapata said he reached speeds up to 106MPH during his journey.
YouTube offers tiered membership levels to boost creators’ revenue
Last year, YouTube took to the VidCon stage to share new ways creators could make money. This year, YouTube returned with updates to those programs. For starters, it's adding new Channel Membership levels. Since last year, fans have been able to pay a monthly fee of $4.99 in exchange for added membership perks like exclusive live streams, extra videos and shoutouts. Now, creators can set up to five different price points and offer varying perks at each tier. According to YouTube, when Fine Brothers Entertainment tested offering multiple levels, the company's membership revenue increased sixfold.
Machinima's YouTube gaming channel has effectively disappeared
Machinima's YouTube gaming channel has been essentially scrubbed from the internet, as most videos on the site have been set to private and unplayable. Neither video creators nor users of the channel were notified, Kotaku reported, so the news sent a shockwave around the gaming and streaming communities. "Wow, they finally went ahead and deleted everything we've done," tweeted Ricky Hayberg, aka @RickyFTW. "Seven-plus years of work... lost to the sands of time #RIPMachinima."
Dish customers can no longer access CBS TV channels
If you're looking forward to watching the NFL this Thanksgiving you might find yourself stuck watching holiday reruns instead, as CBS is making good on its threat to black out dozens of channels in response to its ongoing subscription feud with Dish. According to Dish, the network last night barred customer access to 28 local channels in 18 markets across 26 states.
Roku’s free ad-supported movie channel is available for everyone
A month ago, Roku announced that it was launching its own movie channel with both big studio flicks and small releases. The company planned a phased rollout to anyone using any of its post-sixth generation devices and TVs. Today, it's finally available for everyone (so long as they're using a Roku product made after June 2011).
Roku clamps down on pirate channels
When Roku introduced private channels, it meant them as a way for developers to try their content before setting it loose in public. Well, that's not quite how it panned out: pirates have been using the channels to stream bootleg material. And Roku isn't putting up with that behavior any longer. TechCrunch, Cord Cutters News and TorrentFreak have learned that Roku now pops up a largely piracy-oriented warning whenever you create a private channel. It stresses that you should use a channel to stream "only legal content," and warns that Roku can pull channels with illegal material "without prior notice." It won't actively scan for piracy, but don't be shocked if your movie rip channel disappears in the blink of an eye.
YouTube opens up mobile livestreams to more users
It hasn't been that long since YouTube rolled out livestreaming for those who want to broadcast directly from their phones. The caveat was that you had to have at least 10,000 subscribers to enable the feature. Today, however, the video service has made live video available to YouTubers with a smaller subscription base. If you've got at least 1,000 subscribers to your channel, you can go live on the go.
Roku makes it easy to launch a streaming TV channel
Roku just showed off its latest players upgraded with features like 4K and HDR, and now it's working on getting more stuff for owners to watch. That will come via its new Roku Direct Publisher tool, which lets the people who have videos make a channel for the box, without having to do any coding. Of course, you will need somewhere to host the content for your streaming channel, but if you already have that then getting content in front of Roku's 10 million or so active accounts (those that have actively streamed in the last 30 days) is as easy as writing this blog post.
Instagram adds event video channels to the 'Explore' feed
Instagram wants you to know it's more than just photos; it's about videos too. That's why the app has been investing quite a bit in surfacing them more in its Explore tab. Earlier this year, it added a video channel for easier to find clips and further sorted them into 23 different categories, such as dogs, comedy and travel. Now Instagram has added yet another way to find interesting videos: through events.
BBC Three's TV channel set to disappear on March 1st 2016
Under the BBC's latest proposals, BBC Three will remain on TV for a little longer than expected: March 1st 2016, to be exact. The broadcaster's original plan was to make the channel an online-only service this autumn, but back in April the move was delayed until "after Christmas." The BBC Trust still wasn't happy, however, and called for a "more carefully managed transition" back in June. Now, the BBC's response to those concerns -- released as part of a new consultation, although it appears to have been available online before now -- has given us a fresh look at how the changeover will shake out.
BT exclusive 'Fear The Walking Dead' to premiere on August 31st
When BT announced it had teamed up with AMC to bring exclusive US shows to the UK, all eyes were on when Fear The Walking Dead, a new spin-off of the popular zombie drama The Walking Dead, would reach our screens. Turns out we'll only have to wait a few more weeks for the BT exclusive to make its debut, after the broadcaster shared news that the show will premiere on August 31st at 9pm.
BBC Trust backs plan to make BBC Three online-only
After months of waiting, the BBC Trust appears to have finally driven the knife into the back of BBC Three, or at least as we know it. As part of its "public value assessment" of the BBC's planned television changes, the Trust says it sees "clear long-term potential" in moving the channel from TV to online, allowing the BBC spend £30 million more on BBC One programming and ramp up its bid to engage younger viewers.
WWE Network bodyslams onto UK Apple TVs
Streaming Wrestlemania matches just got a little easier in the UK, now that the WWE's standalone streaming service is available on Apple TV. WWE Network was supposed to arrive on the set-top box last November, but those plans were shelved after the service missed its initial release date (it eventually launched in January). Well, support is better late than never. With the Apple TV channel, you can watch pay-per-view events live or catch up with 3,000 hours of on-demand video, should you happen to miss your favourite star in the ring. A subscription costs £9.99 per month (or €12.99 in Ireland) but if you're a lapsed fan or just curious to see what an RKO looks like, it's free this month for new subscribers.
4oD iOS app now supports AirPlay and HDMI mirroring
While Channel 4's 4oD streaming catch-up service will soon get a much-needed revamp, the broadcaster isn't shying away from keeping its current apps updated. In its latest round of iOS improvements, Channel 4 has added support for both HDMI output and Apple's AirPlay. That means you can now throw up shows like Gogglebox, Toast of London or The IT Crowd on the big screen, if you have the available hardware and you're running Apple's latest iOS software (for HDMI support) that is. Even if you don't, the 4oD already features cellular streaming and offline viewing, so you'll be able to catch-up on loads of content on the go.
Inside Sky Sports' plan to revolutionise sports news
Sky won't care to admit it, but for the first time in a number of years, the broadcaster is facing a major challenge to its sports broadcasting crown. Still a relatively new player, BT has claimed a large chunk of Premiership football coverage last season and sunk nearly £900 million to prize away exclusive Champions League rights from its rival in 2015. It's also slowly built up its roster of rugby, tennis, motorsport and UFC coverage, giving subscribers more than a few reasons look beyond Sky for access to major sporting events. While Sky has been forced to acquiesce, mostly due to anti-competitive measures put in place by regulators, it isn't prepared to let its rivals captialise on their extended coverage. In June, it dealt a blow to BT's European football expansion with the launch of Sky Sports 5, a new channel dedicated to, you guessed it, European football. It'll cover the Euro 2016 qualifiers, Champions League (for this season at least), La Liga, Eredivisie, Coppa Italia and Copa Del Rey. However, it's the rebranding of another channel, Sky Sports News, that could have a bigger impact on the company's sports coverage this year. Enter Sky Sports News HQ.
Virgin Media rolls out more Sky Sports HD and entertainment channels
If you're a Virgin Media customer who enjoys Sky content both at home and on the move, we have some good news. Following the announcement that they'd expanded their existing content deal back in May, Virgin Media has today begun rolling out new Sky Sports channels, adding Sky Sports 3 HD, Sky Sports 4 HD and Sky Sports F1 HD to customer set-top boxes. The new Sky Sports 5 channel will also take its place in the lineup, delivering football from Europe's top leagues in high-definition when it launches in the coming weeks.
Nickelodeon's new interactive kids channel will bring streaming features to live TV
As parents have rapidly discovered, kids don't really mind the drawbacks of Amazon or Netflix streaming (limited, older versions of the same content library) and just want to watch their favorite show, often repeatedly. That's where the internet services are beating traditional TV channels, and Nickelodeon has been preparing an answer. As confirmed to the Wall Street Journal and Fierce Cable, its new "My Nick Jr." channel will appear in the guide like any other, but provides a custom lineup of shows based on preselected preferences, and even cuts out the ads. Other features will let parents monitor what their kids watch and set time limits, while the kids can rate shows with a smile or frown. There's no word on the technology behind My Nick Jr., but it's coming to Verizon's FiOS TV service first in the US, and eventually mobile devices too. Viacom already tested out the service on France's CanalSat, and hints that the personalized channel concept could spread to its other networks like MTV. A major issue holding it back however, is the presence of millions of older cable boxes that won't be able to handle the new setup. So far, massive conglomerates like Viacom and the existing US TV carriers have shown little interest in chopping up their bundles or offering video on-demand-style access as an alternative. Besides an abundance of network-specific mobile apps, this channel is one of the first steps toward that line; we'll see if increasing competition and original streaming content pushes things further.
Redesigned YouTube channels exit limited beta, now up for grabs
YouTube has had a revamped look for channels in limited beta testing since early February, but it's now ready to spread the new-layout love to interested folks. Dubbed "One Channel," the design refresh places an emphasis on making a user's page look slick across different screen sizes and devices, adapting its style for the occasion -- yes, even on TVs. Along with a look that provides more visual breathing room, a wide image called Channel Art adorns the top of a page, giving the whole affair a stronger Google+ vibe. Now, channel owners can even snag a visitor's attention with a trailer that'll greet them if they aren't a subscriber. The refresh also introduces the ability to organize video playlists with custom sections. Raring to take Mountain View up on the fresh looks? Jab the second source link to get started. If you change your mind after taking the plunge, however, Google's letting users switch back to the old format for a limited time.
BBC launches Earth Unplugged channel on YouTube, gives us online nature beyond the cat clips (video)
Many would call the BBC the go-to name for nature documentaries; unless you happen to tune in at the right moments or buy a spheroid collector's set, however, it's not always easy to follow along. We'll all have an easier time getting our fill now that the broadcaster has launched its promised nature channel, Earth Unplugged. The streaming video station centers on seven shows that range from the obligatory baby animal segments -- this is YouTube, after all -- through to dinosaurs and looks at nature professionals. Earth Unplugged won't necessarily have us tossing our Blu-ray collections, but it should provide some welcome educational material once we're done watching box-loving cats.
