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How to get the most out of Netflix, Hulu and other streaming services
A Netflix or Hulu subscription alone won't cut it anymore. The streaming landscape is fracturing as bastions of old media rise up with their own services, offering a blend of originals and library material. Over the coming months, the streaming video options will multiply like Gremlins, as the likes of Disney, Apple, WarnerMedia, NBCUniversal and mobile platform Quibi hop into the game.
Facebook might bring major streaming services to its Portal for TVs
Last year, reports emerged Facebook was working on a video chat camera you'd plug into your TV. It sounds a bit like its Portal smart display, albeit without the need for a dedicated screen. One reported aspect of the device is that it'd offer video streaming, including Facebook Watch. It seems Facebook has been trying to strike deals with other major streaming services too.
The biggest streaming announcements from Comic-Con
Another San Diego Comic-Con has come and gone, and as always, there were a colossal number of trailers and previews for upcoming shows and movies, including many in the streaming realm.
Netflix should certainly feel threatened by Disney+
From November, Disney's streaming service will offer the best of its extensive library at a knock-down price. Disney+ will not only be the home of the studio's blue-chip movies, but also host a number of exclusive TV series and pictures. For most households, the $7-per month will just about squeeze into the budget, but what does this mean for Netflix?
Disney+ app and worldwide rollout plans revealed
In the fall of 2017 Disney announced plans for a subscription streaming service of its own that could compete with the likes of Netflix. Last fall, it revealed a name -- Disney+ -- and that it would launch in late 2019. Today we're finally getting more official information about what it's like as Disney makes a presentation for its investors explaining the company's overall internet video strategy, including ESPN+ and Hulu, which will "likely" be offered as part of a bundle at a discounted price. Update: After several hours, Disney finally revealed the price: $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year, launching November 12th. We already know that the company's plans include plenty of expansions on content it owns from properties like Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars, as well as the Disney vault of well-loved family films. But what people are hoping to find out today is how much it will cost, how it will work and what, other than exclusives, it might use to draw customers who are already shelling out for one or more video subscriptions. Disney quickly revealed that all of the content on Disney+ will be ready for subscribers to download and view offline as long as they have a subscription. That's a feature Netflix only added in the last couple of years, and still doesn't apply to everything on its service. It's also going to support 4K and HDR video.
Hawkeye is the latest Avenger to reportedly get a Disney+ spinoff
Disney has a number of Marvel Cinematic Universe-adjacent shows in the works for its upcoming streaming platform, and it seems one of them is a limited Hawkeye series starring Jeremy Renner. The Disney+ show is reportedly an adventure series featuring Clint Barton (Renner) and Kate Bishop, a character from Marvel Comics who takes over the Hawkeye persona from him.
Netflix officially cancels 'Jessica Jones' and 'The Punisher'
You knew Netflix's remaining Marvel shows were living on borrowed time after it cancelled Daredevil, Luke Cage and Iron Fist within weeks of each other -- and sure enough, the remaining productions are on the way out. Netflix has cancelled Jessica Jones and The Punisher, putting an end to the Marvel partnership that started in 2013. Jessica Jones' third season will still launch on Netflix later in 2019 as a last hurrah, but that's as far as it goes.
'Captain Marvel' will be the first Disney movie exclusive to Disney+
Disney is pushing through with its plan to stop offering superhero flicks on Netflix after Avengers: Infinity War and Ant-Man and the Wasp. In fact, the next entry to Marvel's Cinematic Universe will mark the end of Disney's relationship with the streaming platform and the beginning of a new era. Company chief Bob Iger has confirmed that Captain Marvel will be the media giant's first title that won't be available on Netflix -- and that's because it's earmarked for Disney+ that's launching later this year.
Verizon deal averts blackout of Disney, ESPN channels on FiOS
As 2019 is about to arrive in the US, there was one major potential TV blackout looming, with a TV deal between Disney and Verizon (the owner of Engadget's parent company) due to expire. Over the weekend, however, the two reached a new agreement, so Disney and ESPN channels will stay on the air for FiOS customers going forward. The only statement released said the two "have reached a broad-based distribution agreement. Details will be released in the coming days." With networks like Verizon rolling out different types of TV setups -- like the 5G service available in certain areas that comes with YouTube TV and Apple TV boxes -- it's not surprising the two could have issues seeing eye to eye. At the same time, Disney is expanding direct-to-customer offerings with the upcoming Disney+ streaming service and the already-available ESPN+. We'll have to wait and see if all of the channels remain on the same packages, or if prices go up to keep those channels in the bundle, however Bloomberg reports that Disney won a price increase for its channels. Similarly, Cox and Nexstar reached a last minute deal to keep several networks on the air in specific markets, however Verizon did not reach a deal with TEGNA, so networks it owns in Washington D.C., Buffalo, NY and Norfolk, VA went dark at 5 PM ET. In a statement, TEGNA said it " has worked hard to reach a fair, market-based agreement with Verizon in Washington, D.C. (WUSA), Norfolk, VA (WVEC) and Buffalo, NY (WGRZ). We have successfully reached hundreds of deals with cable and satellite providers across the country with no disruption of service, so we are disappointed we could not reach a deal with Verizon."
Disney+ series 'The Mandalorian' adds Carl Weathers and Werner Herzog
The slow-drip of information about Disney's live-action Star Wars streaming series continues, and now we know who has been cast in The Mandalorian. The series is written and executive produced by Jon Favreau and will rotate through a list of notable directors, and the same goes for additions to previously-revealed names like Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano and Nick Nolte. Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad, School Daze), Emily Swallow (Supernatural) and Omid Abtahi (American Gods) all jump off the page immediately, but two other names are bigger surprises: Carl Weathers (Rocky, Predator) and Werner Herzog (Grizzly Man). We'll have to wait and see how that collection of people fit into the show, as so far we only know that Pascal has the title role as a "lone Mandalorian gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy." Naturally it's going to be a Disney+ exclusive, and the service is set to launch in the US in late 2019.
Disney adds Nick Nolte to the cast of its 'Star Wars' streaming shows
Disney is quickly solidifying the talent for its Star Wars streaming shows. Variety sources say Nick Nolte has joined the cast of Jon Favreau's The Mandalorian, joining other big names including Pedro Pascal and Gina Carano. There's nothing mentioned about the role Nolte will play (Disney isn't commenting), but the casting is eerily appropriate -- Nolte was one of the candidates to play Han Solo in the original Star Wars movies. Something tells us he won't be playing a smuggler with a heart of gold, though.
Disney+ streaming service will launch in late 2019
Disney released its Q4 earnings on Thursday and, unsurprisingly, the entertainment juggernaut reported revenues in the billions thanks to strong performances from its media networks (ie its upcoming streaming service) and studio entertainment (ie its Marvel, Pixar, Nat Geo and Star Wars IPs).
