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Disney buys Fox's studios and cable TV channels for $52 billion
After weeks of rumors, the deal is done -- Disney will buy up large chunks of Rupert Murdoch's Fox media empire for $52 billion. The list of what it won't take is shorter: the Fox News cable channel, broadcast networks and Fox Sports, which are expected to spin off as their own business. The Disney conglomerate adds the Fox movie and TV studios (including big-name franchises like X-Men, Avatar, Alien and The Simpsons), majority control of Hulu, FX cable networks and $13.7 billion in debt. On top of that, Fox is attempting to acquire the parts of UK's Sky that it doesn't already own, and if that's successful then Disney will get it too.
New FX subscription streams shows ad-free for $6 a month
Comcast announced today that it, along with FX Networks, will launch a new on-demand and streaming service that will give viewers commercial-free access to current and past episodes of FX and FXX series. However, you'll have to be an Xfinity TV subscriber and the service -- FX+ -- will cost you an additional $6 per month.
Hulu's push for exclusives gets a big boost from Fox (update)
As we've said so many times (this week) the battle between streaming services has become all about what exclusive content each one has to offer, and with HBO joining in soon it's only going to get tougher. It's no surprise then, that Hulu's next attempt to get a leg up on the competition is coming with help from the cable arm of part-owner (and former employer of its CEO Mike Hopkins) Fox. Hulu is about to become the best/only place to watch FX (and FXX, and FXXX whenever that launches) shows without a cable subscription and access to FX Now apps. So don't expect to see hows like Tyrant, The Strain, You're The Worst and Married on Netflix or Amazon, they're spoken for. That also goes for new shows debuting next year like the Louis CK / Zach Galifianakis production Baskets and the M Night Shyamalan Fox miniseries Wayward Pines.
FXNOW channel added to the Apple TV lineup
A few weeks ago we reported that FXNOW would soon be making its way to the Apple TV. Well, friends, that day has come. Apple today added the FXNOW channel to the ever expanding Apple TV lineup. FXNOW is effectively an on-demand service featuring content from Fox-owned channels such as FX, FXX, and FXM. With FXNOW, fans of popular series like Sons of Anarchy, Louie, Fargo, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia will be able to watch episodes of their choosing on-demand. Interested users should be aware that access to FXNOW requires cable authentication. There is, however, more to FOXNOW than currently meets the eye. It's previously been reported that FXNOW will feature a portal dubbed "Simpsons World", a service which promises to be a Simpsons fan paradise. "Simpsons World" isn't scheduled to launch until October but Hitflix back in July provided a slew of details surrounding many of the service's more compelling features. * Every episode ever, in an order that's easy to browse, but also easy to search. (The original "Simpsons" clips from "The Tracey Ullman Show" are not currently part of the package, but FX is talking to Matt Groening about it; "I know Matt has a very open mind to that," said FX COO Chuck Saftler. "The Simpsons Movie" will appear intermittently on the app, but won't be available constantly.) * A search function that allows you to quickly find - and share across social media - your favorite "Simpsons" joke or scene. At the moment, I cannot show you the "free goo" scene, or Homer contemplating the excitement of floor pie or waffle runoff; with Simpsons World, I can do it easily. I can also find every Disco Stu scene in one shot, or any story where Marge gets a new job, etc. * Ability to curate your own playlists of episodes and/or scenes, and a learning function that will then recommend similar ones for you to try or revisit. * An exhaustive episode guide that can be opened up to run parallel to the episode, featuring historical references, behind-the-scenes info, quotes, etc. You can also have each episode's script scrolling along as you watch it, and you can excerpt and share parts of the script, as well. Most of that functionality should be ready for the October launch, and even more should be introduced in January. (FX's president of marketing Stephanie Gibbons told me after the panel that the goal was to get the episodes and the ability to search for and share clips up immediately, and follow with more bonuses later.) We'll certainly make sure to keep you updated as to when "Simpsons World" goes live. In the meantime, there are still plenty of cool TV shows and movies to watch on FXNOW. As for Apple TV, the number of channels available continues to expand with each passing week. Most recently, Apple issued a software update for Apple TV introducing support for Family Sharing and a new channel for Beats Music. via MacRumors
FXNow delivers its on-demand streaming to Apple TV
Just before Simpsons World arrives offering access to that entire series, FXNow has arrived on Apple TV set-top boxes. While Bart and Lisa make their way to the on-demand repository, the channel serves up FX series like Sons of Anarchy, The Americans, Justified, Archer and more. If you're not into those selections, movies and more from FX, FXX and FXM networks are available -- so long as you have a required cable subscription. As you may recall, FXNow is already streaming its content on Xbox One, iOS, Android, Windows 8, smart TVs and on the web.
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Xbox One exclusively debuts FX animated series 'Chozen' for some cable customers
Now that Eastbound & Down is over, the creative team behind that show is launching a new animated series on FX called Chozen. Microsoft has snagged an exclusive for the premiere episode, so owners of the Xbox One can load up their FXNow app January 6th and watch a week before it airs on TV. We don't expect the cable companies to be too upset though, since, like the Fox Sports Go NFL Playoffs streaming setup you'll need a subscription with participating TV providers to actually view the episode. AT&T U-Verse, Comcast, Cablevision, Suddenlink and WOW are all on the list, while everyone else will have to wait until the 13th when it comes on after a new episode of Archer. This could be a sign of the growing relationship between Microsoft and traditional TV providers, or it could just be Fox snagging some extra promotion before its new show hits. The title character Chozen is a fresh-out-of-prison gay white rapper voiced by SNL's Bobby Moynihan, taking on the music industry, while other characters are voiced by the likes of Method Man, Hannibal Buress, Michael Peña, and Nick Swardson. Either way, we'll see how close the two sides are after Microsoft debuts its own original content later this year.
