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Netflix isn't chasing the competition into sports or live TV
Fresh off of its Oscars win for Icarus, a documentary about Russia's doping epidemic in sports, Netflix held a press event at its Hollywood headquarters. There, inside a 280,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art studio that it just opened last year, CEO Reed Hastings talked about the state of Netflix and the industry as a whole. The setting seemed fitting, considering the company is planning an $8 billion investment in original content for 2018 alone. That programming strategy is what makes Hastings confident that Netflix's future is bright, especially as it faces increased competition from the likes of Amazon, Hulu and, soon, Disney. The latter of which is also a partner, since it owns all of the Marvel franchises that Netflix has built a mini-verse around.
CBS plans more All Access shows to compete with Netflix
CBS plans to add more shows to its All Access streaming service in the next year in a bid to compete with Netflix and other providers. At an investor conference in Florida, COO Joseph Ianniello confirmed more content was coming to the service: "We're doubling down there. You're going to see six to seven originals on CBS All Access in the next 12 months," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Netflix is taking a wait-and-see approach to virtual reality
Netflix was one of the first video-streaming services to adopt VR in 2015, when it introduced a 360-degree app that let users step into a virtual room to watch movies or TV shows on a Gear VR. Then, a year later, it launched a version of that application for Google's Daydream headset, but the company has been relatively quiet in the VR space ever since. The reason for that, simply put, is that Netflix doesn't see the technology as a priority -- at least not right now. Speaking at a media event inside the company's Hollywood headquarters, Chief Production Officer Greg Peters said that Netflix is only focused on seeing how VR systems evolve at the moment.
Facebook orders Kim Kardashian West's celebrity pranking show
Facebook has ordered a series by Kim Kardashian-West where kids prank their famous celebrity parents. But given that it's a live, unscripted show, those watching it on the social media platform might be chosen to lend their pranking expertise. Plus, show producers (and the kids themselves) will crowdsource ideas from the Facebook community.
Netflix will stream the terrible-looking 'ReBoot’ reboot
By the mid-90s, Saturday morning cartoons were a blur of occasionally brilliant animated comedy and a ton of trash made to sell toys. One rose above the rest for sheer novelty: ReBoot was one of the first shows anywhere to be completely computer-generated, and it was set within a computer, turning programs and viruses into heroes and villains. It was kinda wild, a futurist TRON-for-kids that pushed young viewers to think about technology. Revival-happy Netflix just released a trailer for a new ReBoot television show...and it looks like a far cry from the original.
NBC's Jennifer Salke is the new Amazon Studios chief
Amazon Studios has a head executive once again. Back in October, the film and TV production division's previous chief Roy Price had resigned days after he was publicly accused of sexual harassment. Today, NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke was named as his replacement, and is expected to remain at the network until she transitions into her new position heading Amazon Studios.
Apple signs ‘Big Sick’ writers for a series about immigrant stories
Apple has added yet another scripted series to its lineup: Little America, a half-hour anthology series based on true stories about immigrants in the US featured in Epic Magazine. The company has tapped Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, writers of the Oscar-nominated indie hit The Big Sick, as well as SMILF executive producer Lee Eisenberg and Master of None co-creator Alan Yang to make the series for Apple.
Data-friendly YouTube Go app is available in 130 more countries
Lately, Google has been putting a lot of focus on its lightweight "Go" Android apps that are meant for countries where good cellular coverage and bandwidth in general is difficult to come by. YouTube Go started out in only one country -- sure, it was India, but there were still plenty of other places where the app would be useful. As of today, many more countries will be able to use YouTube Go. More than 130, in fact.
Hulu locks out users with login problems two nights in a row
On Tuesday night many Hulu users were unable to stream video or live TV because they couldn't log in, which was bad enough. Unfortunately, Hulu suffered another outage tonight, going down again for a few hours during prime time ET viewing. Within the last hour, its support Twitter account reported that a "fix is in place" to address the login problem, but it may come a little late for users heading to bed. We've contacted the service to find out what's happening and will update this post if there's more information.
Netflix orders a weekly show hosted by Joel McHale
Netflix has snagged several former show hosts to head their own programs, from Chelsea Handler to David Letterman. Next on the list is Joel McHale, who notably starred in the priceless sitcom Community but got big helming E! channel's unscripted pop culture-gouging talk show The Soup. For Netflix, he'll host The Joel McHale Show Starring Joel McHale...an unscripted pop culture-gouging talk show.
'The Handmaid's Tale' ventures outside Gilead in second season
The Handmaid's Tale has been a huge success for Hulu, earning the streaming platform quite a few Emmys and two Golden Globes. The first season was based on Margaret Atwood's novel by the same name but many have wondered what's in store for the upcoming second season. "The biggest barrier of season two was season one," showrunner Bruce Miller told Entertainment Weekly. "You sort of intimidate yourself. But at a certain point, you can't spend all your time second-guessing things. Instead, you just have to remember to try and tell a good story." Miller says he and Margaret Atwood began talking about the direction of the second season before the first was completed.
‘Lost’ is now streaming on Hulu after leaving Netflix
Back in the day, a show leaving Netflix (like the exodus of the beloved Battlestar Galactica reboot in 2014) meant you could only revisit it by buying a collection. But Hulu spent the latter half of 2016 scooping up big-name shows that left Netflix like Bob's Burgers, Futurama, 30 Rock and Parenthood. Today, they scored another hit show that once enthralled network viewers nationwide: Lost.
Netflix tries out a Christmas movie with Kurt Russell as Santa
Netflix is handing Kurt Russell the role he was born to play: Santa Claus. The streaming giant is about to start rolling cameras on a festive flick, according to The Hollywood Reporter, with filmmaker Chris Columbus (of Harry Potter and Home Alone fame) producing. Child actors Judah Lewis (last seen on Netflix's The Babysitter) and Big Little Lies' resident DJ Darby Camp will round out the cast of the as-yet untitled project.
Vidme's YouTube-meets-Reddit video service is no more
Video service Vidme is shutting down after almost four years, citing competition from online juggernauts Google and Facebook. The self-professed YouTube-meets-Reddit-style platform boasted 25 million users as recently as last December, which is a blip in comparison to YouTube's 1.5 billion users. Like fellow video also-ran Fullscreen, Vidme is the latest millennial-chasing platform to luck out in its hunt for a niche. The service is wasting no time in disabling sign-ups, video uploads, and paid channel subscriptions, according to co-founder Warren Shaeffer.
CBS might turn ‘Entertainment Tonight’ into its own streaming service
CBS has been getting more bold with its streaming offerings, notably putting Star Trek Discovery exclusively on its All Access platform. But it seems the network is considering another standalone services to add to its portfolio. Today, CBS Corp CEO Leslie Moonves said that the company is thinking about launching one next year based on its long-running show Entertainment Tonight.
Netflix outbids Disney for superhero movie starring Daisy Ridley
There's no shortage of superheroes on Netflix, yet it's found room for a subversive spin on Hollywood's favourite genre, courtesy of Josh Gad. The streaming giant outbid Disney to nab the film, dubbed Super-Normal, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The character-driven flick will also star Daisy Ridley (who's back in the saddle as Rey for Star Wars: The Last Jedi) and Gad's Beauty and the Beast co-star Luke Evans. The script comes from the writing duo behind animated hit Moana (another Disney connection), with Gad in the production chair alongside It producer Dan Lin -- who's also involved in Netflix's Death Note.
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.
Fullscreen's young adult streaming service is shutting down
Fullscreen, the social-first streaming service for teens and young adults, is going kaput. Deadline is reporting that the VOD platform will close shop next year to focus on original productions and branded video content. At least all those social media stars won't be completely out of a job then.
Hulu is Nintendo Switch’s first streaming app
Your Nintendo Switch isn't just a gaming device anymore. Today Hulu announced that it will be the first video streaming app on Nintendo's hybrid console/portable system. Best of all? You don't have to wait long. You'll be able to grab the app from the eShop and use your Switch to stream The Handmaid's Tale starting today. There's a free trial on offer, and returning customers can use either Hulu's live TV package or the traditional Hulu experience on the system. Nintendo has been coy about streaming services on its latest system, and Hulu comes as a bit of a surprise. Maybe, just maybe, Netflix will be next.
Social media's biggest stars are launching a streaming service
Three of the biggest social media stars (with a combined 70 million followers across platforms) are launching their own video streaming service, reports Variety. Dubbed "Zeus," the upcoming VOD outlet is the brainchild of Andrew "King Bach" Bachelor (who was Vine's most-followed personality, before the video-looping app went kaput), along with fellow digital celebs Amanda Cerny, and DeStorm Power.
