Streaming
News articles and original analysis on the topics of streaming media; connected television (CTV); free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST), ad-supported video on-demand (AVOD), subscription video on-demand (SVOD), virtual multi-video programming distributors (vMVPD), streaming audio services, social video platforms, smart TV platforms and streaming hardware manufacturers.
Gray Media brings 111 local TV news streams to Local Now
Local Now is expanding the amount of local television news content available on its platform through a new deal with broadcaster Gray Media.
Spectrum News launches California-specific news initiative on YouTube
New stories will publish regularly on the Spectrum News California YouTube channel, with a weekly recap airing Thursdays at 8 p.m. on Spectrum News channels.
FIRST ON THE DESK
AMC Global Media launches free streamer in some European countries
AMC has launched SELEKT Light in Czechia and Slovakia, replacing its former AMC Mikro service with a free, advertising-supported streaming platform.
Stingray expands distribution on LG Channels in 13 new countries
The rollout includes localized Stingray Music channels tailored to individual markets like France, Germany and Spain.
Parks Associates: Fox-Roku deal highlights value of TV operating systems
Roku is one of the most-used streaming platforms in America — and that prominence has invited some scrutiny over Fox's proposal to acquire the company for $22 billion.
DATA
Filing: Justice Department seeks information about Fox-Roku deal
Antitrust concerns are focused in part on whether Fox could favor Tubi or other Fox services within Roku’s streaming platform and advertising ecosystem.
Plex releases refreshed Plexamp for desktop, mobile devices
The release is Plexamp’s first in more than a year, according to a long-time Plex executive; native desktop apps are now available for Windows, Mac and Linux computers.
FIRST ON THE DESK
RTBF shifts ad monetization to server-guided insertion with Bitmovin, AIP
The deployment combines AIP’s AdBlendr platform with Bitmovin’s Player, allowing RTBF to monetize live and time-shifted streams without generating per-user manifests.
After CTV, Stingray sees karaoke as next front in car entertainment
The global music company is betting big on karaoke being a smash hit in car entertainment. Demand is already strong in some parts of the world.
ONLY ON THE DESK
A Parent Media Company enters receivership after Victory Plus woes
A large investor said APMC faced the likelihood of insolvency; the company owns Kidoodle.TV and Victory Plus.
DIRECTV expands college football campaign with campus tour, championship giveaway
The sweepstakes coincides with the Super Bowl and will gift one lucky DIRECTV subscriber with a trip package valued at $30,000.
TiVo refreshes operating system with AI capabilities, new FAST channels
TiVo is adding interactive television capabilities through IRCODE, using AI and computer vision to support commerce, advertising and content discovery.