By Jared Newman January 22, 2019 | Viacom is buying its way into the ad-supported streaming video business by acquiring Pluto TV in a $340 million cash deal. The deal underscores media companies’ growing interest in free, ad-supported streaming as an alternative to taking on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu (plus Apple, Disney, and AT&T’s WarnerMedia later this year) in the paid...
By Brian Crecente December 21, 2018 | When “Aquaman” hits theaters Friday it will do so riding a wave of publicity from an unusual place: the massively popular lo-fi, Lego-like game-creation platform “Roblox.” With more than 80 million monthly active users, “Roblox” popularity as both a place to create and play games is well established. But it wasn’t until earlier this year, that...
By Ryan Faughnder December 10, 2018 | Longtime Warner Bros. executive Craig Hunegs, who played a key role in the Burbank studio’s television and digital business strategy, is leaving his job after two decades with the company. Hunegs — president of business and strategy for Warner Bros. Television Group and president of Warner Bros. Digital Networks — is stepping down at the end...
By Thomas K. Arnold December 6, 2018 | Comcast’s Xfinity Digital Store has joined digital movie-collection service Movies Anywhere, with the cable giant becoming its seventh digital retail partner — and first pay-television partner. Comcast’s Xfinity TV customers are now able to synchronize their accounts with Movies Anywhere, combine eligible movie purchases from the Xfinity Digital Store with those from other Movies Anywhere digital retailers,...
By Dawn C. Chmielewski and Dade Hayes November 26, 2018 | WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey has elevated the AT&T Entertainment executive who helped launch DirecTV Now to lead the company’s direct-to-consumer streaming platform scheduled to launch next year. Stankey named Brad Bentley, the former VP of marketing at DirecTV, as general manager and executive vice president of WarnerMedia’s direct-to-consumer development in an email this morning to staff, providing an update on...
By Paul Bond November 19, 2018 | The list of content assets controlled by WarnerMedia is massive — from the Harry Potter and DC Comics universes to classic movies and TV shows like Gone With the Wind and Friends — but those might not be enough to compete in the streaming wars, especially when Disney launches its Disney+ service next year. Hence, Wall Street wasn't too...
By Dade Hayes November 16, 2018 | Paramount Pictures has signed a multi-picture film deal with Netflix, studio boss Jim Gianopulos revealed today during Viacom’s fourth-quarter earnings call with Wall Street analysts. “Our priority is to expand our role as a major global content supplier,” Gianopulos said. “As such, we’re exploring various new revenue streams in addition to our traditional theatrical releases as a producer of first-run films and television...
By Brent Lang and Henry Chu November 15, 2018 | The streaming service WarnerMedia plans to introduce next year will launch domestically first, followed by a potential international rollout, and could feature content from outside providers, according to a company insider. WarnerMedia is hoping that its direct-to-consumer offering will enable it to become a major player in a space currently dominated by Netflix. Unveiling those plans last...
By Jessica Toonkel November 9, 2018 | AT&T’s WarnerMedia has approached Comcast’s NBCUniversal to discuss ways of working together, including about licensing films or TV shows for WarnerMedia’s planned new streaming service, according to two people familiar with the discussions. The approach signals that AT&T wants to strengthen its hand in competing with Walt Disney, Netflix and other rivals. In particular, the...
By Greg Tarr October 24, 2018 | Google is allowing users in the U.S. and Canada to upgrade SD and HD titles purchased through Google Play Movies to 4K free of charge. The company revealed the offer on its website Tuesday, in a post by Ben Serridge, Product Manager, Google Play Movies & TV. Read more on HD Guru....