Bell Media has designated Crave as the exclusive streaming home for all CTV programming, including shows like "The Bold and the Beautiful," in Canada. Canadian viewers will now only be able to stream CTV content via the Crave platform.
Platform strategy now spans four business models at once: OTT, SVOD, AVOD, and FAST. This category covers recommendation engines, content discovery, CTV app experience, player SDKs, and the subscriber engagement data that tells you whether a feature actually worked.
Bell Media has designated Crave as the exclusive streaming home for all CTV programming, including shows like "The Bold and the Beautiful," in Canada. Canadian viewers will now only be able to stream CTV content via the Crave platform.
PlayStation users have reported issues with online license checks for digital PS4 and PS5 games purchased after March 2026, causing concerns about game access. Sony has responded to these reports, stating that the issue is not related to a new general license check but rather to a bug that is being investigated.
The Minnesota Wild is ending its broadcast partnership with FanDuel Sports Network this week. The NHL team is transitioning to a new distribution model that combines over-the-air television with streaming platforms.
LG Electronics announced its premium wireless TVs are the first to receive "True Wireless Lossless Vision" certification from testing organization TÜV Rheinland. The certification verifies that the LG OLED evo W6 and LG Mini RGB evo MRGB9M models deliver visually lossless 4K picture quality via wireless transmission from a separate Zero Connect box. The evaluation confirmed the preservation of color accuracy, image detail, and HDR tone reproduction, with the OLED model supporting up to 165Hz refresh rates wirelessly.
At its CES 2026 'First Look' event, Samsung Electronics revealed its new lineup of smart TVs and displays, centered around an "AI Companion" strategy. Key announcements include a 130-inch Micro RGB display, a new "Vision AI Companion" (VAC) for conversational control and recommendations, and a commitment to seven years of Tizen OS upgrades. The 2026 TV lineup will be the first to launch with HDR10+ ADVANCED support.
YouTube announced a slate of new programming from top creators at its inaugural 'Creator Premieres' event, including a stand-up special from Trevor Noah and a late-night series from Julian Shapiro-Barnum. The company also announced a new platform feature that allows creators to organize episodic content into seasons and shows. The initiative is aimed at advertisers and is intended to enhance the viewing experience on living room devices, which YouTube identifies as its fastest-growing viewing surface.
The article describes Comcast’s multiview rollout, which started as a server-side experience before the 2024 NFL season and expanded to thousands of dynamic live channels. It also says the experience now includes personalized "Create Your Own Multiview" viewing without new hardware or app updates, and frames this as a cloud-powered approach built with MediaKind and MK.IO.
Walt Disney Co. is increasing the price of its ad-free Disney+ streaming service from $16 to $19 per month. The $3 price hike applies to the flagship service without advertising.
Netflix is implementing a new round of price increases, prompting negative reactions and leading some long-term subscribers to consider cancelling their membership.
Comcast's Versant Media Group has signed an agreement to add its Free TV Networks FAST channel portfolio to the vMVPD service Philo. The deal expands the distribution of Free TV Networks' channels onto the Philo platform.
Fubo has upgraded its iOS and Android apps to optimize the mobile sports streaming experience. The enhancements include making its "Team Channels" feature available in a vertical orientation, which uses proprietary AI to create highlight playlists, as well as adding alerts for key moments and auto-playing live video on the home screen carousel for faster content discovery.
Video platform Vimeo experienced a security incident which it attributes to a breach at a third-party vendor, Anodot. According to the report, the breach did not compromise video content, user login credentials, or payment card information. Vimeo also stated there was no disruption to its services as a result of the incident.
A new poll conducted by Fox News found that 72% of sports fans believe major sports events should be required to be available on free broadcast television. The finding indicates significant consumer dissatisfaction with the trend of moving sports content exclusively to streaming services.
The article says YouTube TV has updated its multiview feature to let users fully customize it, describing the change as a response to subscriber complaints. It characterizes the update as part of a series of 2025 moves that put YouTube TV on track to become the largest service, but the provided text does not include additional details.
The Q Branch Police CID in Tamil Nadu, India, has dismantled a large-scale illegal IPTV operation that allegedly had thousands of subscribers. The racket, linked to a UAE-based handler and a broader cable piracy network, involved the distribution of illicit set-top boxes. The investigation, which was assisted by the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF), used forensic watermarking to identify the source of the pirated content and found payments were made via domestic QR codes.
Apple has announced plans to introduce an integrated video podcast experience within its Apple Podcasts application. The new feature is scheduled to roll out later this spring and is positioned as a competitive move against platforms like Spotify and YouTube, which already offer video podcasts.
Video software provider Synamedia has announced the launch of Go Shorts, a new feature for its Synamedia Go OTT platform. Go Shorts adds short-form video capabilities to the company's end-to-end platform for streaming services.
Video platform Vimeo has confirmed a data breach affecting some of its customers and users. The company disclosed that the unauthorized data access originated from a recent security breach at its third-party vendor, Anodot. The article confirms the exposure of user data.
Netflix is sending emails to subscribers to notify them of a new round of price increases. The article says the new rates raise the Premium 4K plan, but does not provide the full pricing details in the excerpt.
YouTube TV is rolling out a customizable multiview feature for subscribers after years of development. The feature lets viewers watch up to four channels on one screen across the full channel lineup.
YouTube has begun testing an AI search mode. The feature will respond to queries with a mix of text, short clips, and longer videos.
YouTube TV has launched a customizable multiview feature, allowing subscribers to watch up to four channels simultaneously on a single screen. The feature was rolled out ahead of the football season.
WWE's developmental league, NXT, will begin airing its Premium Live Events (PLEs) on The CW broadcast network for the first time. The events, which will be free to watch, are leaving the Peacock streaming service and YouTube.
The video platform Vimeo has been breached by a hacking group known as 'ShinyHunters'. According to the report, the group stole a dataset containing at least some user email addresses. The full extent of the breach was not detailed.
According to rumors, the next version of the Apple TV 4K may incorporate a new chip, Apple Intelligence, and an enhanced version of Siri. The rumored upgrades also reportedly include unspecified improvements to audio and video capabilities.
Nvidia is reportedly considering a refreshed version of its Shield TV streaming device. The potential new model is said to include support for the AV1 codec, as well as Dolby Vision and HDR10+.
Sling TV launched a new subscription plan, "Sling Essentials," on April 9, 2026. The service is priced at $19.99 per month and delivers a stripped-down channel lineup that includes ESPN.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has secured a media rights deal with FIFA for the Women's World Cup. The agreement covers multiple European markets and ensures that at least one game per day will be covered on the channels of EBU members.
Sky and Disney have signed a multi-year distribution agreement to offer the Disney+ service to Sky customers in the U.K. and Ireland. The deal is part of a broader strategy from Sky, which is also offering a streaming bundle that includes Netflix, HBO Max, and Hayu.
ITV is launching its streaming service ITVX as an in-car entertainment option for BMW, Mini, and Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The launch is facilitated through a partnership with technology company Xperi.
Apple conducted a media briefing to present its plans for Formula 1 coverage. The company described the planned viewing experience as "everything, everywhere, all at once."
CBS will air 20 WNBA games on its broadcast television network beginning in the 2026 season. The agreement provides the league with a significant presence on network TV.
NBA viewership is up by a double-digit percentage entering the All-Star break. The growth is reportedly led by the league's linear television partners, NBC and ESPN/ABC.
Fubo has announced agreements to add regional sports networks (RSNs) for three Major League Baseball teams: the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, and Atlanta Braves. The new channels will be added to the vMVPD service in time for the 2026 MLB season.
WWE and ESPN announced that WWE Premium Live Events will be distributed on ESPN platforms in the United States, starting with the inaugural 'Wrestlepalooza' event on September 20. According to the announcement, this debut on ESPN is earlier than previously planned.
Amazon is increasing the price of its ad-free Prime Video offering by $2 per month and rebranding it as "Prime Video Ultra." Concurrently, the company will remove 4K video support from the standard ad-supported plan. The changes are set to take effect next month.
According to an analysis of Nielsen data for 2026 compiled by TV Grim Reaper, cable television viewership declined by 3.2% over the year, with its share of total viewership falling to 20%. During the same period, broadcast networks ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC reportedly experienced a jump in their viewership.
Netflix is increasing subscription prices across all of its plans in the United States. The company, which has over 325 million subscribers, had previously discontinued its cheapest ad-free plan, 'Basic,' in 2023.
According to a Looper Insights analysis using its proprietary "Dollar Media Placement Value" ($MPV) metric, The Roku Channel secured the #1 individual title spot with "Good Morning Football: Overtime" generating $1.06M in value. While HBO Max remained the top platform with $2.04M in total MPV, driven by "The Pitt" ($1.03M) and "Euphoria" ($1.00M), the report highlights the growing ability of FAST platforms to compete with SVOD services for prominence on the CTV homepage.
This trend analysis piece argues that live sports and advertising dollars are increasingly moving to Free Ad-supported Streaming Television (FAST) as viewership on these platforms grows. It uses The E.W. Scripps Company's recent launch of the Scripps Sports Network (SSN) with PWHL and NWSL games as a primary example. The article also weighs the opportunities of growing CTV ad spend against the current commercial challenges, such as revenue-share models and low rights fees, exemplified by MLB's reported ~$10 million deal with Roku for its 'Sunday Leadoff' package.
Nvidia's cloud gaming service, GeForce Now, is set to launch in India with a beta program starting on April 16. The service enables users to stream high-end games by leveraging Nvidia's RTX servers for processing.
Apple Inc. has announced plans to introduce an integrated video podcast feature within its Apple Podcasts app. The launch is scheduled for spring 2026 and is framed by the source as a competitive move against platforms like Netflix, YouTube, and Spotify.
The article outlines the distribution model for the upcoming Major League Soccer season, noting a shift where the standalone MLS Season Pass has been discontinued. All MLS regular-season, playoff, and Leagues Cup matches are now included directly within a standard Apple TV subscription. A selection of marquee games will also be simulcast on linear television via FOX and FS1.
The Hindi film 'Dhurandhar' has become the most-watched Indian film on Netflix, accumulating 31.1 million views in its first 10 weeks since its January 30 release. This viewership figure surpasses other major Indian titles on the platform, including 'RRR' (Hindi), 'Animal', and 'Jawan'. The article attributes the film's streaming momentum to the recent theatrical success of its sequel, 'Dhurandhar 2', which reportedly renewed audience interest in the original installment.
Warner Bros. Discovery has launched its HBO Max content catalog in India exclusively on the JioHotstar platform, as of April 15, 2026. The agreement makes all Warner Bros. Discovery content, including HBO, Max Originals, and DC Studios, available on a single platform in India for the first time. Following the launch, the film "Zack Snyder’s Justice League" reportedly became number one on JioHotstar’s Top 10 Movies list.
JioHotstar is launching an HBO Max hub on its platform in India, deepening its partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery. The hub, which includes content from HBO, Max Originals, and Warner Bros., will be offered as an add-on pack starting at ₹49 per month. The launch builds on a 2023 licensing agreement between Warner Bros. Discovery and Reliance-controlled Viacom18.
Major streaming platforms in India, including ZEE5, JioHotstar, and Prime Video, are increasingly investing in regional language content to drive viewership growth. According to a Ficci-EY report cited in the article, regional content constituted 56% of total content produced for digital platforms in 2025, surpassing Hindi. This strategy includes significant financial commitments, such as JioHotstar's ₹4,000 crore investment in southern markets, and efforts to build local creator ecosystems.
German CTV technology provider Foxxum has signed Videociety, operator of the VOD service maxdome, as the first customer for its new Foxxum Core OTT platform. Videociety will use the platform to launch and manage its apps globally across CTV, mobile, and web devices from a single backend. The platform is offered under a subscription model that includes updates, support, and distribution.
Major streaming services including Disney+, Netflix, Peacock, and Paramount are rolling out short-form vertical video feeds within their mobile apps. These features are currently positioned as content discovery engines to promote existing libraries and, according to the platforms, do not yet include advertising opportunities. The article questions the strategy, exploring the related "microdrama" trend and suggesting the streamers' push into vertical video may be too late to capture audience attention or replicate the financial success of dedicated short-form apps.
Paramount is shutting down the BET+ streaming service, which has around 3.5 million subscribers, in June. This follows Paramount's buyout of Tyler Perry Studios' 25% stake in the service. The majority of BET+ content will be moved to Paramount+, which currently has 80 million subscribers, where it will be featured in a branded BET Hub.