The holidays were in full swing this week, but there was still plenty to talk about in the world of cord cutting and streaming. AT&T reached an agreement with Tegna regarding access to local channels. Elsewhere, Disney shared news of yet another Star Wars series coming to the service — this one featuring a very familiar name.
Here’s what happened in the world of cord cutting and streaming.
Breaking News
Here are some of the top streaming stories from the past week.
HBO Max is the Best New Streaming Service of 2020 (Cordie Awards 2020)
Our readers have spoken and HBO Max came out on top as your favorite new streaming service of 2020. Peacock came in second, while Redbox Free Live TV took third. HBO Max has been on quite a growth spurt of late, including recently announced support for Fire TV and Roku.
Learn more about our 2020 Cordie for Best New Streaming Service here.
The 10 Best Free Roku Channels That Every Roku Owner Should Try
If you picked up a new Roku during the holidays (or if you received one from that special someone), you might be wondering about the different types of content options you now have access to. This week, we took a look at the 10 best free options every Roku owner should try. If you’re new to the service, or if it’s been a while since you’ve explored, this list might help.
Check out our recommendations here.
Disney Officially Announces Boba Fett Series
Disney may have unleashed a torrent of news at its recent Investor Day webcast, but it kept a few items close to the vest for a little while longer. Case in point: the upcoming Star Wars series The Book of Boba Fett, which was announced this week following the season finale of The Mandalorian.
Find out more about the new Star Wars Series here.
Here’s Everything Leaving Netflix in January 2021
While we’ve known for a while The Office would be leaving Netflix at the end of the year, several other well-known shows and movies are set to depart the streaming service in January. Take a look at our full list to see if any faves are departing soon.
See what’s leaving Netflix in January here.
Expert Insights from Our Editors
Hands-On (and Voices-On) With Amazon’s New Fire TV Update
A new Fire TV user interface is gradually rolling out and Amazon sent us a Fire TV Stick so we could get some hands-on time with the new experience. Check out our in-depth preview, including the new main menu, Home screen, customization options, and more.
Read our hands-on preview here.
Industry Report
What’s the latest on the industry?
AT&T and Tegna Reach an Agreement to Bring Locals Back to DirecTV, AT&T TV, AT&T TV Now & U-Verse
After dropping Tegna-owned local channels earlier this month, AT&T says it’s bringing those stations back now that the two sides have reached an agreement. The companies released a joint statement about the new agreement and the 64 affected stations.
Find out more about the new agreement here.
Disney’s ‘Lizzie McGuire’ Reboot is Canceled
The upcoming reboot of Lizzie McGuire is officially off the table. Star Hilary Duff confirmed the news herself in a message to fans. Plans for the reboot had hit several roadblocks, including production setbacks due to COVID-19.
Find out more about the cancellation here.
Hulu and Nexstar Reach a Deal to Bring Locals Back to Hulu with Live, Adding WGN America
Nexstar announced that its ABC affiliate stations would be returning to Hulu with Live after the two sides agreed on a new deal. The streaming service will also offer WGN America starting in January, 2021. Hulu with Live had dropped Nexstar’s local channels back in October after the two companies couldn’t reach an agreement on a contract.
Read more about the new deal here.
Deal Alert
Save some cash with these current and upcoming deals.
Watch ESPN, NFL Network, Disney, Discovery & More with Vidgo for Just $10/Month
Streaming service Vidgo is getting into the holiday spirit with a deal for new and returning customers. For a limited time, you can get two months of live TV streaming for $10 per month, compared to the company’s regular $55 per month.