This week, we took a good, long look at Roku’s new OS 9.4 and new AirPlay and HomeKit support on certain Roku devices. Meanwhile, more companies are sharing their latest earnings and subscriber numbers. T-Mobile is expanding its home internet service plans, and Microsoft is sweetening the Xbox Game Pass deal with free access to Disney+.
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.
Checking Out Roku OS 9.4 and AirPlay 2
This week, we took an in-depth look at Roku OS 9.4 and the new Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support it brings to certain 4K devices. Roku’s been talking about improved performance and new features so we made sure to look into those claims, including some performance tests and comparisons. We also tried out AirPlay 2 on a Roku Ultra to see how easily we could send content from our iPhones to our Roku devices. And that includes content that might not be available via native apps, like HBO Max.
Dive in to our Roku OS 9.4 hands-on here.
Cable Channels Will Air HBO Max Content Thanksgiving Weekend
HBO Max has struck a deal to showcase some of its content on a collection of cable channels on Thanksgiving weekend. The deal will see TNT, TBS, and truTV each airing curated samples of HBO Max content starting on Thanksgiving Day, November 26 and continuing on through the weekend until Sunday, November 29th. You can expect movies like Batman V Superman Dawn of Justice and Wonder Woman as well as shows like The Flight Attendant, Friends, and Titans.
Check out the full schedule of shows and movies here.
fuboTV Places its Bets on Sports Wagering
FuboTV announced it’s getting into the sports wagering business. The service has had a long history of sports-focused content, and it’s looking to expand upon that by getting into the betting world. Company execs said they’ll share more details at a later date. The company also mentioned it’s reached an agreement with Epix and Starz, which will bring the premium channels to the service as add-ons before the end of the year.
Learn more about fuboTV’s expansion plans here.
T-Mobile’s Home Internet Service Expands to More Cities
T-Mobile’s $50 home internet service is expanding to 130 cities across nine states. The company’s pilot program offers 50 Mbps home internet with no data cap for that $50. Those new cities include areas of Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Find out more about T-Mobile’s home internet service expansion here.
Tablo’s Newest DVR Adds HDMI and a Remote Control
There’s a new Tablo DVR option on the scene. The Tablo DUAL HDMI adds an HDMI port and remote control to the package. The HDMI port means this new DVR can hook directly into your TV instead of connecting to your network like previous entries in the Tablo lineup. And with the remote, the company says the new DUAL HDMI offers a more traditional DVR experience.
Get all the details on the new Tablo DVR here.
Slingbox Is No More
This week, we learned that Sling Media is discontinuing the long-running line of Slingbox devices. The devices let you stream pay TV and DVR content remotely, which was pretty innovative back in the early 2000s when the line first launched. Associated Slingbox servers will wind down in 24 months, and at that point, all Slingbox hardware and services will essentially cease to function.
Learn more about the Slingbox announcement here.
Industry Report
What’s the latest on the industry?
fuboTV Subscriber Base Hits 455,000
FuboTV says it’s reached 455,000 paid subscribers in the third quarter of 2020, which represents an increase of about 58 percent year-over-year. And while it still trails heavyweights like Hulu with Live and YouTube TV, the company seems optimistic about its growth.
Read more about fuboTV’s third quarter here.
T-Mobile Surpasses 100 Million Customers
In third quarter news, T-Mobile says it’s surpassed 100 million customers, which it says is enough to make it the second-largest wireless carrier, behind only Verizon in the US. The announcement comes after the company added more than 2 million subscribers in the last quarter and it expects another 600,000 to 700,000 more to sign up in Q4.
Find out more about T-Mobile’s latest numbers here.
Disney Reports Latest Disney+, Hulu Subscriber Numbers
This week, Disney shared some of its latest numbers, including Disney+, which reached 73 million subscribers while also marking its one-year anniversary. Disney also shared that Hulu with Live has 4.1 million subscribers, which keeps the live TV streaming service in the top spot against competitors like YouTube TV and Sling TV. When you add in 32.1 million on-demand users, Hulu is currently sporting 36.6 million total subscribers.
Read more about Disney+ subscriber numbers here and Hulu’s latest stats here.
Deal Alert
Save some cash with these current and upcoming deals.
Xbox Adds Disney+ Offer to Game Pass
Microsoft announced it’s adding 30 days of Disney+ access to its Xbox Game Pass service. The offer is available on the Ultimate Perk tier and it’s open to Ultimate members who are new to Disney+. After the 30-day period, you’ll be rolled into the regular $6.99 monthly subscription.
Learn more about the new Disney+ Xbox offer here.
Cord Cutters News is Tracking Black Friday Deals All Month Long
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday fast approaching, it’s safe to say this holiday shopping season might play out a little differently. And here at Cord Cutters News, we’re working hard to stay on top of all the latest deals. If you’d like to follow along, we’re gathering all the hottest deals as they pop up in one place on our site.
Follow along with us as we uncover all the latest deals throughout November and December here.