The week kicked off with some major new deals and potential team-ups involving AT&T and Discovery. Elsewhere, rumors started swirling about Amazon’s attempts to acquire MGM and Google’s planning some updates to make Android TV easier to control. And when it comes to deals, it looks like Roku is offering some solid discounts leading up to Memorial Day.
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.
AT&T Confirms Deal with Discovery That Would Form Standalone Entertainment Company
AT&T confirmed some recent rumors with an announcement that it’s reached a deal with Discovery Inc. The idea is to create a new company that combines AT&T’s WarnerMedia and Discovery’s properties. This new venture would include assets like HBO Max and Discovery+ and the deal is expected to close sometime next year.
Check out the details on a major deal between AT&T and Discovery here.
WarnerMedia Confirms $9.99 Price and Early June Launch for HBO Max Ad-Supported Tier
WarnerMedia confirmed a $9.99 price point for its cheaper, ad-supported tier for HBO Max. We also learned about what content will and will not be available on that lower-priced tier, as well as a launch date set for early June.
Learn more about the cheaper HBO Max pricing tier here.
HBO Max Reveals ‘Friends’ Reunion Trailer and New ‘Sex and The City’ Spin-Off Details
This week, HBO Max shared an official trailer for its upcoming Friends reunion special. The streaming service also announced more casting details for its Sex and The City spin-off, And Just Like That.
Watch the official Friends reunion special trailer here.
Two Unscripted Specials Headed to HBO Max in Honor of First ‘Harry Potter’ Film’s 20th Anniversary
Harry Potter fans have some specials to look forward to as WarnerMedia celebrates the 20th anniversary of the series’ first film, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Fans can expect a quiz competition and more later this year.
Find out what’s in store for Harry Potter fans here.
Industry Report
What’s the latest on the industry?
Rumors Suggest Amazon is Offering $9 Billion for MGM
This week, we learned about rumors that Amazon could be offering billions to acquire MGM and its staple of thousands of movies and TV shows. Reports place the company’s offer at around $9 billion.
Check out the latest rumors surrounding Amazon and MGM here.
Google I/O 2021: Android TV Reaches 80 Million Active Devices, Remote Control Feature Coming to Android Phones
Google’s developer conference returned this week, and the company used the event to announce Android TV has reached 80 million monthly active devices. We also learned about new remote control features coming to Android smartphones.
See what Google has in store for Android TV users here.
Deal Alert
Save some cash with these current and upcoming deals.
Roku Has Memorial Day Deals on Streaming Devices, Soundbars & Speakers
With Memorial Day on the horizon, Roku has discounted prices on several of its streaming devices. Deals include the Roku Ultra and the ultra-portable Streaming Stick+.