This week saw Amazon’s latest streaming hardware go on sale. Meanwhile, we learned when Fox’s newest streaming service is set to go live, and when AT&T’s WatchTV is set to go dark. Netflix is bringing its “Play Something” feature to more platforms, and Roku is adding more content to The Roku Channel. Elsewhere, Paramount+ is getting into the Halloween spirit with a focus on spooky content during October, and Prime Video’s NFL streaming coverage kicked off.
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.
Fox Weather Will Launch on October 25
Fox News Media has set a launch date for its upcoming, weather-focused streaming service. Fox Weather is expected to go live on October 25th via the web and on iOS and Android mobile platforms.
Read more about Fox’s new weather streaming service here.
AT&T is Shutting Down WatchTV on November 30
AT&T set an official shutdown date for its WatchTV service. In a notice to users, the company announced that the streaming option will go dark on November 30th. The company had shifted its focus away from WatchTV more than a year ago as it concentrated more on AT&T TV and HBO Max.
Check out AT&T’s announcements regarding WatchTV and Spotify here.
Netflix’s ‘Play Something’ Feature Rolls out on Android
Netflix is adding its shuffle-play option to more platforms, including Android mobile devices. The Play Something feature allows users to queue up randomly selected content. Meanwhile, iOS users can expect the feature to arrive on their platform in the coming months.
Learn more about Netflix’s Play Something feature here.
Amazon Prime Video Announces Upcoming NFL Thursday Night Football Programming Beginning This Week
This week marked the start of Amazon Prime Video’s live coverage of NFL Thursday Night Football games. The streaming service will become an even bigger presence on Thursday nights starting next season.
Read more about Prime Video’s NFL coverage here.
XUMO Will Air an Ad-Free Movie Each Week Through the End of 2021
XUMO is kicking off a campaign where the ad-supported free streaming service will offer access to a new ad-free movie each week. The campaign started this week with the comedy Miss Stevens, and continues on throughout the rest of 2021.
See the full release schedule here.
Paramount+’s Peak Screaming Has Classic TV, Horror, & Kid-Friendly Titles All Month
It’s October, and Paramount+ is gathering together some key Halloween content throughout the month. Highlights include new and classic horror films and Halloween-themed episodes of various TV shows.
Read more about what Paramount+ has planned for October here.
The Roku Channel is Adding Over 30 Movies, 9 TV Shows, & More Roku Originals This Month
Roku has a sizable slate of new content on tap for its free streaming service, The Roku Channel. More than 30 movies are set to join the lineup, alongside several TV shows and more content under the Roku Originals banner.
Check out what’s coming to The Roku Channel here.
Hardware Spotlight
A look at the latest streaming and cord-cutting gear
Amazon’s New Fire TV Stick 4K Max is Now Available
Amazon’s latest Fire TV streaming device is officially available. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max rings in at $54.99 and boasts improved performance over the last Fire TV Stick 4K.
Learn more about Amazon’s newest streaming hardware here.
Industry Report
What’s the latest on the industry?
Disney+ Reaches Settlement with Scarlett Johansson in ‘Black Widow’ Lawsuit
This week, we learned that Disney has reached a settlement in a lawsuit filed by Black Widow star Scarlett Johansson. The suit focused on Johansson’s contract, which tied her final salary for the film to its box office performance. No financial details were released, but both sides appear to be pleased with the outcome.
Find out more about the settlement here.
Deal Alert
Save some cash with these current and upcoming deals.
Paramount+ and Showtime Bundles Start at $9.99 Per Month
ViacomCBS is touting its new bundle offer that pairs two of its streaming services — Paramount+ and Showtime — for one combined price. The bundle is currently available with a limited time promotional price of $9.99 per month for Showtime and the Paramount+ Essential Plan, or $12.99 per month for Showtime and the Paramount+ Premium Plan.