It’s Halloween weekend, but before we get to the tricks and treats, we have some streaming news to get to first. This week, we’re going to talk about Netflix bumping up pricing on a few of its plans, and T-Mobile launching a new entry into the live TV streaming field. Elsewhere, third quarter earnings continue to pour in, and we’ve got new numbers from Comcast, including its streaming service Peacock. And rumors are swirling about Sinclair possibly restructuring, which could have a big impact on its regional sports networks.
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.
Here’s What’s Coming to Netflix: Price Hikes
As expected, Netflix has indeed opted to raise prices on a couple of its plans. The Standard and Premium plans jump to $14 and $18 per month, respectively. Meanwhile, the Basic (non-HD) plan remains at $9. We reported on the possibility of price hikes for the streaming giant and some analysts predict Netflix could rake in $500 million to $1 billion in added revenue through the move.
Find out more about Netflix’s new pricing here.
T-Mobile’s Entering the Streaming Service Fray
T-Mobile announced its new streaming service, something it’s calling T-Vision. The company is hoping its competitive prices and channel options can give it an advantage against both traditional cable providers and more established live TV streaming services like YouTube TV and fuboTV. The service rolls out first to current T-Mobile customers, before expanding (eventually) to general, nationwide availability.
Learn more about T-Mobile’s TVision service, pricing, and rollout here.
And check out our recent video on T-Mobile’s TVision here.
SpaceX Sets Expectations for Starlink’s First Trials
SpaceX is prepping folks for the first tests of its satellite-based internet service Starlink. Emails recently sent out to users suggest the company is trying to set realistic expectations about the service’s initial speeds and latency. Users should also expect monthly costs of around $99 for these tests.
Read more about SpaceX’s plans for Starlink’s test runs here.
Narcos Lands on Pluto TV
The free streaming service Pluto TV added four more channels to its lineup, including one dedicated to the hit Netflix Original, Narcos. Beyond that, viewers will also have access to a new Bob Ross channel, The Design Network, and a country music channel that gives equal airtime to female and male artists.
Check out Pluto TV’s new additions here.
Do You Want to Share a Link About a Snowman?
Disney recently updated it Disney+ app to add some content-sharing options for users. Now, you can send out links to shows and movies via social media and messaging apps. It’s an easy way for fans to spread the word about what they’re binging, plus Disney gets some free advertising as well.
Learn more about the new Disney+ social features here.
Industry Report
What’s the latest on the industry?
Comcast Says 22 Million Are Flocking to Peacock
The Peacock streaming service reportedly reached some 22 million users by the end of the third quarter. That number comes, in part, thanks to a deal that brought the service to Roku users. However, Comcast didn’t share exactly how many of those users opted for the free, ad-supported tier versus paid plans.
Check out the latest Peacock numbers here.
Comcast’s Cable Business Sheds 273,000 Users
Not all of Comcast’s various businesses saw positive jumps during the third quarter. The company’s cable operations reported a loss of around 273,000 customers during Q3, mostly made up of residential users. Still, the company also touted a record quarter for its broadband service.
See more of Comcast’s Q3 stats and figures here.
RSNs Could Be Focal Point of Possible Sinclair Restructing
We’ve seen reports that Sinclair Broadcast Group may be exploring restructuring plans. And some are pointing to the company’s collection of regional sports networks as its “Achilles’ heel” as it looks to deal with some $8 billion in debt. It’s a developing story we’ll continue to monitor, especially as RSN support continues to fluctuate.
Learn more about Sinclair’s potential restructuring here.
Sony Could Snap Up Crunchyroll
Sony is reportedly interested in acquiring Crunchyroll from AT&T in a deal rumored to total $957 million. We’ve reported on earlier talks between the two companies, but this latest news is the clearest sign yet that Sony is looking to invest more into entertainment and gaming moving forward.
Read more about the potential deal here.
Deal Alert
Save some cash with these current and upcoming deals.
Hey Alexa, Happy Birthday
Amazon is celebrating Alexa’s birthday with a host of deals on various Alexa-powered gear. Check out the link below for some of the best deals currently available.