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ESPN hikes its streaming prices, nudging up Disney bundles
1 day ago•Source: The Verge
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16.775 min•1 day ago
Netflix weighs hosting rival streams within its app
Netflix executives reportedly discussed integrating third-party streaming services, notably Peacock and Fox One, into the Netflix app, though it’s unclear whether users would subscribe to those services or merely access their content. This would be a major shift from Netflix’s bundling approach, and there’s no imminently planned deal, even as the company tests partnerships in France with TF1; YouTube is set to include Peacock in its Premium tier next year.
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Disney taps TikTok to host fan-made Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar clips on Disney Plus
theverge.com•20 days ago
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Prime Video adds Luna cloud gaming, letting Fallout 4 run inside the streaming app
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Netflix to stream publisher videos from BuzzFeed, Condé Nast and more
Starting August 3, Netflix will add licensed and original video content from dozens of digital publishers—including BuzzFeed, Condé Nast, Hearst Magazines, People, and Tastemade—with videos typically 3–20 minutes long across topics like food, travel, fashion, design and wellness. The deal covers past videos and new series that would have appeared on other platforms (e.g., Architectural Digest’s Open Door, Vanity Fair’s Lie Detector Test), enabling subscribers to watch content without leaving Netflix. The move follows Bloomberg’s report on second‑season viewership slumps, and Netflix says more publishers could join in the future.
Peacock goes solo: can it survive as a standalone streamer?
Comcast’s plan to spin NBCUniversal away from its broadband and wireless units puts Peacock on its own, forcing profitability and scale without the corporate backing; even with exclusive live sports and new features, it remains US-only with about 46 million subs and lags rivals, and an update notes it was offered for free to some Xfinity subscribers. Analysts wonder about future M&A as Peacock fights to stand out in a crowded streaming market.
YouTube Shorts Gains TikTok-Style Features, Including Clear Screen and 2x Speed
YouTube is adding TikTok-like features to Shorts, including a 'clear screen' mode to remove icons and text, swapping the thumbs-up for a heart, a new 2x speed option (swipe-down to adjust with a lock), and a mute control, while also removing the dislike button to steer feedback.
YouTube lets you craft a personalized video feed using AI prompts
YouTube is rolling out an AI-powered feature in the US that lets signed-in users describe videos they want to watch via a 'Your custom feed' tab to generate a personalized video feed pinned to the homepage. Prompts can be edited to refresh the space, and access requires English-language support with search and watch history enabled; users can report issues if the feed gets things wrong.
Netflix’s ad push grows to 250M viewers, with vertical video and podcasts expansion
Netflix’s ad-supported tier now reaches about 250 million monthly viewers, more than doubling from last year, and the company disclosed $1.5 billion in ad revenue for 2025. It’s expanding ads into its new vertical video feed on mobile and the podcast lineup, rolling out to 15 new countries while testing personalized ads based on viewing behavior, even as Texas sues Netflix over data collection and price hikes on the Basic plan.
Texas sues Netflix over ads, data mining, and autoplay concerns
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed suit against Netflix, accusing the company’s ad-supported tier of breaching its ad-free/kid-friendly promises while turning Texans’ data over to ad-tech brokers in a claimed behavior-surveillance program; Paxton seeks to block data collection and disclosure and to disable autoplay on kids’ profiles. Netflix did not immediately comment.
NFL rights clash: YouTube balks at split as Netflix expands and broadcast TV returns
YouTube reportedly balked at splitting the NFL’s five-game package with Netflix, leaving two windows it would have received to be bid to broadcast networks while Netflix is set to take three windows (plus its Christmas Day games) and an Australia game, expanding its NFL slate. The league had originally presented 12 windows to choose five, with the remaining being NFL Network inventory; Fox and other networks are viewed as potential bidders for the added broadcast windows. The development comes amid ongoing scrutiny of streaming rights in sports and a broader push for more games on broadcast television, framed by comments from league officials about Netflix’s scale.
YouTube tests a conversational AI search experience
Google is testing an AI-driven search on YouTube called 'Ask YouTube' that delivers a conversation-like results page with longform videos, Shorts, and explanatory text. Access is currently limited to US YouTube Premium subscribers 18+; a Verge tester saw prompts and a full AI-style results page when using the feature. Results combine text summaries, videos, and curated Shorts, with follow-up prompts after the initial search. While promising, the tester noted a factual error (Steam Controller details), underscoring the need to verify AI-generated content. Google says it plans to expand access beyond Premium and continue iterating on AI Mode across products.
Netflix bets on vertical video with a mobile UI revamp
Netflix announced a redesigned mobile app set to launch at the end of April, adding a vertical video feed to better reflect its expanding entertainment lineup and make mobile engagement easier; the company says the lines between TV and mobile entertainment are blurring and that mobile video clips drive engagement, with the revamp aiming to support long-term growth after a prior TV app update and earlier vertical-feed tests.
Netflix cofounder Reed Hastings steps down as chair after nearly 30 years
Reed Hastings will not stand for re-election to Netflix’s board and will step down as chairman when his current term expires at the June annual meeting, ending nearly 30 years with the company to focus on philanthropy and other pursuits. Netflix reported $12.25 billion in Q1 2026 revenue, up 16.2% year‑over‑year, driven by member growth, higher pricing, and ad revenue, while continuing to push into live content, podcasts, and games; it also paid a $2.8 billion breakup fee after walking away from an $83 billion Warner Bros. deal, raised prices to $19.99 for the cheapest ad‑free plan, and plans a mobile app revamp focused on vertical video.