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WWE-ESPN Pact Faces Uncertain Future Beyond 2030
business13 hours ago

WWE-ESPN Pact Faces Uncertain Future Beyond 2030

ESPN reportedly will not renew its five-year, $1B WWE deal when it ends in 2030, signaling a potential split for WWE's premium events. The outlook is driven by shifts in the media market, the carriage/cost challenges of ESPN Unlimited, and a culture/synergy gap between WWE and ESPN. ESPN has started promoting WWE content more and making some PLEs available on ESPN/ESPN2, but ongoing subscriber and carriage issues persist. Renewal would hinge on a surge in Unlimited subscribers or favorable carriage deals; otherwise WWE would need to find a new home for its PLEs. There is guarded hope for future collaboration if market conditions improve, but the situation remains precarious.

via Wrestling Inc.|
#business#espn#media-rights
Washing Machines as Data Spies: John Oliver Takes on Subscriptions
technology1 day ago

Washing Machines as Data Spies: John Oliver Takes on Subscriptions

John Oliver argues that subscription models have exploded across industries—from media to household devices—so you pay for ongoing services rather than ownership. He highlights examples like auto services, printer ink, and smart appliances that collect data, and notes how ‘dark patterns’ make signing up easy while canceling can be intentionally hard. The piece emphasizes checking bank statements and device subscriptions, and mentions regulatory efforts such as the FTC’s proposed ‘click to cancel’ rule as a potential fix to a widespread consumer pain point.

via The Guardian|
#consumer-protection#dark-patterns#privacy
ESPN Raises ESPN Unlimited Price to $31.99/Month
business1 day ago

ESPN Raises ESPN Unlimited Price to $31.99/Month

ESPN is increasing the price of ESPN Unlimited from $29.99 to $31.99 per month starting Sept. 17, with the annual plan rising to $319.99. ESPN Select also climbs to $13.99/month (annual up $10). Subscribers on the Disney+/Hulu bundle will keep paying $36/month, and most ESPN Unlimited users are on that bundle. It’s unclear how the change will affect other bundles like Fox One or NFL+ Premium, but the move aligns with broader streaming price hikes.

via Awful Announcing|
#bundles#business#espn
Peacock hikes subscriptions after posting first quarterly profit
business7 days ago

Peacock hikes subscriptions after posting first quarterly profit

Peacock raised prices across its plans for the fourth time in four years: Select with ads rose from $8 to $9, Premium with ads from $11 to $13, and Premium Plus (no ads) from $17 to $20. The service also reported its first quarterly profit in Q2 2026 (adjusted EBITDA of $189 million) and added subscribers to reach 48 million, but executives cautioned that profitability will vary by quarter due to investments in live sports and programming, such as NBA games.

via Ars Technica|
#business#peacock#pricing
Peacock Hikes Prices After First Profit Quarter
business7 days ago

Peacock Hikes Prices After First Profit Quarter

Peacock is raising prices across its plans: ad-supported Peacock Premium to $12.99/month, ad-free Peacock Premium Plus to $19.99/month, and Peacock Select to $8.99/month, effective for new billing dates. NBCUniversal says profitability can vary by quarter due to sports and content schedules, even as Peacock posted its first profitable quarter and grew to about 48 million subscribers in Q2. The service continues heavy investment in live sports and events (NFL, NBA, WNBA, Premier League, college sports) and features a lineup including The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Obsession, The Traitors, and Love Island USA.

via The Hollywood Reporter|
#business#nbcuniversal#peacock
Unlocking Xbox Refunds: Quick Steps for Games, Add-Ons, and Subscriptions
technology10 days ago

Unlocking Xbox Refunds: Quick Steps for Games, Add-Ons, and Subscriptions

Microsoft offers refunds for eligible digital Xbox purchases (games, apps, add-ons) typically within 14 days of purchase and limited by “significant playtime,” with a broader 90-day window that may be approved depending on limits per user per year. Subscription refunds follow separate rules: you can cancel or downgrade to stop future charges, and refunds may be available within 30 days of purchase or before the next billing date, limited to one refund per account per subscription product. Requests are made online via Xbox Support, and processing can take up to 72 hours, with the actual refund appearing on the original payment method within 3–5 business days after processing. Pre-orders have a separate cancellation window, and regional policies may apply. If a refund is denied, you can appeal by replying to the decision email.

via Engadget|
#digital-purchases#refund-processing#refunds
Dodging Surprise Subscriptions: Real-Life Tips to Cancel Before You Are Charged
business12 days ago

Dodging Surprise Subscriptions: Real-Life Tips to Cancel Before You Are Charged

BBC reports on how people fall for paid subscriptions after free trials and shares practical tips to avoid charges, such as setting reminders for trial deadlines, reading terms and conditions, not assuming trials auto-end, and obtaining cancellation confirmations—illustrated by cases including an £89.99 refund via Apple and ongoing efforts to crackdown on subscription traps.

via BBC|
#business#cancellation#consumer-rights
Five Drawbacks Keeping Smart Rings From Replacing Smartwatches
technology23 days ago

Five Drawbacks Keeping Smart Rings From Replacing Smartwatches

Smart rings offer comfort, longer battery life, and a screenless form, but they lag behind smartwatches in key areas: no display for quick interactions, limited workout tracking due to GPS dependence on a phone, tricky sizing, fewer customization options, and a reliance on subscriptions for deep analytics—so they’re more of a supplementary health tracker than a full replacement for smartwatches.

via bgr.com|
#fitness-tracking#ring-sizing#smart-rings
Gaming's Revenue Reboot: AI, Subscriptions, and Sky-High Costs Redefine the Industry
business1 month ago

Gaming's Revenue Reboot: AI, Subscriptions, and Sky-High Costs Redefine the Industry

The video game industry is in an existential shift as it moves away from selling standalone $70 games toward ongoing revenue models, while costs for development and hardware rise and AI accelerates changes. Major players have trimmed costs and laid off staff, with Sony cutting physical disc production and Xbox signaling unhealthy momentum, as blockbuster projects (e.g., GTA VI) reportedly push budgets toward the billions. Publishers are experimenting with subscriptions, add-ons, and in-game perks to sustain engagement across platforms, but consumer pushback on microtransactions—seen in a 2023 YouGov poll where 72% of gamers say they harm the experience—complicates the path forward. Demand remains robust (hundreds of millions of players), but it’s unclear if players will tolerate higher prices and persistent monetization as the industry restructures for long-term engagement.

via Axios|
#ai#business#gaming
Apple Music and Apple One price hike hits subscribers
business1 month ago

Apple Music and Apple One price hike hits subscribers

Apple raised prices for Apple Music and Apple One in the US and other countries, with the individual Music plan increasing from $10.99 to $11.99, student from $5.99 to $6.99, and family from $16.99 to $19.99; Apple One’s individual remains $19.95 while Family and Premier rise by $2 to $27.95 and $39.95, respectively, as Apple cites higher licensing costs and says the changes take effect today.

via GSMArena.com|
#apple-music#apple-one#business
Apple bumps iCloud+ pricing across multiple markets
technology1 month ago

Apple bumps iCloud+ pricing across multiple markets

Apple has raised iCloud+ subscription prices in several countries, including Egypt, Nigeria, Türkiye, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Mauritius, and the Republic of Congo, with increases across all storage tiers from 50 GB to 12 TB. In some regions, prices are now shown in USD with VAT adjustments. The move follows a broader wave of Apple price hikes across services and hardware.

via 9to5Mac|
#apple#icloud#pricing
Apple Music and Apple One Price Hikes Tied to Licensing Costs
business1 month ago

Apple Music and Apple One Price Hikes Tied to Licensing Costs

Apple Music raises prices in the U.S. and other countries: the individual plan goes to $11.99/month (from $10.99), the family plan to $19.99, and the student plan to $6.99. Apple One bundles also rise: Family at $27.95 (from $25.95) and Premier at $39.95 (from $37.95), while Apple One’s Individual plan remains $19.95. This is Apple Music’s first price hike since 2022 and follows earlier streaming price moves, including Spotify’s hike and Apple TV price increases.

via Deadline|
#apple-music#apple-one#business