FandangoNow launched the first on-demand movie and TV store on Facebook’s Portal TV, it said Tuesday. Users rent or buy movies and TV shows. The FandangoNow library has more than 100,000 titles and is available on more than 200 million devices.
The cable distribution industry needs to drastically change practices to survive, with continued price hikes driving out most households, blogged CCG Consulting President Doug Dawson Friday: The likelihood seems slim distributors and programmers will jointly agree on pricing issues. NCTA didn't comment.
Atlantic Broadband integrated the Amazon Prime Video app into its TiVo devices, the cable ISP said Thursday. The Netflix app previously was integrated into its video platform.
Netflix will lose some digital viewing minute share to new subscription VOD services from Disney and AT&T, but streaming services in total will grow as consumers shift more TV viewing to digital, nScreenMedia analyst Colin Dixon blogged Tuesday. He said Disney Plus and HBO Max will accelerate the decline in value of Disney- and AT&T-owned TV channels, and it's not clear whether the value generated by the streamers will recoup that lost TV channel value.
The video industry hopes MVPD subscriber declines will level off, but cable companies' focus on profitable subscribers and their continual pushing of over-the-top products could lead to an acceleration of their sub losses, MoffettNathanson analyst Michael Nathanson wrote investors Monday. He said sports will be an anchor keeping 60 percent of the current pay-TV sub base, but 40 percent is "at risk." Beyond being able to create good content, media companies need to become good at churn mitigation, direct marketing and content discovery/user interface systems, he emailed.
The various appellate court challenges to the FCC's cable TV local franchise authority order were consolidated, with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday also granting an FCC motion (in Pacer, docket 19-72219) to transfer the now-consolidated petition to the 6th Circuit (see 1909170067).
Plaintiffs appealing the FCC cable TV local franchise authority (LFA) order (see 1911010057) asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to stay its implementation. In a docket 19-72219 motion (in Pacer) Monday, Eugene, Oregon, and plaintiffs in three other cases said all petitioners in another three lawsuits also support the motion. They said the agency "drastically and impermissibly reinterpreted key provisions of the Cable Act," affecting how franchises can ensure cable operators meet local needs, which was "a key purpose of the Cable Act." They said it "stretch[es] the meaning of the term 'franchise fee' beyond recognition," leading to budgetary worries for local communities. They said a stay wouldn't hurt cable companies, but implementation would mean "considerable harm" to LFAs and residents. It said respondents the FCC and U.S. and intervenor NCTA oppose the motion. The agency didn't comment Tuesday.
Starz rolled out the international Starzplay app in Brazil, France, Germany, Mexico and the U.K. with plans to launch an additional 20 countries next year, it said Monday. Subscription fees are about $5 monthly.
Xfinity Mobile is the exclusive carrier for the Samsung Galaxy A70, launched Monday. Customers switching to Xfinity Mobile or adding a line through early December, will receive $250 off any new Samsung device.
The Florida League of Cities and that state's Pembroke Pines and Coral Gables want to intervene in support of a challenge to the FCC's cable TV local franchise authority order. In a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals motion for leave to intervene Wednesday (in Pacer, docket 19-72760), they said the petitioners -- including Baltimore, Boston and Washington, D.C. (see 1911010057) -- respondent FCC and respondent intervenors NATOA and NCTA -- consented.