ReportWire

Tag: Streaming Services

  • More data centers coming to Illinois as residents complain about noise, electric bills: What to know

    [ad_1]

    AURORA, Ill. (WLS) — Data centers are moving in. They power everything from streaming services to artificial intelligence, but critics say they are noisy and can jack up your electric bills.

    Now, the I-Team and ABC News are finding that more than 3,000 data centers are already operating nationwide, with at least 1,000 more planned. Some are in the Chicago area.

    ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

    Companies point to economic benefits, but residents are raising concerns about noise and power usage.

    When David Szala moved into his Aurora home in 2015, he knew he was by a data center.

    “You can hear it as soon as you walk out. Fans, just constant with the noise,” Szala said.

    But in recent years, the CyrusOne data center campus has expanded significantly.

    Szala and his neighbor, Bryan Castro, both say they hear cooling fans all day and night, and sometimes, generators create more noise.

    “You feel it in your bones,” Szala said.

    Castro says the buzzing bounces through his backyard, which looked a lot different when he moved there in 2007.

    “You can feel the vibrations in the house,” Castro said. “This was 25 acres of nothing but forest.”

    Neighbors say CyrusOne put up a sound recorder to monitor noise levels and erected walls, but both residents ABC7 spoke with said the walls do not help much.

    “The noise doesn’t drop down and get stopped. The noise radiates from above,” Castro said.

    CyrusOne told the I-Team the noise issue is unique to their Aurora location, and it apologizes “for the impact this situation has had on our neighbors in Aurora. We take responsibility and are well underway with a three-phase engineering project.” The company says additional rooftop sound walls and other noise reduction equipment are on schedule for completion and “we anticipate continued improvement in sound levels.” The city of Aurora also says these steps should help.

    There is also a concern over the rising cost of electric bills.

    “Our electric bills this past year are probably 50% higher than they’ve been years past,” Castro said.

    CyrusOne says it understands that higher energy bills are a concern and it “pays for all electricity we consume at rates established through Illinois’ regulatory framework,” and that it takes steps with utilities to “protect households from cost volatility” and “moderate costs over time.”

    Illinois watchdog group Citizens Utility Board says the cost of improving the infrastructure for data centers can get passed on to consumers.

    “Some of them use a decent amount and some use massive amounts of electricity,” said Citizens Utility Board Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz. “The way that our power system is regulated, you have to build infrastructure, and then, it takes decades to pay it off.”

    Moskowitz continued, “What if the data centers don’t show up, or what if they are there for only a short period of time? Or, what if they don’t use as much electricity as they said? Then, they’re not going to be able to pay that off. And the rest of the customers, those of us who’ve been here, are left holding the bag.”

    ABC7 has also been covering public meetings over proposed data centers, and there are questions about water use and the environment.

    The I-Team and ABC News studied a private company’s Data Center Map and found that there are at least 4,302 data center projects across the U.S., large and small. Of those, 3,038 are currently operational, with another 1,203 either under construction or planned for construction. Sixty-one have acquired land.

    In Illinois, there are 164 operating data centers, with another 81 planned for construction. The largest state project planned is in Yorkville. It would be 2 Gigawatts, and according to ABC7 data team, would use the same energy that would power approximately 1.7 million homes. That’s more than every home in the city of Chicago.

    Industry experts say the facilities are needed for modern digital infrastructure and can benefit the economy.

    “So, for poor communities that specifically need a big increase in tax revenue, data centers are really good for that. They’re really not very good for jobs. They create a lot of construction jobs, and then a few additional maintenance jobs. But they create very few jobs relative to the resources that they use,” said Effective Altruism DC Director and artificial intelligence expert Andy Masley.

    The Illinois Pollution Control Board says that there have been no noise enforcement proceedings for data centers in the entire state, in 2025, and there are no open cases right now.

    “They have to build these things to support what’s going with computers, but they need to keep them away from neighborhoods,” Castro said.

    Illinois state legislators recently introduced a bill that could require data centers to reveal how much water and energy they are using. The bill could also limit the amount of energy costs passed on to consumers.

    You can watch more on “Data Land USA: AI on overdrive next door” on Tuesday morning on “Good Morning America” and throughout the day on ABC News.

    Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

    [ad_2]

    Jason Knowles

    Source link

  • The 18 Best Movies and TV Shows to Watch This Weekend

    [ad_1]

    Clockwise from top: The Muppet Show, the Olympics, The ‘Burbs, and The Moment.
    Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Mitch Haaseth/Disney, A24/Everett Collection, Elizabeth Morris/PEACOCK, Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

    It’s time to bump that. It’s time to strobe the lights. It’s time to see The Moment at your local theater tonight. I’m pretty sure that’s basically what the Muppets sing before a show. But thankfully, there’s a new Muppets special out to verify that. I’d like to think this ushers in a new era of Muppets that actually sticks, but the newly appointed Disney CEO, Josh D’Amaro, was the parks guy in charge during the closure of Muppet*Vision 3D, so … moving right along.

    Every few years, there’s another attempt to make the Muppets mainstream, which is silly because they’re a cornerstone of American pop culture. But if it means more Muppets, why not? This time, that attempt is a special, one-shot return of this sketch-comedy show, starring Sabrina Carpenter, filmed at the original Muppet Theatre. —Roxana Hadadi 

    To commemorate the end of Brat, Charli XCX and director Aidan Zamiri teamed up to produce a strange part-mockumentary, part-satire on an alternate reality of the singer throughout Brat’s success. Charli plays herself as she deals with her upcoming tour as her label and management all suggest suffocating ways to keep brat summer going, which includes hiring an overbearing and eccentric filmmaker, Johannes (Alexander Skarsgård), for a concert film. The Moment feels more like a thought experiment than a movie, but there are bright spots — a scene between a frazzled Charli and a collected Kylie Jenner is a standout — for Angels to chew on.

    With her podcast, music, and movie work, Keke Palmer is basically everywhere at all times, but it’s been years since she starred in a TV series. She gets that opportunity in this satire about a couple who move to a pleasant town whose citizens boast about it being the safest in America. But what’s up with that abandoned mansion in Samira’s neighborhood, and why is her husband (Jack Whitehall) acting so weird? —R.H.

    Netflix’s procedural about a lawyer riding around in his Lincoln is still going strong. In its fourth season, The Lincoln Lawyer is picking up the pieces from its season three finale with Mickey Haller having to defend himself this time. Neve Campbell and Cobie Smulders also co-star this season.

    If You’re in New York or Los Angeles …

    … Or some other big city.

    The President’s Cake ➽ The Iraqi cinematic tradition, once vibrant and varied, has slowed in recent decades thanks to dictatorship, war, sanctions, the U.S. invasion and the ensuing widespread murder of civilians, and the influx of ISIS. A film like this acclaimed coming-of-age odyssey feels like an important step in rebuilding that tradition. In the 1990s, President Saddam Hussein required Iraqis to celebrate his birthday, a rule that informed filmmaker Hasan Hadi’s childhood. A child is selected by lottery to prepare a cake, and that task falls to young Lamia (Baneen Ahmed Nayyef), a tween living with her grandmother. They barely have enough food to eat; how will she gather the ingredients to figuratively honor Hussein? With her pet rooster Hindi in tow, Lamia sets off across the poverty-stricken country to find eggs, flour, and sugar. Gently told but inherently furious, The President’s Cake evokes the films of Abbas Kiarostami in how it centers an innocent child’s perspectives on corruption and lawlessness, and in how the nonfussy cinematography gives primacy and legitimacy to Lamia’s wariness of adults. Nayyef is a particular revelation. And yes, all the real chickens who played Hindi are fine. —Roxana Hadadi 

    More to See …
    ➽ Pillion, the Alexander Skarsgård–starring BDSM romance, is out in limited theaters before its wide release later this month.
    ➽ Kokuho, the Japanese film nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling at the Oscars, is finally available to watch in the States.
    ➽ Sirât, one of Neon’s many Cannes acquisitions and now also an Oscar nominee, is hitting limited screens.

    Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz’s cinematic style and worldview are meant to challenge his viewers, both in terms of how his movies play out (long takes, minimal camera movement, run times that count as an investment) and the themes they address (the American Dream as a myth, the impact of 2006’s Super Typhoon Durian on a village and a family, the corruptness and moral vacuity of the elite). His 2004 opus Evolution of a Filipino Family was more than ten hours long! Compared with that, Magellan is a breeze at 164 minutes, and it’s also one of the most clear-eyed and disturbing anti-colonial films to come out in years. Starring a fantastic Gael García Bernal as the Portuguese explorer, Magellan subverts the idea that he was inspired by any kind of respectable ambition. He was a soldier, a murderer, a zealot, and a maniac, and García Bernal conveys all that with a weary, exhausted performance that drives home the soul-decaying nature of international conquest. Some of Diaz’s most stunning images hold Magellan to account, like a group of women, all dressed in black, swarming him for updates about their husbands and sons (all dead because of him), and another group of men, despondent and defeated, trapped in cages by Christian slavers. As a portrait of imperial folly and destruction, it’s thorough, poetic, ruthless, and the kind of timeless that ends up feeling timely. Men who seize power and insist that God chose them, and only them, to rule in a way that oppresses and harms others … Where have I heard that before? ➽ In theaters now

    Psssst! If you don’t have Peacock, an antenna might help.

    Don’t let your newfound interest in ice hockey go to waste. This year’s games are in Northern Italy, where the U.S. will presumably be competitive in the various figure-skating and skiing events. Maybe curling? The opening ceremony kicks off today, and we plan on following the games closely. —Nicholas Quah

    Bad Bunny is coming into his Super Bowl halftime performance high off a historic Grammy win. DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS became the first Spanish-language album to win Album of the Year, he spoke out against ICE, and now, he’ll perform on one of the larger stages in the country. Oh, yeah, and the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will be playing football before and after.

    ➽ Don’t forget to make time for the adorable Puppy Bowl XXII on HBO Max, either.

    The second season of Fallout, after starting somewhat promisingly, morphed into Westworld 2.0 with its frustrating season finale, “The Strip.” It’s yet another puzzle-box show that ends each season with a tease that actually, next season, we’ll understand what the series is really about. Walton Goggins, Ella Purnell, and Kyle MacLachlan are doing solid work, though, and for devoted fans of the games, maybe Fallout will continue to deliver some disparate charms. There’s a new kind of power armor teased in a post-credits scene, if that’s a thing you care about. For people only watching to see Goggins’s exceptional performance, well, there are other ways to get that in your life. May I suggest Justified? —R.H.

    You can host the ultimate double feature this weekend with two comedies of varying quality. There’s Splitsville, a hilarious feature on two deteriorating marriages starring Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona, Kyle Marvin, and Michael Angelo Covino. And then there’s James L. Brooks’s head-scratcher, Ella McCay, which critic Alison Willmore dubbed “pure gas-leak cinema.” Its story of a 30-something governor from an unspecified state didn’t make much of an impact in theaters, but it did on social media.

    ➽ Best Picture nominees Hamnet and The Secret Agent arrive on digital platforms alongside Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney’s twisty thriller The Housemaid.

    Want more? Read our recommendations from the weekend of January 30.

    [ad_2]

    Savannah Salazar

    Source link

  • Get the Disney+ and Hulu bundle for one month for only $10

    [ad_1]

    The peak time for deals on streaming services — the holiday shopping season — has come and gone, but Disney is back with a fresh offer for the new year. New and eligible returning subscribers can get one month of the ad-supported Disney+ Hulu bundle for just $10. That’s $3 off the usual monthly rate for the bundle, and more than 58 percent off if you consider the prices for each service individually (Disney+ at $12 per month and, separately, Hulu also at $12 per month).

    We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that this isn’t quite as good as the Black Friday deal we saw last year, which offered the same bundle for $5 per month for one year. However, if you missed that offer or just want to try out Disney+ and Hulu for a brief period of time, this is a good way to do so.

    Disney / Hulu / Engadget

    Try out the ad-supported plan of Disney+ and Hulu for only $10 for one month.

    Disney+ and Hulu make one of the most balanced streaming pairs available, blending family-friendly favorites with acclaimed originals and network TV staples. Disney+ brings a vast library of animated classics, blockbuster franchises and exclusive content from Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars and National Geographic. It’s the place to stream nearly every Star Wars film and series, plus the full Marvel Cinematic Universe lineup and Disney’s most recent theatrical releases.

    Hulu balances things out with a more adult-oriented lineup of current TV shows, next-day network episodes and a growing roster of award-winning originals. The platform hosts series like The Bear, The Handmaid’s Tale and Only Murders in the Building, alongside comedies, thrillers and documentaries that regularly feature in awards conversations. It’s also the home for next-day streaming of ABC and FX shows, making it especially useful if you’ve already cut the cable cord but still want to keep up with primetime TV.

    The Duo Basic bundle ties these two services together under a single subscription, offering a simple way to expand your library without juggling multiple accounts. This tier includes ads on both platforms, but the trade-off is significant savings compared with paying for each service separately. For many households, that’s an acceptable compromise when it means access to such a wide range of content.

    Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

    [ad_2]

    Valentina Palladino,Georgie Peru

    Source link

  • Save on the Disney+ Hulu bundle: Get one month for only $10

    [ad_1]

    The peak time for deals on streaming services — the holiday shopping season — has come and gone, but Disney is back with a fresh offer for the new year. New and eligible returning subscribers can get one month of the ad-supported Disney+ Hulu bundle for just $10. That’s $3 off the usual monthly rate for the bundle, and more than 58 percent off if you consider the prices for each service individually (Disney+ at $12 per month and, separately, Hulu also at $12 per month).

    We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that this isn’t quite as good as the Black Friday deal we saw last year, which offered the same bundle for $5 per month for one year. However, if you missed that offer or just want to try out Disney+ and Hulu for a brief period of time, this is a good way to do so.

    Disney / Hulu / Engadget

    Try out the ad-supported plan of Disney+ and Hulu for only $10 for one month.

    Disney+ and Hulu make one of the most balanced streaming pairs available, blending family-friendly favorites with acclaimed originals and network TV staples. Disney+ brings a vast library of animated classics, blockbuster franchises and exclusive content from Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars and National Geographic. It’s the place to stream nearly every Star Wars film and series, plus the full Marvel Cinematic Universe lineup and Disney’s most recent theatrical releases.

    Hulu balances things out with a more adult-oriented lineup of current TV shows, next-day network episodes and a growing roster of award-winning originals. The platform hosts series like The Bear, The Handmaid’s Tale and Only Murders in the Building, alongside comedies, thrillers and documentaries that regularly feature in awards conversations. It’s also the home for next-day streaming of ABC and FX shows, making it especially useful if you’ve already cut the cable cord but still want to keep up with primetime TV.

    The Duo Basic bundle ties these two services together under a single subscription, offering a simple way to expand your library without juggling multiple accounts. This tier includes ads on both platforms, but the trade-off is significant savings compared with paying for each service separately. For many households, that’s an acceptable compromise when it means access to such a wide range of content.

    Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

    [ad_2]

    Valentina Palladino,Georgie Peru

    Source link

  • For All Mankind returns on March 27 for a fifth season

    [ad_1]

    Apple TV+ has become one of the best streaming services for sci-fi, with hits like Pluribus, Severance, Foundation and many more. There are so many shows that it’s easy to forget the one that started it all. For All Mankind was the platform’s very first attempt at sci-fi and it’s finally coming back after two years for season five on March 27.

    The next season will run for ten episodes on a weekly basis. It concludes on May 29, with new installments dropping each Friday.

    What follows are some slight spoilers for the show, so read with caution. The streamer to announce the release date and it shows Alex Baldwin, grandson of the show’s original star, careening around Mars on some sort of motorcycle.

    For All Mankind started as an alt-history show that explored what would happen if Russia beat the USA to the moon in the 1960s. However, it has since become famous for time jumps. The next installment takes place in an alternate version of the 2010s and continues the story of competing space agencies after turning Mars into a viable colony.

    Apple

    Many of the original stars are still kicking around, but the characters are extremely old at this point. Check out this image of , still played by Joel Kinnaman. Other returning cast members include Edi Gathegi, Coral Peña and Wrenn Schmidt. New cast members include Sean Kaufman, Mireille Enos, Costa Ronin, Ruby Cruz and Ines Asserson.

    The show doesn’t get a lot of buzz when compared to some of Apple TV’s newer sci-fi properties, but it must still get eyeballs. The platform that will be set in the Soviet Union. It’s called but we don’t have much information beyond that.

    [ad_2]

    Lawrence Bonk

    Source link

  • The 20 Best TV Shows on Apple TV Right Now

    [ad_1]

    Down Cemetery Road.
    Photo: Apple TV+

    This article is updated frequently as titles leave and enter Apple TV. *New additions are indicated with an asterisk.

    Apple TV has become known as a home for lavish, expensive miniseries, dramas, and original comedies. It has had massive success with award winners like Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, and Severance, and the streamer’s made some interesting choices along the way, like releasing lots of shows that start with the letter S. It also seems as if it has a new offering every week, trying to catch the attention of the streaming zeitgeist. But it’s getting harder to filter through Apple TV’s massive catalogue to find the best stuff — which is where we come in. These are the best shows currently on Apple TV, a list we’ll update regularly as it releases new programs worth your time.

    Don’t have Apple TV yet?

    Year: 2025
    Length: 1 season, 8 episodes
    Creator: Morwenna Banks

    Mick Herron’s Slow Horses books have already been a hit for Apple TV, so it makes sense to try and adapt another one of the British writers hit novels. In this case, it’s the story of an explosion in a quiet neighborhood that rocks the life of an ordinary woman (Ruth Wilson) and sends her into the spiral of a private investigator (Emma Thompson). It’s imperfect but the leads keep it humming, and a second season is already being planned.

    Year: 2022–present
    Length: 1 season, 8 episodes
    Creator: Christopher Miller

    One of the geniuses behind The LEGO Movie and 21 Jump Street, and a producer on Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse, Christopher Miller is one of the smartest content creators currently in Hollywood. His hysterical murder mystery is like nothing else on television, taking an Agatha Christie plot and filtering it through some of the funniest voices in comedy. Tiffany Haddish plays a detective investigating a murder that is then seen through the eyes of the people attending the party at which it happened, including characters played by Sam Richardson, Ben Schwartz, Ilana Glazer, Dave Franco, Zoe Chao, and Ike Barinholtz.

    Year: 2022
    Length: 1 season, 6 episodes
    Creator: Dennis Lehane

    Developed by the writer of Shutter Island and Mystic River, Black Bird is the true story of a criminal named Jimmy Keene (Taron Egerton) who was behind bars when he was asked by the authorities to inform on someone significantly worse. Keene was in a facility with a monster named Larry Hall (a chilling Paul Walter Hauser), a killer who the cops suspected of committing multiple murders. They told Keene that he could get an early release if he could get the monster to talk. Chilling and moving, this is a phenomenal miniseries.

    Year: 2019-2021
    Length: 3 seasons, 30 episodes
    Creator: Alena Smith

    When the story of Apple TV+ is written, this show will be one of the founding fathers, a program that debuted back in 2019 and helped define the company’s early brand. Hailee Steinfeld is phenomenal as the title character, who happens to the legendary Emily Dickinson. A coming-of-age variation on a legendary author shouldn’t be this effective, but the writing and performances are sharp and funny through its entire three-season run.

    Year: 2024
    Length: 1 season, 7 episodes
    Creator: Alfonso Cuarón

    The director of Roma and Gravity comes to television with this high-budget thriller based on the hit book by Renée Knight, starring Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, and Sacha Baron Cohen. The Blue Jasmine star plays a documentarian whose life is turned upside down when she gets sent a book that’s clearly about her, including secrets she’s tried to bury for years. Shot by two of the best cinematographers alive, Disclaimer is one of the best-looking things on any streaming service, not just Apple. It doesn’t hurt that everyone in it is at the top of their game too.

    Year: 2019–present
    Length: 4 seasons, 40 episodes
    Creators: Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, Ben Nedivi

    One of the geniuses behind the reboot of Battlestar Galactica collaborated on a very different kind of science fiction, a character-driven drama that imagines life in the United States in an alternate reality in which the Soviet Union landed on the moon before the United States. That’s just the setup for a show that has gone so many unexpected places since, incorporating figures from history like Neil Armstrong, Sally Ride, and even Wernher von Braun into a show that defies expectations. History is going to be very kind to this drama.

    Year: 2023
    Length: 1 season, 7 episodes
    Creators: George Kay, Jim Field Smith

    One of the biggest hits of the year for Apple TV+ owe a debt to old-fashioned thriller series like 24 in its realtime telling of a plane hijacking. Idris Elba steals the show as Sam Nelson, an average (as average as Elba can be) business negotiator who happens to be on a commuter plane that’s hijacked by a crew led by Neil Maskell. Over seven hours, Hijack details both the battle of wills on the plane and the political games played on the ground below.

    Year: 2020–present
    Length: 2 seasons, 16 episodes
    Creators: Lee Eisenberg, Emily V. Gordon, Kumail Nanjiani

    The anthology format is largely reserved for horror storytelling, so it’s nice to see it employed for drama and comedy in this excellent compendium of stories about what it means to be an immigrant in America in the 2020s. The scope of the dramedy is what’s so impressive, telling so many different kinds of stories so one can get a greater appreciation of the tapestry that (in ideal circumstances) makes up this country.

    Year: 2024
    Length: 1 season, 7 episodes
    Creator: Monica Beletsky

    Emmy winner Tobias Menzies does the best acting work of his career as Edwin Stanton, the man who led the hunt for John Wilkes Booth after the murder of President Abraham Lincoln. The team behind Manhunt deftly convey how much this was a turning point for history that still resonates today, a time in which everything Lincoln fought for could have disappeared, and a time when justice was essential. It’s incredibly well-made, a history lesson brought to vivid life.

    Year: 2019–present
    Length: 4 seasons, 40 episodes
    Creator: Jay Carson

    This show was the first sign that Apple was very willing to open its wallet, attracting multiple award winners to one of its launching-day dramas about a morning news show shaken not only by Me Too allegations against one of its anchors but the infighting that goes with this kind of operation in the 2020s. It mostly paid off. The Morning Show hasn’t quite found a big place in the culture, but everyone agrees that Billy Crudup’s Emmy-winning work is phenomenal, and it undeniably helped Apple develop its brand as a home for big names and big budgets.

    Year: 2025
    Length: 1 season, 5 episodes
    Creator: Rebecca Miller

    One of the best American filmmakers of all time finally gets his mini-series in this thoughtful, engaging series of conversations between the director Rebecca Miller and one Mr. Martin Scorsese. The Oscar-winning director details his upbringing, influences, and highs & lows of his incredible career. It’s a must-see for anyone who calls themselves a movie fan.

    Year: 2022–present
    Length: 2 season, 16 episodes
    Creator: Soo Hugh

    This might be the most visually striking show you’re not watching. The masterful Kogonada (After Yang) and Justin Chon (Blue Bayou) direct a generation-spanning epic about a Korean woman (played by Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung of Minari in the present-day material) who had to fight to start a life during the Japanese occupation of her youth. It’s a moving, unpredictable drama that looks like nothing else on TV.

    Year: 2025-present
    Length: 1 season, 9 episodes
    Creator: Vince Gilligan

    The tagline for one of 2025’s best shows is a beauty: “The most miserable person on Earth must save the world from happiness.” Sure, that’s part of what’s going on in this incredible story of a woman (Rhea Seehorn) who discovers that she’s one of the only people on Earth who hasn’t been impacted by a hive-mind invasion. Everyone around her acts as one, eager to convert her into one of their own. It’s funny, terrifying, and unforgettable.

    Year: 2021–2023
    Length: 2 seasons, 12 episodes
    Creators: Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio

    Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong star in this clever comedy about a couple who travel to a magical land inspired by hit musicals. The first season focused on the era of The Music Man, Carousel, and Brigadoon, but the second has shifted to the ’70s and ’80s to satirize Chicago, Cabaret, Hair, and Sweeney Todd. All in all, it’s a smart, funny show with great musical performances from Broadway legends like Alan Cumming, Kristen Chenoweth, and many more.

    Year: 2019–2023
    Length: 4 seasons, 40 episodes
    Creator: Tony Basgallop

    M. Night Shyamalan produced and sometimes directed the four seasons of this deeply underrated thriller, one of the most stylish and fascinating shows of its era. Lauren Ambrose stars as a Philadelphia reporter who has been treating a baby doll like her actual child. When she hires a nanny to take care of the toy, her husband (Toby Kebbell) is startled when the doll comes to life. And that’s just the beginning of the chaos in a show that looks filmic in ways that most television never bothers to attempt.

    Year: 2022–present
    Length: 2 seasons, 19 episodes
    Creator: Dan Erickson

    One of the most acclaimed new shows of the 2020s, Severance takes a clever concept and runs full speed with it into unexpected places. Adam Scott stars as an employee at a company that uses a revolutionary process that literally divides the work-life dynamic in a new way. What if your work self and home self had different lives, memories, and concerns? Britt Lower, Patricia Arquette, and Christopher Walken co-star in this incredibly smart and witty sci-fi drama.

    Year: 2023–present
    Length: 2 seasons, 22 episodes
    Creators: Bill Lawrence, Jason Segel, Brett Goldstein

    Some of the team behind Ted Lasso created a different kind of dramedy for another comedy actor. This time it’s Jason Segel as a therapist who decides to start getting a little too honest with his patients, much to the shock of his colleagues, played by Jessica Williams and Harrison Ford — who is doing some of the best work of his recent career.

    Year: 2023-present
    Length: 2 seasons, ongoing
    Creator: Graham Yost

    The creator of Justified has delivered the best sci-fi show yet for Apple, an adaptation of a series of books called Wool by Hugh Howey. Set in the future in which we’ve destroyed this planet, Silo refers to the large underground bunker that houses around 10k citizens deep underground. Asking questions about history, authority, and power embedded in a murder mystery investigation spearheaded by the phenomenal Rebecca Ferguson, this is one of the best shows of the 2020s. It becomes even more ambitious in season two with the addition of Steve Zahn as the lone survivor of another silo.

    Year: 2022–present
    Length: 5 seasons, 30 episodes
    Creators: Morwenna Banks, Will Smith, Jonny Stockwood, Mark Denton 

    Apple was so confident in what it had with this spy thriller that it ordered four seasons from the jump and had two shot and aired in the same year (2022). A fifth just dropped in September 2025, and some fans probably hope Slow Horses could run forever (they’ll be happy to know that a sixth season has already been filmed and a seventh is on the way too). Gary Oldman is phenomenal as the head of Slough House, a sort of halfway house for British spies who made mistakes in more prominent positions. Of course, they’re usually the ones who save the day.

    Year: 2024
    Length: 1 season, 2 episodes
    Creator: Morgan Neville

    How do you unpack the life of a performer who was creative and unpredictable as Steve Martin? In two distinct halves. Morgan Neville pulls a fun trick with this Apple series that’s really more like two feature-length documentaries. The first uses archival footage to chart Martin’s rise to the top of the stand-up comedy food chain, which he left behind when he was arguably at his most popular. The second is a more intimate piece about Martin’s life since, including his films, art, and writing. It’s a must-see for fans of one of the best to ever do what he does.

    STEVE! (martin): A Documentary in Two Pieces

    Year: 2025
    Length: 1 season, 10 episodes
    Creator: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, and Frida Perez

    One of the best shows of 2025 is this sharp dissection of the Hollywood machine and the people who keep it oiled. Co-creator Seth Rogen plays Matt Remick, the new head of a major studio behind imaginary projects like The Kool-Aid Movie! With too many cameos to count, it’s actually a love letter to Hollywood, and a reminder that the people who make blockbusters are often stumbling through their jobs as much as anyone.

    Year: 2020–2023
    Length: 3 seasons, 34 episodes
    Creators: Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly

    Shows based on ad campaigns shouldn’t be this successful. And yet here we are with Apple claiming ownership of arguably the biggest streaming comedy ever, a program that has won the Emmy for Best Comedy, Best Actor (Jason Sudeikis), and Best Supporting Actor (Brett Goldstein) two years in a row. Ted Lasso is massive. Every streamer wishes they had it.

    [ad_2]

    Brian Tallerico

    Source link

  • Best Black Friday streaming deals for 2025: Disney+ Hulu bundle is only $60 for one year, plus major savings on Apple TV+, HBO Max and others

    [ad_1]

    Streaming deals come and go throughout the year, but they are most abundant around Black Friday. It’s been a testy year for streaming services to say the least, and one big manifestation of that has been continuously rising prices. Disney+ and HBO Max were just a couple of the streaming services that bumped up prices, which means it’s more important than ever to subscribe if and when you can get a discount. These are the best Black Friday streaming deals you can get this year, many of which will also become the best Cyber Monday streaming deals you can get. Just note, though, that most require you to be either a new subscriber to get the deal, or a returning subscriber who hasn’t been a paid customer in a hot minute.

    Best Black Friday streaming deals

    Disney+

    Apple TV+ — 6 months for $36: Apple TV+ is offering six months of access for only $36 for Black Friday, which comes out to a discounted price of $6 per month for the six-month period. The deal is live now for new and eligible returning subscribers and runs through December 1, giving you a chance to stream shows like Silo, The Morning Show and For All Mankind for less. The biggest caveat to the deal is that you must subscribe directly through Apple and not through a third-party service.

    HBO Max — one year for $36: HBO Max’s Black Friday deal gives subscribers one year streaming for $36 through December 1. This Black Friday streaming deal is on the ad-supported option, which normally goes for $11 per month. With this discount, you’re getting it for $3 per month for one year. You can sign up via HBO Max’s website or, if you’re a Prime Video subscriber already, via that service as an add-on.

    Sling TV Orange — day pass for only $1: Sling TV launched Day Passes earlier this year, giving users one-day access to a variety of its packages. This deal cuts $4 off the normal price of a day pass for Sling Orange. With that, you get unlimited access for 24 hours to Orange’s more than 30 channels that includes ESPN, CNN, TBS and others.

    Paramount+ — two months of Essential or Premium for $6: This Black Friday deal brings the monthly price of either Paramount+ tier down to just $6 for two months, or $3 per month. The obvious better deal is on the Premium plan, which typically costs $13 per month.

    Audible — three months for $3 + $20 Audible credit: For literally $1 per month, you can get access to Audible’s enormous library of published audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals (which can be anything from never-before-heard books to live performances). It’s only three months, after which you’ll have to cancel or renew at the regular price, but an audiobibliophile can cram a lot of listening into 90 days.

    Starz — one year for $12: Pay upfront for one year and you can get more than $50 off a Stars annual subscription. There’s a month-to-month option too, which costs $3 per month for the first three months if you don’t want to commit to the full year. Either option gives you access to the entire Starz TV and movie library with offline viewing and no ads.

    MasterClass — up to 50 percent off annual subscriptions: The MasterClass Black Friday deal discounts most subscription tiers by 50 percent when you pay for one year upfront. The Premium tier, the most expensive option, usually costs $20 per month but now only sets you back $10 per month for one year. That gives you access to the entire MasterClass content library, offline viewing and up to six simultaneous streams.

    Plex — lifetime pass for $150: Plex offers personal media servers you can use to organize your digital collection — imagine your own curated Netflix homepage that nothing ever vanishes from. It’s also a streaming platform in its own right, with movies and TV from all genres and eras. Plex did just raise its prices, so now’s your chance to get a lifetime pass for close to what it used to cost.

    Fubo TV — up to $30 off your first month: Fubo is arguably the best live TV streaming service for sports, and now new subscribers can save up to $30 on their first month. You’ll get that discount if you subscribe to the Elite plan, which normally costs $95 per month and provides access to 325 channels including ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox, and it includes ESPN Unlimited as well. If you’re looking for a more affordable plan, the News + Sports tier has a $10 discount for new subscribers.

    DirecTV — starting at $50/month for one month: All of DirecTV’s signature packages are up to $45 off right now for your first month when you sign up. If you opt for the base “Entertainment” package, you’ll spend $50 for the first month and get access to over 90 channels, including many local stations as well as ESPN, ESPN 2 and Fox Sports 1. You’ll also be able to watch on the go with the DirecTV mobile app.

    [ad_2]

    Valentina Palladino,Sam Chapman

    Source link

  • Best Black Friday streaming deals for 2025: One year of the Disney+ Hulu bundle for $60, plus save on Apple TV+, HBO Max and more

    [ad_1]

    Streaming deals come and go throughout the year, but they are most abundant around Black Friday. It’s been a testy year for streaming services to say the least, and one big manifestation of that has been continuously rising prices. Disney+ and HBO Max were just a couple of the streaming services that bumped up prices, which means it’s more important than ever to subscribe if and when you can get a discount. These are the best Black Friday streaming deals you can get this year; just note, though, that most require you to be either a new subscriber to get the deal, or a returning subscriber who hasn’t been a paid customer in a hot minute.

    Best Black Friday streaming deals

    Disney+

    Apple TV+ — 6 months for $36: Apple TV+ is offering six months of access for only $36 for Black Friday, which comes out to a discounted price of $6 per month for the six-month period. The deal is live now for new and eligible returning subscribers and runs through December 1, giving you a chance to stream shows like Silo, The Morning Show and For All Mankind for less. The biggest caveat to the deal is that you must subscribe directly through Apple and not through a third-party service.

    HBO Max — one year for $36: HBO Max’s Black Friday deal gives subscribers one year streaming for $36 through December 1. This Black Friday streaming deal is on the ad-supported option, which normally goes for $11 per month. With this discount, you’re getting it for $3 per month for one year. You can sign up via HBO Max’s website or, if you’re a Prime Video subscriber already, via that service as an add-on.

    Sling TV Orange — day pass for only $1: Sling TV launched Day Passes earlier this year, giving users one-day access to a variety of its packages. This deal cuts $4 off the normal price of a day pass for Sling Orange. With that, you get unlimited access for 24 hours to Orange’s more than 30 channels that includes ESPN, CNN, TBS and others.

    MasterClass — up to 50 percent off annual subscriptions: The MasterClass Black Friday deal discounts most subscription tiers by 50 percent when you pay for one year upfront. The Premium tier, the most expensive option, usually costs $20 per month but now only sets you back $10 per month for one year. That gives you access to the entire MasterClass content library, offline viewing and up to six simultaneous streams.

    Audible — three months for $3 + $20 Audible credit: For literally $1 per month, you can get access to Audible’s enormous library of published audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals (which can be anything from never-before-heard books to live performances). It’s only three months, after which you’ll have to cancel or renew at the regular price, but an audiobibliophile can cram a lot of listening into 90 days.

    Plex — lifetime pass for $150: Plex offers personal media servers you can use to organize your digital collection — imagine your own curated Netflix homepage that nothing ever vanishes from. It’s also a streaming platform in its own right, with movies and TV from all genres and eras. Plex did just raise its prices, so now’s your chance to get a lifetime pass for close to what it used to cost.

    Fubo TV — up to $30 off your first month: Fubo is arguably the best live TV streaming service for sports, and now new subscribers can save up to $30 on their first month. You’ll get that discount if you subscribe to the Elite plan, which normally costs $95 per month and provides access to 325 channels including ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox, and it includes ESPN Unlimited as well. If you’re looking for a more affordable plan, the News + Sports tier has a $10 discount for new subscribers.

    Starz — one year for $24: Pay upfront for one year and you can get more than $40 off a Stars annual subscription. There’s a month-to-month option too, which costs $3 per month for the first three months if you don’t want to commit to the full year. Either option gives you access to the entire Starz TV and movie library with offline viewing and no ads.

    DirecTV — starting at $50/month for one month: All of DirecTV’s signature packages are up to $45 off right now for your first month when you sign up. If you opt for the base “Entertainment” package, you’ll spend $50 for the first month and get access to over 90 channels, including many local stations as well as ESPN, ESPN 2 and Fox Sports 1. You’ll also be able to watch on the go with the DirecTV mobile app.

    [ad_2]

    Valentina Palladino,Sam Chapman

    Source link

  • Black Friday streaming deals include one year of HBO Max for $36

    [ad_1]

    HBO Max has rolled out a limited-time, one-year subscription deal, offering a chance to stream HBO originals and Warner Bros. blockbusters at a lower cost. The platform has reduced pricing to $3 per month for one year, bringing the final cost down to $36 for the year. With many streaming services increasing their rates, this short-term offer lets you catch up on hit shows and new releases without committing to a full year. You can sign up via HBO Max’s website or, if you’re a Prime Video subscriber already, via that service as an add-on.

    HBO Max has one of the best libraries of content in the streaming market, combining HBO’s acclaimed originals with Warner Bros. theatrical releases, Discovery content and live sports. The service now runs across three main plans. The Basic With Ads plan, the one included in this deal, allows streaming on two devices in full HD and costs $11 a month at full price. The Standard plan adds offline downloads, more live sports coverage and better device flexibility for $18.49 per month. The Premium plan increases quality to 4K with Dolby Atmos sound (where available), four simultaneous streams and up to 100 downloadable titles for $23 monthly.

    HBO Max

    This HBO Max Black Friday deal brings the monthly price of the ad-supported plan down to $3 for one year, instead of the usual $11.

    $36 at HBO Max

    While the feature differences matter, the real appeal of HBO Max is its library. Subscribers get access to the full catalog of HBO originals, including House of the Dragon, The White Lotus, The Last of Us and Euphoria, alongside recent Warner Bros. theatrical hits like Dune: Part Two and Barbie. The addition of Discovery content brings in reality favorites such as Fixer Upper: The Hotel and 90 Day Fiancé, while sports coverage through TNT and TBS channels includes NHL, NASCAR, college football and more.

    It’s worth noting that live sports are still limited to certain tiers and regions and 4K availability varies by title. But compared with other premium services that have recently raised prices or limited simultaneous streams, HBO Max’s current setup offers strong flexibility across its plans.

    If you’re considering which streaming platform gives the best range of new shows, live events and cinema releases, our guide to the best streaming services compares HBO Max with other major options. For now, this one-year subscription offer provides a straightforward way to explore HBO’s latest hits and a wide catalog of content at a lower upfront cost.

    [ad_2]

    Georgie Peru

    Source link

  • Black Friday streaming deal: Sling Orange Day Passes are only $1 right now

    [ad_1]

    Sling TV is one of the best live streaming streaming services out there right now, giving you the option to watch a number of traditional cable channels without the traditional, locked-in price of a cable subscription. For Black Friday, you can save on Sling TV’s newly announced $5 Day Passes. That $5 price is the regular cost — for a limited time through November 30, a Day Pass for Sling Orange is only $1 and that includes access to 34 channels like ESPN, ESPN 2 and ESPN 3.

    Besides ESPN, the Sling Orange Day Pass includes access to TNT and TBS, which makes it a solid option if you’re trying to watch the NBA, NFL or college sports. The pass also includes children’s channels like Disney Channel and Nick Jr., CNN for news and HGTV and Food Network for purer forms of lean back entertainment. Sling TV is Engadget’s pick for the best customizable live streaming service for a reason: You can add on extra premium channels when you buy a pass, and their price will be prorated for whatever length you choose. That way even if a dollar isn’t getting you all the channels you need, you don’t need to pay that much more to get them.

    Sling TV

    It’s worth noting, while this promotion runs during Thanksgiving in the US, a Sling Orange subscription won’t get you access to the football games scheduled for that Thursday. To watch those, you’ll need at least a Sling Blue subscription, which includes FS1 and NFL Network, but isn’t available as a day-long pass. A Sling Blue subscription currently starts at $46 a month.

    Still, for your $1, around $4 off the price Sling TV normally charges, you’re getting a deal. Dozens of popular channels, access to Sling TV’s DVR feature, and the ability to use your subscription from a smartphone, tablet, the web or your TV. Plus, Sling TV’s interface is easy to navigate, which is what you want when you’re likely subscribing with one game or show in mind.

    [ad_2]

    Ian Carlos Campbell

    Source link

  • Your Frantic Questions About the Disney-YouTube Dispute, Answered

    [ad_1]

    If Timothée Chalamet goes back on College Gameday, YouTube TV subscribers might not even get to watch it.
    Photo: ESPN College Football via YouTube

    This article was originally published on October 30 and has been updated with the latest in the YouTube-Disney negotiations.

    Forget the streaming wars. How about the carriage wars? In the past year, YouTube has had heated negotiations with a number of entertainment companies, from NBCUniversal to Paramount to Univision, as it’s re-situated itself as a major streaming and pay-TV competitor. Now YouTube TV and the Walt Disney Company find themselves at a standstill as they go over renewal talks for Disney cable channels on the live-television streamer. Their contract has expired without a deal, and if you’re a YouTube TV subscriber, you’ve lost a lot of channels and are probably wondering what happens next.

    Disney provides many of its channels to YouTube TV — including ABC, ESPN, and more — but the two are having trouble renewing their carriage contract. YouTube has been butting heads with Disney over pricing. The Wall Street Journal reports that YouTube also wants shorter length deals with entertainment companies to gain more “leverage.” In a statement, YouTube said their negotiations with Disney have been “good faith” efforts to pay the company fairly for their channels on the streamer. They mention Disney’s counter-proposal includes “costly economic terms” that would raise prices for YouTube TV subscribers and would only be “benefiting Disney’s own live TV products — like Hulu + Live TV and, soon, Fubo.”

    Disney countered in a statement to Variety, saying, “This is the latest example of Google exploiting its position at the expense of their own customers,” and they request “our partners to pay fair rates.” But their current contract expires on October 30, at 11:59 p.m., and there seems to be no short-term extension in sight.

    Yes — in fact, it already has. Now that the contract has expired, YouTube TV subscribers will no longer have access to Disney-owned broadcast channels, if the two companies cannot agree on a renewal deal. So that would include ABC, ESPN, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Nat Geo, and FX channels. YouTube claims that it would compensate its subscribers with a $20 credit if these channels remain off the service for an “extended period of time.” Twenty dollars will get you a month of Disney+ if you’re desperate for that Dancing With the Stars finale. Speaking of which…

    Exactly. Time to start bugging a friend with Hulu + Live TV instead or invest in an antenna if you want to keep watching the hottest show on TV right now.

    Well, it’s kind of a doozy. If pro football is your main concern, you’ll still have access to Sunday Night Football through NBC as well as NFL games on Fox, NFL Network, and NFL Sunday Ticket. But when it comes to Monday Night Football, you’re out of luck if you only subscribe to YouTube TV. ESPN is included in Disney’s collection of channels, so you won’t have access to any of their offerings. That includes college football (including College Gameday), the NBA, and more. Having ESPN definitely gives Disney some good leverage towards YouTube, despite it coming at the cost of your regular sports programming. Ah, streaming.

    It’s up in the air right now. YouTube has navigated similar impasses with other entertainment companies this year. In February, ahead of March Madness, YouTube and Paramount found themselves at a standstill. The two negotiated a short-term extension to continue talks and were able to prevent a blackout. NBCUniversal also received a short-term extension when their deal with YouTube expired a month ago; they reached an agreement days later so that NBC’s channels could remain for subscribers. On the other hand, YouTube proved unable to reach a deal with Univision, so its cable channels have been dark on YouTube TV since September 30, despite the displeasure of even President Trump.

    As for Disney, the company recently announced a 70 percent majority stake in Fubo TV, the pay TV company that was poised to sue Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery for the doomed Venu sports venture. The Mouse now intends to merge Fubo TV with Hulu + Live TV, a combo that could rival YouTube TV as a live television provider. This deal may be the reason Disney is challenging Google/YouTube, or at least why the company is taking its time in negotiations.

    [ad_2]

    Savannah Salazar

    Source link

  • Your Favorite Streaming Service Is Only Getting More Expensive

    [ad_1]

    Four of the biggest have doubled in price since launching.
    Graphic: Vulture

    This post was originally published September 8, 2025, and has been updated to add new price increases to Disney+ and Hulu as well as HBO Max.

    If there’s one thing streaming services love more than a rebrand or a bundle, it’s a price hike. Over the past few months, Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, Apple TV+, HBO Max, and even humble BritBox have raised their subscription rates. Asking customers to shell out more each month has been a part of the streaming business going back to the early days of Netflix, when it incrementally increased prices on certain tiers on an almost annual basis, and since more services began popping up to compete with the service in the past five or six years, they’ve been predictable additions to your streaming bills, some notable exceptions aside.

    To illustrate their ubiquity, we’ve rounded up as many as we could below — focusing on the major streamers’ so-called “standard” paid monthly subscriptions with and without ads. For ease of comparison, we omitted bundles and tiers like Netflix “Premium” and Hulu + Live TV, as well as any services which haven’t been around for at least two years or haven’t had some sort of price increase. We’ll update this story with more services, too — and with the inevitable new price hikes when they roll out in a quarter or two.

    A few insights we noticed as we browsed the numbers:

    ➼ The prices for plans at Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, and Peacock have more than doubled since their respective launches.
    ➼ Hulu’s ad-supported rate actually dropped at one point — very much an anomaly.
    ➼ Since launching in 2019, The Criterion Channel has never raised its prices.

    Current monthly rates labeled in blue.

    • 2011: Launched at $8
    • 2014: $9
    • 2015: $10
    • 2017: $11
    • 2019: $13
    • 2020: $14
    • 2022: $15.50
    • 2025: $18

    • 2022: Launched at $7
    • 2025: $8

    Since launch, Netflix has dramatically expanded its original and licensed programming, expanded to new global markets, and introduced live sports and video games to their service, so beyond inflation, it’s had overhead to account for over the years. Users may wonder why the ad-supported price introduced in 2022 was lower than what ad-free users were paying for Netflix in 2011; that’s because Netflix reasoned that it could make more revenue per user on the ad-supported plan even if it was less than half the cost of the standard ad-free plan, and priced it accordingly. Plus, as it also started cracking down on password sharing, it wanted to make sure folks unwilling to finally pay for their own full-price account had an affordable alternative to consider before walking away completely.

    • 2015: Launched at $12
    • 2021: $13
    • 2022: $15
    • 2023: $18
    • 2024: $19

    • 2010: Launched at $8
    • 2019: $6
    • 2021: $7
    • 2023: $8
    • 2024: $10
    • 2025: $12

    Hulu’s 2019 adjustment to its ad-supported plan was a rare price drop — at the time a hedge against users rebelling that the cost of its live TV service would be going up. More recently, the $4 hike between 2022 and 2024 has been designed to prompt users to switch to the Disney Bundle, which offers both Hulu and Disney+ at a deep discount.

    • 2019: Launched at $7
    • 2021: $8
    • 2022: $11
    • 2023: $14
    • 2024: $16
    • 2025: $19

    • 2022: Launched at $8
    • 2024: $10
    • 2025: $12

    Like other services that launched the heyday of the early streaming wars, Disney+ was priced to move — a bet that $7 per month was a nice carrot for families and older fans of Star Wars and Marvel alike. Five years, one pandemic, a long Hollywood strike season, and two Bobs later, that $7 looks quaint by comparison. As for the relatively huge hikes to the cost of the ad-free plan, chalk that up to a the same thinking about the aforementioned Disney bundle, plus the industry-wide push to get people to watch ads again.

    • 2020: Launched at $15
    • 2023: $16
    • 2024: $17
    • 2025: $18.50

    • 2021: Launched at $10
    • 2025: $11

    HBO Max/Max/HBO Max’s pricing has gone up incrementally compared to its competitors in part because started out a higher price point than any other post-Netflix streamer, thanks to the HBO of it all. But in that same time, Warner Bros. Discovery and CEO David Zaslav have become known for axing content across the service, from classic HBO shows to Sesame Street. Will the departure of Discovery content (once WBD’s breakup and/or sale is finalized) drop the price? Don’t hold your breath.

    • 2016: Launched at $9
    • 2024: $12

    • 2024: Launched at $9

    Prime Video doesn’t call its “ad-free” option here another stand-alone plan, but customers can pay an additional $3 per month to remove ads. Otherwise, strikingly, Prime Video’s rate remained the same until it began rolling ads onto its platform. Of course, many folks haven’t even clocked how stable the base rate for Prime Video has remained because the most common way they get Prime Video is through Amazon’s much broader (and somewhat pricier) Prime subscription service, which offers everything from “free” package delivery to discounts on gasoline.

    • 2021: Launched at $10
    • 2023: $12
    • 2024: $13

    • 2021: Launched at $5
    • 2023: $6
    • 2023: $8

    With its 2023 hike, Paramount+ also added Showtime to its ad-free plan and did away with Showtime’s standalone streaming service. On the bright side, it hasn’t added a special surcharge for Taylor Sheridan series — yet.

    • 2020: Launched at $10
    • 2023: $12
    • 2024: $14
    • 2025: $17

    • 2021: Launched at $5
    • 2023: $6
    • 2024: $8
    • 2025: $11

    At one point, Peacock was literally giving itself away for free — sort of, anyway. That’s no longer the case of course, but it’s another streamer, like Disney+ and Apple TV+, that learned from the Covid era that it couldn’t underprice its offerings forever. What’s more: The NBA is coming to Peacock, wrested away from David Zaslav in the last rights negotiation for an annual bill of $2.45 billion. Now both of Peacock’s standard plans cost more than Netflix’s. Plus, John Tesh wasn’t going to let NBC and Peacock use “Roundball Rock” for free. Somebody had to pay up.

    • 2019: Launched at $5
    • 2022: $7
    • 2023: $10
    • 2025: $13

    A service without a robust licensed library that focuses mostly on originals would not have been appealing for $13 a month in 2019, but to be honest, it’s not too shabby in 2025. Apple has established itself with enough hits like Severance and The Morning Show and Ted Lasso to make the price point work, and even feel like a modest value compared to other major players like HBO Max or Peacock.

    • 2020: Launched at $9
    • 2024: $10

    • 2023: Launched at $5
    • 2024: $7

    You’re not just getting AMC’s programs and live feed with this service; the streamer also bundles in content from horror-rific Shudder plus indie movies from Sundance and IFC, along with a sample of stuff from sister streamer Acorn TV (see below.) If the ad-free tier still seems a bit expensive, that’s in part because cable operators would freak if AMC offered it too cheaply.

    Current monthly rates labeled in blue.

    • 2016: Launched at $6
    • 2023: $7

    • 2017: Launched at $7
    • 2019: $8

    • 2019: Launched at $10
    • 2024: $11

    • 2023: Launched at $6

    • 2017: Launched at $7
    • 2023: $9
    • 2025: $11

    • 2023: Launched at $6
    • 2024: $7

    • 2022: Launched at $9
    • 2023: $10
    • 2024: $11

    • 2013: Launched at $5
    • 2022: $7
    • 2025: $9


    See All



    [ad_2]

    Eric Vilas-Boas,Josef Adalian

    Source link

  • The new Apple TV and Peacock streaming bundle is officially available

    [ad_1]

    There’s yet another streaming bundle in town, and it will be ideal for fans of Ted Lasso and The Office. Apple and Peacock have teamed up to provide both of their streaming services together in a bundle starting at $15 per month. The new Apple TV + Peacock bundle is officially available now for $15 monthly for the ad-supported tier.

    This is a mighty fine deal, given that Apple TV recently changed both its name and price. The platform costs $13 per month now on its own. Peacock starts at $11 per month. In other words, this is a discount of around $9 each month. In this economy, we’ll take any savings we can get.

    As mentioned previously, the only caveat is that the base tier includes ads. The subscription shoots up to $20 per month for an ad-free version. However, a standalone subscription to ad-free Peacock is $17 on its own. Additionally, Apple One subscribers will get a 35 percent discount on Peacock Premium Plus plans. It’s always nice when two lonely corporations find friendship, isn’t it?

    For the uninitiated, Apple TV is the company’s big-wig streaming platform. It’s primarily known for sci-fi like Severance, For All Mankind and the upcoming Pluribus. The platform is also host to plenty of comedy, like The Studio, Shrinking and Ted Lasso.

    Peacock is NBC’s streaming service. It streams old-school network programming like The Office, Grimm and Superstore. The service features a stable of original programming like Poker Face, Twisted Metal and the underrated Mrs. Davis. The platform also recently premiered a little show called The Paper, which is a spinoff of The Office. Against all odds, this is actually a great little sitcom and a worthy successor to the original.

    [ad_2]

    Lawrence Bonk

    Source link

  • California bans loud commercials on streaming platforms

    [ad_1]

    California has passed a law to like Netflix and Hulu.

    This is great news for people who don’t want to wake the neighborhood up when a streaming show suddenly turns into an aggressively loud ad for migraine medication.

    Governor Gavin Newsom just signed the law and the ban goes into effect on July 1, 2026. On that date, streaming services won’t be allowed to “transmit the audio of commercial advertisements louder than the video content the advertisements accompany.”

    Newsom said that California is “dialing down this inconvenience across streaming platforms, which had previously not been subject to commercial volume regulations passed by Congress in 2010.” He’s referring to the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act, which barred the audio of TV commercials from being broadcast . California’s new law makes streaming platforms comply with those same volume regulations.

    The bill was authored by State Senator Tom Umberg, who said it was inspired by “every exhausted parent who’s finally gotten a baby to sleep, only to have a blaring streaming ad undo all that hard work.” The full text of the bill is .

    California holds some major sway in the entertainment industry, so here’s hoping that this type of legislation will come to other states. Americans don’t agree on much, but everyone hates loud ads.

    [ad_2]

    Lawrence Bonk

    Source link

  • The best streaming services in 2025

    [ad_1]

    With so many options available today, choosing the best streaming services can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re into blockbuster movies, reality TV, documentaries or just want access to news channels, there’s a platform tailored to your tastes and budget. If you’re looking to cut the cord completely, you might also want to explore live TV options that offer cable-like channels without the hassle. We’ve also put together a separate guide to the best live TV streaming services if you’re after a full channel lineup that includes sports, local stations and breaking news. In this buying guide, though, we’re focusing on the top on-demand streaming services worth subscribing to right now — whether you’re binging shows solo or setting up family-friendly entertainment for the weekend.

    This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/best-streaming-services-154527042.html?src=rss

    [ad_2]

    Engadget

    Source link

  • The 11 Best Movies and TV Shows to Watch This Weekend

    [ad_1]

    Clockwise from top: The Long Walk, Only Murders in the Building, The Girlfriend, and Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.
    Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Murray Close/Lionsgate, Bleecker Street, Christopher Raphael/Prime, Patrick Harbron/Disney

    Nothing like a new Stephen King adaptation to usher in a turning season. Fall might not have technically started yet, but you can still nestle in a dark air-conditioned theater and pretend to your heart’s content with this week’s plethora of options. Alongside The Long Walk, there’s the reunion of a decades-old fake rock band, a return of a charming singing nun/babysitter, another murder in a New York, and a chance to go back in Pixar’s toy box. (A lot of returns, huh?) Plus, the Emmys!

    A Francis Lawrence movie set in a dystopian America where young people are part of a deadly competition? Sounds right. The Hunger Games director is taking a break from Panem to adapt some Stephen King. In The Long Walk, young men sign up for a walking contest where they must keep a pace of three miles per hour or be killed on the spot, and the contest only ends when there’s one person left. Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, and Charlie Plummer star as some of the young boys in this gnarly competition while Mark Hamill is the Major, the menacing officer supervising the walk.

    ➽ How far did The Long Walk make it in our ranking of every Stephen King movie adaptation? Pretty far!

    Forty-one years after This Is Spinal Tap, the fictional English rock band is putting on their final show. Rob Reiner’s mockumentary follows the band (made up of Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer) as they prep for a reunion concert. Reiner also reprises his role as Marty Dibergi, the documentarian filming Spinal Tap. The nostalgia levels go up to 11.

    If this list is the first time you’re hearing about Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — The Movie: Infinity Castle, chances are you’re probably not going to be headed to the cinema for this one. But the film, an adaptation of the Infinity Castle arc of the manga series, which follows Tanjiro, Nezuko, and the Hashira as they enter the titular castle and battle deadly Upper Rank demons, is already a huge hit. It’s the third-highest grossing film in Japanese history. (The No. 1 highest grosser? The last one, 2020’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — The Movie: Mugen Train.) —James Grebey

    In Jay Duplass’s odd, delightfully rambling film that also serves as a twisted love letter to Baltimore, a down-on-his-luck stand-up comedian and an emergency dentist spend a strangely eventful Christmas Eve together. —Bilge Ebiri

    “Attempting any kind of praxis read of The Grand Finale is a fool’s errand. Yet the film moves briskly because it’s the cinematic equivalent of great gowns, beautiful gowns.”

    (Read Roxana Hadadi’s full review here. In theaters now.)

    Summer’s not over yet, so you still have time to fit in one more sleazy, sexy series. Robin Wright stars as the wealthy and cultured Laura, whose son brings home the girlfriend from hell. Olivia Cooke’s Cherry makes out with Laura’s son in public, lies about her knowledge of art, and seems to be hiding a secret—or is Laura overprotective? The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, but until then, let the women fight. —Roxana Hadadi

    Stop me if you’ve heard this one: Someone dies in the Arconia, and Charles, Oliver, and Mabel can’t help but investigate. This time, the suspects include mobsters and billionaires, which couldn’t be more New York, actually. —R.H.

    ➽ Can Only Murders keep getting away with this formula? Maybe.

    Is it Apple’s big night? Between Severance and The Studio, the company is sure hoping for a great night. At least they’re good shows. Plus, we’ll be seeing mini-reunions of Gilmore Girls, The Good Place, and more with the large crop of presenters at the Emmys. If it’s a good night of television, we’ll send our thanks to Sal Saperstein.

    ➼ The best way to watch? With your best friend, a humble TV antenna. We tested three great ones.

    Do, a deer, Re, a drop of golden sun, Mi, a name I call myself, Fa, a long, long way to run, So, a needle pulling thread, La, a note to follow so, and … There’s a snake in my boot. This weekend, we have two childhood classics out in theaters: The Sound of Music and Toy Story. Both are exciting films to see back on the big screen, so might as well have a double feature.

    “Gladys is an instant entry into the canon of contemporary horror iconography, and for that alone, the character is worthy of commendation. But she’s also so much more than the inevitable drag shows that will immortalize her. Underneath the pounds of lipstick, eye shadow, and wig is a thrillingly committed performance from [Amy] Madigan, a character actor who has seldom gotten the kind of showcase she gets here.”

    Writer Louis Peitzman on the fantastic performance of Madigan in Weapons, now out on VOD. Read more here.

    ➽ Plus, Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland’s Warfare is on HBO Max.

    Want more? Read our recommendations from the weekend of September 5.

    [ad_2]

    Savannah Salazar

    Source link

  • The best streaming deals: Save on YouTube TV, Disney+, Spotify and others

    [ad_1]

    Streaming services keep raising prices. At this point, if you subscribe to all the major services out there, you’re basically paying the same price as cable — those antiquated local monopolies that streaming was supposed to save us from. But streaming still has one big advantage over the old ways: no contracts. That means you can grab a good streaming deal and then cancel without penalty.

    Our advice is to sign up for a service when you see a good streaming deal (or the latest season of, say, Doctor Who, Severance, Andor and/or The Last of Us). Then, when the deal ends or you’ve binged whatever it is you want to watch, cancel as needed. But streaming deals don’t come around all that often and, when they do, it’s easy to miss them thanks to…everything. So we’re keeping eyes out for the best streaming deals out there and we update this guide often — so check it out the next time you have a hankering to watch something new.

    Best streaming deals

    True streaming deals can be hard to come by. Most often, they’ll pop up during the Black Friday shopping period. On occasion, we’ll see them sparingly throughout the year and they usually take the form of a discounted monthly or annual rate for a limited period of time. Also, true streaming deals are typically on the ad-supported versions of a service, but once in a while you’ll find a unicorn of a deal on a tier that has ad-free viewing.

    If you’re able to wait for a deal before subscribing to a streaming service, we recommend doing so. You’ll save money upfront and in the long run, and you also have the option to cancel your subscription before the price goes back up to the normal rate. Maybe you find you like the service so much that you’re fine paying full price for it — that’s the ideal situation. But if you’re not compelled to keep that app on rotation in your smart TV, most streaming services make it easy for you to cancel at any time. With that said, these are the best streaming deals you can snag right now.

    ESPN

    Paid for by ESPN

    ESPN’s new streaming service is officially available now, and new subscribers can get Disney+ and Hulu included for one year when they sign up. The regular price of the new ESPN Unlimited plan is $30 per month, but this bundle offer throws in Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) for one year at no extra cost. If you want to break it down, you’re essentially getting each of the three services for $10 monthly with this offer.

    For the uninitiated, the new ESPN streaming service has two plans. The base level is ESPN Select, which is essentially just ESPN+ under a new name. It includes more than 32,000 live sports events, a library of studio shows, on-demand replays and more for $12 per month.

    The premium tier, ESPN Unlimited, ups the ante by providing access to all of ESPN’s linear networks including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN Deportes and others, plus programming on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+ and ACCNX. It includes 47,000 live sports events throughout the year, on-demand replays, original programming and more. You can think of it as everything you’d want from cable ESPN, just via streaming now.

    $30/month at ESPN

    DirecTV starting at $50/month for one month ($35 off): All of DirecTV’s signature packages are $35 off right now for your first month when you sign up. If you opt for the base “Entertainment” package, you’ll spend $50 for the first month and get access to over 90 channels, including many local stations as well as ESPN, ESPN 2 and Fox Sports 1. You’ll also be able to watch on the go with the DirecTV mobile app.

    DashPass Annual + HBO Max (with ads) for $96/year ($144 off): This offer includes access to HBO Max with ads for no extra cost when you sign up for a DashPass Annual plan. You can then decide to upgrade to Max Standard, which removes ads, for a discounted rate of $11 monthly if you want. Aside from the obvious streaming benefits, this deal gives you $0 deliver fees and lower service fees on some restaurant DoorDash orders, five percent DoorDash credits on pickup orders, on-demand grocery delivery and other members-only exclusives.

    Spotify Premium Individual (3 month) for $0 ($36 off): This is our favorite music streaming service for podcasts and social features. Right now, users who have not signed up for Spotify’s Premium service before are eligible to get three months for free. The Premium Individual plan lets you listen ad-free and skip songs at will. You can also organize your listening queue and download content for offline listening. Just be aware, your subscription will auto-renew at the end of the trial period. So if you don’t want to be on the hook for the $12 monthly fee, set a reminder to cancel and go back to the free version.

    Fubo Pro for $55/month for the first month ($30 off): Fubo has introductory discounts on most of its packages, and the Pro package is the least expensive plan currently listed. It offers access to 224 channels, unlimited cloud DVR and up to 10 simultaneous streams. It even includes regional sports content from the NHL, MLB and NBA.

    YouTube TV (three months) for $150 ($99 off): You can get three months of our favorite live TV streaming service for $50 per month. That should give you a decent chunk of time to see if the service is right for you while saving some cash. The discount and trial are only open to new subscribers to YouTube TV’s base plan, which includes access to over 100 channels, unlimited DVR space and six household accounts with the ability to stream on three devices at once.

    Sling Orange for $23/month for the first month (50 percent off): New customers can get Sling Orange or Sling Blue for half off the usual price for the first month, bringing the final prices to $23/month and $25.50/month, respectively. Orange is likely best for sports fans, with eight exclusive sports and family channels, while Blue includes 19 exclusive news and entertainment channels. You can get both Orange and Blue access also for half off for one month, or $33 total.

    Peacock first responders discount — one year for $48 (50 percent off): Medical professionals and first responders can save 50 percent each year of Peacock. The deal requires annual verification and is open to those who work for either private or public institutions. Peacock has some great stuff to watch, including Poker Face and Killing It and more.

    Student discounts on streaming services

    HBO Max student discount — subscribe for $5/month (50 percent off): HBO Max offers their ad-supported tier to students for half off the usual rate. You’ll just have to verify that you’re a student through Unidays, and make note that this offer is only good for up to 12 months of service.

    Hulu student discount — subscribe for $2/month (75 percent off): Those with a valid student ID can get Hulu’s ad-supported tier for 75 percent off the typical rate. They’ll keep the same sale price for as long as they’re a student as well.

    Spotify student discount — Premium + Hulu with ads for $6/month (72 percent off): Spotify’s student offer continues to be one of the best around, giving you access to the Premium tier of the music streamer and Hulu’s ad-supported plan for only $6 monthly. Purchased separately, you’d pay $22 per month for both of the services. Plus, the first month is free when you sign up.

    NBA League Pass student discount — one year for $120 (40 percent off): Students can get one year of League Pass for only $10 per month, which includes access to NBA TV and the ability to watch classic and archive games on-demand. On the NBA League Pass website, look for the student discount banner at the top and follow the instructions to verify your student status.

    Streaming bundle discounts

    There’s more consolidation happening now than ever before in the streaming space, and that means there are more streaming bundle options. These bundles offer you access to more content with one subscription price, but those prices are typically higher than paying for a single service by itself (obviously). It may be tempting to just get the bundle, but if only one of those services in the bundle speaks to you, you’ll spend less overall by just paying for the single service.

    Speaking of a deep love for a single streaming service: if all of your favorite shows are on Peacock or the latest releases on HBO Max consistently bring you joy, consider paying for one year upfront. Subscribing with an annual plan usually saves you money in the long term over paying on a monthly basis. Unfortunately, not all streaming services (looking at you, Netflix) have an annual subscription option. Here are some of the best streaming bundles you can get right now.

    Image for the small product module

    Max

    HBO Max may not technically be under the Disney-Hulu mega-umbrella, but this bundle gives you ad-free viewing across most content in all three services. Download support for offline watching is included, too. Compared to the $52/month you’d pay for these tiers separately, you’ll save 42 percent with this combination.

    $30/month at Disney+

    Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max bundle with ads for $17/month: Ad-supported HBO Max is included here, along with full, ad-supported access to Disney+ and Hulu. You’ll save 43 percent with this bundle, as opposed to paying for all three services individually.

    Disney+ and Hulu Bundle Premium for $20/month: Disney and Hulu offer a few different bundles, which you can view in the drop-down lists under Choose Your Plan. This bundle removes the ads from both Disney+ and Hulu (with the exception of select live and linear content) and allows you to download content for offline viewing. You’ll save 42 percent with this bundle, as opposed to paying for both ad-free tiers individually.

    Hulu + Live TV with Disney+ and ESPN+ for $96/month: This streaming bundle amalgamation is a bit confusing but it does offer a lot: you get live TV streaming via Hulu’s service plus access to the following VOD services: Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+. Out of those three, only ESPN+ will have ads.

    Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Bundle Basic for $17/month: You get full access to Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ content with this package, albeit with ads across the board. This bundle price is 46 percent off the total price of all three separate subscriptions.

    Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Bundle Premium for $27/month: Similarly to the Duo bundles, the Premium version of the Trio removes ads from most content in Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+, and you can download content for offline viewing. This price represents a 43-percent savings when compared to paying for all three ad-free tiers separately.

    Sling TV + HBO Max starting at $53/month: Sling TV and HBO Max have partnered on a discount that gives new subscribers 50 percent off their first month of Sling TV, plus $5 off monthly when you subscribe to the Sling TV + HBO Max bundle. The standard price for the Sling Blue + HBO Max duo is roughly $58/month, so you’ll get a monthly discount of $5 off that. In addition, for the first month only, you’ll get half off the price of the bundle. The promotion also applies to the Sling Orange & Blue + HBO Max package, which has a standard price of $73/month.

    Paramount+ with Showtime for $13/month or $120/year: This includes everything in Paramount+’s Essential plan, except the ads, and also provides access to Showtime content, live CBS streams and download features.

    Read more streaming coverage

    Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

    [ad_2]

    Valentina Palladino

    Source link

  • Buddi — the Streaming Service Dedicated to Family-Friendly Pet Content | Animal Wellness Magazine

    Buddi — the Streaming Service Dedicated to Family-Friendly Pet Content | Animal Wellness Magazine

    [ad_1]

    Explore buddi, the pet-friendly streaming service offering commercial-free content for animal lovers. Join today and support pets in need!

    When Layla Kasha’s cat, Hermiz, got sick with kidney disease, she wasn’t sure where to turn for information. Her veterinarian didn’t have the answers she was looking for, and she wished she had the information she needed to make the right choices for her kitty’s health and well-being. Layla had the idea of creating a pet-friendly streaming service where animal lovers of all ages could go to find both educational and entertaining content about dogs, cats, and other companion animals.

    She shared the idea with her husband, Ryan Sullivan, a fellow animal lover with media expertise as the owner of two advertising agencies. And that’s how buddi was born!

    Launched in 2024, buddi is a full-fledged streaming service by pet people, for pet people. It’s a subscription-based service that specializes in fetching family-friendly content about animals, so you can find all your favorite movies, shows, and documentaries in one place. And unlike other streaming services, it’s completely commercial free and only costs $7.99/month or $79/year. buddi offers educational content as well and is a source for pet parents who want to learn more about health, nutrition, grooming, traveling with companion animals, and more.

     

    A Streaming Service You Can Feel Good About

     

    buddi is full of feel-good content for families, it’s all about animals, and it’s a streaming channel with a heart: for every new subscriber, buddi donates $1 to their Champion of the Month, an animal-based charity that changes every month.

     

    buddi may still be brand new, but it’s quickly becoming the favorite streaming service of  animal parents. And it’s no surprise: Layla and Ryan are devoted animal lovers themselves, and are always on the hunt for new content to add to the platform — including additional licensed movies and shows, buddi originals, and other fresh content. Tune in to see what exciting programming is coming next.

     

    watchbuddi.com


    Post Views: 36


    Animal Wellness is North America’s top natural health and lifestyle magazine for dogs and cats, with a readership of over one million every year. AW features articles by some of the most renowned experts in the pet industry, with topics ranging from diet and health related issues, to articles on training, fitness and emotional well being.

    [ad_2]

    Animal Wellness

    Source link

  • The 15 Best Movies and TV Shows to Watch This Weekend

    The 15 Best Movies and TV Shows to Watch This Weekend

    [ad_1]

    Clockwise from top: Pachinko, City of God: The Fight Rages On, The Crow, and Blink Twice.
    Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Apple TV+, Everett Collection (Amazon MGM Studios, Lionsgate), Max

    Blink twice and maybe this weekend will go by quickly. Even the movie theaters are itching for next week’s four-day weekend, judging by this one’s meager offerings. But at least your at-home watch list is popping off. AMC sent Netflix some deliciously dark offerings, Oz Perkins’s horror Longlegs has hit digital, and The Crow is ripe for a rewatch. You might as well stay in and away from the sun this weekend. It would be so goth of you.

    Creator Soo Hugh’s adaptation of Min Jin Lee’s novel returns for its sophomore season. This installment dives back into its four generations of a Korean family’s questions of identity, especially as part of its narrative is set in Japan during World War II. —Roxana Hadadi

    ➼ Who’s winning, who’s losing — who cares?

    Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut, originally titled Pussy Island, follows a young woman (Naomi Ackie) who gets invited to a tech billionaire’s (Channing Tatum) private island. It seems like a dream come true, but if movies have taught us anything, it’s that following rich people to isolated islands or homes is a terrible idea.

    The 2002 hit film City of God was a nerve-tingling glimpse into the organized crime of Rio de Janeiro’s favelas. Now, a new creative team picks up the mantle in this six-episode series, bringing photographer Rocket (and actor Alexandre Rodrigues) back with a press badge and another drug war to cover. —R.H.

    “The film may insist that Eric and Shelly’s is a grand romance of soul mates, but what it actually gives us is a burnout-detention boyfriend/rebellious-cheerleader girlfriend dynamic that doesn’t feel like it would last a long weekend.”

    ➼ In theaters now; read our full review.

    Well, he finally did it. John Woo finally released that American remake of The Killer that’s been in the works almost since the first one premiered back in 1989. Woo’s original, starring Chow Yun-fat and Danny Lee, was one of the key films that introduced Hong Kong genre cinema to western cinephiles. While this new Killer doesn’t have the insane grandeur of the old one, Woo does still know how to be creative with his action scenes, even when he’s just playing the hits. —Bilge Ebiri

    Tombstone may be the definitive portrayal of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral (though the classic western that carries that name is also fantastic), but that hasn’t stopped everyone from Kevin Costner to Alex Cox from retelling the story of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and the Clanton gang known as the Cowboys. This latest entry is a TV mini starring Ed Harris, Edward Franklin, and Tim Fellingham. —Eric Vilas-Boas

    A handful of AMC shows have flown onto Netflix’s library for a while, including one of their best. Anne Rice’s Interview With the Vampire’s small-screen adaptation run by Rolin Jones is sexy, terrifying, dramatic, and fantastic television. The Netflix deal will hopefully give the show a chance to get the eyeballs it deserves. (Unfortunately, the brilliant second season isn’t streaming on Netflix, but hey, it’s on AMC+.)

    ➼ And Longlegs, the “It” horror of the summer, and Inside Out 2, the “It” film of the summer, are now both on digital. Also check out Stress Positions on Hulu and Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga on Max.

    The goth cinema canon.
    Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Columbia Pictures, Dimension Films, Goldwyn Pictures, Miramax, Sony Pictures, Trimark Pictures

    With the Crows and Vampires on our mind, we took a goth day this week. Here are three titles that helped define goth cinema.

    ➼ Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust — “An action-goth masterpiece.”

    ➼ Crimson Peak — Guillermo del Toro’s “misunderstood beauty.”

    ➼ Gargoyles — Specifically, “The Mirror.”

    Photo: Roxana Hadadi/Vulture

    It’s hard to imagine The Crow led by anyone other than Brandon Lee. (You can read more of Roxana Hadadi’s piece here on the matter.) That doesn’t mean the latest iteration of The Crow isn’t necessarily worth watching, but if it made you want to see the 1994 film, you have until the end of the month to check it out on Prime Video.

    Want more? Read our recommendations from the weekend of August 16.

    [ad_2]

    Savannah Salazar

    Source link

  • Why I'm Not Falling For Those Streaming Bundle 'Deals' — And You Shouldn't Either. | Entrepreneur

    Why I'm Not Falling For Those Streaming Bundle 'Deals' — And You Shouldn't Either. | Entrepreneur

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Ask any movie buff, and they’ll tell you that “The Godfather Part III” was by far the worst of the mafia trilogy. But one line in that movie came to my mind when I saw this article about new “bundling” deals that are popping up from Verizon, Netflix, Disney and others: “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!” That’s the way I feel about all those bundling deals.

    I shouldn’t admit this publicly because it’s so embarrassing, but my cable bill with Xfinity was about $370 per month — yes, $370! Sure, I’ve got high-speed internet and the plan with all the channels and it’s on two TVs. But come on — I’m old enough to remember the days when TV was actually free, just as long as you didn’t mind watching “Hee Haw” and repeats of “Gilligan’s Island” in the afternoons.

    Sure, there are numerous “bundling” plans offered by my cable provider. But they’re confusing, and I’ve resisted them. So, in the end, like most others, I’ve just shrugged my shoulders and avoided messing with the status quo. This is precisely what Verizon, Netflix, Disney and all the others want me to do: nothing. Instead, they want to confuse consumers like me. But enough is enough.

    [ad_2]

    Gene Marks

    Source link