As part of an ongoing strategic review of the UK public service broadcasting system, the UK government will review the ownership model and remit of Channel 4 and consider tightening regulation of SVoD services such as Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) says that with a […]

Reports have emerged that the UK government plans to regulate global OTT services in the same way as linear broadcasters. The plans would see broadcast regulator Ofcom extend the same control over on-demand services, allowing it to rule on complaints over bias and inaccuracy, for example. It is anticipated that the proposals will feature in […]

With all the top streaming platforms touting exclusive content, consumers feel compelled to sign up for multiple services, or risk missing out, according to Hub Entertainment Research’s annual Best Bundle study, which tracks the most popular combinations of TV services among consumers, and how well their DIY bundles meet their viewing needs. Highlights from the […]

In a letter to its shareholders, Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos has revealed that Amazon Prime now has over 200 million subscribers worldwide – adding 50 million in the last 12 months alone, aided strongly by the pandemic. Bezos wrote: “We have 200 million Prime members, for a total in 2020 of $126 billion […]

A report from Ampere Analysis shows the rapid rise of SVoD services in the US. There are now more subscriptions to services including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO Max and Disney+ than there are people in the US. The pandemic and stay-at-home measures, the launch of new studio-backed subscription services, and

A new TV Streaming App – ScreenHits TV – which combines a user’s TV streaming channels into one TV guide has launched on Apple iPads, Android TV, Chromecast and Fire Stick platforms. ScreenHits TV allows subscribers to integrate and manage many of the top TV/online streaming services, and users can also see what is trending; share […]

The latest Connectivity Survey from Ireland’s electronic communications sector regulator ComReg highlights the important role of broadband services for remote working and the likely take-up of faster broadband services in the future. The survey, conducted by Red C Research, finds that 79 per cent of people consider home broadband to be important, rising to 95 […]

New data from research firm Roy Morgan shows Australians consumed subscription TV services at an astonishing rate during 2020 as the country endured a nationwide lockdown from late March until late May and Victorians experienced a second, and longer, lockdown soon after. Some 17.3 million Australians (82.1 per cent) watched a subscription TV service in […]

Increased movement and competition on UK DTT platform Freeview is among the developments for 2021 predicted by Chris Parsons, Chief Executive at channel operations specialist MediaPaedia Broadcast. His five predictions are: Covid efficiencies are here to stay 2020 saw unprecedented changes in the broadcast industry, one traditionally based on trade shows and meetings. Production has […]

Consumer research from Leichtman Research Group (LRG) finds that 78 per cent of all US households have a subscription video on-Demand (SVoD) service from Netflix, Amazon Prime, and/or Hulu – up from 69 per cent in 2018, and 52 per cent in 2015. In addition, 55 per cent of US households now have more than […]