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Video streaming race heats up, Amazon now offers its Prime Video service independent of Prime subscription for $8.99/mo

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Rumors of Apple’s entrance into the video streaming arena have been swirling for a couple of years now, with Apple wanting to launch a skinny bundle streaming internet cable TV service, however news on the progress of this project has died down in 2016. It is unclear if it is still on the cards, various outlets reports talked had stalled with the television networks. However, Amazon and Netflix continue to battle it out.

Today, just as Netflix customers are forcibly moved to more expensive monthly plans, Amazon has announced it will offer its streaming video service as a standalone monthly subscription for the first time. Priced at $8.99/per month, the plan is a dollar cheaper than Netflix’s most popular offering. Until today, the only way to get Amazon Prime Video through a $99/year Amazon Prime subscription, bundling video, 2-day shipping and other perks into one membership.

Sadly, there was no word on the status of an Amazon Apple TV app …


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iTunes just pips Netflix and HBO Go in streaming video satisfaction ratings

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A Foresee survey of consumer satisfaction with streaming video services found that iTunes got the top slot, just one point ahead of runners-up HBO Go and Netflix. Close behind were Amazon Instant Video, Crackle and Hulu Plus.

The average score across all streaming video services was 77 – ten points up on the previous year. Though looking at ‘mobile’ devices, 52 percent of all streaming on tablets and phones was actually done from home.

Source: Electronista

 

 

Disney’s ABC to livestream all programming to iOS devices starting this week

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Big news from the New York Times this evening. ABC, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company,  will begin streaming live content to iOS devices later this week in Philadelphia and New York City using a new button on their app called ‘live’. Users will be able to live stream all the programming from ABC’s local stations there, ‘the first time that any major broadcaster has turned on such a technology.’

For the first six weeks the service will be free to anyone with an iOS device according to GigaOM. Before you go grabbing the scissors to cut that cable cord, be warned that the live stream will eventually be available only to paying subscribers of cable and satellite providers, even though the stations’ signals are available free over the public airwaves.

ABC, a unit of the Walt Disney Company, said the live stream would be available in the other six cities where it owns stations sometime this summer. It is also in talks with the companies that own ABC’s more than 200 affiliates to make the “live” button work in their markets.

Also, not all shows have beencleared for streaming so there might be some discrepancies between the live feeds and the stream. The news comes as a service called Aereo (which we’ve reviewed) is place shifting broadcast signals to the internet, making live channels available to portable device owners.
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Netflix iOS app updated with auto-play episodes for TV shows, movie recommendations & an enhanced second screen experience

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Update: Netflix clarified in a post on its blog that the new auto-play features have rolled out only for the iPad app.

Netflix has updated its iOS app today with new features that brings movie recommendations and a new auto-play feature for TV shows, among other improvements, to iPhone and iPad.

Version 4.1 of the Netflix app now includes and auto-play feature for TV shows that will automatically start the next episode of a season after the last episode ends, a feature that Netflix has included in its apps on other devices. Another new feature displays movie suggestions with three of the best recommendations based on your viewing habits directly after watching a movie.

Netflix also said it added enhanced second screen options in the app:

What’s New in Version 4.1

The new Netflix app makes it even easier to enjoy more movies and TV shows. Enjoy binge watching your favorite TV shows and get the best movie recommendations with this new update.

• Added post-play feature where, when one episode of a TV show ends, the Netflix app automatically cues and then starts the next episode
• In post-play for movies, the three best movie recommendations are displayed at the end of the movie currently being watched
• Added enhanced second screen options