Tag Archives: cut the cord

Hulu’s Free Service Is Going Away

Hulu

Hulu, your favorite home for missed episodes on most broadcast networks (except CBS) is now behind a paywall. Many penny pinching cordcutters that have grown fond of and even rely on Hulu’s ad-supported service for catching shows on Fox, NBC, ABC, and CW for nearly 10 years will probably be unhappy at the news until reading further: Yahoo has partnered with Hulu to carry a portion of their offerings for free on its new service Yahoo View.

Continue reading

Review: Tablo DVR – Perfect for Cord Cutters Who Want It All

It feels really great when you revisit a pastime that you once enjoyed. For me that’s watching the local news. How else will I know how the weather is affecting people in the community or see people complaining about gas prices? I know it’s old fashion, considering you can always get up to date news on the internet with a few key strokes. Maybe it’s just laziness or the fact that I’m doing a lot more juggling with a newborn that adds to the appeal of watching news on the TV now. It’s also nice to have a TV running for guests who aren’t as entertained by the sight of a host prepping a meal  or dying to watch a sports game. Let’s not forget how out of the loop one can feel when read live tweets an award show without being able to watch it. Continue reading

Apple TV Update Adds HBO Go, ESPN, Sky News, Crunchyroll and Qello

We’re big fans of the Roku boxes but it’s not the only hockey puck internet connected device feeding dumb TV’s. Apple just updated the Apple TV with a few channels to please folks jealous of Roku’s wider content provider selection (except for the glaring lack of YouTube).

After updating your player’s firmware (Settings), you’ll be able to stream content from:
HBO Go
ESPN (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3 and ESPN Buzzer Beater/Goal Line)
Sky News
Crunchyroll
Qello

Apple recently enabled AirPlay to their iOS HBO Go app but now subscribers (or sneaky folks who are able to get login credentials from their buddy), can watch shows like Girls and Game of Thrones natively on the Apple TV.

Source: BusinessWire via The Verge

Roku Just Added Channels for Spotify and VEVO

Roku makes one of the best streaming desktop boxes. It’s tiny and jampacked with services. We’ve already been able to enjoy Rdio for quite some time, but now Spotify subscribers will be able to enjoy music in their home theaters with a new channel

Roku also added a VEVO channel which is wonderful for all you music video lovers (remember when MTV used to play music videos?). The need would have been satisfied if we had an official YouTube channel but I wouldn’t hold my breath for that.

Go ahead and add these channels and keep practicing your Gangnam Style dance to Psy on the big screen.

Source:
Spotify
VEVO

Here’s a Public Google Calendar For Netflix Watch Instant Release Dates

I decided to make a calendar for Netflix Watch Instant titles I’m looking forward to watching or recommend you check out. Hopefully this helps you kill time or stay home and save money.

If you don’t see a title added, feel free to make a suggestion.

Look out for new recommendations as new release dates are discovered.

All entries are based of instantwatcher.com

Netflix Now Has Some Great Disney Classics Available For Streaming (UPDATED)

Netflix and Disney are now buddies. That’s great news for any reasonable person that has access to the streaming service and a heart that isn’t made of ice. And unlike the offensive standard definition streams made available by Starz previously, these titles are all listed as available in HD. Check out some of these classic titles that have just been unleashed for your streaming pleasure.

Alice In Wonderland
The Aristocats
Dumbo
The Fox and the Hound
The Great Mouse Detective
James and the Giant Peach
The Muppet Movie
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Pocahontas

Stay tuned for more titles coming out of the vault and check out this great FAQ posted at CNET regarding the new deal

12/6/2012 UPDATE: Of course another important aspect of the home theater experience is audio. I checked some streams last night (Dumbo, Alice In Wonderland, Pocahontas) and all were encoded in 5.1. I grew up watching some of these titles over and over and it was jaw dropping to see them in such high resolution. It’s like watching a painting in motion.

Amazon Invites Writers and Creators To Pitch Their Shows

With video services like Hulu and Netflix now offering exclusive shows of their own, it’s no surprise that Amazon is also giving content makers a chance to bring their show to the masses via the web. All the specifics, including financial compensation rates, are outlined on Amazon.

Amazon’s approach appears to be open to anyone, which could make reviewing entries a mixed bag. As far as length goes, Amazon is only looking for 11 or 22 minute pilots that are “smart and character-driven”. Is it possible to develop characters in such a short time? The requirements also note either a comedy series or children series.

As far as hints as to what Amazon is looking for when it comes to comedy, the shows Archer and Curb Your Enthusiasm are cited as examples and says the show must fall “within the normal television standards for content and language”.

Whatever series is selected will surely contrast Netflix’s first original series, Lilyhammer, which doesn’t hold back any punches when it comes to vulgar language suited for mature audiences only.

We should continue to expect Amazon to expand its video service offerings, especially since they recently gained more viewers in the living room now that Playstation 3 owners can watch

Source: Amazon

Netflix’s First Original Series Is Lilyhammer

February is going to a special month for Netflix. We’ll see the end of the dreadful standard definition Starz releases and the birth of  its first original series, Lilyhammer.

The show stars the multi-talented Steven Van Zandt, aka Little Steven/Miami Steve, who is known for his guitar/mandolin work in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band and his Sopranos character, Silvio Dante. As you might have guessed, Van Zandt reprises a wiseguy role as Frank Tagliano, a former gangster who moves to Norway and tries to make the best of his new life in a witness protection program.

The show is tagged Dark, Quirky, and Understated, which suggests a considerable gamble for Netflix to appeal to a less mainstream audience. Check out the trailer below. We see Van Zandt’s character, Frank Tagliano, in both three piece suits and Nordic sweaters. There’s also plenty of bleeps, a good sign for any fans who love gritty gangster dialog. And for those that doubt the show’s indie credibility, take a look at the credits and confirm names clearly native to Norway. Frank Tagliano’s role is genuinely fish-out-of-water both on and off camera.

Lilyhammer is poised to give great exposure to Norway, those in supporting roles, and mainly Steven Van Zandt, who is not only acting, but also a writer and executive producer of the show.

The trailer also happens to be the first video in Netflix’s YouTube channel.

Source: Netflix

Netflix To Stream CW Shows, Closet Gossip Girl Rejoice

Are you a working professional that’s also secretly a fan of teen drama shows such as One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl, or Vampire Diaries? Good news! Netflix just inked a deal with CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Television Group that brings CW shows to Netflix streaming service subscribers for four years.

The deal brings current and future episodes of its hit shows. Here are some dates to mark on your calendar:

October 15,  2011:  Previous seasons of The Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill and Nikita are made available
January 2012:  Previous seasons of Supernatural and 90210  are made available
Fall 2012: current season shows made available

Source

Netflix To Revive Reno 911?

Have you been missing your favorite, baby boomer shorts-wearing, law enforcing cop? Rumors are stirring that the producers of Reno 911, Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher, are in talks with Netflix to revive the series. Plans are hazy and none of the co-creators have agreed to any terms.

One of the biggest hurdles in sealing this deal is Comedy Central owns copyright. It is possible the deal could provide new episodes available exclusively to Netflix at first rather than the usual 24 hour/season delay. Additionally, it remains unclear if all talents have the desire to reprise their roles. Luckily, if they do, the show’s low budget production costs are the least prohibitive barrier to the revival.

Source