Tag: Apple TV

Kirby says control is the new currency in streaming, and Apple, NBCUniversal, and Fox are showing exactly what that looks like. Apple is collapsing barriers by making MLS a core Apple TV feature. NBCU is reviving NBC Sports Network to…

Apple is folding MLS Season Pass into its standard Apple TV subscription starting in 2026, making every match available at no extra cost. This shift ends the paywalled approach and puts MLS in front of a global audience as the…

Apple, Sony, and FAST platforms are prioritizing control over subscribers. Apple’s F1 deal locks users into its ecosystem, Sony monetizes IP across formats without a global SVOD, and FAST embeds content directly into TVs and cars through deals like Free…

Microsoft has officially shut down its Movies & TV store on Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, ending new purchases as of today. Users can still access previously bought content via the Movies & TV app, though no refunds will be…

Apple is in advanced talks to acquire parts of ESPN’s soon-to-expire MLB rights package, with a focus on Sunday Night Baseball. NBC is also interested, but Apple is reportedly targeting a broader set of games. MLB is exploring a split-rights…

Andrew Wamugi explores how MLB could use MLB.TV as a strategic asset in upcoming media rights negotiations. With ESPN walking away from its $550 million annual deal after 2025, MLB is leveraging its centralized streaming infrastructure to attract potential partners…

Kirby analyzes how Apple TV+ continues to lag behind in the streaming race, despite an ephemeral bump in market share from 7% to 8% in Q1 2025, driven by the return of Severance. He argues that high ARPU and prestige…

CNBC has launched CNBC+ on Apple TV and Roku, offering subscribers live global programming and on-demand access to its U.S. shows for $14.99 per month. The move supports CNBC’s direct-to-consumer strategy as linear subscribers decline, and positions the network to…

New research from Bango shows that the Subscription Wars have ended, with 68% of U.S. subscribers now getting at least one service through a bundle rather than a direct subscription. DTC models are shrinking, with only 16% of streaming subscribers…

From the Archives revisits XBMC’s impact on modern streaming. Launched in 2002 for the Xbox, the open-source media center evolved into Kodi and influenced platforms like Plex, Emby, and Smart TVs. Its add-on ecosystem pioneered the app-based model used by…