BBC could kill Red Button services in bid to save £150 million

As the BBC continues to streamline its operations following a less than glowing government review, the broadcaster has announced a fresh round of cuts that it says will “address a shortfall” of £150 million in what it believes is lost money. It comes from what we know as the “iPlayer loophole,” which lets viewers avoid paying the licence fee by watching on-demand programming only. While the Beeb works with the government to close it, the company says it will cut management positions and reduce back office staff, but also look into whether it could phase out important services like the Red Button.

Source: BBC Media Centre

NBC’s comedy streaming service starts free beta preview December 3rd

If you want to give SeeSo a shot before signing up, you’ll get your chance next month. NBC’s comedy streaming service will be available as a limited free public beta starting December 3rd. During the web-only trial period, viewers can expect to watch classics from Monty Python, including The Flying Circus, The Meaning of Life, Holy Grail, and Life of Brian. There’s also the likes of 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, Saved By the Bell, and both the US and UK versions of The Office. If that wasn’t enough to convince you to check it out, episodes of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers will be available the day after they air alongside 40 years of Saturday Night Live sketches.

Variety: ABC is prepping exclusive content for its streaming service

CBS isn’t the only major network getting into the exclusive content game. According to Variety, ABC is planning to do the same. The programming will be available through WatchABC and the first show is said to be a scripted project starring stand-up comedian Iliza Shlesinger. You might remember Shlesinger from her Netflix specials. What’s more, the network doesn’t plan to use the new platform only as a means of keeping its properties to itself, but rather a testing grounds of sorts. If a show does well there, it could make the jump to primetime. If you’ll recall, WatchABC provides live TV broadcasts (in some markets) and access to both to new and past episodes of shows, some of which require a paid subscription. Details are scarce on how much of the new exclusive content will require a pay TV plan, but this report follows similar moves by other networks.

Source: Variety

Roku’s new media player will cost you just $25 on Black Friday

Roku may have poured a lot of energy into its spiffy new 4K player, but it’s not forgetting the budget crowd. The company has unveiled the Roku SE, a TV streaming box aimed at those who only want the basics. It’s not that much different than the Roku 1 aside from shipping with OS 7 from the start, and it supports the same 1080p playback, video output (HDMI and analog) and media casting features. No Ethernet or sophisticated remote here, folks. However, you might not mind any omissions when you see the price. The SE will officially sell for the same $50 as the Roku 1, but it’ll be available for just $25 on Black Friday, November 27th — that’s less than a Chromecast. If you’re determined to put Netflix on that old TV in the basement, this may be the cheapest way to do it.

Source: Roku (BusinessWire)

‘Twilight’ author Stephenie Meyer is making a show for Hulu

You may still see Stephenie Meyer as synonymous with vampire books and movies, but she’s determined to shake things up — including where she puts her big-screen productions. The Twilight writer is working with Lionsgate on Rook, a TV show that’s destined for both Hulu’s streaming service as well as a currently unnamed UK TV provider. The studio isn’t saying anything about what the show entails, although it’s clearly betting that Meyer will help the show rise above the pack. Whether or not it does is still up in the air, mind you. While Twilight was a license to print money, Meyer’s producer roles on Austenland and The Host didn’t make those movies blockbuster hits.

[Image credit: David Edwards/MediaPunch/IPX]

Source: Variety

ABC’s ‘BattleBots’ reboot will come back for a second season

Good news if you liked ABC’s resurrection of BattleBots for the modern era: it’s sticking around. The network has renewed BattleBots for a second season, albeit with some tweaks. It’ll preserve the single-elimination tourney that you saw in the first run, but it’ll double the number of competitors to include everyone from “expert roboticists” to “families on a mission.” Logically, past winners will come back for another shot at glory. It’s too soon to say if these changes will spice up ABC’s robotic wars, but the show’s audience grew significantly over the first season — don’t be shocked if there’s a third when all is said and done.

Via: The Wrap

Source: ABC

Time Warner CEO: DC Comics shows could be slow to hit Netflix and Hulu

If you’re waiting to catch up on Gotham or Arrow, the wait could get even longer. Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes told analysts this week that past seasons of DC Comics television shows could be slow to arrive on Hulu and Netflix. Why? Well, the chief executive said that the company would give preference to cable customers first, making those older seasons available elsewhere several years after they air. In case you didn’t know, Time Warner owns DC Comics. Bewkes explained that Time Warner is set on “delivering even more value to consumers, especially those who subscribe to the traditional bundle.” Eight DC Comics shows are now on the air, including the recent addition of Supergirl on CBS.

Source: New York Times

A&E and Vice hope that you still like conventional TV

You may be devoting a lot of your viewing time to streaming services, but A&E reckons that you still have a soft spot for old-school TV. Its parent company A+E Networks is teaming up with Vice to launch Viceland, a 24-hour TV channel aimed right at that all-important youth demographic. They’re largely leaning on Vice’s edgy reputation to draw you in — the initial shows include Gaycation and Weediquette, and Spike Jonze is overseeing the channel. However, they’re also acknowledging the realities of an era where DVRs and online video are commonplace. Viceland is planning to run fewer ads during prime time, and there are hints of “innovative monetization strategies” that won’t simply involve wave after wave of commercials.

Via: Variety

Source: A+E Networks