All articles tagged with #cable
The article provides a comprehensive, regularly updated guide to TV premiere dates across streaming, broadcast, and cable platforms for 2026, covering a wide range of shows and specials scheduled throughout the year.
Warner Bros. Discovery plans to split into two separate public companies by mid-2026, dividing its cable operations (including CNN, TNT Sports, Discovery, and digital products) from its streaming and studio businesses (including Warner Bros., HBO, and DC Studios), to better focus and compete in the evolving media landscape.
The HDMI Forum is set to announce HDMI 2.2, a new specification that will support higher resolutions and refresh rates, potentially requiring a new cable. The announcement will be made on January 6th, and while the new spec may not necessitate a change in the HDMI port itself, new cables might be needed to fully utilize the enhanced capabilities.
The NCAA men's basketball tournament will be broadcast on CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV, with streaming options available through the NCAA March Madness Live app, B/R Sports add-on, Paramount Plus, YouTube TV, and Hulu Live TV. For those with only an antenna, local CBS stations will air a limited number of games. The NCAA women's tournament will be broadcast on ESPN's family of networks, with ABC airing nine games that can be accessed with an antenna.
ESPN is planning to launch three streaming products, including ESPN Direct To Consumer (DTC), a joint venture with Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery, and the existing ESPN+ service. Each product offers access to different networks and sports content, with varying price points and launch dates. The DTC service is aimed at providing access to all ESPN networks, while the joint venture will include ESPN, Fox Sports, and WBD Sports networks. ESPN+ offers exclusive content, including college sports, international soccer leagues, UFC events, and the NHL's out-of-market package. These streaming options could potentially allow sports fans to cancel their cable, satellite, or live-streaming subscriptions, depending on their specific viewing preferences.
A new sports streaming service, a joint venture between Fox, Disney's ESPN, and Warner Bros Discovery, is set to launch this fall, potentially reshaping the TV industry. The service will not include NBC's "Sunday Night Football" or NFL games airing on CBS, but it will still hold a significant portion of sports rights in the US. Experts believe this move could disrupt the pay-TV landscape, impacting cable companies and potentially leading to new bundling and pairing strategies in the entertainment industry.
The new joint streaming venture between ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery aims to offer a combined sports package, but it may not solve much for consumers yet. With an estimated monthly cost of around $50, the service may not provide significant savings compared to existing options like YouTube TV. While the collaboration marks a step towards rebundling sports rights, it falls short by excluding major players like CBS, limiting access to events such as the Super Bowl and March Madness. The venture's potential impact and ability to compete with digital giants like Amazon and Netflix remain uncertain, but it could pave the way for a more comprehensive sports streaming solution in the future.
The NFL is celebrating Thanksgiving with three exciting games: Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions at 12:30 p.m. ET, Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys at 4:30 p.m. ET, and San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks at 8:20 p.m. ET. If you don't have cable, you can stream the games on platforms like Paramount+, Sling TV, Peacock, FuboTV, or Hulu + Live TV. Additionally, you can watch the games for free with a digital HDTV antenna or on your phone with NFL+.
Industrial CT scanner manufacturer Lumafield conducted a study comparing the internal components of Apple's $130 Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) Pro cable with cheaper USB-C cables. The study found that Apple's cable features 24 pins mounted on a printed circuit board assembly, with parallel traces and careful engineering to ensure reliable data transmission at high speeds. The cable is encased in hard plastic, with a stainless steel shield and a single-piece strain relief. In contrast, cheaper cables had fewer pins, less robust strain relief, and lacked shielding and grounding. While the $130 price tag may still be steep for some, the study highlights the precision engineering and quality components that justify the cost of Apple's cable.
The second Republican presidential debate, known as the 'Reagan Library Rumble,' will be aired on Fox Business Network and Univision on September 27. While it will also be live-streamed on Rumble, an alternative video-sharing platform associated with far-right extremism, viewers can watch the debate for free without cable by signing up for DirecTV's five-day trial or by downloading the Fox News app.
Linear TV viewership experienced a slight recovery in August, accounting for 50.6% of total TV usage, with broadcast seeing its first gain since January. Variety programming and sports events contributed to the boost. However, compared to the previous year, linear TV viewing declined by 5.5% for broadcast and 10.6% for cable. Streaming remained the largest share of television at 38.3%, although it experienced a slight decline due to students returning to school. Peacock saw the largest increase among streamers, while Suits dominated streaming with the most minutes viewed.
Linear TV viewing in the US has fallen below 50% for the first time, with cable usage dropping to 29.6% and broadcast usage decreasing to 20%, according to Nielsen's July 2023 report. Meanwhile, streaming services reached a new high, accounting for 38.7% of total TV usage, with YouTube and Netflix leading the way. Despite streaming's popularity, the average cost of top US platforms is set to exceed cable subscriptions this fall, leading to price hikes and prompting some users to turn to free ad-supported streaming TV services.
Nielsen's monthly state of TV report reveals that for the first time, linear TV viewership accounted for less than 50% of all TV usage, with broadcast and cable representing record low shares of 20% and 29.6% respectively. Meanwhile, streaming viewership increased by 2.9% from June to July and now represents 38.7% of total TV usage, with Netflix's legal dramedy "Suits" contributing significantly to the increase. "Suits" broke Nielsen records with nearly 4 billion minutes viewed in just one measurement week, surpassing the viewing minutes of "Stranger Things" last July.
Streaming TV costs have surpassed cable packages as a result of recent price increases by Apple TV+, HBO Max, Disney, Hulu, and others. The total cost of popular streaming TV services now stands at $87 per month, making it more expensive than cable. Media executives had warned of an impending "crash" as streaming prices became unsustainable. The crash has now arrived, with streaming companies increasing prices or facing potential closure. The heavy losses incurred by streaming companies in their efforts to compete with cable have led to a bruising correction in media stocks.
Disney stock rose nearly 1.5% following reports that ESPN plans to launch a standalone subscription-based live sports streaming service, known as project "Flagship." The launch date has not been announced, but the service is expected to offer ESPN's entire programming lineup. ESPN+ currently streams limited MLB and NHL games and some commentary programming. ESPN would still be available as a TV channel after the launch of its streaming service.