ViacomCBS and Nexstar signed a multiyear renewal of CBS affiliations in 39 markets. The new agreements, atop three affiliation agreements renewed in 2021, complete all affiliation renewals between the two, they said Friday. They said Nexstar's CBS affiliates will remain locally available to Paramount+ subscribers and widely distributed across virtual MVPD platforms.
Sling TV is now available on Vizio’s SmartCast TV streaming platform, the companies said Thursday, bringing live TV and over 150,000 on-demand shows and movies to Vizio smart TV owners. For a limited time, SmartCast users can try out SlingTV for three days at no cost; plans start at $35 per month.
Netflix finished Q4 with 8.28 million global paid net additions, nearly 3% short of its Oct. 19 projections, said the streaming company’s shareholder letter Thursday. “We slightly over-forecasted paid net adds in Q4,” it said. “As our membership base continues to grow, there will naturally be more volatility in our absolute paid net adds performance vs. forecast.” For the full year 2021, paid net adds of 18 million were roughly half those in 2020, it said. The service “continues to grow globally,” with more than 90% of paid net adds in 2021 coming from outside the U.S. and Canada, it said. The stronger U.S. dollar against most other currencies “translates” into an estimated 2-point “negative impact” in the company’s 2022 operating margin, it said: “Over the medium term we believe we can adjust our pricing and cost structure for a stronger US dollar world.” The stock fell 19% to $413.26 at 5:12 p.m. EST. The shareholder letter didn't mention price hikes announced last week across all tiers (see 2201140056).
TuneIn launched TuneIn On Air, giving emerging content creators, educational and nonprofit broadcasters in the U.S. access to the same distribution tools as major broadcasters, it said Wednesday. The $249-per-quarter program will give broadcasters access to TuneIn’s 30 million U.S.-based listeners as part of the streaming service’s effort to “reinvent radio for a connected world” and offer “an open platform for everyone.” TuneIn’s device and auto partners include Tesla, Volvo, Sonos, Amazon and Samsung. The program also includes access to data analytics and support resources. Internet radio stations previously accessible only by website will now be accessible through a voice command on a TuneIn-supported smart speaker or in a car’s infotainment system, it said. A program goal is to “re-energize college radio stations and independent broadcasters,” giving them a path to “expand and grow their audiences through digital distribution,” said Andrew Bock, TuneIn chief industry evangelist.
Twenty-seven percent of U.S. broadband subscribers listed a Samsung Tizen smart TV as their primary device for viewing video in Q3, Parks Associates reported, saying smart TVs will become the default streaming platform in U.S. households this year. 2022 will see more content partnerships and service acquisitions among providers and manufacturers, said analyst Eric Sorensen. Service and content providers will adapt their business models to address higher churn, which rose 5.5% to 45% for subscription VOD services last year, he said Tuesday.
Comments to refresh the record on proposed closed caption display setting requirements are due in docket 12-108 Feb. 17, replies March 4, says Tuesday’s Federal Register. The FCC put out a renewed call for comment last week (see 2201100052).
A survey by an ATSC 3.0 industry group shows consumer demand for the technology's enhanced emergency information capabilities, said Sinclair and subsidiary One Media, which sponsored the research. The survey, done by the NextGen Video Information Systems Alliance, showed “almost two-thirds of American consumers” want geotargeted alerts. Over half want the ability to curate which alerts are received and the ability to opt in to a stream of emergency information. “Almost two thirds of American consumers said they would pay an extra $5” for a mobile phone with enhanced emergency information and “almost half said they would pay an extra $10,” the release said.
IHeartMedia is expanding into Web3 and the metaverse, with plans to create events and experiences for mainstream listeners on the Roblox platform, the company said Wednesday. The radio broadcaster plans to bring immersive musical events to the 47 million daily active users on Roblox and launch its first tokenized community. It will build a token designed to “incentivize and reward” iHeart creators in new ways and give iHeart users access to offerings across its multiple platforms, including collectible nonfungible tokens. Calling iHeartMedia “big believers in the incredible potential of web3,” Conal Byrne, president-iHeartMedia digital audio group, said the company is working with partners to develop an “easy-to-use ramp to the metaverse and web3 for the mass market.”
FuboTV raised guidance for Q4 revenue and subscriber metrics, said the company Monday. Q4 revenue is now expected to be $215 million-$220 million vs. guidance of $205 million-$210 million; full-year revenue was upped to $622 million-$627 million from $612 million-$617 million. Q4 advertising revenue is seen topping $25 million, rising 90% year on year, it said. Fubo projects paid subscribers at the end of 2021 of 1.1 million vs. prior guidance of 1.06 million-1.07 million. Metrics exclude contributions from French livestreaming platform company Molotov, acquired in December (see 2112080030). The sports-based virtual MVPD is expected to report Q4 earnings in early March. The stock hit a 52-week low at $12.79 before closing down $2.93 at $13.56.
Comcast and AT&T's WarnerMedia's carriage renewal includes the first distribution agreement for the CNN+ streaming subscription service. The two said Monday CNN+ will launch in Q1 and Comcast will make it available to its Xfinity customers via its Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex and XClass TV platforms later in 2022.