disney plus Disney Plus Reaches 10 Million Sign-Ups on Launch Day Disney announces that its new streaming service Disney Plus officially surpasses 10 million sign-ups just one day after its initial launch.
disney plus Disney Plus Reaches 24 Million U.S. Subscribers in First Month Analysts estimate Disney Plus signs up 24 million U.S. subscribers in November, exceeding expectations. The rapid launch causes a noticeable drop in Netflix customer retention.
viacom Viacom Buys Free Streaming Service Pluto TV for $340 Million Viacom acquires Pluto TV in a $340 million cash deal to expand its digital streaming footprint. The free ad-supported service continues to operate independently under its current leadership.
criterion channel Criterion Channel Streaming Service to Launch in April The Criterion Channel sets an April 8 launch date, bringing over 1,000 classic and art-house films to the U.S. and Canada. Charter subscribers can lock in a discounted monthly rate before the service goes live.
ultraviolet Hollywood's Ultraviolet Digital Movie Locker Shuts Down This Summer The Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem confirms it is closing the Ultraviolet cloud locker service on July 31. Users must link their movie collections to participating retailers to keep access to their digital titles.
google Google Stadia Streaming Service Challenges Console Giants at E3 Google brings its new cloud-based Stadia platform to E3, threatening to disrupt the traditional console market dominated by Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony.
youtube YouTube Moves Originals Out of Paywall, Embraces Ad-Supported Model YouTube announces that all future Originals will feature a free, ad-supported window, directly opposing the industry trend of building paywalls. The company also highlights ongoing content responsibility efforts during its annual Brandcast event.
samsung Samsung Delays Galaxy Fold As TechCrunch Highlights Major Funding Rounds Samsung delays the launch of its Galaxy Fold smartphone due to reported display malfunctions. Meanwhile, TechCrunch's daily roundup covers major moves from Tencent, SiriusXM, Pax Labs, and Sony.
netflix Netflix Exceeds Q1 Subscriber Expectations Despite Weak Q2 Forecast Netflix adds a record 9.6 million paid subscribers in the first quarter of 2019, beating analyst predictions. However, shares dip after-hours as the company projects slower growth for the second quarter.
hulu Hulu Buys Out AT&T Stake in $15 Billion Valuation Deal Hulu pays $1.43 billion to acquire AT&T's 9.5 percent minority stake, boosting the streaming service's valuation to $15 billion. The deal allows AT&T to reduce debt while it prepares to launch its own competing streaming platform.
disney plus Disney Reveals Disney+ Pricing, Launch Date, and Content Lineup Disney announces that its ad-free Disney+ streaming service launches in the US on November 12 for $6.99 per month. The platform features a massive library of beloved franchises and exclusive original series.
apple music Apple Music Slashes Subscription Prices to Compete in India Apple Music significantly reduces its monthly subscription fees in India to gain an edge over rivals like Spotify and local services. The price drop affects individual, student, and family plans as major tech companies battle for dominance in the crucial market.
streaming Global Video Streaming Market Surpasses Cable in Subscribers Streaming services now boast more global subscribers than traditional cable, as major tech and media companies battle for dominance in a rapidly growing $22.6 billion market. Netflix and Amazon lead the pack, but over 100 players are fighting for viewers' attention worldwide.
apple Apple's New Media Services Create Interconnected Subscription Ecosystem Apple unveils a suite of subscription products that individually lack shock value but collectively represent a massive company transformation. TechCrunch's Editor-in-Chief analyzes the hidden advantages within this new interconnected media ecosystem.
spotify Spotify Buys True-Crime Podcast Studio Parcast to Boost Audio Lineup Spotify continues its aggressive podcasting expansion by acquiring Parcast, a bootstrapped studio famous for true-crime and mystery series. The financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed.