Cordkillers 253 - Spread Some Cheddar on a Crackle (w/ Sarah Lane)
Netflix noms, Hulu getting cheaper, and the world's most-watched program in 4K. All this and more on Cordkillers! With special guest Sarah Lane.
CordKillers: Ep. 253 - Spread Some Cheddar on a Crackle
Recorded: January 28 2019
Guest: Sarah Lane
Intro Video
"Butterfly" on Hulu
Primary Target
Netflix joins major Hollywood lobbying group
- Netflix has joined the Motion Picture Association of America. The MPAA is currently made up of Disney, Paramount, Sony Universal, Warner Bros, and Fox, though Fox will leave when Disney finishes its deal to acquire it. According to Politico, bringing companies like Netflix into the fold has been a goal for MPAA CEO Charles Rivkin, who took over the association in September 2017.
Netflix’s ‘Roma’ nominated for 10 Oscars, including best picture and director
- Netflix's film Roma was nominated for 10 major Oscar awards including Best Picture and Best Director, tying it with The Favourite for most major nominations. Netflix's “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs,” directed by Ethan and Joel Coen, received three nominations. Netflix's End Game got a nomination for best short documentary and Hulu's "Minding the Gap" got a nomination for feature documentary.The award winners will be announced February 24.
How to Watch
Hulu drops to just $5.99 per month after Netflix’s price hikes
- Hulu announced it will lower the price of its ad-supported subscription plan from $7.99 a month to $5.99 a month starting February 26. The ad free subscription will remain $11.99 a month and the Hulu Live TV service will rise to $44.99 from the current $39.99. DVR and expanded multiscreen viewing packages are dropping to $9.99 from $14.99.
Suppose TV can now alert you to changes in TV packages, so you get the best deal
- Suppose.tv, which has a tool for selecting what channels you want and matching you with the approriate TV providers is adding a new feature called TV Service Alerts. You set your channel selections and feature preferences and as streaming services change channel lineups and prices, the service will send you email alerts.
What to Watch
The world’s most watched TV show will be streamed via 5G in 4K
-The World's most watched television show is the Spring Festival Gala aired on China's CCTV network Jan. 27. Last year it drew a billion viewers. This year's news is that Huawei will test China Mobile's 5G network by streaming the show in 4K over 5G from Shenzen to Beijing.
HBO mines Asian mythology for scary monsters in anthology series Folklore
- The next episode of Blumhouse's Into the Dark anthology series on Hulu arrives Februrary 1. The episode, called “Down” stars Natalie Martinez (Death Race) and Matt Lauria as two office workers who get trapped on an elevator just as they’re leaving for the holiday weekend.
The Expanse's Third Season Hits Amazon Next Month, Belters Still Waiting for That Season 4 Premiere Date
-The Expanse season three had been lagging behind on appearing on Prime Video because of rights issues but it's arriving on amazon's service February 8. The new season still does not have a release date though it's promised for this year.
PlayStation Vue adds Cheddar's online-only news channels
- Sony added Cheddar Business to its base PlayStation Vue tier and Cheddar News to to the Elite and Ultra packages. Cheddar is a digital only channel that you can't find on traditional cable but is available on Hulu, YouTube TV and Sling TV.
Netflix is turning Mark Millar comic 'Reborn' into a feature film
- Netflix announced the development of a feature length film based on the fantasy comic Reborn from Mark Millar and Greg Capullo. The comic is about a woman who learns people go to a world of monsters and dragons when they die but for some reason her husband didn't. Chris McKay of Lego Batman will direct and Sandra Bullock is producing.
Amazon secures CIA torture thriller 'The Report' at Sundance
- At Sundance Amazon has bought the rights for Mindy Kaling's Late Night and a political thriller starring Adam Driver called The Report. Netflix bought the rights to Ron Howard's adaptation of the JD Vance memoir, Hilbilly Elegy.
Eyes On
Brian: Glass, Good Place, Dirk Gently, Counterpart
Tom: Star Trek: Discovery, W
Sarah: Both Fyre docs on Hulu and Neflix, HBO Original The Sentence
On the Lookout: Wayne
Front Lines
Roku’s à la carte premium subscriptions arrive today, but without HBO
-Roku launched the ability to buy subscriptions to video services today in the US, letting you use your Roku account to sing up for EPIX, Showtime, STARZ and others without needing to install the channel's app. All the content will be available through the Roku Channel app. If you sign up this way you won't be able to access the content outside of the Roku channel. HBO is not part of the launch.
Viacom buys streaming startup Pluto TV for $340 million
- Viacom is buying the ad-supported Pluto TV and plans to put shows from MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central as well as movies from Paramount on it. Pluto says it has 12 million viewers, 7.5 million of whom watch on a TV.
YouTube TV covers all of the US
- YouTube TV has added 95 markets in the US and says it is now available to 98 percent of the US, and hopes to reach the other two percent shortly. More than 90 percent of its markets have local affiliates from the top four broadcasters.
Top 10 US subscription video apps pulled in $1.3B last year, a 62% increase from 2017
- Sensor Tower estimates that the Top 10 video subscription services brought in $1.27 billion in the US in 2018 in the Apple and Google app stores. That's up 62 percent from 2017. Netflix led the way followed by YouTube, HBO Now, Hulu, YouTube TV, Starz, MLB, CBS, Showtimes and Crunchyroll.
TiVo’s new streaming apps will be limited to 720p and 30 fps
- In an interview with TechHive, TiVo VP of consumer products Ted Malone said the new apps for Roku, Fire TV and Apple TV will stream video from your TiVo at 720p and 30fps. Not high enough for videophiles, one would presume. Malone even said he would prefer6 60fps but it's a battle for resources. TiVo's ad-skipping will also not work on the apps. The TiVo Mini Vox hardware which right now are the only ways to stream video from another TiVo have higher resolutions and all the features, and sell for $180.
Hilton and Netflix partner on in-room streaming, controlled through Hilton’s own app
- Hilton and Netflix announced a partnership to give guests the chance to login and control Netflix and other streaming services on their room TV from the Hilton Mobile app. The apps will work in special "Connected Rooms" which also let guests control lighting, temperature and and personalize TV channels.
Dispatches from the Front
Gentlemen,
Thank you for the great podcast. I finally decided to give you an infinite raise. Also, I just bought the Night Attack album on iTunes at the suggestion of Rex Williams (Whisky Tribe). Although I have not subscribed to the Patreon before now, I have always purchased Tom's books on Amazon + the audio books from his site. I really enjoy your science fiction mind.
Thank you,
-Michael
I gave you an infinite raise
Seriously, it's not changing. (nor has it ever) This is going amount is going forward and I would like to say thank you for all that the episodes and hours consumed.
- David
Hello, Some news about ESPN+ subscription numbers. They signed up over 1/2 Million new accounts thanks to one UFC event. I think this might be their short term strategy at ESPN+. To use big events to get lots of subscribers in a short period of time. I wouldn't be surprised at see an NFL game exclusively on the streaming service in a few years....
-Tim
I don't like the idea of real dead pools (not the comic that I love) . I heard about this online where you have a Dead Pool for GoT. I was thinking it would a good patron only content for you guys to complete this form and talk about it only in Aftertalk. Something to maybe get more people to want to sign up and become a boss. There is the spoiler problem so maybe it goes to Spoiler podcast.
It would be crazy if you could let the patrons play too but that would involve some coding or a fancy Google Doc, I don't understand so I get that is too much to ask. Just some of the frequent guests and the three of you.
I get it if Tom steals this idea for Sword and Laser since it would fit there too.
Just a thought
- Joe
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