Cordkillers 376 - RaaS (Roku as a Service)
Google is getting into the free TV content, new Roku hardware and software, and some of our first impressions on Y: The Last Man. All that and more on Cordkillers!
This week on It's Spoilerin' Time: Ted Lasso (209), What We Do in the Shadows (301-304), Star Trek: Lower Decks (206)
Next week: Ted Lasso (210), What We Do in the Shadows (305), Star Trek: Lower Decks (207)
CordKillers: RaaS (Roku as a Service)
Recorded: September 20 2021
Guest: None
Intro Video
Pretty Smart
Primary Target
Google’s latest plans for Chromecast are all about free TV
- Protocol's sources say Google plans to add free TV channels to Google TV, and is currently in talks with several free, ad-supported streaming television channels. This is similar to what Samsung and LG do on their smart TVs and Vizio and Amazon do it on their devices as well.
- The industry calls this service Free Ad-supported Streaming Television, or FAST channels. It's usually a cableTV-like grid of free streaming channels. You can see this kind of presentation on Xumo, Pluto, or Roku's app.
- For Google TV, the free channels would reportedly appear in a dedicated live TV menu, and show up alongside over-the-air programming on smart TVs. Google may have deals in place this autumn, but may wait to launch the feature with smart TV partners in 2022.
- Content makers have been experimenting with multiple FAST channels that show up on multiple services. AMC Networks has a Walking Dead channel and a Portlandia channel. Smaller outfits like Rotten Tomatoes also offer free channels.
How to Watch
Roku's free OS 10.5 lets you dictate passwords, fixes pesky sound lags on headphones
Roku OS 10.5 announced alongside new Streaming Stick 4K
Roku’s latest update is making free live TV even easier to stream
- Roku announced a new 4K streaming stick and its updates to Roku OS 10.5, mobile and more.
- The Roku Mobile app adds a home tab and a save list as well as access to sound settings like Night Mode and speech clarity for other Roku devices on your account.
- It also adds troubleshooting audio delay when using wireless earbuds with a Roku attached to a TV. After going through some automatic troubleshooting, it will have you point a phone at the screen to see the delay and attempt to fix it.
- Roku OS 10.5 adds support for 3.1 and 5.1 Roku speaker configurations, Streambar users can set the streamer to be a center channel. The voice assistant now has a tutorial mode for new users and you can now use voice for passwords, PINs and other login things. Music and podcasts are now accessible from voice search and more apps get deep search options, like searching for comedies within Netflix or podcasts within Spotify for instance. Finally Roku's Live TV grid, which now has more than 200 channels, can be pinned to the Home Screen.
- Roku OS 10.5 will start rolling out to devices in the coming weeks.
- Hardware-wise the Wal-Mart exclusive Roku Ultra LT adds Dolby Vision and upgrades the chips for faster boot time and faster WiFi. It will be available in the coming weeks for $80, about $10 more than the old model.
- Roku also teased a $180 soundbar coming from TCL.
- The Streaming Stick 4K and Streaming Stick 4K Plus will replace the Roku Express 4K+ and Streaming Stick+.
- The new 4K Streaming Sticks have 30% faster boot time, double the potential WiFi speed, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support. The Streaming Stick Plus has a fancier version of the Voice remote Pro that is rechargeable, and can make a noise when lost.
- The Streaming Stick 4K is $50 and the Streaming Stick 4K+ is $70, for order now shipping October 14 and 17th respectively.
What to Watch
In Response to Firestorm, CBS’ ‘The Activist’ Will Be Retooled From Competitive Series Into a Documentary Special
- CBS had planned a five-episode reality competition series called The Activist originally set to premiere October 22nd. Six activists across health, education and environment competed in challenges to raise awareness for their cause. At the end of the series one activist in each area was chosen to go to the G20 summit in Rome at the end of October to advocate for their cause. However when CBS announced that Usher, Julianne Hough and Priyanka Chopra Jonas would be the hosts (and therefore judges) a social media backlash drove CBS to change the show to be a prime-time documentary special on the activists involved, removing the competition and judging aspects.
‘Succession’ Season 3: First Look at Adrien Brody and Alexander Skarsgard in New Trailer
- HBO released a trailer for season 3 of succession with appearances from Adrien Brody, Alexander Skarsgard and Hope Davis. Season 3 of Succession premieres October 17.
Emmy Winner Jean Smart Teases ‘Hacks’ Season 2: We Will Be “Exploring Her Relationship With Her Sister” & Action Will Be LA-Based
- Jean Smart won an Emmy for her acting in the HBOMax series Hacks and while speaking to the press mentioned some details about season 2. Smart said her character will be going out on the road, based in LA, and explore her relationship with her sister.
Peacock renewed late night series, The Amber Ruffin Show for a second season to begin October 8th.
Anthony Mackie has been cast as the leading man, John Doe, in Sony's live-action Twisted Metal series.
HBO Max Unveils First Footage From ‘Sex And The City’ Sequel, ‘Peacemaker’, More
- HBO Max ran a sizzle reel for upcoming shows, showing scenes from the Sex and the City sequel, Suicide-Squad spinoff Peacemaker, and Mindy Kaling's The Sex Lives of College Girls.
Eyes On
Brian: Y: The Last Man
Tom: Y: The Last Man
On the Lookout: Tomorrow War
Front Lines
Netflix and Apple TV+ clean up at the Emmys with ‘The Crown’ and ‘Ted Lasso’
- The Emmys were once again dominated by streaming services. Netflix won 44, tying the record for most wins by a single platform/network in a single year, set by CBS in 1974. The haul included 11 wins for the Crown which won best drama, the first time Netflix has taken a win for a major scripted series. HBO/HBO Max took home 19 including best writing and directing for Hacks,and Apple TV+ got ten seven of which were for Ted Lasso. Disney+ took home 14- though WandaVisiona nd the Mandalorian were shut out of the primetime wins, one of which was a primetime Emmy for Hamilton. Amazon and Hulu did not win any Emmys, and in fact Handmaid's tale set a record for most losses in a single year.
Emmys: Ewan McGregor & Tobias Menzies’ Wins, ‘Hacks’ Sweep & ‘WandaVision’ Shutout Among Top Surprises
HBO Max Slashes Price In Half After HBO Leaves Amazon Channels, In Bid To Stem Expected Subscriber Losses
HBO is no longer available through Amazon Prime Channels
- As of September 15th, HBO is no longer available as an add-on channel to Amazon prime, part of the agreement between Amazon and Warner Media that brought HBO Max to Fire TVs. HBO is expected to lose 5 million subscribers as part of the move. However, Warner Media is offering HBO Max for $7.49 a month for 6 months to new or former Amazon subscribers until September 26th. HBO Max is available for $10 a month with ads or $15 a month without.
Locast’s free TV service ordered to shut down permanently after copyright loss
Hearst TV Launches Free ‘Very Local’ Streaming Channels in 26 Markets
- Locast had already voluntarily shut down its local TV streaming service in the US but September 15th a federal judge issued a permanent injunction to keep it down. Locast would have to appeal and win in order to start operations again. However if you want some local programming, there are options. Sinclair Broadcast Group has operated Stirr for its local offerings for a couple years. And now Hearst Television is launching a news-oriented service called Very Local for its 26 US markets. Very Local is available on Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV and Android TV and coming soon to iOS and Android.
Quibi will transfer its video tech to another company to settle lawsuit
- Quibi sold most of its content to Roku but its technology, particularly the "Turnstyle" feature that adapted shows to landscape or portrait mode was the subject of a lawsuit from a company called Eko. To settle the suit, Quibi is handing over its tech to Eko. So Quibi will not get a big paycheck for selling off the tech assets.
Movies Anywhere is now available on Xbox
- The Movies Anywhere app is now available on the Xbox One, Series X and Series S. The Xbox version of the app supports Watch Together and Screen Pass.
YouTube TV adds Univision and other Spanish-language channels
- YouTube TV has added three Spanish-language channels to its basic service at no extra cost. The three channels are Univision, UniMás and Galavisión. A $6 a month add-on of movies from Pantaya is coming in the next few months as is a bundle of Spanish-language cable channels.
Dispatches from the Front
Brian :
You've complained about trailers giving you "the whole story and giving it all away."
Now, you're complaining about Red Notice's trailer only giving you ingredients and you "need to be given two unexpected words to hook you."
Just watch (or not) and let the story (if one actually exists - hahaha) unfold (or lay there, flat, like a boring piece of paper) in whatever way it does. :)
Complaint later. LOL
Later!
- Michael
What the hell was Brian talking about with the "people in offices who love puzzle boxes" thing every time the new Matrix movie was mentioned? It was clear there was a reference to something, but I'm totally in the dark as to what.
- Tim
While I understand the reasons for the window and I'm sympathetic to the theatres, day and date is the superior solution.
The window is only cheaper if you go to movies alone and don't buy concessions. At best you'll break even if you bring someone or get concessions.
Day and date allows the disabled and families to participate in the cultural conversation more easily.
I agree that the spectacle of the theater is awesome. But it's often ruined by rude people or people who bring their uninterested children to the movie the adults wanted to see. Since theaters don't seem interested in dealing with those behaviors then I'll continue watching at home.
The main reason I watch the big movies when they come out is to avoid getting spoiled. Due to vaccine hesitancy, etc, I don't feel theaters are currently safe. I would have gladly payed the $30 for Shang Chi but now instead I'll wait for the window to end and watch it for free.
What I'd love to see is the theater become more of an event. Less screens, better quality, ushers dealing with disruptions, etc. However, I don't see that happening with the current studio money grab of taking all of the ticket revenue and leaving the theaters to subsist on concessions alone.
- Bai
Hi everyone.
Briefly nothing Brian said on wanting to see new releases in a theater instead of at home was wrong. He was also right, employees at a theater make a huge difference in your experience. And a number of factors besides pay can make that a good or bad experience.
I have used home VOD several times now. Much like Brian I have yet to upgrade to a 4K television. Most times I'm okay with the compromise. But watching "The Green Knight", I had wished I really had a 4K television as there were visuals I knew I was missing at 1080p. And the streaming experience on Amazon was for some reason very disappointing at times and very pixelated with my Chromecast. A wired connection probably would have been better. But most times it was as good as my Wired Roku 3.
The discussion of comparing Locast to Ario I appreciated because honestly looking from the outside they seemed like the same thing. That's why I couldn't see Locast winning any lawsuits.
Supposedly if ATSC 3.0 is ever widely adopted,at minimum it will bring 4K broadcast but also bring the functionality Locast gave people back when stations transition. However, it's been pointed out there is no FCC mandate to transition for stations like there was for ATSC 1.0 back in 2009. So the loss of Locast will sting most likely for a long time to come.
Everyone take care and keep making more content.
From
- David
Links
patreon.com/cordkillers
doghousesystems.com/v/rogue
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