Weekly Rewind
Sling TV DVR updates: Speaking of Sling, its $5 per month cloud DVR service is out of beta. Users can now watch recordings on Xbox One, along with Roku, Fire TV, Android TV, Android mobile devices, and Apple TV. Support is on the way for iOS, Windows 10, and the AirTV Player. Sling has also added a way to protect shows from deletion after users fill their 50-hour storage allotment, and now collates episodes from a given show into folders.
The big caveat with Sling’s DVR service is that not all channels support it, with Disney-owned channels (including ESPN) being the biggest holdouts. But this week, Fox got on board with DVR support for all of its channels, such as Fox Sports, FX, and National Geographic. And in my testing, you’re still able to skip commercials, even as some other streaming bundles prevent you from doing so.
Fox plays hardball with local channels: Apparently Fox has grown tired of negotiating with local station affiliates to offer a live stream of its programming. This week, the network started streaming live through Hulu’s new TV bundle in roughly 70 markets where it doesn’t have affiliate deals. That means subscribers can watch nationally-televised sports and primetime shows without a tape delay. And in slots where local programs (such as the news) would air, Fox is swapping in content from its other channels, including National Geographic and Fox News.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Fox is offering affiliates a smaller revenue share than other networks, and is trying to negotiate with each station owner directly instead of working with a national affiliate board, as CBS, ABC, and NBC are doing. It’ll be interesting to see whether the honey or vinegar approach is more effective at getting local stations into streaming bundles.
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