Skip ads on streaming sites, Paramount+ price hike
Jared Newman | Hey there! I’m Jared Newman, and this is Cord Cutter Weekly, my newsletter on how to save money on TV and make the most of streaming.
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This week on TechHive: An ad-skipping browser extension
One thing I’ve discussed lately is returning to a scrappier kind of cord cutting, which seeks to wrest some leverage away from increasingly consumer-hostile streaming services.
To that end, consider the computer. While you might not think of a laptop or desktop PC as the best place to watch TV, your computer has all kinds of powers that a streaming box does not, including tools that can skip commercials in ad-supported streaming services.
I’ve been playing with one such browser extension called Multi Skipper, which can automatically fast forward through ad breaks on sites like Hulu, Netflix, Pluto, and Peacock. It’s free, it’s easier to use than PlayOn’s streaming DVR software, and it mostly works, the main catch being the extra hoops you must jump through to watch on an actual television.
Read the full column on TechHive →
Weekly rewind
Paramount+ price hike: Paramount+ is joining most of its rivals of late in raising prices. These will take effect on August 20 for new subscribers and by September 20 for existing ones:
- Paramount+ Essentials (with ads): $6 → $8 per month
- Paramount+ with Showtime (no ads): $12 → $13 per month
If you’re hanging into a legacy Limited Commercial plan (which has ads but includes a local CBS feed), that price is also rising to $8 per month. Annual pricing will stay unchanged at $60 per year for Essentials and $120 per year with Showtime.
The good news: We’ve still got Paramount+ promo codes, so new and returning subscribers can get a month of free with promo code V5Z82W750Z. Or if you’d rather play it safe and lock in a longer-term discount, you can use this link to get one year of Paramount+ with Showtime for $60.
Dish bundles Netflix: You might be paying too much for TV with Dish Network, but at least you’ll also be able to bundle Netflix (with ads) at no extra charge. The catch? You’ll need to sign a fresh two-year commitment to get the offer. In exchange, you’ll get $7 in monthly bill credits, and can upgrade to Netflix’s ad-free or 4K tiers by paying the difference in price. See Dish’s website for details.
More catch-up
- One year after rebranding HBO Max as just “Max,” Warner is rebranding most Max originals as “HBO Originals” instead.
- Rumor: Netflix considers a free tier, but not for the U.S.
- An AI (capital “I”) Al (lowercase “l”) Michaels voice will recap Paris Olympics events.
- More hotels are adding Chromecast and AirPlay to their TVs.
- Fubo’s app arrives on Xumo devices and Comcast Xfinity Flex boxes.
- By request: Here’s where to watch the new MeTV Toons channel.
Save more money
The arthouse movie streaming service Mubi is currently offering a three-month free trial for new and returning subscribers. It does require a credit card to sign up, and according to the folks at Slickdeals, it’s the rare service that cuts off access immediately if you cancel during the trial period. Consider using a virtual card with spending limits to maximize your trial without worries.
Other notable deals:
- New and returning Peacock subscribers can still take $30 off one year with code PEACZL3V0D1. Lock it in before the July 18 price hike.
- Prime members can get three months of Starz for $2 per month. Everyone else: Six months for $20, or three months for $3 per month.
- The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is back down to $35.
- See more up-to-date deals on the Cord Cutter Weekly website.
Thanks for reading!
Want to know how this newsletter sausage gets made? Check out my conversation with Simon Owens, who produces a newsletter and companion podcast about the media business. We talked about how I got started, the challenges of balancing two independent newsletters with freelance work, how I get by without ads or sponsors in the newsletter (cough, cough) and where things are headed from here. Thanks Simon!
Got cord cutting questions for me? Just reply to this email to get in touch.
Until next week,
Jared