In 2019, we’ll see several new streaming services to compete with the likes of Netflix, major alterations to the live TV services that are aiming to replace cable, new ways to sift through an ever-larger array of streaming TV options, and perhaps some interesting new streaming devices. When the year is over, your options for cutting the cable TV cord will look a lot different than they do today.
For a deeper look at what to expect in a wild year for streaming video, read the full column on TechHive.

My actual recommendations haven’t changed. I still think YouTube TV is the best live TV service for most people (though, as some of you have pointed out, it’s not available in about 15% of U.S. households). Hulu is also a great all-around alternative, and PlayStation Vue is a nice option for serious sports fans, but other services like DirecTV Now, FuboTV, Sling TV, and Philo have their own distinct advantages. Hopefully the guide will help you sift through all those options.

Chromecast hack: Tens of thousands of Chromecast users recently received an unpleasant surprise as hackers hijacked their streaming devices to display unwanted messages.

The exact cause of the breach is unclear. The hackers themselves say they exploited a common Wi-Fi router feature called uPnP, which helps devices talk to one another (think wireless printers connecting to your PC) and lets users remotely access files stored on a home network. Google has also blamed uPnP and in turn absolved itself of responsibility, telling TechCrunch that the hack stems from “router settings” and is “not an issue with Chromecast specifically.” However, some security experts have claimed that uPnP isn’t the problem, and that other undisclosed factors may have been to blame.

What to do, then? Disabling uPnP isn’t a bad idea in any event, especially if you’re uncertain about whether you need it for anything. If you’re running a Plex server and want to access media from outside the house, you can also tweak router settings to avoid using uPnP. Otherwise, it looks like one of the hackers in question has since retreated from the internet, which means you’re probably safe from this particular exploit for now.

Roku’s streaming TV marketplace: I touched on this in my column this week, but it’s worth pointing out separately that Roku plans to sell video subscriptions directly to users starting later this month. Using The Roku Channel, you’ll be able to sign up for premium channels like Starz and Showtime, along with some niche services like CuriosityStream and Noggin. The idea is to take several disparate services and have them all flow through a single app and billing system, similar to what Amazon is doing with Prime Channels, though Amazon’s channel selection is currently a lot larger.

The Roku Channel will continue to offer free ad-supported movies and TV shows as well, and you’ll soon be able to watch videos from outside the house using the Roku app for iOS and Android. The Roku Channel is available on the web and Samsung smart TVs already, and Roku says it’ll be expanding the app to more devices in the future. If that device support grows to include other streamers like Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV, then you won’t be locked into Roku’s hardware even if you do add some premium subscriptions.