The BBC has announced a new natural history series called ‘Hidden Planet,’ a follow-up to David Attenborough’s ‘Life in the Undergrowth.’ The BBC’s head of unscripted brands, Kate Phillips, has dismissed the notion that streaming services are taking over the TV landscape, citing research that BBC iPlayer remains widely watched in the UK. Phillips emphasized the BBC’s commitment to risk-taking and innovation, despite challenges such as inflation and the license fee settlement.
Netflix users who enjoy live events on the streaming platform should be aware that they may need a TV Licence to avoid a hefty fine of up to £1000. Live broadcasts, whether on traditional TV channels or streaming services, require a TV Licence. This includes Netflix’s recent live broadcasts of a Chris Rock stand-up show and the Paul vs Tyson boxing match. The standard TV Licence costs £169.50 per year, while a discounted black and white licence is available for £57.
Sonos unveils a new mobile app for Android and iOS devices, featuring a redesigned interface, enhanced functionality, and a focus on ease of use. Based on extensive customer feedback, the new app prioritizes content discovery, playback management, and system control.
Sonos has unveiled a comprehensive redesign of its app to address the growing fragmentation in the streaming market. The revamped app features a fully customizable home screen that allows users to tailor their listening experience based on their preferences. Over 100 streaming services are supported, and users can pin their favorites and most frequently used services to the home screen for quick and easy access.
Target, a major American retailer, has announced plans to discontinue in-store sales of DVDs and Blu-rays by 2025. This decision aligns with the increasing popularity of streaming services and the decreasing demand for physical media formats. Target will continue to offer DVDs and Blu-rays at specific times of the year and for limited releases.
Google Podcasts, a popular podcast app with millions of users worldwide, will shut down for everyone outside of the US in June. The app’s closure comes as part of Google’s efforts to turn YouTube into an all-in-one destination for podcasts, music, and video. Google has said it will help podcast creators with the switch to YouTube Music, but users may be reluctant to move away from the familiar titles they’ve grown to love on Google Podcasts.
The NBA playoffs are officially underway, and the New York Knicks are hoping to keep the regular season momentum going. In game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Knicks won with a score of 111-104. It’ll take just three more wins in the best-of-seven series to punch a ticket to the conference semifinals. Unlike the regular season, where you can tune into most Knicks games on MSG, all of the NBA Playoffs games air on national networks.
According to public ranking systems, ‘Rebel Moon ― Part Two: The Scargiver’ and ‘An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th’ are topping the charts on Netflix and Max, respectively. Other popular movies trending on streaming services include ‘The Nice Guys’ on Apple TV+, ‘Migration’ on Peacock, and ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ on Paramount+. These films offer a mix of genres, from space epics and documentaries to buddy comedies and animated adventures.
