Cordkillers 197 – Kibbles in My Keyboard

Cordkillers / November 28th, 2017

New plans for Marvel, Plex can delete commercials from your DVR recordings, and we check in on the gear and services we use to watch our stuff.

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CordKillers: Ep. 197 – Kibbles in My Keyboard
Recorded: November 27 2017
Guest: None

Intro Video

Primary Target

How to Watch

  • Tom’s device report or Why I still need a Roku even though I find myself using Apple TV more and more.

What to Watch

  • Why Eileen and Tom seemed to have started “collecting” movies again.

What We’re Watching

Front Lines

  • House of Cards ‘hopes to resume soon’ – without Kevin Spacey
    – Production on House of Cards season six is expected to resume December 8 without Kevin Spacey. Writers have been working during the hiatus, presumably to figure out what to do with Spacey’s character, Frank Underwood.
  • Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige says the next 20 Marvel films will be ‘completely different’
    – Marvel has 22 films from the release of Iron Man to the end of Phase Three with a fourth Avengers film in 2019. But in an interview with Vanity Fair, Kevin Feige said “we’ve got another 20 movies on the docket that are completely different from anything that’s come before — intentionally.” As well as “There will be two distinct periods. Everything before Avengers 4 and everything after.” The only films acknowledged in this fourth phase are Spider-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy sequels.
  • Plex’s DVR now lets you skip the commercials… by removing them for you
    – Plex confirmed to TechCrunch that it is a rolling out a feature for it’s over-the-air DVR function that will automatically remove commercials from recordings. Plex’s documentation warns the feature can take some time and cause high CPU utilization. It’s available in beta now for PLex Pass subscribers.
  • YouTube TV gets picture-in-picture support on Android Oreo
    – YouTube TV subscribers lucky enough to have a device that can upgrade to Android Oreo can now do picture in picture. That means you can keep the video from TV streaming while you do other things on your phone or tablet. Netflix, Chrome, VLC, and Facebook also support the feature.
  • Netflix’s She’s Gotta Have It tells a familiar story in a new way
    – Spike Lee has created a Netflix series based on his 1986 debut movie “She’s Gotta Have It.” The series focuses on struggling Brooklyn artist Nola Darling who’s in a casual relationship with three very different men. It premiered on Netflix November 23rd.
  • This Could Be the First Look at Altered Carbon, Netflix’s Very Expensive New Scifi Series
    – A Reddit account called Last Envoy has been posting images that look to be art referring to Netflix’s upcoming 10-episode series “Altered Carbon” based on the book by Richard K. Morgan The GIFS depict the Skin Jobs Dive Bar, Smokes N Vapr shop, and a noodle joint. Netflix isn’t commenting.

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Dispatches from the Front

Hey guys!

Just wanted to follow up after my email caused a stir regarding how I have been using Moviepass.

It does take 7 movie tickets in order to get enough points for a free small popcorn, and I upgrade it to a large for $2.00. Before Moviepass, I NEVER bought conscessons (I’m in my mid 20s) and now I spend $2 almost every time I see a movie. It’s not like they are losing money I would have spent, I wouldn’t buy popcorn at all and just see the movie. Based on the ticket cut and how cheap popcorn is to make, I believe Regal is still benefiting from my Moviepass adventures.

Regarding the Moviepass terms of service, I’ll need to take a closer look…

Thanks for the show,
– Joshua

 

 

Hey guys,
I cut the cord yesterday and stumbled across your podcast (and love it!). Since I’ve only listened to a couple episodes so far, maybe you’ve already addressed these topics (and sorry if that’s the case) but I had a couple of questions for you.
A little background first – I live in West LA, my cable company was Spectrum, I currently have Netflix and Hulu subscriptions and view them on the Roku. I also ordered an HDTV antenna to install on my roof and suspect I’ll be able to get the main channels for free. Now, the questions – 1) I need a new internet provider… not sure where to go… were you guys in the same situation? What was your solution? (Spectrum was charging too much and wouldn’t budge on price so I cancelled it on a whim, it will be shut off on Dec 12).
2) My only real issue now is how I’ll watch my favorite show (Better Call Saul!). There’s no AMC on Hulu and I really don’t want to pay Sling $20/month for ONE SHOW. Is there another way to watch it when it airs again? Should I buy episodes as they air on Amazon Prime? Assuming they’re available the next day. Is there a better way?
Thanks again for the podcast. Great job, and I’ll pass the word along to my friends!
– Lisa

 

 

Hello Tom and Brian,

I wondering if you think Disney’s new streaming service could be the return of the “Disney Vault”?

For the audience members who might not know what this it. During the VHS era, Disney would pull movies from stores and they would disappear for years to be re-released in some sort of new edition that had nothing new about it.

I am wondering if we could something like that happen with all Disney content. You go on iTunes, Google Play, Netflix, etc. and movies like Star Wars, The Marvel Cinematic Universe and Disney Animation can not be purchase or watched unless you subscribe to Disney’s Streaming Service. Then every time there is an anniversary of a films release they allow it to be sold on other platforms for a limited time at a marked up price.

Also, I could see Disney tier their service where you pay different prices for access to more popular content.

What are your thoughts on this? Speak to me oh Captains of Cordkilling!!

– Josh

     

Links

2017 Winter Movie Draft
patreon.com/cordkillers

Cordkillers 196 – You Might Be Part of the 7% (w/ Kristi Kates)

Cordkillers / November 21st, 2017

A streaming service for the sports apathetic, why people watch Netflix in the bathrooms, and Twitter tries to win the 24 hour news game. With special guest Kristi Kates.

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CordKillers: Ep. 196 – You Might Be Part of the 7%
Recorded: November 20 2017
Guest: Kristi Kates

Intro Video

Primary Target

  • Philo non-sports Pay TV service
    – Philo launched this week
    – Streaming service from A&E, Scripps, Discovery, AMC and Viacom
    – Base for $16 a month, Extras for $20 a month
    – Web, Roku, iOS

How to Watch

  • People watch Netflix at work and in public bathrooms 
    – Netflix commissioned survey
    – 37,000 adults between late August and early September
    – 67% of people watch TV and movie in public
    – planes, buses, commuting most popular
    – 26% said binged shows at work.
    – 7% worldwide admitted watching TV and movies in public restrooms
    – Mobile makes up 10% of its viewing though half of users stream from phone during a month

What to Watch

What We’re Watching

Front Lines

 

Dispatches from the Front

 

I would like to points out that when you use MoviePass to artifically inflate points that it’s the movie theater that loses out because you are getting stuff for free

– John

 

Tom and Brian,

Just finished listening to Episode 195 in which you read an email from Joshua where he says he buys tickets using his Moviepass everyday just to rack up loyalty points. A quick look at the Moviepass terms of service shows that is in fact against the TOS.

One of the items that they list as a reason to terminate your account is:

(ix) On more than one occasion during any thirty (30) day period you do not view the movie for which you purchased a ticket with your MoviePass Card in its entirety.

I’m sure you’ve gotten several emails on the same subject, but I just thought it was worth a mention. Moviepass seems like a great deal and I am getting ready to sign up, and I would hate for everyone to lose it because some folks aren’t playing by the rules.

Thanks

– Don

 

 

So I have to reverse my opinion that I tweeted to Tom and Brian earlier about MoviePass. It was a great company when it was $40 a month. The price cut and expansion with $10 a month has thrown all levels of customer service they used to have in the trash.

As someone who works in customer service I’m a little less lenient in this area than some (I broke relations with a game developer from poor service regarding $15.) but my partner and I have two different problems and they won’t respond to either of us. I have my card and no way to activate it and my partner has an activated card but no physical card. We have tried Facebook, Twitter, instagram in addition to the in-app chat support and email and no response from the company at all. It’s been a rather disappointing experience since the business model changed for MoviePass.

– Jeff

 

 

Hello Valued Employees (and guest),

So I’m wondering what you think about the idea that Netflix is ahead of the game in international distribution, with the key being their Netflix Originals brand.

With shows such as Peaky Blinders, The Expanse and ST Discovery all being branded “Netflix Originals” outside of their home territories, it seems like Netflix is playing the long game worldwide to increase their prominence and their mindshare with audiences, while the other big media companies still haven’t risen their eyes above the horizon and are just obsessively squabbling over the US domestic market.

TL;DR Netflix is focusing on the rest of the world, discuss!

Thanks for a great show – keep up the good work and maybe you’ll get those xmas bonuses!

– Micky

 

 

 

Hey there, just a small note on CW shows on Netflix. Tom had said that the previous season is available the day the new season starts. However, they show up 8 days after the season ends:

Netflix and the CW Confirm New Licensing Deal for All Scripted Series

Sorry if 400 people pointed this out! 😀

– Rob

 

Links

2017 Winter Movie Draft
patreon.com/cordkillers

It’s Spoilerin’ Time 194

Cordkillers / November 8th, 2017

Why Brian saw Thor twice, the last two episodes of Stranger Things, Tom thinks they may have seen the most boring Mr. Robot yet, and Mal finds love on Firefly. 

01:18 – Winter Movie Draft 2017
03:26 – Thor: Ragnarok
14:49 – Mr. Robot (304)
23:30 – Stranger Things (208-209)
35:08 – Firefly (Heart of Gold)

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It’s Spoilerin’ Time 193

Cordkillers / November 1st, 2017

Brian didn’t watch Mr. Robot but Bryce did so we talk about it anyway and spoil Brian. Plus: most of Stranger Things season 2 and Firefly!

00:55 – Winter Movie Draft 2017
05:30 – Mr. Robot (303)
15:50 – Stranger Things (201-207)
32:54 – Firefly (The Message)

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Cordkillers 193 – Archduke Content

Cordkillers / October 31st, 2017

YouTube TV comes to TVs, TiVo BOLT VOX gets real, and whether we want Netflix after shows.

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CordKillers: Ep. 193 – Archduke Content
Recorded: October 30 2017
Guest: None

Intro Video

Primary Target

  • YouTube is taking on TV on its home turf, and it’s starting to win
    – YouTube says viewers watch 100 million hours of clips a day in the living room, up 70% in the last year. Google uses that to mean TVs connected to the Internet not sitting on your couch with your laptop or phone. YouTube users overall watch a billion hours of video a day.
  • YouTube TV is rolling out on Apple TV, Roku, Xbox One, and more
    – Monday YouTube rolled out a YouTube TV app for Android TV and Xbox One. Apps will roll out in the coming weeks for Apple TV, Roku, and smart TVs from Samsung, Sony, and LG. YouTube has no rollout plans for Amazon Fire TV devices. The TV-based apps will have a full grid programming guide and let users scroll through a transparent sidebar of channels while video stays playing. It also supports voice search.

How to Watch

  • TiVo officially announces its voice-controlled DVRs, the BOLT VOX and Mini VOX
    – TiVo confirmed the launch of the 4K BOLT VOX and Mini Vox which include voice control from the remote. TiVo’s voice search has some context sensitivity allowing refinements on the fly. The BOLT VOX will come in 500GB and 1 TB sizes with 4 tuners for OTA and cable at $199 and $299 each. A 3 TB model has 6 tuners but only supports cable for $499. The Mini costs $179.99. The TiVO Vox remote will also be sold separately for $39.99 for existing BOLT, Roamio and Mini customers. The new VOX products go on sale October 29th.
  • TiVo’s revamped interface is available for existing DVRs
    – As of October 29th, you can visit TiVo’s website and request an upgrade to your Bolt, Mini or Roamio set-top box. It’ll take “2-3 hours” before you can force the download, but you don’t have to wait for TiVo to push the new design on its own

What to Watch

What We’re Watching

Front Lines

  • Hulu’s CEO is going to run Sony TV, and another Fox exec is going to run Hulu
    – Mike Hopkins, formerly of Fox, who has been CEO of Hulu since 2013, is leaving to run Sony TV where he will report to new Sony Pictures Entertainment boss Tony Vinciquerra. Randy Freer. President and COO of Fox TV will become CEO of Hulu.
  • DirecTV to Launch Android TV-Based OTT Set-Top Box
    – A new FCC filing shows that DirecTV plans to offer a new streaming set top box based on Google’s Android TV with no built in satelite connectivity or hooks into the company’s current Genie hardware. The documentation in the filing descirbes the box as an over-the-top streaming service box, with access to the Google Play Store and Ethernet, digital audio, HDMI and USB ports.
  • Roku Wants to Start Streaming to Third-Party Devices 
    – Variety reports Roku will bring its streaming videos channel to its mobile apps. The Roku Channel streams free ad-supported movies. Roku generates 41 percent of its revenue from what it calls its platform business, which includes advertising and licensing fees.
  • Apple’s Billion-Dollar Bet on Hollywood Is the Opposite of Edgy
    – Bloomberg reports Tim Cook delayed the release of Carpool Karaoke because of foul language. In fact Apple’s original content is expected to be comedies and dramas with broad appeal and suitable for all ages.
  • Comcast Q3 Earnings Beat Expectations Despite 134,000 Cable Subscriber Loss
    – Comcast lost 134,000 residential video subscribers while adding 214,000 Internet subscribers. Last year at this time Comcast was bucking the trend by adding video subscribers in modest amounts. Comcast overall did well. NBC Universal saw a drop with the absence of the Olympics but NBC’s content licensing haul was up 20% to $440 million.
  • Regal Cinemas Plan May Let You Pay Less for Flops, More for Hits
    – Regal Entertainment Group plans to test Dynamic Pricing in 2018. The idea would be to charge different prices depending on how popular a movie is.

Dispatches from the Front

Hello Tom, Brian and guest.
I can’t thank you enough for recommending the movies anywhere app. Not only did I get 5 free movies for linking my Google Play and Amazon accounts, I now have access to all the special features that I didn’t even know were available for my movies. Hours and hours of director’s commentary, behind the scenes footage, deleted scenes, gag reels and production stills. I buy most of my movies on Google and I watch them usually on my Roku device. Nowhere in the app on the Roku for Google movies or even the app on my Android device, as far as I can tell, is there a place to access the special features. Maybe I’ve completely missed something, but I am completely blown away that they don’t make this stuff available on their own apps. Anyway, thank you again. Love love love the show.

– Adam  

 

 

Hi Tom (and Brian),
A few weeks ago, you were talking about the new Movies Anywhere app, and you mentioned how Ultraviolet movies purchased on FandangoNow didn’t transfer to Movies Anywhere via VUDU. I experienced the same thing with a 4K code from BestBuy for pre-ordering Spiderman Homecoming that redeemed only on FandangoNow. Well I was digging around my iTunes library with week and noticed Spiderman Homecoming in there. It took a while, but the movie eventually showed up in my Movies Anywhere library. You might want to check for those movies you were missing before, they might just be there now! 

– David

 

 

Just listened to latest episode and want to add the way I watch Star Trek Discovery is I have a tablet I just throw on VPN save discovery offline and then airplane mode it and watch it on my commute. I don’t even think CBS go gives option for offline viewing does it.

– Jack

 

 

 

Hey Tom and Brian, I wanted to toss a question out to the cord killers audience to see if I can get some suggestions. I have a Hard drive filled with videos for my 2 year old daughter to watch when we are bored with streaming options. Its mostly full seasons of young children’s television. I get tired of watching the same show repeatedly but don’t want to have to make decisions like which show to switch to and I don’t really want to manage a static playlist but I don’t really want the complete randomness of loading all the videos and hitting shuffle. So I was wondering if anyone knew of a way to dynamically generate a playlist based on some loosely defined “time blocks” for lack of a better word at the moment. where I could maybe say play 3 videos from folder A then 2 Videos from B etc. Love The show!

– Justin

 

 

 

As far as neilson numbers for Netflix, I wanted to bring up a point about why their numbers will be even more pointless. Neilson works by taking a sample of people watching a show at a time and extrapolating that sample to the US audience. That works if you know that people have more or less the same choice of what to watch at a certain time. With Netflix any show can be watched at anytime and everyone’s LOLOM (list of list of movies – their term for the home page) is unique and different everytime you start Netflix. So making statistical extrapolations from a sample is pointless. Though knowing how corporations and ad agencies work (from the last 6 years of working) they will probably be used as cover to prove what ever point they need at the moment.

Love the show and keep up the good work. Love being a Patron

– Martin

Links

2017 Winter Movie Draft
patreon.com/cordkillers