OTT service prices going up, Matt Groening’s new show, and Venture Bros. is really coming back. All this and more on Cordkillers! With special guest Brian Ibbott
CordKillers: Ep. 226 – Pop Culture Sherpa
Recorded: July 2 2018
Guest: Brian Ibbott
Intro Video
Primary Target
- DC’s new digital streaming service is opening its beta this August
– Warner Brothers announced the arrival of DC Universe. It’s combination of an unlimited digital comic platform with a library of past DC-related TV shows and movies, including upcoming shows like Young Justice: Outsiders, Titans, and Harley Quinn. DC Universe will be available in beta this August with a full launch planned for autumn. - Apple could bundle TV, music and news in a single subscription
– A new report from The Information says its sources say Apple might bundle its forthcoming original video programming with news content, magazines, music. Apple acquired Texture in March which lets you read multiple magazines with a single subscription.
How to Watch
- Sony raises monthly cost of PlayStation Vue by $5 for all plans
– Sony announced it’s raising its PSVue plans by $5 a month each due to rising business costs. the cheapest plan will cost $45 and the most expensive will be $85. It starts July 24 for new subscribers and the first billing cycle after July 31. - DirecTV Now will raise prices by $5 on August 1st
– DirecTV Now will raise its price by $5 on each of its packages starting August 1, with its cheapest package starting at $40 a month and the top tier now $75. - Sling TV revamps its service with a price hike, new free tier & à la carte channels
– Sling TV, is raising the base price of its core package Sling Orange by $5 to $25 per month, and also offering new free content and à la carte channel subscriptions. Sling TV will also offer pay-per-view (PPV) events and more than 5,000 movies that can be watched without a monthly subscription. A new user interface reflecting new content options hits Roku devices today, with other devices to come. - Dish and Sling TV lose Univision channels in price dispute
– Dish and Univision are in a carriage price dispute which means Univision, UniMás and Galavisión are no longer on Dish services including Sling TV. Univision Now recently launched a streaming service to get Univision channels for $6 a month.
What to Watch
- What we do in the shadows spin-off TV show gets a trailer
– There’s a trailer out for Wellington Paranormal, the TV spinoff of “What We Do in the Shadows”. Where the movie was a mockumentary the show appears to be more like a parody of cops. It comes to Channel 2 in New Zealand July 11. FX has ordered 10 episodes of an American remake of the movie in the form of a TV series, to star British comedy stars Kayvan Novak and Matt Berry. - You’re Going to Have to Wait Longer for Indiana Jones 5
– The 5th Indiana Jones movie or 4th if you don’t count Crystal Skull, was set for release July 10, 2020. However Variety reports production has been pushed later than its original April 2019 start date, meaning it won’t be ready for a summer 2020 release. Rumor is Jon Kasdan is in talks to rewrite the script from David Koepp. - The Venture Bros. get an August premiere date and a new teaser, full of demons and complaining
- Netflix offers a brief look at Matt Groening’s ‘Disenchanted’ coming August 17
- ‘Halo’ is actually, really, finally coming to TV
– Showtime commissioned a 10-episode Halo seris, with a storyline about a futuristic war between the human race and enemy aliens known as the Covenant. Kyle Killen, the creator and showrunner of Awake and Lone Star, will serve as executive producer, showrunner and writer. Rise of the Planet of the Apes director Rupert Wyatt has been tapped to direct a handful of episodes.
What We’re Watching
- Brian: Deadwood, Preacher
- Tom: Ant Man and the Wasp, What We Do in the Shadows, Broadchurch, Deadwood, Preacher
- Brian I: Homeland, Clone Wars, Season 2 of Westworld
- On the Lookout: X-Files
Front Lines
- Justice Department Approves Disney’s Acquisition of 21st Century Fox With Divestiture of Regional Sports Networks
– The US Department of Justice has given approval for Disney to acquire most of 21st Century Fox. The deal would NOT include the Fox broadcast network, Fox News or FS1 and FS2. However it was supposed to include the Fox Regional Sports Networks. The Department of Justice would require Disney to divest of itself of those regional sports networks as it believes it creates an anti-competitive conflict due to Disney’s ownership of ESPN and other regional sports nets. Disney has agreed to the conditions. Comcast still has a competing bid but has not received antitrust approval. - Verizon shuts down its free Go90 video streaming service
– Verizon will shut down its free ad-supported Go90 video streaming service July 31. Verizon Go topped out at 17 mm unique users earlier this year. Verizon laid off most of the Go 90 staff and shifted development to former Vessel staff after VZN acquired them. No more significant layoffs are expected. - MoviePass parent says it may sell up to $1.2B in equity and debt to finance operations and growth
– MoviePass parent company Helios and Matheson Analytics has filed paperwork with the US SEC to sell up to $1.2 billion in equity and debt securities. This doesn’t give them that much money but it does give them clearance to raise up to that amount through various financial means like selling shares. - Coming soon from Netflix: Three dozen billboards in Hollywood
– Netflix is buying half of Regency Outdoor Advertising giving it up to 35 billboard displays along Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. The deal is expected to close in July.
Dispatches from the Front
Hi Brian,Bryce,Tom,and Jackie somewhere in the background.
So Westworld season 2 ended last week.I needed another show to watch to justify my HBO add-on subscription through Hulu.I chose “”The Leftovers””.
I’ve watched the first three episodes so far.While those dogs aren’t ours anymore,I know you’ve already watched and discussed the first 3 seasons of the show.
My question is,where is the Spoilering search feature project at right now?Months ago Bryce mentioned we needed 1500 patreon bosses to make the search function for spoilering time happen.Is the goal close?Or very far away from happening?
I’d appreciate a reply from David Pick in Fond Du Lac,WI.
If nothing else,wishing everyone have a good 4th of July holiday later this week.
– David
Greetings cord killers,
I am team Brian. I have a movie theater five minutes away from my home that is always the first place I go to. That’s not to say that I’m unwilling to go to a different theater if the movie I want to see is playing there at a better time. However, I go to the same theater 98% of the time
– Jess
Hey Killers,
Regarding loyalty to theaters, my wife and I are 100% Team Brian! We gravitate to theaters with specific characteristics, even if that meant driving further than other closer theaters. When we lived in Rochester, we drove 30 minutes to an AMC because it was one of the first theaters in the area with assigned seats. When we moved to Lawrence Kansas, .. we drove 45 minutes to the AMC in Kansas City with assigned seats and a Dolby Atmos theater.
– anotherJmartin
Hey Brian and Tom,
Generally speaking I tend to use the same one or two theaters, even though everywhere I have lived for the last decade has at least half a dozen theaters within reasonable driving distance. Why? Theater amenities. … I want large, comfortable, reclining seats, and to be able to pick my seats ahead of time.
–Kyle
Hello Brian, Tom , and Bryce,
My wife and I pretty much only go to one theatre and we drive about 40 minutes to get there.
We have three other theatres that are a bit closer but the one we frequent has huge reclining chairs, and reserved seating.
– Seamus
Cord Slayers,
I’m lucky enough to have 4 theaters within a 15 minute drive but there is 1 theater to that I go to 90% of the time. I like to stick to 1 theater because I like a consistent experience… Once I lock into a routine I can choose the same row/seat and know I won’t be pulled out of the movie experience by an uncomfortable seat, viewing angle, house lights, etc.
– Anonymous
Hi guys,
… Here in Waco, we have two 16 screen megaplexes run by Regal and AMC, and one six screen “cheap seat” theater. My wife and I tend to go to the AMC, and only because they put in an IMAX screen last year, …However, the Regal is the only location for Fathom events, and thus the only place to see the TCM monthly classics on a big screen, so I can’t stay in the AMC system for all my needs. …
– David
I’d would never consider AMC’s plan because it is limited to AMC. I wouldn’t do Alamos plan because both Alamos in Denver are pretty far away. But I will go to movies at various chains. United Artists (Regal) and Landmark and sometimes AMC and Alamo.
– Lewis
Hey Everyone,
I happen to be one of those people that really do(n’t)? go to the movie theater at all. It’s not that I don’t want to, but paying $19.99 once on iTunes for a movie I do want to see trumps a trip to the theater. While one might think I missing the theater experience, there isn’t that much of an experience that I can’t replicate at home except for the big screen, but a 4K 65 inch screen in the dark is pretty darn good.
– Chris
Hey Cordkillers,
I signed up for the AMC Stubs A-List program and just before I hit submit I noticed something in the fine print. There is a three month commitment to the program before you can cancel. I still signed up because I go to the movies frequently and it is a good value form me but if you are wanting to sign up for a month and catch up on movies then cancel. You could find yourself with quite a surprise.
Caveat emptor, Cordkiller believers!!!!!
– Josh
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