FIRST LOOK
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Pricey as a Peacock? NBCUniversal’s Peacock is raising its prices for the fourth time in four years, the streamer announced on Tuesday. Starting immediately for new customers – and on or after Sept. 17 for current customers – the ad-supported Peacock Premium tier will increase from $10.99 to $12.99 per month; the Peacock Premium Plus will jump $3 from $16.99 to $19.99 per month; and Peacock Select, which excludes movies, live sports and Peacock originals, will go from $7.99 to $8.99 per month.
-While not a unique move – Netflix, HBO Max, Apple TV, Paramount+ and YouTube Premium have all bumped their prices up within the last two years – the timing is strange for Peacock, considering it just reached profitability as of its Q2 earnings.
-Meanwhile, Peacock also recently launched a beta membership program for select Premium and Premium Plus subscribers, which offers a series of exclusive deals and discounts to both partner brands and NBCU events.
–The Takeaway: Trying to entice viewers into a higher subscription tier with retailer perks is a pretty bold strategy for overcoming churn. It also makes sense that Peacock announced this budding membership program first, to soften the blow of these price hikes.
(Source: Cynopsis)
ABC is suing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for challenging broadcast licensing and “The View,” alleging a violation against freedom of speech.
-Earlier this year, the FCC called in the Disney-owned network’s eight broadcast licenses for early renewal. ABC, which is cooperating with the FCC’s requests (albeit unwillingly), claims that the FCC has not ordered license renewals ahead of schedule in more than half a century.
-The FCC initiated a separate proceeding targeting “The View.” The commission argues that the show is not technically a news program and, thus, not exempt from the equal opportunity rule mandating that a program featuring an interview with a political candidate must also offer equal airtime to qualified political candidates from opposing parties.
-The FCC’s proceedings follow the Trump administration’s objections to Disney’s DEI initiatives and TV programming, including a joke that Jimmy Kimmel made about President Trump, who called for ABC’s license to be revoked.
-As a result, ABC argues that the FCC is trying to strongarm the network into emulating programming and editorial decisions that are more palatable to the administration.
–The Takeaway: This particular tiff highlights the growing tension between the federal government and the media and broadcasting industry, including how much control or influence the former should have over the latter.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Netflix released the premiere date for “East of Eden,” an adaptation of John Steinbeck’s celebrated novel written and executive-produced by Zoe Kazan. The series, which debuts Oct. 1, stars Florence Pugh, Mike Faist and Christopher Abbott.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Season 6 of the Emmy Award-winning spy drama “Slow Horses” hits Apple TV on Sept. 16. Alongside series regulars Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden and Kristin Scott Thomas, the latest trailer reveals the return of Olivia Cooke (“House of the Dragon”), who hasn’t appeared since Season 1. Ironically, it will also be the last season for showrunner Will Smith (no, not that one).
(Source: Cynopsis)
“Toxic,” the nonscripted series where Elizabeth Chambers speaks with survivors of domestic abuse and intimate partner abuse, returns to Investigation Discovery with a second season on Sept. 15.
(Source: Cynopsis)
British crime dramedy “Ludwig” premieres its second season in North America on Oct. 13. The show was co-produced by BritBox and the BBC and stars David Mitchell (“That Mitchell and Webb Look”).
(Source: Cynopsis)
South Korean ‘70s political thriller “Made in Korea” launches its second season on Hulu and Disney+ Sept. 9.
(Source: Cynopsis)
All six episodes of “The Girls: A Kloé Kardashian Project,” the reality star’s newest nonscripted series, premiere on Hulu and Disney+ Aug. 21.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Meanwhile, “Team Moms: Baseball,” produced by Kim Kardashian and the makers of “Love Island,” premieres on Paramount+ Sept. 24. The reality show follows parents whose sons attend a prestigious baseball training school in Scottsdale, Arizona.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The five-part docudrama “Bucks County, USA,” co-directed by Robert May and Barry Levinson, is available to stream on the PBS app starting Sept. 20.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Netflix picked up a series order for “Weight to Date,” a dating docuseries that follows single people during and after undergoing extreme weight loss. It marks the first deal made by the Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC) since the company went independent from Sony Pictures Television a few weeks ago.
(Source: Cynopsis)
MTV announced the nominations for this year’s Video Music Awards, which will air live on CBS and Paramount+ Sept. 27. Madonna and Taylor Swift led the pack with 11 and 9 nominations, respectively.
(Source: Cynopsis)
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