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    Streaming price wars heat up: Verizon to offer free Disney+ for 1 year

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1933 Views
    In this April 3, 2019, file photo characters from Disney and Fox movies are displayed behind Cathleen Taff, president of distribution, franchise management, business and audience insight for Walt Disney Studios during the Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures presentation at CinemaCon 2019, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Verizon is offering new and current customers a free year of Disney+ as the battle for streaming customers heats up. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
    NEW YORK (AP) --

    Verizon is offering new and current customers a free year of Disney+ as the battle for streaming customers heats up.

    The offer extends to certain new and existing unlimited 4G and 5G customers as well as the vast majority of new home-internet customers.

    The promotion beginning Nov. 12 will provide access to Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and other content. Disney+ plans to release more than 25 original series and 10 original films and documentaries in its first year, including a remake of "Lady and the Tramp. "

    Shares in Netflix, which has dominated the streaming entertainment world for years, slumped almost 3%.

    Netflix is trying to hold onto its vast customer base as cheaper alternatives from the likes of Apple, Disney and others go live next month.

    Netflix has long had a similar deal with T-Mobile. Comcast says its upcoming Peacock service will be free for cable customers. And AT&T, which will launch HBO Max next year, today throws in HBO free for wireless customers on unlimited plans.

    Apple is charging only $5 per month for its service, while Disney is selling a service featuring its vast library of films and TV shows for $7 per month. Netflix's most popular U.S. plan costs $13 per month.

    Tags:Disney+verizon



    DirecTV calls off acquisition of rival Dish, possibly ending a yearslong pursuit

    Friday, November 22, 2024
    Dish Network satellite dishes are shown at an apartment complex in Palo Alto, Calif., Feb. 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

    DirecTV is calling off its planned acquisition of rival Dish after the offer was rejected by bond holders at that company.

    The deal was reliant on Dish bond holders agreeing to trade in the debt they held for debt in the new company, a swap that would have cost them about $1.6 billion, collectively.

    The retreat by DirecTV this week may end a years-long effort by the company to acquire both Dish and Sling after it announced the bid in September.

    DirecTV was looking to acquire Dish TV and Sling TV from its owner EchoStar in a debt exchange transaction that included a payment of $1, plus the assumption of approximately $9.8 billion in debt. The deal was contingent on several factors, including regulatory approvals and bondholders writing off debt related to Dish.

    "While we believed a combination of DirecTV and Dish would have benefited all stakeholders, we have terminated the transaction because the proposed exchange terms were necessary to protect DirecTV's balance sheet and our operational flexibility," DirecTV CEO Bill Morrow said in a statement.

    The prospect of a DirecTV-Dish combo has long been rumored, and reported talks resurfaced over the years. And the two almost merged more than two decades ago — but the Federal Communications Commission blocked the deal valued at the time at $18.5 billion deal, citing antitrust concerns.

    The pay-for-TV market has shifted significantly since. As more and more consumers tune into online streaming platforms, demand for more traditional satellite entertainment continues to shrink.

    DirecTV says that it will continue to invest in next-generation streaming platforms and offer new packaging options while integrating content from live TV alongside direct-to-consumer... Read More

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