Amazon-branded smart TVs arriving soon
Amazon announced an all-new lineup of Fire TV devices with its first-ever Amazon-built smart TVs, the Amazon Fire TV Omni Series and 4-Series smart TVs, and the all-new Fire TV Stick 4K Max. The Fire TV Omni Series features 4K Ultra HD and hands-free Alexa voice control making it faster and easier to control your TV. It will be available next month exclusively at Amazon and Best Buy, in 43”, 50”, 55”, 65”, and 75” models with prices starting at $409.99.
The NPD Take:
- Own the hardware, own the household. In part, Amazon is looking to grow its Fire TV OS household base akin to how Roku did with Roku TV.
- Amazon isn’t alone, Xfinity is also plotting an entry into the Smart TV space and for similar reasons. Despite the drive to grow an OS base, success will require strong retail distribution in a highly competitive low margin business.
Hulu Raises Prices
Disney is raising prices at Hulu, following other increases in recent months at ESPN+ and Disney+. Starting October 8, the basic, ad-supported version of Hulu will go from $5.99 a month to $6.99, while the ad-free tier rises a dollar to $12.99. Rates for the Disney bundle and Hulu’s live TV service will remain the same. It is the first update of Hulu’s pricing since a combo move in early 2019, when the monthly cost of the basic tier dropped $2 to $5.99.
The NPD Take:
- Low-cost streaming will not last forever… the exclusive and premiere content that appeals to viewers comes at a premium.
- Notable, this rate increase makes the Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ bundle even more attractive. The era of streaming bundling is looking even more like old school cable strategies.
CNN+ tests out pricing options with mobile users
CNN has begun prompting users on its mobile site to test out potential price points for CNN+, its upcoming subscription streaming video service which is set to launch in the first quarter of 2022. The prompts display potential prices ranging from $1.99 to $9.99 per month and includes a seven-day free trial. It highlights CNN+ subscribers’ exclusive access to daily live shows from current CNN on-air talent, new original series, a library of CNN series and films, and a “community for fans to connect directly with anchors and experts in real time conversations.”
The NPD Take:
- News content which is historically one of the pillars of live linear TV, is also moving to streaming leaving fewer reasons to stick with cable or satellite TV.
- The streaming news field is about to get more balanced as left leaning CNN+ joins Fox Nation.