Google Play Movies & TV app sunsets
Google is planning to discontinue access to its Google Play Movies & TV app on Roku devices and smart TVs from Samsung, LG and Vizio beginning June 15. It will eventually be replaced by Google TV and the YouTube app will become the new access point for purchased movies and TV shows across these devices. It will be as simple as logging in with your Google account in the YouTube app to access all past purchases and to browse, purchase, and rent new content. The platform provides an aggregated watchlist so users can bookmark and access their content from different services in one place. Google TV also incorporates an “On Now” section and channel guide for live and linear content.
The NPD Take:
- Google’s new platform of unifying search, discovery and access provides a more seamless user experience.
- Between hardware and content services, the company continues to re-brand which has the potential to generate user confusion.
Discovery+ expands its Amazon reach
Discovery+, the company’s subscription streaming service that launched earlier this year, is now available through Amazon Prime Video Channels. While the service was already available on Amazon Fire TV, now Prime users will be able to purchase, manage and access a subscription to Discovery+ through their Prime Video account. For now, only the $6.99 per month ad-free version of Discovery+ is available through Channels and the $4.99 per month ad-supported version is expected to launch in the next few months. The Amazon Prime Video Channels announcement comes about one week after Discovery+ launched on Comcast’s Xfinity Flex platform for broadband-only subscribers.
The NPD Take:
- The launch on Channels expands access to Discovery+ for millions of Amazon customers.
- Discovery’s presence on Prime Channels should also help with new subscriber acquisition as Channels is a leading source of sign-up.