Internet TV Digest #6

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This is the sixth of an occasional feature on TV Banter called Internet TV Digest.. Internet TV Digest contains recent news, information and discussion about online television.

INTERNET TV DIGEST

What's new on Netflix this January?

It's a new month and a new year.  This January, Netflix will feature the Batman series of films, all four movies in the Lethal Weapon series and the Godfather trilogy.  There will also be a new season of TV originals including One Day at a Time, Grace and Frankie and The Adventures of Puss in Boots.  In addition, subscribers will be able to watch the complete five seasons of Showtime's Episodes, the second season of Colony and more episodes of Eastsiders.


FX  CEO claims that peak TV is overshadowed by Internet

John Landgraf

Yesterday FX Netowrk CEO John Landgraf stated that television continues to produce a record number of original series but is distracted by technology.  He declared that even worthwhile TV is a "sideshow" to what he described as the "daily three-ring media circus."  He addressed concerns over viewer's decreasing attention span and "dwindling intolerance for dissent."  Landgraf  made his comments at the TV Critiscs meeting in Pasadena, California.  He also said that the total number of cable, broadcast and streamed series reached an estimated 487 in 2017, a seven per cent increase over 455 in 2016.  The 117 streamed series from 2017 from rapidly growing streamers such as Netflix and Amazon represented the largest increase (30 per cent over 2016).  Those statistics are certainly worth noting.


Amazon is ready to bid for streaming rights to Premier League

Amazon is set to bid for the streaming rights to English footfall.  According to Bloomberg, the online retail giant is preparing  to add to its growing list of sports.  It is set to bid for Premier League broadcasting rights next month and will likely compete against UK broadcasters Sky and BT.  If successful, acquiring the rights to Premier League would be Amazon's biggest sporting deal after Thursday night NFL matches and ATP Tennis.  However, the bidding is expected to be high and the rights to Premier League soccer will be very expensive.


Hulu takes over streaming rights for "Lost" from Netflix

The complete six seasons of the ABC supernatural drama Lost are now available on Hulu.  On January 4th, all 121 episodes of the series became available to Hulu subscribers as part of a deal with Disney/ABC.  Netflix originally made a deal for the rights to Lost back in 2009, but Netflix's subscription-streaming rights to the show expired.

Disney acquired a 30 per cent stake in Hulu when it made a $52 billion blockbuster deal with 21st Century Fox.  It now has majority control of the decade-old video streaming company.  Hulu is now restricted to the United States,  according to Variety, there is speculation that Disney might try to expand its new acquisition into international markets.

Lost, which aired from on ABC from 2004 to 2010 is the winner of many awards, including Emmy and Golden Globe awards for best drama series.  It follows the adventures of the survivors of Oceanic Air flight 815, en route from Sydney and Lost Angeles.  The plane crashes on a mysterious island in the Pacific.


- Joanne