Year: 2022

YouTube and the NFL agree to 7-year deal for NFL Sunday Ticket

CompuScoop Staff December 22, 2022 1

The National Football League today announced a multi-year agreement with Google granting YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels the right to exclusively distribute NFL Sunday Ticket to consumers in the United States starting with the 2023 NFL season.

The deal is valued at roughly $2 billion annually over the course of seven years, according to people familiar with the matter. DirecTV’s expiring deal was for around $1.5 billion per year, reportedly losing some $500 million annually.

“We’re excited to bring NFL Sunday Ticket to YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels and usher in a new era of how fans across the United States watch and follow the NFL,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “For a number of years we have been focused on increased digital distribution of our games and this partnership is yet another example of us looking towards the future and building the next generation of NFL fans.”

“YouTube has long been a home for football fans, whether they’re streaming live games, keeping up with their home team, or watching the best plays in highlights,” said Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube, in a statement. “Through this expanded partnership with the NFL, viewers will now also be able to experience the game they love in compelling and innovative ways through YouTube TV or YouTube Primetime Channels. We’re excited to continue our work with the NFL to make YouTube a great place for sports lovers everywhere.”

Starting next season, NFL Sunday Ticket will be available as an add-on package on YouTube TV and standalone a-la-carte on YouTube Primetime Channels.

NFL Sunday Ticket consists of all out-of-market Sunday regular-season NFL games (based on viewer’s location) broadcast on FOX and CBS in the United States.

NFL Sunday Ticket launched in 1994 and has been distributed on DirecTV’s satellite service since its inception. The current costs for the 2022 season on DirecTV for NFL Sunday Ticket is $293.94 (6 payments of $48.99) and for NFL Sunday Ticket Max is $395.94 (6 payments of $65.99).

Via: NFL/YouTube.com

Apple halts update to HomeKit’s new Home architecture

CompuScoop Staff December 22, 2022 0

Following multiple reports of problems with HomeKit's new update, Apple appears to have withdrawn the option to upgrade to the new architecture.

The latest update to iOS 16.2 caused problems for some HomeKit users, as detailed on AppleInsider's dedicated HomeKit Insider podcast. Now without any notification, Apple appears to have halted the update and removed the option from the Home app.

Previously, users of the Home app would be prompted with "Home Upgrade Available." The prompt also explained that "Home now has a new underlying architecture that will improve the performance of your home."

Now this prompt reportedly no longer appears, as first spotted by MacRumors. In our own testing on Thursday morning, the option to update the whole architecture is inaccessible. Existing updates already applied seem to remain intact, however.

Curiously, the removal comes within 24 hours of Apple updating its HomeKit support documentation to include instructions on how to the new Home architecture. There's no mention of any delay in that document, nor has Apple commented publicly.

Via: AppleInsider.com

Verizon Deal: Switch to Verizon for just $25 per line. Guaranteed for 3 years.

CompuScoop Staff December 22, 2022 0

What: Welcome to Verizon. Starting tomorrow, switch to Verizon to get our best price ever. For a limited time, get Welcome Unlimited - with unlimited talk, text, and data on Verizon’s 5G Nationwide network - for just $25 per line per month for four lines (plus taxes and fees, with Auto Pay) when you bring four phones.¹ And the price is guaranteed for 3 years! You don’t even need to buy a new phone. Just bring the one you have, it’s that easy.

Why: It’s the savings that last on the network you want. We’re making it easy to switch to Verizon with our best price ever - guaranteed for three years (price guarantee excludes taxes and fees).

How: Join Verizon, the network America relies on, and sign up for Welcome Unlimited. No need to buy a new phone. Bring the phone you have, and your phone number too, it’s that easy. Make an appointment at your local retail store, chat with us, or sign up online.

Enjoy a sneak peek at our latest commercial starring Paul Giamatti as Albert Einstein.

WARNING: Netflix to end password sharing in early 2023

CompuScoop Staff December 22, 2022 3

Netflix will begin cracking down on password sharing starting in 2023 in hopes of spurring password piggybackers to create new accounts.

Netflix says that 100 million viewers watch the service using passwords borrowed from friends or family members. While the service historically has looked the other way, it's preparing to roll out measures to shut down the practice.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Netflix considered consumer backlash when it began plans to end password sharing. The company considered a gradual reduction in password sharing to test the waters.

It also considered adding pay-per-view content to its catalogs, which could make users wary of sharing their passwords for fear of others running up their bill. However, according to those familiar with the situation, the company has eschewed this idea in favor of keeping a simpler interface.

Via: AppleInsider.com