Latest streaming news for the week

Today, the business unveiled a number of changes coming to its video streamers and TVs with the new Roku OS 12 software. Along with the upgrades, which will centre on live TV and sports among other things, the Roku mobile app will also get a makeover, according to the firm. This will feature a new home screen and other layout adjustments in addition to improved capabilities for managing accounts and uploading photographs.

The software improvements are intended to help Roku more effectively compete with rivals, especially in the area of live TV, which is fast becoming a significant selling feature for users looking for alternatives after becoming overloaded with expensive streaming subscriptions. Services that offer access to free content are becoming more and more popular, as are FAST channels (free ad-supported streaming TV).

The updated Roku mobile app is the other significant upgrade that will be released simultaneously with the OS update. The new design, according to the business, aims to make the app a more “visually immersive” and individualized experience. Click here to read more.

Customers of Verizon wireless, 5G Home, and LTE Home may receive a year of Netflix’s Premium plan free of charge starting on March 12 through +play, Verizon’s subscription hub where you can shop, manage, and save on your favourite content subscriptions. Get in quick since the Netflix offer, which saves users $240 annually, is only valid while supplies last.

In order to make it simple for users to search, subscribe to, save money on, and pay for their subscription services all in one spot, +play effortlessly integrates a variety of content offerings — ranging from entertainment to education, lifestyle to fitness — in one location. Customers must acquire an annual subscription from one of a number of +play partners, such as AMC+, Calm, MasterClass, Paramount+, the Peloton App, STARZ, and Super Duolingo, in order to receive the special deal for Netflix’s Premium Plan. Click here to read more.

The company confirmed in a press release on Wednesday that the channel, which will be dubbed CBS Sports Golazo Network, will be accessible through Paramount+ and the free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) service Pluto TV when it launches next month.

The channel expands on a number of alliances Paramount and CBS Sports have established with prominent soccer organisations abroad, including the UEFA Europa League, Serie A, NWSL, Conacaf, and others.

If the CBS Sports Golazo Network would be made available on outside of the Paramount family free, ad-supported streaming platforms was not specified by Paramount. Additional channels are provided by third parties, such as Comcast’s Xumo Play, including CBS News Digital and CBS Sports HQ.

While baseball, basketball, and football have long been popular in the US, soccer has recently experienced a rapid increase in popularity, especially among the powerful Hispanic population. Soccer-related content reaches more than 32% of all television viewers and more than 61% of Hispanic viewers, according to Nielsen. Click here to read more.

In order to house its women’s sports rights in Germany and Austria, DAZN, the international sports subscription broadcaster, has announced the establishment of a free ad-supported television (FAST) channel.

According to the firm, the channel, DAZN Rising, leverages on the increase in interest in and demand for women’s sports in the region by being the first 24-hour channel solely devoted to women’s sports in the two nations.

DAZN Rising will be accessible beginning on March 16 through Samsung TV Plus and the IPTV service Waipu.tv before being made accessible through additional platforms like LG and Cliq.  After the announcement of a new women’s football-focused package in Spain, DAZN launched DAZN Rising.

The Liga F and Women’s Champions League, as well as highlights from events like the English Women’s Super League, are all included in the DAZN Victoria package, which began available on January 16. Click here to read more.