A Disney FAST service?

There was a report last week that Disney may be rolling out a free ad-supported television service, or at least incorporate FAST channels into Disney Plus.

The Information reported that Disney was looking into FAST channels:

Disney is the latest to expand in this market. The company plans to create a series of such channels within its Disney+ streaming service that show programming in specific genres, including either Star Wars or Marvel-branded shows, according to people involved in the planning. Lots of other companies have already launched such channels, although typically as free offerings rather than within a subscription service. That includes Disney, which has launched similar channels within its ABC.com app, such as one dedicated to its "20/20" newsmagazine program and another to the daytime soap opera "General Hospital."

There aren't a lot of details about it. And nothing may come from it.

If Disney Plus does incorporate FAST channels, will this be watchable without a subscription, much like Freestream is with Sling TV?

I have no idea. My Streaming Life would like some new and interesting options. More of what's already available on Pluto TV, Tubi, The Roku Channel, Crackle, Plex, Freestream, and other channels isn't really bringing anything to the table. All it would do is keep Disney eyes within the Disney app. But that's probably the idea anyway.

So what about TiVo?

Remember TiVo? I got my first TiVo in 2006 and loved it. I kept getting new models when they were released until they released that ugly bent one.

You never hear about TiVo anymore. Why?

TV Answer Man Phillip Swann has some thoughts on that:

After the first five years of relentless marketing strategies, TiVo had just 700,000 subscribers.

Yes, subscribers. You had to pay a monthly fee, ranging from $10 to $13 in addition to the cost of the box which was $249 in 2003.

That was problem number one. It was too expensive.

Second, the company placed too much emphasis on retail sales rather than focusing on licensing and partnerships. Consequently, cable TV operators launched their own DVR services, which sharply limited TiVo’s growth potential.

If a cable subscriber already had a DVR service, why buy a TiVo?

They didn’t.

Third, TiVo still had to compete with the dinosaur VCR. In the early 2000s, most consumers were still happy with the VCR, particularly when they heard that TiVo required a monthly subscription. The VCR, which TiVo and DVR rival, ReplayTV, sought to replace, was still in more than 90 percent of U.S. homes.

I have a TiVo streaming device. I don't like it, and don't use it. My Streaming Life left TiVo far behind. I do miss it, though.

Microsoft Windows 11 ads?

Britec posted a video recently about Microsoft's plans to push ads onto users in the Windows start menu.

[YouTube]

My Streaming Life doesn't depend on Windows 11, but I do have a Windows 11 computer. Most people have a Windows computer, including Windows 11 devices. If you're tired of this, consider changing to another operating system. Linux is stable and doesn't do all these things, and it's free. But, yeah, it can be a learning curve.

ChromeOS is stable, easy to use, and free. Yes, ChromeOS is Google, but there aren't all these things happening with it. You don't have to stay with Windows. You have options. Options are good.

Some want you to pay more for TV

Recently, Lon Seidman of Lon.TV took a look at broadcasters desire to get streaming regulated by the FCC, with the effect of raising your costs.

[YouTube]

I think there is too much government involvement in ... well, everything. FCC regulation of streaming will not make things better. My Streaming Life doesn't need more government. In fact, nothing does.

Roku forcing multi-factor authentication

We should have seen this coming. Especially since it was in a statement we linked in a post from last week. I read it, I just didn't let it sink in.

Roku is forcing multi-factor authentication (MFA) on users:

As a part of our ongoing commitment to information security, we have enabled two-factor authentication (2FA) for all Roku accounts, even for those that have not been impacted by these recent incidents. As a result, the next time you attempt to log in to your Roku account online, a verification link will be sent to the email address associated with your account, and you will need to click the link in the email before you can access the account.

It is a good idea for MFA on new devices. I don't like it all the time, but if a new device is used, I see its value.

My Streaming Life has involved Roku since 2010. They really should have done this years ago.

Xfinity new cheap plans

Michael Timmermann of Michael Saves took a look recently at the new Internet and phone plans announced by Xfinity.

[YouTube]

These plans are not avaialble to me yet. And I'm skeptical about the idea they'll make them avaialable nationwide. I'm sure they'll come up with some terms that would cause me to need to stay with their much more expensive plans.

My Streaming Life has used Comcast/Xfinity for years. Generally, the service has been reliable. However, I'd like to have other options, even if the alternative to Xfinity is Xfinity.

Roku OS 13 can wait

When Roku rolls out a new operating system, it takes a while. You don't really have a choice as to when you get it. Roku sends it out on their own schedule. One rollout -- version 10, if my memory is correct -- had one device get it the day it launched, and another device get it nearly three months later. Roku is on Roku's schedule.

I mention this because Roku OS 13 is rolling out. You don't know when you'll get it, and there is nothing you can do to speed up getting it. That is one of the biggest complaints I saw when I regularly roamed the Roku support Websites.

I haven't received it. Well, I don't think I have. I haven't launched a Roku device in a few weeks. Roku has been my primary streaming device of choice since I first started streaming in 2010, before I finally cut the cord in 2011. In the last several months, though, I have used a variety of other platforms, primarily devices running the Google TV platform, so Roku has had to wait.

Recently, Roku pulled that nonsense with the terms of service, which I still haven't accepted. So, I haven't received Roku OS 13. Well, I don't think I have. I haven't used it, that's for sure.

My Streaming Life has used Roku a lot. I kinda miss it. And I'll get over it insofar as being mad at Roku. Just not today.