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Love is in the Air (and on Your Screen): Valentine's Day (2025) Movie Picks for Everyone

Valentine's Day is here, and whether you're planning a cozy night in with your sweetheart or embracing the single life, there's a perfect movie out there to set the mood. I've compiled a list of classic and contemporary films to suit every taste, from heartwarming romances to laugh-out-loud comedies and everything in between. So grab your popcorn, dim the lights, and get ready to press play! Valentine's Day Movie Classics (and Some Newer Gems) This list spans the decades, offering a mix of iconic love stories and modern favorites that capture the spirit of Valentine's Day: 1920s : The Sheik (1921 ) - A silent film classic featuring Rudolph Valentino, perfect for a taste of old Hollywood romance. Free : Prime Video/Freevee, Plex. 1930s : It Happened One Night (1934) - A delightful screwball comedy with witty banter and undeniable chemistry. 1940s : Casablanca (1942) - A timeless tale of love and sacrifice set against the backdrop of World War II.  ...
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Special Report: YouTube TV and CBS/Paramount - A Deep Dive into Their Current Relationship

YouTube TV, the popular streaming television service, and Paramount Global, a mass media conglomerate, are currently engaged in a high-stakes carriage dispute that could significantly impact subscribers. This comprehensive report delves into the complexities of their relationship, exploring the ongoing disagreements, the potential impact on subscribers, and alternative ways to access CBS/Paramount content. Statements from YouTube TV and Paramount Before diving into the specifics of the dispute, it's important to understand the perspectives of both parties involved. YouTube TV, in a statement released on February 12, 2025, emphasized its commitment to providing value to subscribers and its efforts to reach a fair agreement with Paramount without passing on additional costs 1 . The company assured subscribers that it is actively negotiating with Paramount and will keep them updated on the progress 1 . Paramount, on the other hand, has accused YouTube TV of attempting to pressure ...

Beyond the Device: Understanding Streaming Platform Share

The streaming landscape is constantly evolving, with new devices and platforms vying for our attention. Recently, Pixalate released its Q4 2024 Connected TV Device Market Share report , which has generated a lot of buzz. The report highlights Roku's continued dominance in the US market, along with the rankings of other popular device brands. However, it's crucial to understand that this report, while valuable, offers a snapshot of device sales, not necessarily the popularity of the underlying platforms. In this post, we'll delve into the important distinction between device share and platform share, and why it matters. The Pixalate Report: A Snapshot of Device Sales Pixalate's report focuses on Connected TV device market share, measuring the prevalence of different device brands in the market. Their methodology likely involves tracking usage data, advertising impressions, or other metrics related to specific devices. According to the report, Roku leads the US market ...

The History of Loud Commercials (and the Lack of Solutions):

This isn't a new phenomenon. Even back in the 1950s and 60s, when television was still a relatively young medium, people were griping about loud commercials. I remember hearing jokes about it on late-night talk shows, even though, ironically, I didn't really notice it myself back then. Over the years, there have been attempts to address the issue. The CALM Act, passed in 2010, aimed to create standards for commercial loudness. But has it really made a difference? Not really. Many viewers, myself included, still find themselves reaching for the remote regularly. It feels like progress has been minimal, at best. Why the Problem Persists (and Why I'm Not Optimistic): So why does this problem persist? Well, there are a few reasons. First, there are technical aspects to audio mixing and broadcasting that can make commercials seem louder, even if they technically fall within the regulations. Second, our perception of loudness is subjective. A commercial that follows a quiet sc...

PBS on Prime Video: A Cord Cutter's Perspective on Public TV in the Streaming Age

As a cord-cutting blogger, I'm always interested in how public television is adapting to the streaming landscape. PBS, a beloved institution for generations, has recently expanded its presence on Amazon Prime Video, and I've been taking a closer look at what this means for viewers like us. The good news is that PBS is making its content more accessible than ever. They've partnered with Amazon to bring a variety of programming to Prime Video, including local PBS stations, the PBS KIDS channel, and several specialized channels like PBS Drama and PBS Documentaries. It's great to see PBS embracing streaming platforms to reach a wider audience. You can read the official announcement from PBS here: https://www.pbs.org/articles/stream-pbs-and-pbs-kids-free-on-prime-video One of the biggest draws is the availability of local PBS stations on Prime Video. Being able to stream local news, events, and programming without an antenna is a big plus for cord-cutters. And the fact t...

New FCC Chairman Could Impact Free OTA TV

Tyler the Antenna Man posted a video recently about the possible impacts, as he sees them, of the new FCC chairman. This video is important for antenna users because it discusses the potential impacts of the new FCC chairman on free over-the-air TV. [ YouTube ] My Streaming Life utilizes an antenna, and information such as this is important to me. If you use an antenna, this is worth keeping up with. I encourage you to watch this video and to learn more about how the new FCC chairman could impact your free over-the-air TV viewing.

How Cord Cutters Can Watch the Super Bowl (2025)

The Super Bowl is a major television event, drawing a massive audience. For cord cutters, figuring out how to access the game can be a key question. Since the game airs on Fox this year, here's a breakdown of how you can watch without a cable subscription. Over-the-Air Antenna The most reliable and often cheapest way to watch the Super Bowl is with an over-the-air (OTA) antenna. Fox is a broadcast network, meaning it's available for free with an antenna. If you live in an area with good OTA signal reception, an antenna is an excellent option. Even if you're a bit further from the broadcast towers, an amplified antenna might be all you need. The cost of an antenna is a one-time purchase, typically ranging from $20 to $100 depending on the quality and range. Streaming Services If an OTA antenna isn't feasible, streaming services offer another route. However, not all streaming services carry every local channel, so confirming Fox availability in your area is essential...

Sling TV at 10: How This Cord-Cutter Found Freedom (and Football!)

Tomorrow, February 9th, marks a special occasion in the world of streaming: the 10th anniversary of Sling TV ! It's hard to believe that a decade has passed since Sling TV first disrupted the traditional cable model, offering a more affordable and flexible way to access our favorite channels. This anniversary is a time for reflection, both for the company and for us cord-cutters who have benefited from their innovative service. It also happens to be the anniversary of my own first experience with Sling TV. As a cord-cutting blogger who ditched cable back in 2011, I was intrigued when Sling TV launched in 2015. I decided to give it a try, subscribing for a few months to see if it could offer me anything that my other streaming services couldn't. At that time, for $20 a month, it didn't quite meet my needs. I was already accustomed to life without cable and had found ways to access the content I wanted through other means. However, when I canceled that initial subscription...

Disney's Evolving Streaming Strategy: From Venu Sports to Fubo and Beyond

The streaming landscape is constantly shifting, and one of the most dynamic battlegrounds is the fight for sports viewers. In a previous series of posts on My Streaming Life, we explored the competition between Fubo and Hulu, the rise and fall of Venu Sports, and the broader trends shaping the future of television. We even discussed Disney taking a significant (though then unspecified) stake in Fubo. We examined how these companies were positioning themselves for success in the streaming era. For a quick recap of that series, here are the posts: Streaming Wars: Fubo/Hulu Saga - Part 1: Big Bets and Bold Moves Streaming Wars: Fubo/Hulu Saga - Part 2: The Streaming Landscape Shifts Streaming Wars: Fubo/Hulu Saga - Part 3: A New Challenger Appears Streaming Wars: Fubo/Hulu Saga - Part 4: The Battle Heats Up Venu Sports Cancelled: Disney's Streaming Strategy in Flux Now, we have a clearer picture of Disney's evolving strategy. With the cancellation of Venu Sports...

Don't Dismiss the Antenna: Why Free TV Still Matters in the Streaming Age

The latest numbers are in, and it's official: cable TV is on the decline. According to Nielsen's The Gauge, cable network viewership has plummeted to just 23.8% of all TV viewing. Streaming, as expected, continues its reign, capturing a record 43.3% of total viewership. But amidst all the talk of cord-cutting and streaming wars, there's a quiet revolution happening: the resurgence of the antenna. Now, you might be thinking, "Antennas? Aren't those outdated?" Think again! While broadcast TV viewership might be slowly declining overall, it's holding its own far better than cable. And with more people than ever seeking ways to save money and ditch expensive cable subscriptions, the humble antenna is making a comeback. But here's the thing: even as more people acquire antennae, there's evidence that even more are abandoning them. Perhaps they're frustrated with reception issues, or they simply don't realize the full potential of free over-th...