Ben Munson
FierceCable
Madison, WI, United States
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Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
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Past articles by Ben:
Sinclair ‘cautiously optimistic’ about adding MLB teams to Bally Sports app
Sinclair sounds hopeful about adding more MLB teams to its upcoming Bally Sports direct-to-consumer streaming app. | Sinclair sounds hopeful about adding more MLB teams to its upcoming Bally Sports direct-to-consumer streaming app. → Read More
Frndly TV is growing by really listening to its customers
Frndly TV, one of a handful of live streaming TV services in the U.S., has managed to accumulate a substantial customer base thanks in part to really listening to them. | Frndly TV, one of a handful of live streaming TV services in the U.S., has managed to accumulate a substantial customer base thanks in part to really listening to them. → Read More
Sinclair’s Bally Sports streaming service won’t arrive until summer
Sinclair’s planned Bally Sports direct-to-consumer streaming app—which will feature live games from five MLB teams—likely won’t arrive until this summer. | Sinclair’s planned Bally Sports direct-to-consumer streaming app—which will feature live games from five MLB teams—likely won’t arrive until this summer. → Read More
HBO Max adds a shuffle button for specific TV series
HBO Max is taking some of the guesswork out of finding something to watch on its service with the introduction of a new shuffle play button. | HBO Max is taking some of the guesswork out of finding something to watch on its service with the introduction of a new shuffle play button. → Read More
Google Play loses ‘Movies & TV’ to Google TV app
Google said it will soon end support for renting and buying movies and TV series within the Google Play app and shift all digital purchases to Google TV. | Google said it will soon end support for renting and buying movies and TV series within the Google Play app and shift all digital purchases to Google TV. → Read More
Curiosity launches free, ad-supported channel on LG
Curiosity, the company that runs Curiosity Stream, has partnered with LG to launch Curiosity Now, a free, ad-supported streaming channel. | Curiosity, the company that runs Curiosity Stream, has partnered with LG to launch Curiosity Now, a free, ad-supported streaming channel. → Read More
Apple TV app for Google TV shuts off content purchases
The Apple TV app for the Google TV and Android TV platforms recently stripped out the ability for users to purchase digital content from Apple. | The Apple TV app for the Google TV and Android TV platforms recently stripped out the ability for users to purchase digital content from Apple. → Read More
Amazon now officially owns MGM
Amazon today officially closed its acquisition of MGM, making the Hollywood studio part of Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Studios. | Amazon today officially closed its acquisition of MGM, making the Hollywood studio part of Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Studios. → Read More
Allen Media Group sues Nielsen over alleged unreliable ratings
Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group is suing Nielsen, alleging the company provided it with unreliable ratings for some of its networks. | Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group is suing Nielsen, alleging the company provided it with unreliable ratings for some of its networks. → Read More
Netflix tests price increases for password sharers
Netflix will begin running tests to crack down on subscribers who share their passwords with users outside their household. | Netflix will begin running tests to crack down on subscribers who share their passwords with users outside their household. → Read More
Charter says now's not the time for streaming video aggregation
Charter is seemingly pumping the brakes on its “aggregated video store” strategy as the company continues to keep its traditional video subscriber losses from getting out of control. | Charter is seemingly pumping the brakes on its “aggregated video store” strategy as the company continues to keep its traditional video subscriber losses from getting out of control. → Read More
Nielsen reportedly close to being acquired for $15B
TV ratings stalwart Nielsen is reportedly close to being acquired for $15 billion including debt. | TV ratings stalwart Nielsen is reportedly close to being acquired for $15 billion including debt. → Read More
HBO Max, Discovery+ eye single sign-on bundle after merger
Discovery’s merger with WarnerMedia is nearing the finish line and more details are emerging around what the combined company’s streaming strategy will look like. | Discovery’s merger with WarnerMedia is nearing the finish line and more details are emerging around what the combined company’s streaming strategy will look like. → Read More
Showtime, Roku talk shop around mitigating SVOD churn
Customer churn is one of the biggest ongoing concerns for subscription streaming video services in the U.S. and internationally. | Customer churn is one of the biggest ongoing concerns for subscription streaming video services in the U.S. and internationally. → Read More
Hulu + Live TV adds unlimited DVR for all subscribers
Hulu will introduce unlimited DVR for all Hulu + Live TV subscribers at no additional cost beginning April 13. | Hulu will introduce unlimited DVR for all Hulu + Live TV subscribers at no additional cost beginning April 13. → Read More
Plex picks Magnite as preferred SSP, SpringServe as ad server
Plex, an ad-supported video on demand and streaming media platform, has picked Magnite as its preferred supply-side platform (SSP) and SpringServe as its primary ad server. | Plex, an ad-supported video on demand and streaming media platform, has picked Magnite as its preferred supply-side platform (SSP) and SpringServe as its primary ad server. → Read More
Netflix with ads? ‘Never say never but it’s not in our plans’
Given Disney’s recently revealed plans to offer a cheaper, ad-supported tier of Disney+, questions are again arising around whether Netflix will ever embrace advertising. | Given Disney’s recently revealed plans to offer a cheaper, ad-supported tier of Disney+, questions are again arising around whether Netflix will ever embrace advertising. → Read More
Apple TV+ slides into ‘Friday Night Baseball’ deal with MLB
Apple and Major League Baseball (MLB) reached a deal for “Friday Night Baseball,” a weekly doubleheader of live baseball games on Apple TV+. | Apple and Major League Baseball (MLB) reached a deal for “Friday Night Baseball,” a weekly doubleheader of live baseball games on Apple TV+. → Read More
DirecTV, Comcast lead another dismal year for pay TV sub losses: report
Comcast and DirecTV overwhelmingly led the pack in U.S. pay TV subscriber losses last year, according to new data from Leichtman Research Group. | Comcast and DirecTV overwhelmingly led the pack in U.S. pay TV subscriber losses last year, according to new data from Leichtman Research Group. → Read More
Roku CEO to smart TV OS competitors: Keep losing share or switch to licensed
Roku CEO Anthony Wood anticipates the smart TV market will eventually shake out to a handful of players controlling the platforms. | Roku CEO Anthony Wood anticipates the smart TV market will eventually shake out to a handful of players controlling the platforms. → Read More