SOUTHPORT, Conn.—Main Street Sports Group’s FanDuel Sports Network has announced ambitious plans to offer free streams of some live local NBA and NHL games on major streaming platforms beginning mid-November. All of the as-yet-unspecified games will also air for free in over-the-air broadcasts by local stations.

Earlier this month, during the Local Strategies sessions co-hosted by NAB Show New York and TVNewsCheck, Main Street Sports Group’s chief revenue officer, Eric Ratchman, said Main Street had reached deals with some station groups and teams to offer the free streams. The company has not, however, released details of the games or the specific station groups.

FanDuel Sports said it would bring select live game productions of its NBA and NHL team partners—also available in-market on an over-the-air (OTA) basis—directly to Pluto TV, Prime Video and Samsung TV Plus, with more platforms and services to be announced. Games will be presented outside the networks’ paywall, which the owner of cable regional sports networks hopes will help drive subscriptions and increase fan interest in the teams.

FanDuel Sports also stressed that the launch of some free-streaming games in November marks the first phase of its broader, multiphase free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) strategy. That strategy is designed to extend reach to younger, digital-first sports fans while fueling direct-to-consumer and linear TV growth and creating a new path for marketers to reach sports viewers through advertising and sponsorship opportunities, the network said.

"Launching this digital game offering is a big step in expanding our national reach and continuing to prioritize the different ways fans can watch their hometown teams," Ratchman said. "By bringing games to free streaming platforms that reach hundreds of millions of viewers, we're making local sports more accessible than ever and proving what our ubiquitous access model can deliver."

FanDuel Sports plans to launch a dedicated 24/7 FAST channel in 2026, which will serve as a national front door to help amplify its growing roster of programming, including “Golic & Golic,” “Countdown Live” and more, it said.

FanDuel Sports Network is a group of RSNs created after Bally Sports, which had been owned by Sinclair, filed for bankruptcy protection and was rebranded. FanDuel Sports Network, which emerged from bankruptcy in early 2025, is owned by Main Street Sports Group, formerly Diamond Sports Group.

NEW YORK—Pluto TV and the All Women's Sports Network have launched a free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) AWSN channel in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and the Nordics, with a simultaneous launch on the platform in the United States.

AWSN's dedicated Pluto TV channel is a 24/7 linear stream, including over 2,500 hours of live women's sports annually, and a robust offering of on-demand programming.

AWSN, co-founded by Whoopi Goldberg and Jungo TV, was created to provide a platform for women athletes to be seen, celebrated and supported. The network transforms visibility into opportunity, building a space where performance and ambition are center stage, it says.

"I'm excited to see AWSN grow and reach audiences across the U.S. and new global markets through Pluto TV,” Goldberg said in a statement. “For far too long, incredible women athletes have been competing at the highest levels without the recognition they deserve. AWSN is here to change that. It's not just a network—it's a platform that turns visibility into opportunity, where ambition and performance take center stage, and where young girls and women can see themselves reflected in the power and potential of elite competition."

"This is a new era for women's sports, and the appetite for this content is increasing across the globe,” added Katrina Kowalski, senior vice president, international content strategy and acquisitions at Pluto TV. “Sharing the mission to spotlight and uplift these incredible women's sport and the extraordinary athletes who compete in multiple leagues with AWSN is a testament to our commitment to delivering compelling, diverse content that feeds fandom and gives space to all sports. With AWSN, we're empowering our viewers to witness the talent, intensity and passion of women’s sports like never before.”

Viewers will gain access to premier competitions and leagues such as Athletes Unlimited Softball League; FIBA 3x3; FIBA 3XBA (a 3x3 basketball series featuring standout WNBA and NCAA talent); WNBL basketball; H1 field hockey; WFA tackle football; ECC-W, the Women's European Cricket Championship; DGPT Pro Disc Golf Tour; WFTDA-sanctioned Roller Derby; and “Women’s Football Weekly,” featuring the latest highlights from Serie A Italy, Bundesliga, Division I Féminine (French Premier League) and the Barclays Women’s Championship.

Paramount’s free streaming service Pluto TV has added a slate of local Fox news channels providing live and breaking news from Fox stations in such markets as New York, L.A., and Washington. D.C. 

These channels in 17 markets join Pluto TV’s diverse and extensive news lineup. The service's “News + Opinion” and “Local News” categories already includes such channels as “CBS News 24/7,” “BBC News,” “Bloomberg TV,” “NBC News Now,” and others for round-the-clock coverage of local, national and international news. 

The full slate of local Fox news channels includes:

• Fox 5 Atlanta
• Fox 7 Austin
• Fox 32 Chicago
• Fox 4 Dallas | Fort Worth
• Fox 2 Detroit
• Fox 26 Houston
• Fox 11 Los Angeles
• Fox 6 Milwaukee (to launch later this month)
• Fox 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul
• Fox 5 New York
• Fox 35 Orlando
• Fox 29 Philadelphia
• Fox 10 Phoenix
• Fox 2 San Francisco
• Fox 13 Seattle
• Fox 13 Tampa Bay
• Fox 5 Washington DC

NEW YORK—In another important example of how artificial intelligence is transforming the ad business, Paramount Advertising has introduced the AI-powered Paramount Ads Manager. 

The offering is designed to attract new potential TV advertisers by making premium video and television advertising accessible to small- and medium-sized businesses (SMB).  Powered by generative AI partner Waymark, the offering allows SMBs to create, manage, and track their ads across Paramount+ and Pluto TV, the world’s most widely distributed FAST service, tapping into 100 million full episode monthly viewers. 

The launch is notable because the platform lowers the barrier to CTV entry for SMB advertisers, providing highly customizable campaign schedule, budget, and targeting options. The Paramount Ads Manager also allows SMB advertisers to use the proven format of a :15 or :30-second unskippable, big-screen ads in premium content, which in the past would have been difficult for smaller companies to create and manage, Paramount said. 

Paramount also has one of the largest geo-targeted inventory supplies available, which will provide the SMB segment with better reach and efficiency.

Paramount's AI partner Waymark has already struck partnerships with Scripps, Spectrum Reach, Fox and other station groups/media companies over the last year, helping them garner more than $200 million in new revenue. 

More specifically, the companies reported that Paramount Ads Manager allows advertisers to:

• With Paramount Ads Manager, SMBs new to television advertising can easily create and launch ads in one business day, with campaign minimums as low as $500. 
• Advertisers select the location, demographics, and content placements that are most aligned with their target customers.  
• Paramount Ads Manager is the first platform to offer self-service creative tools, providing SMB advertisers a variety of creative options:
• Creating New Assets: Advertisers can utilize Paramount Ads Manager’s new creative tools to help produce a :15 or :30-second video ad customized for their business. Powered by generative AI partner Waymark, Paramount Ads Manager will create a CTV ad based on images, text, and videos derived from the SMB’s website. The ad is generated within minutes and carries no additional costs to the advertiser.
• Repurposing Social Media Assets: SMB advertisers with social media assets can turn their posts into dynamic CTV creatives with our partner Spaceback. Brands can convert any Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, X, or Facebook post into a CTV asset in minutes. 
• Editing Existing Assets: More advanced capabilities to turn existing image and video assets into CTV-ready ads will be rolled out later this year.
• SMB advertisers investing in Paramount Streaming inventory will have access to a powerful suite of reporting and attribution tools that provide a transparent understanding of ad performance and outcomes. This mid and bottom-of-the-funnel attribution will ensure that SMB ad dollars go farther to drive superior business results. 

LOS ANGELES—Fremantle today announced it has signed a global deal with Pluto TV to distribute 25 FAST channels across 13 countries, with each channel being specifically curated for individual markets. The expansion of Fremantle’s partnership with Pluto TV will see 24 of the company’s most popular FAST channels premiere in Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Italy, San Marino, Demark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, the U.K., and the U.S. The deal also includes the launch of an all-new channel, Escape to the Country, in the UK.

The deal will also see the Three’s Company channel launch for the first time outside of the U.S. The Three’s Company channel will premiere internationally in Canada later this summer and will stream episodes of the top ten hit sitcom that aired from 1977 to 1983 and has remained a fan favourite to this day.

The 25 channels to be distributed across 13 countries include Escape to the Country, Three’s Company, Baywatch, Supermarket Sweep, Family Feud Classic, Let’s Make a Deal, The Price is Right: Bob Barker, The Price is Right: Drew Carey, Alarm Fur Cobra, Project Runway, Prisoner and Jamie Oliver.

Fremantle launched hit FAST channels Baywatch, Supermarket Sweep, Let’s Make a Deal, Family Feud Classic, The Price is Right: Bob Barker and The Price is Right: Drew Carey in Canada on May 3. The Baywatch channel will also be available via Pluto TV in Spain, Italy and the Nordics in the coming months. The Baywatch channel has already proven a hit with current audiences, Fremantle said, and was shortlisted for Single IP Fast Channel of the Year at the Content Innovation Awards.

 “We are thrilled to be expanding our partnership with Pluto TV globally, extending Fremantle’s treasured IP to many new territories," said Laura Florence, SVP Global Fast Channels, Fremantle. "Pluto TV’s state of the art platform provides a seamless streaming experience for viewers and makes it the perfect home for our channels. This is the next stage of our valued partnership with Pluto TV, as we continue to evolve our FAST strategy and content delivery for our global audience.”

Katrina Kowalski, Senior Vice President, International Content and Acquisitions for Pluto TV at Paramount, said: “We are beyond excited to expand the Fremantle content offering on Pluto TV across international markets. Pluto TV’s mission to offer lean-back entertainment for fans around the world harnesses the spirit of content like Escape to the Country and Three’s Company, which are perfect for people to gather to watch from the comfort of their living rooms.”

Fremantle’s FAST business currently comprises 24 channels across North America, Europe and Australia.  

NEW YORK—NBCUniversal and Pluto TV have announced that new free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) content offerings from NBCU are launching or will be launching on the free Pluto TV streaming service owned by Paramount Global. 

The channels feature entertainment, news, sports and true crime programming from NBCU’s television and streaming portfolio and the NBCU Global TV Distribution library.

NBCU said that the launches beginning on Feb. 6 and rolling out through the month will include past seasons of such popular reality series as “The Real Housewives” and “Top Chef,” available to stream for free dedicated FAST channels. Sports fans will have access to “GolfPass” and “NBC Sports,” while true-crime fans will have access to such series as “American Greed” and “Lockup.” 

Pluto TV subscribers will also have access to dedicated FAST channels featuring such library content as “Little House on the Prairie,” “The Lone Ranger” and “Murder, She Wrote,” as well as films on Universal Monsters, and genre-based action and crime content.

The channels launching in February 2024 join a number of NBCU channels that have previously launched on Pluto. Those include NBC News NOW, TODAY All Day, Dateline 24/7, and Sky News International. 

NBCU also reported that NBC and Telemundo local FAST channels will launch on Pluto TV later this year.

These channels join a number of NBCU channels that have previously launched on Pluto. Those include NBC News NOW, TODAY All Day, Dateline 24/7, and Sky News International. 

“NBCUniversal and Pluto TV’s FAST partnership offers a powerful opportunity to distribute our vast portfolio of premium content to new audiences,” said Amy Geary, senior vice president of NBCUniversal Content Distribution. “These channels will deliver quality programming from some of the most notable brands in television and create value for our distributors and advertisers.”  

“Pluto TV is continuing to build upon our relationship with NBCUniversal by bringing even more of their legendary and award-winning titles to the platform,” said Amy Kuessner, executive vice president of programming, Pluto TV. “We know Pluto TV audiences have a strong affinity for genres like crime, drama and reality, and we are excited to offer our viewers so many channels from the NBCUniversal library in these categories and more.”

NBCU described the new channels as follows:

• American Crimes: Explore the dark side of the American dream and life behind bars, featuring award-winning series “American Greed” and “Lockup”.  
• Bravo Vault: From “Shahs of Sunset” to “Flipping Out,” Bravo Vault immerses you in all the high-sheen content and drama you love with our rotating content library.  
• Oxygen True Crime Archives: Oxygen True Crime Archives is your home for deep dives into infamous cases and binge-watching original series. True crime, all day, every day.  
• Real Housewives Vault: Revisit the Real Housewives that launched the iconic franchise, showcasing the glitz, glamour, and drama of the reality show’s wealthy female stars.   
• Top Chef Vault: Bravo’s “Top Chef” Vault has a rotating library to catch up on and learn the latest in sous-vide, gastronomy and more from the ultimate food competition show.   
• GolfPass: GolfPass brings together thousands of lessons from the game’s biggest instructors, exclusive series, GOLF Channel news and features, and much more.   
• NBC Sports: Stay updated on the latest sports news with entertaining talk programs, including Premier League Stories and “The Dan Patrick Show”.  
• Bad Girls Club: Watch as seven outrageously bold, brazenly misbehaved women attempt to transform their reckless ways. Can they change – or will chaos rule?  
• Little House on the Prairie: Set in the late 1800’s, the Ingalls family pack up their belongings and venture out west in search for new life in the new land. Starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert, watch this family of five adjust to their new home in Plum Creek, on the plains of Minnesota. 
• The Lone Ranger: The masked cowboy known as the Lone Ranger, and his trusty accomplice Tonto, fight for justice in the wild west. 
• Murder, She Wrote: Join mystery writer Jessica Fletcher (played by legend Angela Lansbury), as she solves crimes in this Emmy-winning drama.   
• Universal Action: Buckle up and hold on tight! Helicopters, fast cars, and fight scenes are packed into this channel. Here you’ll find riveting shows that are sure to get your heart pumping and adrenaline flowing, such as “Magnum P.I.,” “Knight Rider,” “The A-Team” and many others.  
• Universal Crime: Mystery, suspense, and action culminate in these notable drama series. From the scene of the crime to the courtroom, follow along with some of your favorite stars as they fight for justice to be served. Series include: “Columbo,” “Kojak,” “The Rockford Files” and more. 
• Universal Monsters: Blood-sucking vampires, stitched-together monsters, and howling werewolves! From iconic monster movies to modern classics, these films are guaranteed to give you goosebumps, which include titles such as “Frankenstein,” “Dracula,” “The Wolf Man” and more.

LOS ANGELES—As Pluto TV starts to celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2024, the streaming TV service has announced plans to air its first ever Super Bowl ad. 

The ad will air during Super Bowl LVIII, which will air on Paramount's CBS, the company's Paramount+ streaming services and other platforms. 

“At some point over the past decade, the world of television became undeniably crowded and complicated, making audiences yearn for simpler days. Super Bowl LVIII offers an ideal opportunity to connect with viewers seeking that easy and comforting essence of television, a return to TV the way it should be,” said Valerie Kaplan, global senior vice president, head of consumer marketing, Pluto TV. "We're excited to share our brand story with fans nationwide, using our authentic voice, irreverent sense of humor, and an unforgettable crop of couch potatoes who love TV as much as we, at Pluto, do."

The on-air ad will kick off a wider marketing campaign that will run across linear, CTV, radio, streaming audio, out-of-home, digital display and social media over the coming months.

“We are thrilled for Pluto TV’s Super Bowl close-up with a memorable, relatable and entertaining metaphor that leverages Pluto TV’s premium programming in an unexpected way,” said Terry Minogue, executive vice president of creative marketing, Paramount Streaming. “The Super Bowl is the biggest day of the year in advertising and we seized the opportunity by generating creative that is brand forward and easily accessible, just like Pluto TV."

On the ground, to bolster its first Big Game presence, Pluto TV will take residency with several sponsorships of on-site events in Las Vegas such as Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Tailgate and Gronk Beach. 

Shot by award-winning director Stacy Wall of Imperial Woodpecker Productions, the ad was created by LA-based independent creative agency HAYMAKER.

In launching the ad, Pluto TV said that the commercial is an ode to the great American pastime of TV-watching and that the brand new spot is centered around the essence of fandom and how viewer moods dictate the content they seek.

The spot takes viewers somewhere between Idaho and a dream, where lies Pluto TV Country, a place where the best couch potatoes in the world are raised on the finest content from Pluto TV – content that’s abundant, free and easy, the streamer explained. 

Each potato represents the fandoms that Pluto TV plays host to regularly, Pluto TV reported. 

In documentary style, rows of couch potatoes, watching Pluto TV, espouse emotions in confessional-style fashion, while feeding on an array of diverse programming and genres ranging from thrillers, dramas, reality, comedies, telenovelas and more. Beloved and popular IP featured in the spot includes The Walking Dead, Star Trek: The Next Generation, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Yellowstone, The Price is Right, Survivor, Blue Bloods, Love and Hip Hop Atlanta, CBS Mornings, SpongeBob SquarePants and other Pluto TV content. There’s even a cat potato watching Pluto TV’s Cats 24/7, the company said. 

LOS ANGELES—In the runup to Super Bowl LVIII on CBS, the free streaming service Pluto TV is launching a new pop-up channel, NFL Super Bowl Classics, that will feature past Super Bowl games and specials. 

The new 24/7 channel, which is exclusive to Pluto TV, joins the successful NFL Channel which launched on Pluto TV in 2019 featuring live game day coverage, NFL game replays, original shows, Emmy-Award winning series and more.

The channel will be available for a limited time from January 18 through February 21.

In addition to full game replays, the channel will feature NFL Films programming, docu-series and specials highlighting the rich legacy of America's favorite pastime. These include 'History of the Super Bowl' which takes a look back at how the Super Bowl was invented and its evolution to the biggest sporting event ever, and retrospectives from NFL Throwback on defining moments and players such as 'Greatest Super Bowl Finishes,' 'Ranking every Super Bowl MVP Performance,' and 'Craziest Super Bowl Plays of All Time', the company said. 

"Thanks to our incredible partners at the NFL, we have the opportunity to offer a window into NFL history and we know audiences will be thrilled, no matter what team they root for," said Amy Kuessner, executive vice president of programming for Pluto TV. "The addition of 'NFL Super Bowl Classics' channel to Pluto TV's lineup allows fans to discover and relive those unforgettable games and moments in one place- all for free."

Viewers can find the channel exclusively on the Pluto TV app or connected TV devices in the Sports category. All games will stream sequentially with specials and docuseries interspersed. For even more action, sports fans can also tune in year-round to Pluto TV's Sports category, which features sports news, football, baseball, soccer, golf, bull-riding, boxing and more.

CBS Sports will offer multiplatform coverage of Super Bowl LVIII from Las Vegas on Sunday, Feb. 11, featuring CBS Sports' presentation on CBS and Paramount+, and a slime-filled telecast exclusively on Nickelodeon. It will mark the first time that CBS has offered a 4K HDR feed of the Super Bowl. 

CBS and Pluto are both owned by Paramount. 

LOS ANGELES—With so much attention focused on artificial intelligence and AI-driven recommendation engines when it comes to over-the-top channels, Pluto TV is trying to set itself apart from the pack by taking the opposite approach: promote the human element in programming decisions.

The Free Ad-Supported Television (FAST) channel today announced its new branding campaign puts the spotlight on “the heart and humanity” behind the service. More than 50 curators use their passion, expertise and understanding of audience behavior in addition to advanced technology to deliver entertainment selections to viewers, Pluto TV said today announcing a pair of new themes.

The first, “Programmed By Humans,” highlights the FAST channel’s programming and programmers responsible for curating its channels. The messaging puts the human element at the center of how Pluto TV’s programming connects with viewers. The theme is being conveyed in three commercial spots: one for sci-fi, another for comedy and a third for true crime. Each centers on fictionalized curators appearing in the living rooms of viewers to assist them in making a programming selection.

“When developing this campaign, we set out to connect with audiences in a meaningful way that captures the essence of Pluto TV and how transformative it has been to the world of television,” said Val Kaplan, global senior vice president, head of consumer marketing at Pluto TV. “Our creative focus was to spotlight what sets Pluto TV apart in the increasingly competitive streaming market– the human element of curation that is intrinsic to the very human experience of watching television.” 

The campaign begins today and will run through the end of the year, Pluto TV said.

The second branding campaign, “TV the Way it Should Be,” will launch out-of-home creative at major sports arenas, airports, ferries and shopping destinations. It also will appear at New York City’s Times Square, which is home to Paramount Global. Creative spots also will air during select NFL and NBA games, Pluto TV said.

The FAST channel also announced a recategorization to take place between now and year’s end. The first of the new categories includes drama, sci-fi and true crimes. Additional categories are being developed. Programmers have created the categories based on how viewers navigate the service, it said.

NEW YORK—Paramount reported that losses from its streaming operations continued to decline as the company reported growth in streaming subscribers, viewing and DTC ad revenue in Q2 2023. 

“In Q2, we maintained our focus on scaling our streaming platforms, maximizing our traditional business, and building a sustainable business model that will return the company to significant earnings growth in 2024,” Paramount president and CEO Bob Bakish said in a statement. “Notably, Paramount+ revenue grew 47%, total DTC ad revenue increased 21%, and global viewing hours on Paramount+ and Pluto TV were up 35% year-over-year. And despite the environment, TV Media continued to contribute significant earnings. As we look forward, we will continue to be guided by our content-first approach and seek to maximize its value across platforms and revenue streams, while also operating with the utmost efficiency through this year of peak streaming investment.”

In the direct-to-consumer segment, Paramount reported that global Paramount+ streaming subs increased by about 700,000 to 61 million in Q2  as Paramount+ and Pluto TV increased global viewing hours 35% YoY. 

Overall DTC revenue increased 40% year-over-year as subscription revenue grew 47% to over $1.2 billion, driven by subscriber growth on Paramount+ and advertising revenue rose 21%, driven by higher impressions for Paramount+ and Pluto TV.

More specifically, Paramount+ revenue grew 47%, driven by subscriber growth and increased advertising revenue, the company said. 

That growth also helped adjusted OIBDA losses fall from $445 million in Q2 2022 to $424 million in Q2 2023, an improvement of $21 million as higher revenues more than offset incremental costs to support the growth of Paramount+, the company said. 

During the earnings call, the company also announced plans to sell Simon & Schuster to KKR for $1.62 billion, a move that will reduce its debts and help fund the financial demands of its pivot towards streaming services. 

During an earnings call with analysts, Bakish highlighted the company’s rapidly growing digital advertising business as a way to “mitigate any near-term challenges” with the current soft ad market. 

“Paramount has seen sequential improvement in year-over-year advertising in Q2,” he said. “And in the upfront, we just wrapped, Paramount saw positive low to mid-single growth on volume. And in both cases, digital is a point of strength.”

“Paramount is a leader in the digital video ad space, and I want to ensure you understand the extent and depth of our digital ad capabilities,” he continued. “Our direct digital revenue is up by strong double digits year-over-year, powered by the premium content offerings on Paramount+ and Pluto TV. 3 years ago, we launched EyeQ, our digital ad platform as a simple and effective solution for advertisers to connect their brands to consumers at scale. Since then, it has seen incredible growth. The EyeQ footprint now stands at more than 90 million full episode viewers domestically, and we expect to generate revenue approaching $3 billion this year, rivaling the best – the biggest players in digital video, and we’re building upon that strength internationally as well.”

Paramount has announced that on August 31, 50+ FAST channels from Pluto TV will launch on the Paramount-owned digital platform 10 Play in Australia. 

The channels will be available in a dedicated branded area on 10 Play. 

“These 50 Pluto TV channels represent our first step to engage with Australian audiences and we are happy to mark this milestone by partnering with 10 Play, demonstrating once more the strength of our Paramount ecosystem,” said Olivier Jollet, executive vice president and international general manager for Pluto TV. “As pioneers in the FAST industry, we are bringing a new and unique user experience through curated channels dedicated to this market. Our mix of local and international content which matches the needs of our local audiences is what makes Pluto TV so valuable for viewers, clients, and partners across the world’

“We’re excited to give our consumers a sneak peek of the ultimate lean-back experience provided by Pluto TV,” added Jarrod Villani, executive vice president, chief operating and commercial officer and regional lead, Paramount Australia & New Zealand (ANZ). “We cannot wait to offer to our Australian viewers dedicated and curated content for every generation and taste featuring cult classics and global smash hit TV series to entertain devotees and lure new fans.”

“This announcement builds on 10 Play’s success in 2023 – the biggest year ever for the platform with minutes viewed up 21% on 2022,” Villani continued. “It gives 10 Play a unique and strong point of difference in the Australian market that will build on nearly a decade of insights gathered from delivering alternate viewing experiences.”

Rising prices for streaming services are having a notable impact on the media landscape, with more users adopting ad-supported streaming services and nearly one third of cord cutters saying they might go back to cable if the price hikes continue, according to a major new survey from Horowitz Research. 

Today, nearly 7 in 10 (69%) TV content viewers in the U.S. use free streaming services at least monthly, a sharp increase from 42% in 2019, according to Horowitz’s latest State of Media, Entertainment & Tech: Subscriptions 2023 study. 

The new report also noted that the free services most used by consumers are Peacock, Tubi, Pluto, and YouTube.

“The data from this year’s study points to some important opportunities for both media companies and consumers,” notes Adriana Waterston, chief revenue officer and insights & strategy lead for Horowitz Research. “The adoption of AVOD/FAST services — and the concomitant increase in streaming ad revenue we can expect to see — will help offset revenue loss on the linear side, which is critical as programming costs continue to skyrocket. On the consumer side, managed services — in which subscribers can see and manage all their streaming content in one place — would be an antidote to the challenges inherent to today’s highly fragmented streaming space, and consumers seem open to consolidating their services together. It’s a matter of which companies will compete to be the managed services solution for the streaming age, between traditional MVPDs and tech companies like Amazon, Samsung, Roku, and Apple.”

The study also found that on the subscription streaming (SVOD) side self-reported total average spending on these services is now $50/month, which in turn is prompting a growing appetite for managed services to help control costs. 

In one notable finding, cord-cutters were surveyed about how much they perceive they are saving now that they cut the cord. In 2019, over half of cord-cutters felt they were saving “a really good amount”; in this current study, that number dropped to 33%. 

Already about 30% of consumers indicate that they pay for at least one of their streaming services in combination with another service they have (e.g., as a bundle with another SVOD, through a service like Amazon Prime, as a perk with a cell phone plan, etc.), Horowitz found. 

Another notable finding is that after years of decline in MVPD subscriptions, penetration of traditional cable/satellite services seems to be remaining steady. Consistent with last year, half (52%) of TV content viewers now subscribe to MVPD services and customer satisfaction with their service overall among those subscribers is high, at 80%. 

Satisfaction numbers have increased slightly over the past few years as less happy customers abandon their MVPDs for streamed options, while MVPD loyalists who derive a lot of value out of the service remain subscribed, the researchers at Horowitz said. 

Notably, one in three cord-cutters (32%) say that if the cost of all their streaming services continues to increase, they might consider going back to cable.

WEST CHESTER, Pa. —QVC and HSN have announced that they have launched on Pluto TV as the only livestream shopping channels on the free streaming service. 

QVC and HSN will offer Pluto TV's audience approximately 40 hours a day of live vCommerce programming across both channels, featuring premier brands and new products presented by celebrities, influencers and other interesting personalities. 

QVC and HSN are part of Qurate Retail, Inc. 

"With QVC and HSN in the lineup, Pluto TV viewers can now enjoy two distinct livestream shopping experiences, each with its own celebrities, product collections and storytelling style," said David Apostolico, senior vice president of platform strategy, development & distribution, vCommerce Ventures at Qurate Retail GroupSM. "We look forward to welcoming new and existing customers via Pluto TV and are determined to continue meeting passionate shoppers everywhere they are engaging with video."

"QVC and HSN are leaders in livestream video commerce, offering curated products and lean-back shopping experiences that are fun and engaging," added Amy Kuessner, senior vice president of content strategy & global partnerships, Paramount Streaming. "Their esteemed expertise and reputation in the landscape are qualities we are proud to highlight on Pluto TV."

The launch is part of Qurate Retail Group's strategy of expanding the reach of its original vCommerce experiences across new media and digital platforms. QVC and HSN reach more than 200 million homes globally via 14 linear TV channels, which are widely available on cable/satellite TV, free over-the-air TV, and digital livestreaming TV. 

QVC and HSN also reach more than 100 million internet-connected homes across the U.S. via the QVC+ and HSN+ streaming experience and reach millions of homes via websites, mobile apps and social pages.

TORONTO—Pluto TV has made its previously announced debut in Canada, with the free-ad supported TV (FAST) offering of more than 20,000 hours and 110 plus channels as part of a partnership with Corus Entertainment. 

"I am thrilled to officially introduce Pluto TV to Canadian audiences, bringing them a fantastic lineup that combines the best of Corus' Canadian content, Paramount's deep library and more than 100 third-party partners," explained Olivier Jollet, executive vice president & international general manager for Pluto TV. "The union of Pluto TV and Corus delivers the best of both worlds, debuting a free streaming destination for fans, and creating opportunities for advertisers, offering a premium inventory in a brand safe TV environment. This year has marked tremendous growth for Pluto TV, having expanded to the Nordics in May and now to Canada. As we are now in more than 30 countries and territories, we are one step closer to our mission to entertain the planet."

"The debut of Pluto TV marks the next evolution of streaming in Canada, as Corus celebrates the launch alongside Paramount Global as partners in both content and ad sales," said Troy Reeb, executive vice president, broadcast networks, Corus Entertainment. "Corus is home to Canada's biggest portfolio of original content in the food and lifestyle space, and the stories that connect with Canadians where they live through Global News. Our strategy has always been rooted in placing more content in more places, and Pluto TV further advances this goal. We are also thrilled to expand our offering for advertisers with the addition of Pluto TV's huge inventory of premium video."

Programming includes channels dedicated to hit series like CSI, NCIS and South Park as well as The Drew Barrymore Show, Judge Judy and Beverly Hills 90210. 

The line-up also includes a wide variety of programming from Corus.

TORONTO—Paramount Global and Corus Entertainment Inc. have announced that the free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service Pluto TV will debut in Canada on December 1.

The launch will feature Pluto’s most robust content offering at launch to-date, with more than 100 unique, curated channels and over 20,000 hours of content, including a wide spectrum of free programming such as drama, comedy, lifestyle, kids, movies, around-the-clock news and more, Paramount reported. 

In addition, audiences will have access to flagship Canadian series from Corus Studios as well as key series from the popular NCIS Franchise. 

The FAST service will also feature curated movie channels programmed by genre, including Pluto TV Comedy, Pluto TV Drama, Pluto TV Action, The Asylum, Christmas 365 and Thriller 365.

“Our initial channel lineup further illustrates how we are working to combine Corus' incredible local content offering with Pluto TV's global content, to meet the tastes of the Canadian audience,” explained Olivier Jollet, executive vice president and international GM for Pluto TV at Paramount Global. “I'm confident that Pluto TV will quickly become a new destination both for fans of curated content as well as for clients and partners interested in investing in a new and unique streaming service upon its launch."

NEW YORK—Pluto TV has launched four new channels in collaboration with Sony Pictures Television (“SPT”) as part of a multi-territory agreement that brings SPT content to  Pluto TV in Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the UK.  

These launches are part of Pluto TV’s global expansion plans that have made the free ad-supported streaming service available in the U.S., the U.K., Europe and Latin America to more than 68 million monthly active users globally. 

“Sony Pictures Television has been a valuable -partner and we are proud to expand our relationship beyond Latin America to Europe and the UK. Pluto TV is committed to bringing unique content to our audiences worldwide, through valuable partners and carefully curated channels that offer the best of traditional TV and streaming,” said Paul Edwards, vice president content Pluto TV International.  

“It is fantastic to work with Pluto TV and reach audiences for some of SPT’s most popular classic shows through Pluto’s new channel outlets across the UK and Europe. SPT has a veritable wealth and variety of titles in our extensive film and television catalog – from comedy and drama, to action and romance, there really is something for everybody. It is always wonderful to explore innovative opportunities to bring fan-favorite shows to a whole new audience on AVOD and FAST channels,” said Ian Durndell, executive vice president, digital distribution and direct to consumer, SPT.

TORONTO—Corus Entertainment Inc. and Paramount Global have announced that Paramount’s free ad supported streaming service Pluto TV will launch in Canada this fall with more than 100 unique, curated channels and over 20,000 hours of content.

At launch, Corus will be the ad representative for the service and Pluto TV will offer a slate of Corus Original library series in a variety of genres.

Corus owns 33 specialty television services, 39 radio stations, 15 conventional television stations, as well as a suite of digital and streaming assets, animation software, technology and media services.

"Corus' relationship with Pluto TV underlines our commitment to ad-supported premium video, building on the success of STACKTV, the Global TV App, and Premium Video on Demand," said Greg McLelland, executive vice president and chief revenue officer, Corus Entertainment. "The agreement further expands the volume of digital video inventory Corus has to offer, in a premium, brand-safe environment allowing our clients to achieve the impact of TV with the measurement and targetability of digital and connect with audiences wherever they are streaming."

"Pluto TV is committed to further expanding its premium free offering for audiences around the world, and this game-changing partnership with Corus is a testament to that commitment,” said Olivier Jollet, executive vice president and international general manager, Pluto TV. “Following Pluto TV's  recent launch in the Nordics and the partnership we implemented with Viaplay, which served as the strategic framework for this deal, the upcoming launch in Canada will combine Corus' incredible local content offering with Pluto TV's global content and world class platform, positioning Pluto TV to become the leading free ad-supported streaming TV service in the country upon launch in the fall," 

Pluto TV is a major FAST player with nearly 68 million monthly active users who have streamed over 4.8 billion total viewing hours across over 30 countries and territories spanning three continents. 

COPENHAGEN / STOCKHOLM / OSLO—Pluto TV has expanded to the Nordics, launching in Sweden, Denmark and Norway with a programming line-up that features more than 70 unique and locally curated channels in each country.

Pluto TV is launching in the Nordics through a previously announced partnership with Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group). 

As a result of that partnership, Pluto TV, will launch in combination with a local AVOD service, Viafree that provides a premium free streaming experience to audiences in Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Following the launch, Viafree will be phased out as a stand-alone service, the companies said. 

NENT Group serves as Pluto TV’s exclusive advertising sales partner in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.

“Pluto TV launched with a mission to entertain the planet and today’s highly-anticipated launch in the Nordics brings us another step closer to achieving our goal,” said Tom Ryan, president and CEO, Paramount Streaming. “Forging this alliance with a respected leader like NENT further demonstrates the type of bold innovation we are employing to advance our global footprint. The union of Pluto TV and Viafree delivers the best of both worlds, debuting a frictionless and free streaming destination with something for everyone.”

Pluto TV in the Nordics features titles from Paramount’s beloved brands, as well as extensive hours of local hits from Viafree.

Users can watch Pluto TV for free via Web at www.pluto.tv, via the Pluto TV app for Apple TV, Android TV, Samsung and LG devices, and via mobile apps on the App Store and Google Play. Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV will be available in June. 

NEW YORK—Paramount Global reported increases in its direct-to-consumer (DTC) business in Q1, 2022 with DTC revenues up 82% year-over-year to $1.1 billion. 

During the same quarter Paramount grew total global streaming subscribers to more than 62 million, with Paramount+ adding 6.8 million subs. 

Meanwhile Pluto TV expanded its global monthly active users (MAUS) to nearly 68 million and grew total global viewing hours by double digits, year-over-year, the company reported in its Q1 2022 earnings report. 

The company’s DTC operations also saw a 95% growth in DTC subscription revenue, fueled by Paramount+ sub gains and its DTC ad revenue jumped by 59%, driven by Pluto TV. 

But increased investments in program, produced larger loses. Adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBDA) decreased by $307 million year-over-year.

While usage of both Paramount and Pluto TV increased, other DTC streaming services saw a drop in subscribers, primarily due to timing of new programming. 

STOCKHOLM, COPENHAGEN, OSLO—Paramount’s Pluto TV has announced that it will be launching Sweden, Denmark, and Norway on May 18 as the first free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service in the Nordics with more than 70 curated and exclusive channels per market.

Pluto TV in Nordics will offer 210 original channels across multiple genres, including movies, TV series, reality, kids' IP, sports, news, and more upon launch. Content includes iconic titles from Paramount’s library, such as "Catfish: The TV Show," "South Park," and "Dora the Explorer," and movies channels including action, comedy, and thrillers.

In addition, a new extended on-demand free section powered by Viafree will include the best local series and popular reality shows. In addition, the service will have content from multiple international partners to be announced soon. 

“Pluto TV in Nordics has an exclusive proposition,” explained Olivier Jollet, general manager and senior vice president, Pluto TV International. “For the first time, we’re combining the streaming linear TV model that has already enchanted American and European consumers, with a new extended on-demand section powered by Viafree to offer the best of international and local content in one service. I’m confident that Pluto TV will capture the attention of the Nordics markets and consumers, quickly becoming a new destination both for fans of curated content as well as for clients and partners interested in investing in a new and unique streaming service.”

Lars Mossing, Senior Vice President, Ad Sales, NENT Group added that “We are looking forward to Pluto TV’s Nordic launch on 18 May. Viewers will be able to enjoy popular Viafree formats as part of Pluto TV’s offering, while we are able to offer advertisers an attractive proposition as the platform’s advertising sales partner in the region.”

NENT Group serves as Pluto TV’s exclusive advertising sales partner in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.

Pluto TV will be available on all major streaming devices (TV, smartphone, tablet, PC) via the Pluto TV browser www. Pluto.tv, via app on Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Samsung, LG and the iOS and Android apps available on the Apple Store and Google Play. 

NEW YORK & STOCKHOLM—ViacomCBS Networks International and the Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group) have announced a partnership for the launch of new Pluto TV service across Sweden, Denmark and Norway in 2022. 

The service will combine ViacomCBS' free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) service with the biggest pan-Nordic AVOD platform Viafree. NENT Group will serve as the platform's leading advertising sales partner.

The Pluto TV FAST/AVOD platform will feature curated channels and on-demand programming featuring international and local content. Content will include Viafree local favorites like 'Paradise,' 'Luxury Trap' and 'Familien fra Bryggen', as well as global content from ViacomCBS' library, including 'The Hills,' 'Awkward,' 'MTV Unplugged' and 'Catfish.' There will also be content from multiple partners packaged in thematic channels like Pluto TV Movie, Pluto TV Crime, Pluto TV History, and Pluto TV Comedy, among others.

"Continuing to expand Pluto TV as the world-leading free ad-supported streaming TV service is a critical element of our streaming strategy, and we are delighted to partner with NENT Group to create this new and expanded version of Pluto TV,” said Raffaele Annecchino, president and CEO of VCNI. “The combination of our global content pipeline and Pluto TV's best-in-class tech global platform, with NENT Group's ad sales scale and powerful local Viafree content, will position Pluto TV as the leading player in the growing FAST/AVOD space. Overall, this transformational partnership will boost Pluto TV's growth internationally, and we expect to replicate this strategic model across key international markets."

Following the launch of Pluto TV, Viafree will be phased out as a stand-alone platform.

Pluto TV is available in 26 markets globally, including the US, Latin America, and Europe.

NEW YORK—Improved results for streaming services continued to pour in this week, with ViacomCBS reporting for the first time that it had more than $1 billion in streaming revenue during a quarter and that its streaming subs increased by 4.3 million to nearly 47 million in Q3, 2021. 

In a Q3, 2021 earnings report that provided new insights into the progress ViacomCBS is making in its shift towards streaming, the company reported that streaming revenue was up 62% year-over-year, driven by strength in subscriptions and advertising and that it had achieved 79% year-over-year growth in streaming subscription revenue. 

It also generated 48% year-over-year growth in Q3, 2021 in streaming advertising revenue, largely driven by Pluto TV, which grew global monthly active users (maus) to over 54 million and revenue by 99% year-over-year.

ViacomCBS said that such content as “A Quiet Place Part II,” “Paw Patrol: The Movie,” the return of the NFL and the new CBS fall season helped boost subscriber acquisition and consumption on Paramount+.

The company also noted that SkyShowtime, a recently announced joint venture with Comcast that will include premium and original content from both companies, has plans to reach more than 20 European territories encompassing 90 million homes.

But like Discovery and some other programmers, the higher costs of making the pivot to streaming hurt ViacomCBS’s operating income, which fell by about 3% year over year, and earnings per share, which dipped by 25% to $0.69 in Q3, 2021.

In a statement, ViacomCBS president and CEO Bob Bakish noted that "ViacomCBS continued to show tremendous momentum across the business as we executed against our strategy. We added 4.3M global streaming subscribers, raising our total to nearly 47M, driven by the scaling of the diverse content offering on Paramount+. Looking forward, we're thrilled about the fresh array of content coming to Paramount+ in the next few months and can't wait to share it with our global audience. Our strategy is clearly working and we'll continue to use the power of global content, distribution and market expansion to drive scale."

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Federal Communications Commission’s Enforcement Bureau has announced that it has settled an investigation with Pluto Inc. and its parent company, ViacomCBS Inc., regarding violations of the Commission’s accessibility rules.

As part of the settlement, Pluto will pay a $3.5 million civil penalty for the violations and has agreed to enter into a compliance plan to ensure that the non-exempt video programming Pluto streams over the internet includes closed captioning in compliance with Commission rules.

The FCC reported that today’s action reflects the first consent decree and first enforcement action related to Internet Protocol (IP) closed captioning rules since their adoption in 2012.

The IP-closed captioning rules apply broadly to the distributors, providers, and owners of IP-delivered video programming, the FCC said. 

The rules require that all nonexempt full-length video programming delivered using Internet Protocol must be provided with closed captions if the programming was previously shown on television in the United States with captions or is live programming being shown on television in the United States with captions.

The FCC reported that the Enforcement Bureau’s investigation confirmed that Pluto failed to comply with the IP closed captioning rules when distributing video programming on numerous platforms used to disseminate Pluto TV.  

Additionally, the company failed to implement the closed captioning functionality requirements and make contact information available to users in order to submit written closed captioning complaints.  

As a result of Pluto’s actions, individuals with hearing disabilities were unable to access closed captioning when viewing Pluto TV over some platforms, the FCC said. 

The consent decree is available here.   

NEW YORK, N.Y.—News 12 New York has launched on the streaming service Pluto TV, making its news coverage from the tri-state region available on all devices and platforms that carry Pluto TV.

The launch expands Pluto TV’s extensive lineup of news channels, which already includes Altice News’ live streaming news network Cheddar News. 

“We are excited to continue Altice News’ partnership with Pluto TV in today’s launch of News 12 New York,” said Kristin Malaspina, senior vice president of marketing and partnerships at Altice News. “Now, more viewers than ever will be able to tune in to News 12’s award-winning content from across the country through Pluto TV’s extensive user base.”

Amy Kuessner, senior vice president, content strategy & global partnerships at ViacomCBS Streaming, which includes Pluto TV, added that “hyperlocal news is an important part of every community, and this partnership will provide Pluto TV’s tri-state viewers easy access to the most up-to-date information in their region for absolutely free.”

News 12 is owned and operated by Altice USA and is part of the Altice News group, which also includes national and business news from Cheddar News and the global and current affairs network i24NEWS.

SAN JOSE, Calif.—TiVo has announced that it is expanding its partnership with the free streaming service Pluto TV that will see the addition of 72 Pluto TV channels onto the TiVo+ content network.

The new Pluto TV channels now available for TiVO+ customers include linear and on-demand content that ranges from news, sports, kids, entertainment and lifestyle programming. Thirteen Spanish language channels are also being added to service as part of the deal.

TiVo+, which is available on the TiVo Stream 4K platform, now has 144 channels. In addition to Pluto TV, TiVo+ also has an ongoing partnership with Sling TV.

The Pluto TV channels are now available for TiVo Stream 4K users and will be rolling out to select TiVo DVR and related devices.

For more information, visit TiVo’s parent company, Xperi. 

NEW YORK—The linear sports network created by fuboTV, fubo Sports Network, has officially launched on the free streaming TV service Pluto TV, according to FaceBank Group Inc.

The 24/7 fubo Sports Network launched in the fall of 2019 and offers original programming produced by fuboTV, as well as live sports and original programming from partners that include USA Today, FanDuel, The Players Tribune, Stadium, VSiN, CampusLore and more.

Pluto TV users will be able to access fubo Sports Network for free on the streaming service.

With the launch of Pluto TV, fuboTV says that the sports network is now available on more than 75 million devices via platforms that include LG Channels, Samsung TV Plus, The Roku Channel, Vizio Channels, Xumo and fuboTV’s subscription service.

For more information, visit www.fubo.tv.  

LOS ANGELES—CNN has joined the Pluto TV platform, which will offer a curated playlist of short-form digital content from the news network’s anchors and journalists, the Viacom-owned streaming TV service announced this week.

Pluto TV, one of the top free internet-based TV services in the country, will stream CNN original feature content to viewers. Programming will focus on lifestyle and culture, climate change and the environment and present original investigations and interviews.

“At a time when news cycles are never-ending, in a world that is constantly evolving, CNN’s coveted daily reporting and in-depth features are perfect for our audience to be informed, with immediacy, accuracy and ease,” said Amy Kuessner, Pluto TV SVP of content partnerships. “Pluto TV’s mission to ‘entertain the planet’ also means informing the planet of what is going on in the world, and there is no better partner than the most trusted name in news.”