The world of streaming video is ever-growing and ever-changing. Services, devices and features come and go. Prices and channel lineups fluctuate.
Trying to keep up can be overwhelming. So, we’re cutting through the noise for you and bringing you a roundup of the biggest news from the biggest names in streaming.
Following is a look at what’s changing in December. If you missed the past roundup, though, you might want to first check out “3 New Streaming TV Services Available in November.”
AT&T TV Now is more expensive
AT&T recently hiked prices for AT&T TV Now for the second time this year. The new prices — which are as much as 30% higher — started in November.
“Subscribers who were paying $50 a month for the ‘Plus’ package will see prices climb to $65, while those paying $70 for the 65-channel ‘Max’ package will be charged $80 a month.”
AT&T TV Now is a streaming service that offers live TV. It was previously known as DirecTV Now.
Hulu is hiking prices
Hulu is about to become more expensive, too. The streaming service recently announced that the base price of its plan that includes live TV, called Hulu + Live TV, will rise from $44.99 to $54.99 per month on Dec. 18.
This is the second time this year that Hulu has raised the price of this plan. In February, it jumped from $39.99 to $44.99 per month, while the price of one of Hulu’s cheaper plans dropped, as we reported in “Hulu Now Offers One of the Cheapest Streaming TV Plans Around.”
Hulu said of the latest price hike:
“The new price better reflects the substantial value of Hulu + Live TV and allows us to continue offering all of the popular live news, sports and entertainment programming included in the plan.
Hulu + Live TV offers more than 60 channels. This plan also includes access to all of Hulu’s on-demand content, which comprises thousands of movies and more than 85,000 episodes of television.
To learn more about Hulu + Live TV or Hulu’s cheaper plans, visit Hulu’s website.
A new Amazon Fire TV device is available
In other news, Amazon has introduced a new product to its popular Amazon Fire TV device family.
Some of the existing products, such as the Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick 4K, were among the best-selling Amazon devices worldwide during Prime Day 2019. And now the newest device, called the Fire TV Blaster, is available in time for the holiday shopping season.
The Fire TV Blaster adds “hands-free voice control to TVs, soundbars, satellite and cable boxes, and receivers,” Amazon says.
Note that the Blaster is a companion product, though: You need a compatible Fire TV streaming device and Amazon Echo device for the Blaster to work with.
The Fire TV Blaster is currently available for pre-order and will be released on Dec. 11, Amazon says. Its retail price is $34.99. It’s also available as part of a bundle that includes the Fire TV Stick 4K and Echo Dot, which has a retail price of $79.99.
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