Netflix start telling more users to cough up the $$$ in password crackdown

Netflix's password-crackdown will launch next in Canada, New Zealand, Portugal and Spain.

The way it will work is a user can continue to watch Netflix while out and about, but in order to keep using a device without it triggering an unauthorised user violation, that device needs to be connected to the home Wifi of the primary household.

Broadly, this isn't unreasonable. But there will be some users who fall through the cracks - users like me.

My toddler child, who spends one night a week staying at her grandparents place, will no longer be able to watch her favourite Netflix shows while out of her primary residence - asking her to unplug the 75-inch Smart TV she watches Netflix on there and bring it home once a week isn't really a viable solution.

Media titans weigh in on the future of TV

Worth reading is this CNN piece where the biggest media executives and investors are asked their opinion on what TV will look like in three years time. Obviously each of them answer questions put to them with a way that reflects the strengths of their own media holdings/employers, but the commentary is interesting nontheless.

Here's a short and sharp response from Barry Diller when asked about the future of 'legacy TV':

It’s dying, but while syndication is around, even if its diminished, it will still be here. The tail end of these things lasts much longer than anyone predicts.

RIP The Late Late Show. Welcome back... @Midnight?

With James Corden leaving The Late Late Show (which airs at 12:30am in the US after Colbert), CBS execs have been working out what the future is for that timeslot. With late night talk shows scaling back in a market with declining viewership, it was unlikely that CBS would just plug in another traditional talk show.

Instead, CBS are resurrecting the Comedy Central format @Midnight, a topical comedy game show which put to air 600 episodes prior to its 2017 demise. The new version will be produced by Stephen Colbert under his deal with parent company Paramount. Not expected back is the original @Midnight host Chris Hardwick.

Hardwick, who is awful, used to amuse me regularly with asides about an ex-girlfriend who cheated on him - it did not appear to be a bit.

The revival of @Midnight is a smart play by CBS - a lively game show is good counter-programming, plus the @Midnight format is worth revisiting.

Among the Super Bowl spots this year - a Fox News ad for Gutfeld! Read: THR
Warner Bros Discovery will keep the Discovery+ streaming service running after the bundling of Discovery+ content into a soon-to-be-rebranded HBO Max. They've found Discovery+ users are price sensitive and won't go along with a price increase. What about HBO Max users who are now being forced to scroll past 90 Day Fiance? Read: Indiewire
The IOC have confirmed Nine will be the Australian broadcaster of the Olympics until 2032 - inclusive of the Brisbane Olympics. Read: TV Tonight
An adaptation of the Scott Snyder/Jock comic Wytches is in the works for Amazon Prime Video. Read: Deadline
Nicole Kidman is in talks to star opposite Jamie Lee Curtis in yet another limited TV show, this time for Amazon. Read: Variety
Paramount Global has announced a number of redundancies for its international Paramount+ operations, removing local management levels as it seeks to make its streaming service more global. This includes staff in Australia, Canada, Israel, and the UK. Read: Variety
Viewers are more likely to try a new show on streaming than they will on broadcast TV. Read: The Streamable
Tehran has been renewed for a third season, with Hugh Laurie joining the cast. Read: TV Insider
MIPTV will add a FAST channel summit in April. Read: World Screen
Despite lower profits, Nintendo is giving staff a 10% pay rise. Read: Polygon
Paramount+ has struck a deal with Amazon Prime Video to bring Star Trek shows Picard and Lower Decks to its service. Read: Variety