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New England Patriots owner ‘disappointed’ by The Dynasty

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The Dynasty documentary on Apple TV+
Not surprisingly, the warts-and-all portrayal of the Patriots has its critics.
Photo: Apple TV+

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft expressed disappointment Tuesday over how The Dynasty documentary on Apple TV+ portrayed the football franchise’s championship teams, according to a new report.

Kraft made the comments while talking with reporters at an annual NFL meeting.

Netflix plans to join wave of streaming price increases

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As part of a trend among streaming services, Netflix will jack up the price of ad-free streaming soon.
As part of a trend among streaming services, Netflix will jack up the price of ad-free streaming soon.
Photo: Netflix

With the writers and actors strikes now over if tentative agreements hold, Netflix plans to raise its ad-free streaming subscription price soon, joining other streaming platforms in doing so, a report said Tuesday.

Disney+ already has 28.6 million subscribers in 3 months

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Disney-Plus
Disney+ is a massive hit.
Photo: Disney

The Walt Disney Company just unleashed its first quarterly earnings report for 2020 revealing that its Disney+ streaming service is off to an impressive start.

Paid subscribers for Disney+ more than doubled from 10 million during the first week of availability, to 26.5 million users by the end of 2019. CEO Bob Iger said the service has continued growing since then and currently has 28.6 million subscribers as of today.

Disney reveals $13 bundle with ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+

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Disney+ is live and ready to download from the App Store
Disney+ launches in November.
Photo: Disney

Apple TV+ and Netflix are about to get some serious competition from Disney’s upcoming streaming bundle that will combine three services into one.

Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed to investors during the company’s third-quarter earnings call today that customers will be able to get Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for $12.99, the same price as Netflix.

Tim Cook calls into ESPN to talk sports

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Tim Cook’s Charisma
Cook is a big-time Auburn sports fan.
Photo: Apple

Tim Cook has made no secret of the fact that he’s a sport fan — with a particular love of the teams at his alma mater, Auburn University.

With the Auburn Tigers basketball team entering the Final Four against Virginia this weekend, Cook called the Paul Finebaum Show on ESPN to geek out about sport.

NASA’s solar eclipse coverage, Data Wing, and other awesome apps of the week

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Awesome Apps
'Appy weekend everyone!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Want to know which app to download for everything you need to know about this week’s total solar eclipse? We’ve singled out one of the best options as part of our latest “Awesome Apps” roundup.

We’ve also got a great update to a brilliant iOS fighting game, a story-driven racing title, and a big improvement to ESPN’s app for every sport lover out there. Check out our choices below.

TV shows are coming soon to Snapchat

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Snapchat is taking TV serious.
Snapchat is taking TV serious.
Photo: Snap

Snap Inc apparently wants in on the hottest new trend among tech companies: TV shows.

Following the lead of Amazon and Twitter, Snapchat reportedly plans to start showing vertical short films in its app. Only instead of doing all the work on its own, the company is inking deals with some of the biggest names in media.

YouTube TV arrives to shake up streaming world

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YouTube TV is only available in 5 cities for now.
YouTube TV is only available in 5 cities for now.
Photo: YouTube

YouTube’s new tv streaming service for cord-cutters has finally arrived for customers in five major US markets.

The new service, dubbed YouTube TV, gives subscribers access to dozens of channels that normally would require a cable subscription, putting it in direct competition with the likes of Hulu, Sling TV, DirecTV Now and Playstation Vue.

ESPN’s revamped Apple TV app brings more on-demand content

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Get your hands on the new ESPN app for Apple TV now.
Get your hands on the new ESPN app for Apple TV now.
Photo: ESPN

ESPN is rolling out its revamped Apple TV app today, with a fancy new interface and more on-demand content.

The new app shows a live-stream of one of ESPN’s networks when first launched, dropping you straight into the action — and it makes it easier to find your favorite content.

YouTube is launching a TV streaming service for $35 a month

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YouTube wants to takeover your TV.
YouTube wants to takeover your TV.
Photo: YouTube

Cord cutters just got another option for getting their TV fix over the internet.

Google-owned YouTube revealed today that is launching a new streaming TV service that will offer customers a bundle of channels from broadcast and cable networks for $35. But it might not come with all the channels you want.

Hulu’s live TV stream will deliver ESPN, Disney and Fox

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The new Hulu will launch next year.
The new Hulu will launch next year.

Hulu scored two new partnerships for its upcoming streaming TV service that it plans to use to help cable subscribers finally cut the cord.

Both Disney and 21st Century Fox have agreed to be part of Hulu’s skinny bundle that will allow customers to stream live TV from at least two of the top networks in the US for a monthly fee.

Apple’s new TV app unifies your viewing experience

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The new TV app doesn't like ripped videos.
The new TV app doesn't like ripped videos.
Photo: Apple

Apple is making it a lot easier for Apple TV owners to find their favorite video content, with an all-new app called simply “TV” that puts everything in one place.

The new TV app debuted at an Apple event this morning that showcased how viewers will be able find new shows to watch as well as tune into live TV.

This photographer tested the iPhone 7 Plus before anyone else

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iPhone 7 photos
The iPhone 7 Plus handled the tricky light of sunset over the U.S. Open stadium court.
Photo: Landon Nordeman/ESPN

Photographer Landon Nordeman generally knows what to expect when ESPN calls him to shoot an event. But for the recent U.S. Open tennis tournament, ESPN needed Nordeman to report to the courts in Flushing Meadows, NY without any of his cameras.

Once there, an ESPN photo editor discreetly placed in his hands a sleek new piece of gear that would not be available to a clamoring public for two weeks – the iPhone 7 Plus.

“I was excited once I learned it was the iPhone, but thought I would only get to use it for an hour and have to give it back,” Nordeman told Cult of Mac. “I had the phone and shot with it for four whole days. I loved it. I really loved it.”

More evidence of Apple’s frustrating fight to build TV service

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Apple TV
The streaming TV service is still on the way, but not without some bumps in the road.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

John Skipper, president of ESPN, talked quite a bit in an interview about the future of Apple TV and in particular, Apple’s plans for a streaming television service that may or may not include ESPN. He revealed that Apple is apparently having a hard time sorting out the details with programmers.

“We have ongoing conversations,” Skipper told The Wall Street Journal. “They have been frustrated by their ability to construct something which works for them with programmers. We continue to try to work with them.”

Apple tried to score ESPN SportsGuy for exclusive podcast

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Bill Simmons nearly signed with Apple.
Bill Simmons nearly signed with Apple.
Photo: Joe Murphy/NBAE

Apple is looking to create its own original content, and according to a new report, that almost included signing former ESPN ‘Sports Guy’ Bill Simmons to provide an exclusive podcast for Apple users.

ESPN abrupty announced that they would not be renewing Simmons’ contract earlier this year, which led Apple media boss Eddy Cue to gauge the ESPN star’s interest in creating an exclusive audio podcast deal, before he decided to sign on a multi-platform deal with HBO.

Spotify adds tunes that match your running pace, and more

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Spotify wants to make you a harder, better, faster, stronger runner.
Spotify wants to make you a harder, better, faster, stronger runner.
Photo: Spotify

Apple is expected to unveil its huge overhaul of Beats Music in just a few weeks at WWDC but Spotify is firing shots first in the battle for music streaming dominance with a huge update for its iPhone app.

Spotify took the wraps off its new music experience at a keynote this morning, revealing a new Now start page for music discovery to go along with additions such as podcasts, video clips, original content, and an awesome new feature for joggers that matches songs to your running tempo.

Here’s a rundown of the new features:

iTunes Radio adds ESPN and local NPR stations

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espnradio

Sports fans are finally getting more love from the nerds at the mothership, just in time for the World Cup.

Starting today, iTunes Radio users will be able to stream live broadcasts of ESPN’s acclaimed radio shows for free as well local snoozcasts newscasts from the fine folks at your local NPR station.

ESPN Launches SportCenter For iOS As Redesign Of Old ScoreCenter App

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espnsportscenter

The worldwide leader in sports announced today that it is rebranding its ScoreCenter app for iOS and Android into an all-new, totally supercharged SportsCenter app that comes with a sleek iOS 7 design scheme to go along with some speed enhancements and a host of other new features.

The new SportsCenter app makes it easier than ever to track your favorite teams with the “Clubhouses” feature that brings in content focused for your favorite teams in the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA and more. A new Favorites tab also lets you keep tabs on your teams’ scores along with the new Inbox feature that becomes your hub for alerts on personalized news and scores.

Here are the full release notes:

Apple Talking With ESPN, HBO And Viacom To Form Its Own Pay TV Service

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apple-appletv12-channels-lg

Apple is reportedly looking to skirt the cable companies and strike up deals with HBO, ESPN, Disney, and Viacom to offer their content on a new pay TV service. Rather than distributing content in channels, Apple’s strategy would emphasize apps over cable TV according to a report from QZ.

Sony, Google, and Intel are also trying to score similar deals and might even get their pay TV services up before Apple. However, Apple is also looking to release a TV set as well, in order to control the entire TV-watching experience.

WatchESPN Adds Split-Screen View, Live Toolbar, And Free ESPN3 For College Students

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watchespn

Before college football season gets underway, ESPN is pushing out an update for its WatchESPN app that lets users stay plugged in to more games than ever before. The update adds a new split-screen view so you can watch two games at once, while keeping tabs on game day with the new live tool bar that displays scores and video highlights.

ESPN is also beefing up the content on WatchESPN by adding “ESPN on ABC” events to the app, but you’ll be pulled over to the WatchABC app when you choose them. To top it all off, WatchESPN users who connect through a military or college network now get access to ESPN3 events automatically.

Here are the full release notes: