7 NEWSFEED Updates & upgrades
BREAKING NEWS FROM THE STREAMING SECTOR
NETFLIX OFFERS ULTRA PACKAGE
Netflix is trailing a new tier of service. Its new Ultra plan (€16.99 a month) will oer Ultra HD, high dynamic range video and HD audio, as well as the option to play content on four screens simultaneously. Its previous high-end oering, Premium, oers UHD video and HD audio, but no HDR. In the new configuration, the Premium plan is reduced from four screens to two screens. A Netflix spokeswoman told CNET that the new oering was a test of dierent price points and features, but would not necessarily be rolled out universally. Whether a regional experiment or the beginning of something bigger, Netflix has established itself as a consistent 4K content provider and any moves it makes toward 4K and UHD are likely to establish benchmarks for the rest of the industry.
■ Read more about the unfolding 4K landscape in our TechFeed on page 20.
INSTAGRAM LAUNCHES LONG FORM VIDEO APP
Instagram has jumped into the long-form video melee with the launch of IGTV, a new app for watching long-form vertical video. IGTV can be watched from within the Instagram app or through a standalone IGTV app. IGTV is distinguishing itself by championing full screen vertical video only, and videos can be up to an hour long. Instagram has tried to make the app frictionless and, a bit like old school telly, video starts playing as soon as you start the app. There’s no selecting of individual accounts or videos first. The company seems to be touting IGTV as an influencer platform. Move over YouTubers, here come the IGTVers!
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