Entertainment

Netflix will block offline watching in cheaper subscriptions

Coming in the ad-supported tier

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Netflix’s slide down from dominance is a cautionary tale for streaming platforms. Of course, while one side of the spotlight focuses on what went wrong, another side is focused on what they’re doing to stop the bleeding. One of those ways is an upcoming cheaper, ad-supported tier for subscribers. However, while the tier is already compensating the lower price for more ads, Netflix is also losing a key feature important to some: offline watching.

With Netflix’s current subscription tiers, users can download movies and shows to take with them offline. Though not every title was available for offline viewing, the feature allowed a lot of accessibility for everyone. If you were traveling, you could still watch Netflix while on a plane, for example.

Now, as first spotted by Bloomberg, subscribers will lose that ability if they’re on the ad-supported tier when it launches. The platform’s iOS app currently has a restriction that reads “Downloads available on all plans except Netflix with ads.” Since the tier isn’t available yet, the restriction is currently useless, waiting for the tier to pop up.

Earlier this year, the company started pondering a tier with ads, catering to a subset of the Netflix-watching population who prefers a cheaper subscription price. Prices for a normal subscription are getting steeper. An ad-supported version will allow Netflix to continue catering to everyone, despite the ad-filled setback. It’s expected to launch early next year.

Of course, other platforms, like Hulu, already have their own ad-supported tiers. Netflix’s version is more dire, however. For the first time in so long, the platform has started to lose subscribers. As a result, the platform has started rethinking its entire content strategy to recoup some of its losses from current users.

SEE ALSO: Netflix’s The Gray Man is getting its own cinematic universe

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K-Pop stars, Taylor Swift headline Apple Music Singapore year-end charts

FIFTY FIFTY, NewJeans get a lot of love

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November 30, 2023

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FIFTY FIFTY, a Korean girl group formed just last year, has completed its remarkable rise to the top of music charts as “Cupid (Twin Ver.)” earned the top overall spot in Apple Music Singapore Top Songs of 2023 chart.

The song also ranked eighth in the Top Shazamed Songs of 2023 list in the island. No other song was searched on Shazam the most than JIN’s “The Astronaut,” followed by Rema’s hit song “Calm Down.”

Meanwhile, Singaporeans have also showcased how much they have loved another girl group — NewJeans — throughout the year, with four songs from the artist entering the Top 25.

 “Ditto” and “OMG” placed second and fifth in the Top Songs of 2023 list, with “Hybe Boy” and “Super Shy” also in the Top 25 at 13th and 21st.

Apple Music Artist of the Year 2023 Taylor Swift had three entries to the Top 25, with “Anti-Hero” ranking third, “Cruel Summer” at sixth, and “Enchanted (Taylor’s Version)” at 20th.

Miley Cyrus also had a big year on Apple Music charts with “Flowers” placing fourth on both the top songs and most Shazamed lists.

Apple Music Replay 2023

As the year winds down, it’s once again time for Apple Music subscribers to discover, listen, and share their top songs, artists, albums, genres, and more as Apple Music Replay 2023 is now live.

The year-end experience offers listeners worldwide access to expanded listening insights and a completely personalized highlight reel.

Aside from checking their top songs, albums, artists, genres, and more, fans can discover whether they’re in the top 100 listeners of their favorite artist of genre, or even listen to their personal top 100 songs chart from each year with the Replay yearly playlists via replay.music.apple.com.

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Pilipinas Live to show UAAP finals Game 2, NBA In-Season Tourney playoffs

Avail of the app’s 7-day free trial

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November 30, 2023

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Pilipinas Live, UAAP Finals Season 86

The ongoing UAAP Season 86 basketball finals and the entire playoffs of the NBA In-Season Tournament can be streamed on Pilipinas Live, Cignal’s innovative OTT app.

The University of the Philippines (UP) secured a blowout victory over De La Salle University (DLSU) in the men’s basketball finals opener last Wednesday, and is eager to close out the series on Sunday, December 3 at 4 PM.

Meanwhile, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) is also hopeful to put an end to National University’s (NU) seven year-long dynasty in the women’s basketball scene in Game 2 of their own series at 12 noon.

NBA In-Season Tournament

Fans can also use the app to watch the quarterfinals of the NBA In-Season Tournament.

Only eight teams remain in the inaugural staging of the tournament where NBA teams vie for the NBA Cup: the Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, and Phoenix Suns.

The championship match of the knockout stage shall be held in Las Vegas.

 

Free trial for new subscribers

New Pilipinas Live subscribers can enjoy a seven-day free trial so they won’t miss any action.

Basketball fans can enjoy not just live coverages but also other exclusive features such as multi-cam view and various interactive options.

The Pilipinas Live app can be downloaded via the App Store and Google Play Store. To create an account, visit the website here: https://www.pilipinaslive.com/.

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Entertainment

Catch NewJeans, LE SSERAFIM, more at AAA 2023 with Smart Live

K-Pop, K-Drama stars on tap

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November 16, 2023

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NewJeans, LE SSERAFIM for AAA 2023
Images from NewJeans, LE SSERAFIM official SNS accounts.

The Hallyu Wave is hitting the Philippines Hard with the Asia Artist Awards or AAA 2023 happening on December 14 at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan. Catch your favorite K-Pop acts with Smart Live.

The AAA is one of the biggest and most star-studded shows recognizing Asian artists in film, television, and music. It is the latest addition to this year’s stellar line-up of Smart Live events.

Among the artists gracing AAA are NewJeans, LE SSERAFIM, ITZY, Stray Kids, NMIXX, ZEROBASEONE, BOYNEXTDOOR, THE BOYZ, Kwon Eunbi, Kep1er, Seventeen BSS, Kim Seon Ho and Ahn Hyeo Seop and more.

How to redeem AAA tickets with Smart Prepaid

Smart Prepaid subscribers may secure AAA tickets in two ways:

  1. Through points redemption on the Smart App
  2. By activating a Smart Prepaid eSIM and availing of Magic Data+ packages.

For points redemption on the Smart App, subscribers may follow these steps on Nov. 16 to 17, 2023:

  1. Download and then log in on the Smart App
  2. Tap ‘My Rewards’ and choose the Asia Artist Awards (AAA 2023) ticket you want to redeem with your points.
  3. Wait for the confirmation message then head to the Smart Booth at SM Megamall B in Mandaluyong from Nov. 25 to 26, 2023 to claim your ticket. Be ready to present your redemption notification and your active subscription to Power All 149 on the Smart App.

Activating a Smart Prepaid eSIM and topping up with Magic Data+ 749 packages. Subscribers may follow these steps:

  1. Purchase and activate your Smart Prepaid eSIM (Digital or Carded).
  2. Go to the Smart Store at SM Megamall B in Mandaluyong on November 25 to 26, 2023, from 10AM to 10PM.
  3. Present proof of your active Smart Prepaid eSIM and availment of Magic Data+ 749 on the Smart App. The required number of Magic Data+ 749 availments varies depending on your preferred ticket.

Subscribers can enjoy the best fan experiences and instantly share their best moments with the rest of the world powered by Smart.

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