Netflix reports surge in subscribers, new price hikes

SAN FRANCISCO - Netflix on Tuesday said it added nearly 19 million subscribers during the holiday season to finish out last year with more than 300 million subscribers.Company executives credited steady investments in shows and films with helping power growth at the streaming behemoth, while announcing it is increasing prices in Argentina, Canada, Portugal and the United States."As we continue to invest in programming and deliver more value for our members, we will occasionally ask our members to pay a little more so that we can re-invest to further improve Netflix," the company said in a letter to investors.Premium and standard memberships in the United States will cost $2 more per month, $25 and $18 respectively, while a standard ad-supported tier will be $8 in an increase of one dollar monthly, according to the company.In the final quarter of 2024, the streaming juggernaut said it logged profit of $1.87 billion on revenue of $10.25-billion that grew double digits from the same period the prior year.Netflix shares jumped more than 14 percent to top $993 in after-market trades."We...
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Disney to complete takeover of Hulu with $8.6bn deal

NEW YORK - The Walt Disney Company announced it will buy Comcast's $8.6-billion stake in Hulu, completing its takeover of the streaming service.The acquisition will "further Disney's streaming objectives," the company said in a press release, and comes as it strives to boost subscriber numbers at its Disney+ streaming service.The deal values Hulu at $27.5-billion in total, according to Disney, which said the transaction will be concluded by December 1.The California-based entertainment giant already sells Hulu as part of bundled offerings with its Disney+ and ESPN+ platforms.An ad-subsidized bundle of the three services is priced at $15 monthly in the United States, with an ad-free version costing $25 per month.The company will release its latest quarterly earnings next week, providing a look at how its cable and streaming services are doing in the fiercely competitive market.Disney in August reported that Disney+ lost more than 10 million subscribers in the recently ended quarter, in large part in the Indian market.Disney+ finished the second three months of this year with 146.1 million...
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US President-elect Joe Biden gets COVID vaccine live on TV

Newly elected President of United States Joe Biden has received the first dose of Pfizer’s COVID-vaccine. The scene of Biden’s receiving was broadcasted live on television. At the time, newly elected President Joe Biden made sure all Americans had enough vaccines. At the same time, he urged everyone to get vaccinated, saying he was getting the vaccine to show the Americans “it is safe to take”.'“I’m doing this to demonstrate that people should be prepared when it’s available to take the vaccine,” Joe Biden said from Newark, Delaware, where he vaccinated live on TV. “There’s nothing to worry about.” – reports BBC.He said the Trump administration “deserves some credit” for launching the country's vaccine program.Earlier in the day, Jill Biden, wife of Joe Biden, received her first dose, said the US President-elect.Biden’s running mate, Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff are expected to receive their first shots next week.The Biden team has set a goal of 100 million Covid-19 vaccinations in the US during the administration’s first 100 days in the White...
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