Kalakshar US

Disney and Fubo have reached an agreement to merge Hulu + Live TV with FuboTV, the companies announced via a press release. This will create a new entity that Disney owns 70 percent of, with Fubo taking up the remaining 30 percent. Once combined, the service will boast over six million subscribers, making it the second-biggest digital pay-TV provider behind YouTube TV.

This deal only includes Hulu + Live TV, and not the traditional Hulu subscription, as noted by Bloomberg. The combined business will operate under Fubo, with current management staying on, though both FuboTV and Hulu + Live TV will continue to stream as separate entities. The new business will also negotiate carriage agreements with content providers without help from Disney.

Fubo plans on creating a new live streaming service dedicated exclusively to sports, which will leverage Disney’s contracts and broadcast networks like ABC and ESPN. As part of this deal, Fubo will drop all legal claims against the company regarding Venu Sports.

Venu is a forthcoming sports-focused streaming service that will air content from Disney/ESPN, Warner Bros. Discovery and Fox. The multi-company streamer was supposed to launch last fall, but has been delayed due to an antitrust suit brought forth by Fubo. A hearing was scheduled for January 6, so this merger announcement certainly has auspicious timing.

Today’s deal means that Venu Sports could once again be coming soon. An unnamed source told The Hollywood Reporter that this is likely the plan, but we don’t know if or when it will become available.

The agreement also includes new distribution rights between Fubo and Disney, in which the former will be allowed to offer a bundle built around ESPN and ABC. Additionally, Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery will pay Fubo $220 million, with Disney loaning the company an additional $145 million.

The merger is expected to be completed within the next 12 to 18 months, pending regulatory approval. There’s a clause in the contract that mandates Disney pay Fubo $130 million if the transaction fails to close for any number of reasons.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/disney-to-merge-hulu–live-tv-with-fubo-challenging-youtube-tv-163627571.html?src=rss 

New year, new hobby? I don’t know about you, but I often find that cost is what’s standing in the way of me pursuing new crafts (okay, and time, but that’s much harder to fix). So, I’m always excited when a device is on sale that allows people to pursue creativity and fun. In this case, it’s not just the device: Right now, you can get the GoPro Hero13 Black accessory bundle for $300, down from $450 — a 33 percent discount. This sale brings it to a record-low price and $50 lower than its Black Friday deal.

The GoPro Hero13 accessory bundle comes with the action cam and the Handler, two Enduro batteries, two curved adhesive mounts, a 64GB SanDisk MicroSD Card and a carrying case. Basically, if your new year’s resolution was to dive (literally or figuratively) into using a GoPro, then this sets you up with everything you need. 

GoPro released the Hero13 in September and it offered a few upgrades. It comes with a 10 percent bigger battery than its predecessor, which allows it to capture an hour and a half of 4K video at 30fps. It should also run longer in extreme temperatures. The action cam offers a max resolution of 5.3K at 120fps and supports Hybrid Log Gamma. Plus, it’s Bluetooth compatible with AirPods and other wireless headphones. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/gopros-hero-13-black-bundle-with-accessories-is-150-off-right-now-144540567.html?src=rss 

Resideo, the company behind Honeywell Home smart devices, announced a new Matter-enabled thermostat at CES 2025 that’ll work with your Amazon, Google or Apple smart home setup. It’s also Energy Star certified, meaning it’s met EPA-set levels of efficiency and could save you some money on heating and cooling your home. The Honeywell Home X2S thermostat is positioned as a no-fuss smart home device that may appeal to those who aren’t necessarily all-in on the latest technology but still want the energy and convenience perks.

The Matter smart home standard is meant to make for a smoother process setting up and controlling your IoT devices, allowing you to keep using your preferred assistants rather than stressing over compatibility issues. Matter 1.4, the latest version, was released in November. The X2S will work with most routers — both 2.4GHz and 5GHz — according to Resideo, as well as most HVAC systems. It’s “ideal for those who are looking to upgrade their thermostat but may be intimidated by installing smart home technology,” said Pat Tessier, VP of Product Development for Resideo’s First Alert and Honeywell Home.

The X2S is also compatible with Resideo’s First Alert app, which you can use for thermostat controls, schedules and automatic energy optimization when no one’s home. It’ll also provide readings on humidity levels inside the home, and offer reminders for when you need to change air filters. The Honeywell Home X2S Smart Thermostat will be released this spring in the US and Canada for $80, and you’ll be able to find it at retail stores like Lowes, Home Depot, Target and Walmart.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/honeywell-homes-new-matter-device-is-an-energy-efficient-smart-thermostat-150044882.html?src=rss 

With the increasing popularity of 4K and even 8K displays, today at CES 2025 the HDMI Forum officially revealed version 2.2 of the HDMI spec.

While the shape of the connector and its general capabilities aren’t changing a ton, the big upgrade for HDMI 2.2 is that it can now support bandwidths of up to 96Gbps. This should make it significantly easier to send content with higher refresh rates and resolutions to compatible displays to help ensure your content looks as good as possible.

Notably, alongside the increased bandwidth, the HDMI Forum is also rolling out new Ultra96 HDMI branded cables that will be part of the organization’s certification process to help customers better identify when they are buying a compatible HDMI cord. The forum says testing will be required for each model length and instructed to display an official Certification Label on the cable itself.

Other additions to the spec include next-gen Fixed Rate Link signaling technology which is designed to better support uncompressed content at 4K60 resolutions and above. Also, the inclusion of a new Latency Indication Protocol (LIP) should improve audio and data synchronization, particularly for multi-device setups like those with dedicated receivers or soundbars.

That said, while HDMI 2.2 looks like a very useful upgrade to support higher quality audio and video, don’t try to run out and upgrade all your gear right away. The HDMI Forums says the official spec will be released to all HDMI 2.x adopters in the first half 2025, so it will take some additional time after that for compatible devices to begin hitting the market.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/hdmi-version-22-adds-support-for-bandwidth-of-up-to-96gbps-150046354.html?src=rss 

Apple’s AirTag is the best Bluetooth tracker for iPhone users, and if you’ve been thinking about picking some up, now would be a good time to do so. A four-pack of AirTags has dropped to $70, which is $29 off the regular price. That marks a return to a record-low price for the bundle.

If you’d rather buy just one AirTag for now to test it out, there’s some good news on that front as well. A single AirTag will currently run you $23. That’s six bucks off the usual price.

AirTags take just seconds to set up using an iPhone. They are integrated into the Find My network, so you don’t have to register for another service or download a separate app. AirTags also support the ultra-wideband wireless protocol. When your iPhone gets within roughly 25 feet of a linked AirTag, you’ll see directional arrows and an approximate distance meter to help you locate it.

On top of that, Apple recently revealed that several major airlines are adding support for AirTag tracking to their systems. The idea is to help you (and your airline) more easily locate any missing bag that has an AirTag inside.

Meanwhile, you might be interested in picking up some AirTag accessories to, say, more easily attach them to your keychain. We’ve got you covered there too, thanks to our round-up of the best AirTag accessories.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/a-four-pack-of-apple-airtags-has-dropped-to-70-150049936.html?src=rss