Netflix’s new docuseries revisits the infamous 1996 murder mystery. It includes interviews with JonBenét’s father and unpacks the embarrassingly bad investigation, media circus, and, of course, the ransom note.
Why now is the time to revisit your cord cutting options
Sling.com, © Oasisamuel | Dreamstime.com, DirecTV.com
I did the math. I’m paying $83 more a month now to watch TV than I did when I was paying for cable. Is it worth it? I do like the convenience of not being tied to a grid, and many of the original shows are terrific. Speaking of, I just finished watching “Masters of the Air.” You def need to watch that on Apple TV+.
A lot of people are asking the same question. No wonder the streaming services are all competing to add live programming. YouTube TV picked up the NFL, Amazon pays $1 billion a year for Thursday Night Football, and Netflix is spending more money than you can fit in a wrestling ring for WWE.
Things have changed a heck of a lot since we all ditched cable years ago. I dug through the latest Consumer Reports to figure out which streaming services are worth your money today — and what they’re still missing. Maybe you’ll find a new go-to.
For the Disney adults: Hulu + Live TV
Hulu’s live TV bundle is slightly pricier (especially if you want to go ad-free) but includes a ton of original content and a backlog of shows and movies that YouTube TV doesn’t have. It’ll run you $77 to $90 (ads or not).
What you get:
- 75 channels: Including major broadcast channels (ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC).
- Cable highlights: A&E, BET, CN, CNN, Disney, Fox News, FX, HGTV, TBS, and TNT.
- Sports: CBS Sports, ESPN, Fox Sports, and some regional sports networks.
- Cloud DVR: It has unlimited storage for up to nine months.
- Content library: Hulu original series and streaming library of movies and shows.
- Bonus: ESPN+ and Disney+ are included — sweet if you have kids at home or visiting.
What’s missing:
- Some sports: MLB Network, NBA TV and NFL Network.
- Some news: BBC America, PBS and some NBC programs.
- Feel-good favorites: Like AMC and Hallmark.
- Other streaming add-ons: No option to add Max.
If you just want the basics: Sling TV
Sling TV is the cheapest by far. The basic plan costs about half of Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV. Cost? $40 for each basic plan below, or $55 for both. But Sling nickels and dimes for additional channels and DVR storage. Not a fan of the sneaky pricing.
What you get:
What's new on Netflix — Top shows for August 2023
IMDb.com
New content is dropping on Netflix starting Tuesday. Yeah, there’s a lot to pass on, but there are some potential winners, too.
August 1
🥊 Night-night, th-leep tight: YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul and heavyweight legend Mike Tyson’s boxing match is happening this week after months of delays. The odds are favoring Tyson, at plus-190. Paul’s a lot younger, but he’s never fought in the heavyweight division. Who knows? His big brother is kicking butt (literally) in the WWE.
40.3% of all TV use
In June went towards streaming. I’m surprised it’s not higher. Streaming platforms beat cable for the largest share of our TV screen time. The biggest contributor? Nope, not Netflix. It was YouTube, with almost 10% of our TV time.
'Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story' official trailer
😲 The No. 1 show on Netflix right now is “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.” It dives into the true story of two brothers convicted of murdering their parents in 1996. They said a lifetime of abuse drove them to it; prosecutors argued it was all about inheriting the family fortune.
'Star Wars: Skeleton Crew' official trailer
🎬 The Wookie’s cookie is a little Chewie: “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” drops on Disney+ on Dec. 3. Set during the same era as “The Mandalorian” and “Ahsoka,” the series follows a group of kids who discover a spaceship and embark on an adventure. It stars Jude Law as a Jedi and looks like a 1980s Steven Spielberg movie. Check out the trailer.
Ready to play (again)?
Netflix dropped an early Christmas gift — the trailer for “Squid Game” season 2. The first season was the most-watched series of all time on the platform. I liked it, despite all the blood. New season drops Dec. 26. How festive.
A whole new world: Starting in September, Disney+ is cracking down on password sharing outside your household. Rumor has it you can add paid sharing, but no word on the cost yet. Oh, and the price for Disney+ will increase in October; the ad-supported tier will go from $8 per month to $10 monthly, and the ad-free version will rise from $14 to $16 a month. Yup, Mickey needs the money.
What to know before starting a podcast
Starting a podcast or know someone who is? Check out Rob’s tips here.
Blast from the past
The classic puzzle game Minesweeper is now on Netflix. This colorful, reimagined version features an ocean-like setting where you find underwater mines in locations around the world. No in-game ads, no in-app purchases and no extra cost to play.
Brand-spankin' new: Kim's national radio show as a podcast
You can catch it in your favorite podcast app for free — or pay a few bucks to listen commercial free. Score!
Time to pay up: Netflix is phasing out its cheapest ad-free plan. If you’re on it, you’ll get a notification saying your last day to watch is July 13 unless you upgrade. Options: $6.99 ad-supported, $15.49 ad-free or $22.99 ad-free 4K premium.
DIY Projector
Sometimes, it’s just too hot to go outside and play. Why not try this DIY smartphone projector? You can enjoy time with the kids while staying cool.
No more password sharing on Disney+
If you mooch off someone’s streaming service, time is up. Disney+ is the next streaming service banning password sharing.
We are the No. 3 podcast!
OK, OK … No. 3 in Rwanda. But hey, that’s something, right?!
Reset your Roku password before it's too late
Roku was hacked over the weekend. To keep yourself protected, I suggest changing your password ASAP!
The YouTuber who keeps breaking records
Mr. Beast hosted a global competition that millions probably agree is cooler than the Olympics. The winner (I won’t spoil it) took home a gold medal worth $250,000.
Grandpa's YouTube channel gains nearly 500,000 subscribers due to act of kindness
Every Sunday after family dinner, a Utah grandpa would grab the comics and read them to his grandkids. When COVID hit, he needed a distanced way to do it, so he took to YouTube.
His “Grandpa Reads the Comics” channel wasn’t getting much action — until an influential Instagrammer stumbled across his videos. The content was so heartwarming he had to share it. It wasn’t long until grandpa soared past 100,000 subscribers.
📺 Today, he has half a million subscribers and some of the sweetest videos you’ll see on YouTube. Watch his story here.
First 'livestream' of Mars
The European Space Agency marks 20 years of the Mars Express with a live look at what’s going down on the Red Planet. It takes up to 22 minutes for us to get “live” pictures of Mars down here on Earth, so not technically a livestream, but still pretty dang cool.