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Dana E. Neuts

Dana Neuts is Subscription Insider's Editorial Director, covering our daily subscription news as well as member features, case studies, premium content, and reports. Dana is also a writer, editor, marketer and communications professional. Her work has appeared in AARP Bulletin, The Seattle Times, Seattle Business, 425 Business, 425 Magazine, South Sound Magazine, Northwest Travel and more. Her specialties include business writing, community news, senior issues, travel and, of course, subscriptions!

Dana E. Neuts

Hulu Lowers Subscription Rates after Netflix Raises Theirs

Auto-renew Subscription, Consumer Services, Entertainment and Streaming, Memberships, News, Paywall, Revenue and Sales, Subscriber Acquisition, Subscription Apps /

Hulu and Netflix are embroiled in a price war. About 10 days ago, Netflix announced it would raise subscription rates for all three of its streaming plans by $2 a month for more than 58 million U.S. subscribers. Netflix will use the money to invest in more streaming content and to improve its profit margins. In response, Hulu announced it is lowering the subscription price on its basic, ad-supported plan from $7.99 to $5.99 per month, starting February 26. The price for Hulu’s $11.99 no commercials plan will remain the same, reports The Verge.

Hulu Lowers Subscription Rates after Netflix Raises Theirs Read More »

BuzzFeed Cuts 43 Journalists as Part of 15 Percent Workforce Reduction

Business Operations, Business Strategy, Consumer Services, Freemium, News, SaaS and Cloud Services, Subscriber Acquisition /

Last week, BuzzFeed laid off 43 of approximately 250 journalists, including all seven members of the company’s national news desk, national security team, two health journalists, all but two entertainment journalists and all but one who covers LGBTQ. So far, there have been no cuts to technology, politics or investigations, reports The New York Times. The cuts aren’t over yet.

BuzzFeed Cuts 43 Journalists as Part of 15 Percent Workforce Reduction Read More »

Weekly Subscription News: Sinclair, Sony and Streaming

Business Services, Consumer Services, Entertainment and Streaming, Invoiced Subscription, News, Payment Processing, Product Development, Revenue and Sales, SaaS and Cloud Services, Subscriber Acquisition, Subscription Apps, Subscription Gaming /

This was a big week for subscription companies with news that Mastercard is waffling on its policy for auto-renewals, Sony is being fined 2 million euros for misleading customers about the PS Plus subscription and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella hints that Microsoft 365 may offer a consumer subscription. Also, Plex considers a subscription streaming service, Jeep explores subscriptions and car sharing, and Golf gets a new look and a boost in ad sales.

Weekly Subscription News: Sinclair, Sony and Streaming Read More »

Viacom to Buy Ad-Supported Streaming Service Pluto TV for $340 Million

Business Strategy, Consumer Services, Entertainment and Streaming, Free Subscription, Mergers and Acquisitions, News, Revenue and Sales, Subscriber Acquisition /

Earlier this week, Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA) announced that has agreed to buy the leading free streaming service, Pluto TV, for $340 million in an all-cash deal. With more than 12.5 million monthly active users, including 7.5 million watching Pluto TV on connected TVs, the ad-supported Pluto TV offers more than 100 live TV channels plus on-demand content, including sports, news, lifestyle, comedy, cartoons, gaming, TV shows and movies.

Viacom to Buy Ad-Supported Streaming Service Pluto TV for $340 Million Read More »

Five on Friday: Prime, Petitions and Paying for News

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Services, Business Strategy, Consumer Services, Entertainment and Streaming, Industry Announcements, News, Product Development, Revenue and Sales, SaaS and Cloud Services, Subscriber Acquisition, Subscriber Only, Subscription Apps, Subscription Gaming /

If youre tired of hearing the political rhetoric of the federal government shutdown, weve got some interesting subscription updates to distract you. In this weeks edition of Five on Friday, California car dealers are filing a petition against Care by Volvo, we take a look at the future of Amazon Prime, App Annie shares the State of Mobile for 2019, Twipe looks at readers willingness to pay for news, and BBC and ITVs BritBox are planning more original content, now that BritBox has reached 500,000 subscribers.

Five on Friday: Prime, Petitions and Paying for News Read More »

Glamour Cuts Print Staff as Conde Nast Continues its Reorganization

Business Operations, Business Strategy, Consumer Media and Publishing, Consumer Services, Industry Announcements, Magazines, News, Paywall, Revenue and Sales, SaaS and Cloud Services /

Condé Nast is starting out the year with staff cuts to the Glamour magazine team, part of the parent company’s overall reorganization plan. According to WWD, Glamour cut staff last week, including an assistant editor and executive beauty editor. This news comes just two months after Glamour announced that the 80-year-old fashion and beauty magazine would cease publication at the beginning of this year. The January 2019 issue was the magazine’s last regular print issue. The magazine may, however, print special editions occasionally.

Glamour Cuts Print Staff as Conde Nast Continues its Reorganization Read More »

Parent Company Helios and Matheson Analytics to Spin Off MoviePass

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Operations, FInance, Industry Announcements, News, Product Development, Subscription Apps /

In October, MoviePass parent company Helios & Matheson Analytics Inc. (NASDAQ: HMNY) announced that it would spin off its struggling movie subscription service, MoviePass. That idea is now a reality. The company made the announcement in a January 17 news release, advising that it has filed a confidential S-1 registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission to create MoviePass Entertainment Holdings Inc.

Parent Company Helios and Matheson Analytics to Spin Off MoviePass Read More »

Wine-by-the-glass Subscription Company Vinebox Raises $5.9 Million

Auto-renew Subscription, Consumer Services, Industry Announcements, Memberships, News, Product Development, Revenue and Sales, Subscriber Acquisition, Subscription Boxes /

Wine-by-the-glass subscription company Vinebox raised more than a glass last week – they raised $5.9 million in seed funding with lead investor Harbinger Ventures. Harbinger joins Y Combinator and SGH Capital as investors in the wine startup. The San Francisco-based Vinebox will use the new capital to expand its team and scale its distribution to reach more customers, reports TechCrunch.

Wine-by-the-glass Subscription Company Vinebox Raises $5.9 Million Read More »

Netflix Grows to 139.3 Million Paid Members in Q4 2018

Auto-renew Subscription, Consumer Services, Entertainment and Streaming, FInance, News, Product Development, Revenue and Sales, Subscription Apps /

On the heels of a price hike for more than 58 million U.S. members, Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) reported its fourth quarter and full year 2018 financials last week. Among the quarter’s highlights are the streaming company’s impressive paid membership statistics. During the quarter, Netflix added 8.8 million new members, including 1.5 million U.S. members and 7.3 million internationally. …

Netflix Grows to 139.3 Million Paid Members in Q4 2018 Read More »

Weekly Subscription News: Amazon, Ad Blockers and Arby’s

Auto-renew Subscription, Business Operations, Business Services, Business Strategy, Consumer Services, Industry Announcements, News, Payment Processing, Product Development, Revenue and Sales, SaaS and Cloud Services, Subscriber Acquisition, Subscription Apps, Subscription Boxes, Subscription Gaming /

Three weeks into the new year and new subscription trends are forming, some of which are covered in this week’s subscription headlines. Amazon is reportedly working on a subscription video game streaming service, Louisiana is moving forward with a plan to sell hepatitis C drugs via subscription, and Chrome’s ad blocker will go global this summer. Also in the headlines this week are SmartAssistant who is merging with Zoovu, Barstool Sports gets 10,000 subscribers in three days (wow!), and Arby’s sandwich-inspired subscription box sells out in less than an hour.

Weekly Subscription News: Amazon, Ad Blockers and Arby’s Read More »