Paramount merger pause extended, other stories you missed

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‘The Daily Show’ is entering the microdrama space, Prime Video adds a new sports streamer, and other stories from the week’s news you may have missed. It’s been a big week of TV and movie premieres on top streaming services. He-Man fans have no doubt been watching the new “ Masters of the Universe ” on Prime Video on repeat, and new seasons of “ King of the Hill ” and “ Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ” have also kept fans plenty busy. If you’ve been too absorbed with new TV episodes and movies all week to follow streaming news closely, we’ve got you covered. Read more about the streaming stories you might have missed throughout the course of the week below, including casting announcements for upcoming shows and more. Which streaming stories did you miss this week? Paramount and WBD merger pause extended Apple Music raises subscription prices ‘The Daily Show’ microdrama series coming to Paramount+ FloSports Channel added to Prime Video Announcements, casting, and trailers Paramount and WBD merger pause extended Earlier this week, California District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín put a temporary pause on the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery while a lawsuit filed by a group of states moves forward. On Thursday, the judge extended the pause by another 14 days, meaning the earliest date the merger can now close is Aug. 18. The two sides have had difficulty agreeing on procedural schedules, with Paramount pushing for an evidentiary hearing to cross-examine the state’s witnesses, which has led to the additional 14-day delay. On Aug. 3, Judge Martínez-Olguín will hear arguments for and against a preliminary injunction that would pause the deal indefinitely. Sign Up paramountplus.com Paramount Plus Paramount+ is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 40,000+ TV show episodes from BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., and more. Get free access with a Walmart+ subscription. Paramount+ includes “1883,” “Tulsa King,” “Star Trek: Discovery,” “SpongeBob SquarePants,” and “PAW Patrol.” Subscribers can watch the NFL, college football, The Masters, college basketball, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa, Serie A, and NWSL. The service also offers the option to watch your live CBS affiliate. The upgraded ad-free package includes premium movies and shows from Showtime. Sign Up $8.99+ / month paramountplus.com Apple Music raises subscription prices Apple Music subscribers may get an unpleasant surprise on their next bill. The streamer has raised prices across subscription tiers; the Individual plan now costs $12 per month, and the Family plan has been raised from $17 to $20 per month. The Student plan is also rising in price from $6 to $7 per month. The price increase means the Apple Music Individual plan now costs the same amount as YouTube Music , but still checks in at $1 per month less than Spotify Premium . Free Trial music.apple.com ‘The Daily Show’ microdrama series coming to Paramount+ This week, reports emerged that Paramount+ was working to create microdramas, among other changes to the platform. On Tuesday, the streamer made it official by announcing its first-ever microdrama series: “The Daily Show Presents: Two Billionaires Fight to Dominate the Country...And My Heart.” The show centers on Alonka, the president’s beautiful daughter, whose father wants to spend more time snoozing in the Oval Office. That’s when two rich tech “gods” — Egon Husk and Jiff Davos — must compete to build a new AI president to help him run the country. But their lust for power and Alonka led to dangerously hot complications. Sign Up paramountplus.com Paramount Plus Paramount+ is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 40,000+ TV show episodes from BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., and more. Get free access with a Walmart+ subscription. Paramount+ includes “1883,” “Tulsa King,” “Star Trek: Discovery,” “SpongeBob SquarePants,” and “PAW Patrol.” Subscribers can watch the NFL, college football, The Masters, college basketball, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa, Serie A, and NWSL. The service also offers the option to watch your live CBS affiliate. The upgraded ad-free package includes premium movies and shows from Showtime. Sign Up $8.99+ / month paramountplus.com FloSports Channel added to Prime Video Prime Video customers can now watch even more sports content on the platform. On Tuesday, Prime Video and FloSports announced that the FloSports Channel was launching on the Amazon streaming service. The FloSports Channel is a free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) Channel, which will include live events, original content, and shoulder programming. “The traditional linear market is not built to fully serve the depth, quality, and growth potential of many non-Tier 1 sports rights,” said Phil Wendler, EVP, Global Rights Acquisition, FloSports. “FloSports has spent years building a better model for rights holders who want more than a distribution outlet. The FloSports Channel on Prime Video expands that promise by giving our partners another scaled, free-to-consumer distribution path, helping new fans discover the sports and communities that make FloSports unique.” 30-Day Trial amazon.com Prime Video Prime Video is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 10,000+ movies, TV shows, and Prime Originals like “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” “Jack Ryan,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Boys,” and more. Subscribers can also add third-party services like Max, Showtime, STARZ, and dozens more with Prime Video Channels . Prime Video also offers exclusive live access to NFL Thursday Night Football . ... Prime Video is included with Amazon Prime for $14.99 per month ($139 per year), or can be purchased on its own for $8.99 per month. Prime Video Ultra, the higher-priced ad-free tier, features UHD/4K content with Dolby Atmos support, without ads, for an additional $4.99 per month. 30-Day Trial $8.99+ / month amazon.com Announcements, casting, and trailers Julie Andrews documentary headed to Disney+ in 2027 On Wednesday, Disney+ announced that it will host a definitive documentary on the life and career of Julie Andrews. An official title will be announced at a later date, but the movie is expected to arrive on the streamer in 2027. Sign Up disneyplus.com Disney+ Disney+ is a video streaming service with over 13,000 series and films from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, The Muppets, and more. It is available in 61 countries and 21 languages. It is notable for its popular original series like “The Mandalorian,” “Ms. Marvel,” “Loki,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” and “Andor.” ... Disney+ has several plans with or without ads. Disney+ Basic with Ads costs $11.99 / month. If you don’t want ads, you can choose Disney+ Premium with No Ads which costs $18.99 / month. The Premium plan also offers an annual option for $189.99 / year ($15.83/mo.). If you’d like to add Hulu, choose Duo Basic (with ads). Duo Premium offers Hulu and Disney+ ad-free for $19.99 / month. If you want all three Disney streaming services, you can choose Trio Basic (ad-supported) or Trio Premium (ad-free). The Trio plans offer Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ (with Ads) for $11.99 / month. The Disney Bundle Premium (without Ads) for $26.99 / month. The app supports unlimited downloads (on their Premium Plans), four simultaneous streamers , up to 7 profiles , 4K streaming , and includes hundreds of avatars . The service includes 25+ original series, 10+ original movies, 7,500 past episodes, 100 recent movies, and 400 library titles, including the entire Disney Vault. You can see the full list of available Disney , Disney Channel , Star Wars , Pixar , Marvel , Nat Geo shows and movies, or all available Disney+ content by checking out our Disney+ streaming movie listings . Sign Up $11.99+ / month disneyplus.com Get Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for just $16.99 a month ($14 savings). Netflix fills out cast for ‘13 Going on 30’ Last week, news broke that Jessica Alba was joining a “13 Going on 30” reboot for Netflix . On Wednesday, Deadline reported that the streamer had added Taylor Zakhar Perez, Owen Thiele, Nasim Pedrad, Supriya Ganesh, and Myra Molloy to the cast. Charley McCain, Henry Samiri, Audrina Miranda, and Kai Zen will also star, as will Emily Bader, Logan Lerman, Deline Rudolph, Alba, Taylor Ortega, Tim Meadows, and Dan Bucatinsky. Sign Up netflix.com Netflix Netflix is a leading subscription-based video streaming service that offers on-demand access to an extensive library of over 3,000 movies, 2,000+ TV shows, and a growing collection of acclaimed Netflix Originals. Renowned for its ability to produce groundbreaking content, Netflix has become a cultural powerhouse with hit originals like “Stranger Things,” “Wednesday,” “Squid Game,” “The Crown,” “Tiger King,” “Bridgerton,” “The Witcher,” and “Black Mirror.” ... The platform constantly updates its catalog, introducing fresh content alongside timeless classics and international hits. Netflix’s commitment to storytelling has also earned critical acclaim, with award-winning exclusives such as “Roma,” “Marriage Story,” “The Power of the Dog,” “Mank,” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” In 2023, their animated film “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, further solidifying Netflix’s reputation for high-quality content. Netflix offers three plans – stream on 2 devices in HD with the “Standard with Ads” ($8.99) plan, on 2 devices in HD with the “Standard” ($19.99) plan, and 4 devices in up to 4K on the “Premium” ($26.99) plan. This pricing is slightly higher than years prior as all tiers were raised in January 2025 . Sign Up $8.99+ / month netflix.com Kenneth Branagh to star in and produce ‘Laird’ for Paramount+ Kenneth Branagh is partnering with Paramount+ on the new drama series “Laird,” a family drama set in the modern Scottish Highlands. The show will follow a proud Scot who brazenly defies an American billionaire who wants to buy up the glens. Amidst family feuds, buried secrets, and star-crossed romances, the Laird of Castle Drummoch (Branagh) remains determined to protect his ancestral lands from oligarchical land grabbing. Sign Up paramountplus.com Paramount Plus Paramount+ is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 40,000+ TV show episodes from BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., and more. Get free access with a Walmart+ subscription. Paramount+ includes “1883,” “Tulsa King,” “Star Trek: Discovery,” “SpongeBob SquarePants,” and “PAW Patrol.” Subscribers can watch the NFL, college football, The Masters, college basketball, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa, Serie A, and NWSL. The service also offers the option to watch your live CBS affiliate. The upgraded ad-free package includes premium movies and shows from Showtime. Sign Up $8.99+ / month paramountplus.com Ed Harris returning to ‘Dutton Ranch’ for Season 2 Ed Harris had such a bad time filming “ Dutton Ranch ” Season 1 that he reportedly wanted to leave the show. But as Deadline reported on Tuesday , Harris will return for the show’s second season, after receiving assurances that his character will be used more in accordance with how Harris says the role was pitched to him initially. “Dutton Ranch” Season 1 is available on Paramount+ now. Sign Up paramountplus.com Paramount Plus Paramount+ is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 40,000+ TV show episodes from BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., and more. Get free access with a Walmart+ subscription. Paramount+ includes “1883,” “Tulsa King,” “Star Trek: Discovery,” “SpongeBob SquarePants,” and “PAW Patrol.” Subscribers can watch the NFL, college football, The Masters, college basketball, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa, Serie A, and NWSL. The service also offers the option to watch your live CBS affiliate. The upgraded ad-free package includes premium movies and shows from Showtime. Sign Up $8.99+ / month paramountplus.com Disney+ greenlights ‘Afterlife with Archie’ TV series The bestselling comic book series “Afterlife with Archie” is being adapted into a new series by Warner Bros. Television, and it now has a streaming home. As announced on Monday, Disney+ will host the show, which returns to the all-American town of Riverdale, where Archie and his pals will have to fight the zombie apocalypse. The show is targeting a Halloween 2027 release. Sign Up disneyplus.com Disney+ Disney+ is a video streaming service with over 13,000 series and films from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, The Muppets, and more. It is available in 61 countries and 21 languages. It is notable for its popular original series like “The Mandalorian,” “Ms. Marvel,” “Loki,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” and “Andor.” ... Disney+ has several plans with or without ads. Disney+ Basic with Ads costs $11.99 / month. If you don’t want ads, you can choose Disney+ Premium with No Ads which costs $18.99 / month. The Premium plan also offers an annual option for $189.99 / year ($15.83/mo.). If you’d like to add Hulu, choose Duo Basic (with ads). Duo Premium offers Hulu and Disney+ ad-free for $19.99 / month. If you want all three Disney streaming services, you can choose Trio Basic (ad-supported) or Trio Premium (ad-free). The Trio plans offer Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ (with Ads) for $11.99 / month. The Disney Bundle Premium (without Ads) for $26.99 / month. The app supports unlimited downloads (on their Premium Plans), four simultaneous streamers , up to 7 profiles , 4K streaming , and includes hundreds of avatars . The service includes 25+ original series, 10+ original movies, 7,500 past episodes, 100 recent movies, and 400 library titles, including the entire Disney Vault. You can see the full list of available Disney , Disney Channel , Star Wars , Pixar , Marvel , Nat Geo shows and movies, or all available Disney+ content by checking out our Disney+ streaming movie listings . Sign Up $11.99+ / month disneyplus.com Get Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for just $16.99 a month ($14 savings). AMC+ acquires rights to Catherine Zeta-Jones thriller ‘Kill Jackie’ On Tuesday, AMC+ announced it had acquired the exclusive U.S. streaming rights to “Kill Jackie,” a thriller starring Catherine Zeta-Jones. The movie follows Jackie Price, a woman who has spent the last twenty years living a quiet, luxurious existence selling fine art while remaining anonymous after escaping a criminal past. Her carefully constructed world is shattered when she discovers that The Seven Demons, a squad of ruthless assassins, have been hired to kill her. Jackie will need to unleash her old instincts and execute a dangerous plan to take down the Demons. 7-Day Trial amc+ via amazon.com AMC+ AMC+ is a premium subscription streaming bundle owned by AMC Networks. It offers curated access to award-winning originals, indie films, and prestige television. Launched in June 2020, the service combines content from AMC with flagship brands such as BBC America, IFC, Sundance TV, Shudder, Sundance Now, and IFC Films Unlimited, delivering a rich library of exclusive programming and early episode access. ... AMC+ features exclusive original series like “Gangs of London,” “Ragdoll,” “Firebite,” “Anne Boleyn,” and “Kin,” along with critically acclaimed films and simulcasted favorites such as those from The Walking Dead universe. The service supports up to five simultaneous streams and includes access to six live channels — including AMC, BBC America, and The Walking Dead Channel — alongside on-demand content. It also allows for offline downloads for ad-free subscribers. The service is available directly via amcplus.com or the AMC+ app on platforms such as Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, iOS, Android, and smart TVs. It’s also accessible through Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video Channels, The Roku Channel, Sling TV, Dish, and YouTube TV. However, free trial eligibility and app access may vary depending on the provider. Viewers can sign up for a 7-day free trial when subscribing directly through AMC+ or its app, though eligibility may vary depending on the platform. With its depth of high-quality content, flexible pricing, and seamless streaming capabilities, AMC+ remains a top-tier choice for horror fans, prestige dramas, indie films, and compelling originals. 7-Day Trial $7.99+ / month amc+ via amazon.com Prime Video greenlights new ‘RoboCop’ series The 1980s are alive on Prime Video, where “ RoboCop ” is coming to life again. On Tuesday, The Hollywood Reporter shared that Prime Video will host a new eight-episode “RoboCop” series from showrunner Peter Ocko and executive producers James Wan, Michael Clear, and Rob Hackett. 30-Day Trial amazon.com Prime Video Prime Video is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 10,000+ movies, TV shows, and Prime Originals like “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” “Jack Ryan,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Boys,” and more. Subscribers can also add third-party services like Max, Showtime, STARZ, and dozens more with Prime Video Channels . Prime Video also offers exclusive live access to NFL Thursday Night Football . ... Prime Video is included with Amazon Prime for $14.99 per month ($139 per year), or can be purchased on its own for $8.99 per month. Prime Video Ultra, the higher-priced ad-free tier, features UHD/4K content with Dolby Atmos support, without ads, for an additional $4.99 per month. 30-Day Trial $8.99+ / month amazon.com