Disney+ considers free tier, other stories you missed this week
Disney+ considers free tier, other stories you missed this week
San Diego Comic-Con is coming up fast, and streamers are lining up their best titles to present. See other stories from the streaming world you may have missed this week.
Well, it’s over, America. Our World Cup dreams ran up against a juggernaut in the Belgians on Monday, and after a 4-1 humbling, U.S soccer fans must either find a new team to adopt as the tournament continues or pack it in to try again in four years.
If Monday’s drubbing at the hands of the Belgians had you too distraught to look at any media news this week, I certainly understand. Below, you can catch up on any of the streaming stories from the week’s news you may have missed as you tried to shake off the sadness.
Which streaming stories did you miss this week?
Disney+ considers the launch of a free plan
Every streaming service is thinking about the best ways to generate engagement in a crowded marketplace. Most are grappling with the issue of how to compete with YouTube, which draws billions of viewers globally every year. Netflix is reportedly thinking about adding live channels to win back viewer attention, and on Thursday, Business Insider revealed that Disney+ has its own ideas about how to boost engagement.
BI reports that Disney+ is thinking about launching a free tier that will offer some of the streamer’s content at no cost. The idea is part of a broader discussion about how Disney+ can best serve fans of Disney franchises, per the report. New Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro clearly sees Disney+ as a cornerstone of the company’s plans, and launching a free tier would help Disney+ stand apart from other subscription streaming services.
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.”
WWE SummerSlam to be available in bars and restaurants
Watching WWE events like “WrestleMania” and “SummerSlam” at home now requires an ESPN Unlimited subscription. But if you don’t want to spend $30 per month to stream this year’s “SummerSlam,” you will have the option of catching the event at your local sports bar instead.
As announced on Tuesday, WWE is partnering with Joe Hand Promotions to offer “SummerSlam” in bars and restaurants nationwide. The two-night event begins on Saturday, Aug. 1, at 6 p.m. ET and wraps up on Sunday, Aug. 2. WWE and Joe Hand also partnered to distribute “WrestleMania 42” in commercial establishments in April, which achieved record-setting distribution.
ESPN Unlimited
ESPN launched its highly anticipated direct-to-consumer streaming service on August 21, 2025. For the first time, this service gives sports fans access to its full lineup of linear channels without a traditional cable or satellite subscription.
DAZN locks up global rights to 3ICE Hockey
The sports streaming service DAZN is continuing to add to its catalog of live events. On Monday, the service announced that it had become the global broadcast partner of 3ICE, a three-per-side hockey league that includes rules like no offside challenges, no power plays, and sudden-death penalty shots.
The first 3ICE event on DAZN is the inaugural 3ICE World Cup, which took place between July 4 and 5. From July 14 through 16, the 3ICE Men’s League’s fourth season will stream on DAZN from the Xtream Arena in Iowa City.
DAZN
DAZN is an international sports streaming service dedicated to live and on-demand sports programming. Since its launch in 2016, the platform has expanded to become one of the world’s leading sports streaming destinations, offering coverage that varies by region and includes boxing, soccer, MMA, women’s sports, motorsports, and other major competitions.
Apple TV, HBO Max, Prime Video announce Comic-Con plans
San Diego Comic-Con begins on July 23, and top streaming services are preparing for the event by announcing their plans for the convention’s famed Hall H, where the biggest reveals of the year are traditionally made. This week, Apple TV, HBO Max, and Prime Video announced their plans for Hall H takeovers at SDCC.
Apple TV will show off some of its most popular sci-fi and thriller titles. Its presentation will be on Saturday, July 25 at 2 p.m. ET, with casts and producers of “Matchbox the Movie,” Dark Matter,” “Mayday,” “Silo,” and “Widow's Bay” set to appear. The panel is sure to be full of behind-the-scenes details about these titles, as well as teases of future releases.
HBO Max will also get a turn in Hall H. On Thursday, July 23, the streamer will host a panel for its new series “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe” at 2:15 p.m. ET. The event will feature an advanced screening of the show, followed by a panel including creator Chuck Lorre, star Kevin Sussman, and more key figures from the show. On Friday, July 24, HBO Max returns to Hall H for a panel discussion of its new DC series “Lanterns,” which will feature star Kyle Chandler and other principals from the series.
Prime Video will have a mighty presence at SDCC, with two of its titles coming to Hall H on Friday, July 24, at 10 a.m. ET. The streamer will present cast and producers from “Blade Runner 2099” and “Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” Season 3 during its 90-minute presentation. Prime Video promises “behind-the-scenes insights and thrilling surprises” during the panels.
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Apple TV
Apple TV (formerly known as Apple TV+) is a subscription video streaming service for $14.99 per month, offering a growing slate of original series, films, documentaries, and specials. Unlike other platforms that combine licensed titles with originals, Apple TV is built entirely around exclusive programming, making it the home of critically acclaimed hits such as “Ted Lasso,” “Severance,” “The Morning Show,” and “Silo.” Its lineup continues to expand with award-winning dramas, comedies, family-friendly shows, and blockbuster original films like “CODA,” which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
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HBO Max
HBO Max is a subscription video streaming service that gives access to the full HBO library and exclusive Max Originals. There are hubs for content from TLC, HGTV, Food Network, Discovery, TCM, Cartoon Network, Travel Channel, ID, and more. Watch hit series like “The Last of Us,” “House of the Dragon,” “Succession,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and more. Within HBO Max, B/R Sports allows users to watch live NBA, MLB, NHL, March Madness, and NASCAR events.
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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.
Announcements and trailers
Prime Video to drop Muhammad Ali series ‘The Greatest’ in November
On Saturday, Prime Video revealed the teaser for its new Mohammad Ali series “The Greatest.” The series will premiere on Wednesday, Nov. 4, exclusively on Prime Video. Watch the trailer below:
‘NCIS: New York’ adds Jennifer Beals
The new “NCIS” spinoff series “NCIS: New York” is debuting this fall on CBS. On Tuesday, the network announced that Golden Globe nominee Jennifer Beals is joining the cast as series regular Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robyn Wells, the director of the NCIS New York field office. She joins a cast that includes LL Cool J as NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna and Scott Caan as NCIS Special Agent Nick Schaeffer. “NCIS: New York” will stream on Paramount+ the day after it airs on CBS.
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 League, 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.
Apple TV sets ‘Nocturne’ premiere date, announces ‘Guilty Creatures’
On Monday, Apple TV announced it would be the host of a new thriller series called “Guilty Creatures,” adapted from the true-crime book of the same name by Mikita Brottman. The show will star Julia Garner, who will also executive produce. The series will delve into the psyche of a torrid romance and subsequent act of murder between two young, adulterous but God-fearing lovers, unraveling their complex lives and the emotional toll of living as killers for 18 years.
And just in time for Halloween, Apple TV is dropping its new crime drama series “Nocturne,” based on the bestselling crime novels “Lazarus” and “The Sandman” by Lars Kepler. The show stars Liev Schreiber as homicide detective Jonah Lynn, who moves from Philadelphia to western Pennsylvania for a quieter life. But when a serial killer begins to target his family, Jonah must decide how far he’ll go to protect them. The series will debut on Apple TV on Oct. 30, as announced on Tuesday.
Apple TV
Apple TV (formerly known as Apple TV+) is a subscription video streaming service for $14.99 per month, offering a growing slate of original series, films, documentaries, and specials. Unlike other platforms that combine licensed titles with originals, Apple TV is built entirely around exclusive programming, making it the home of critically acclaimed hits such as “Ted Lasso,” “Severance,” “The Morning Show,” and “Silo.” Its lineup continues to expand with award-winning dramas, comedies, family-friendly shows, and blockbuster original films like “CODA,” which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.