‘Lanterns’ a hit for HBO Max and other stories you missed this week
‘Lanterns’ a hit for HBO Max and other stories you missed this week
Amazon is bringing Alexa+ to all Fire TV users, Taylor Sheridan shoots down ‘6666,’ more stories you may have missed this week.
The last 10 days of August are a bit of a weird time. The fall schedule has set in, with kids needing to be shuttled to and from school and extracurricular activities, and an increasing live sports schedule. The weather, however, is still stuck in summer mode, with nary a hint of that autumn crispness to be found yet.
If you’ve been too caught up in the late August time flux to pay much attention to streaming news this week, it’s easy to understand. We’ll catch you up on all the streaming stories, new trailers, casting news, and more that you missed this week below!
All the streaming stories you missed this week
Amazon lifts Alexa+ paywall for Fire TV owners
Amazon first launched an AI-augmented version of its Alexa home assistant — called Alexa+ — in 2025. Previously, viewers had to pay $20 per month to upgrade to Alexa+ if they weren’t Amazon Prime subscribers, but the company is changing all that.
On Wednesday, Amazon revealed that it would make Alexa+ a free ownership perk with select Fire TV devices, including all current-generation Fire TV sticks, the Fire TV Cube, Amazon Ember smart TVs, and other smart TVs made by brands like Hisense and Panasonic that include the Fire TV operating system.
Fire TV streaming players
From $40
Fire TV streaming players bring together your favorite apps, live TV, and Alexa voice controls in one convenient device. Available in HD and 4K models, Fire TV offers options to suit a variety of entertainment needs and budgets.
‘Lanterns’ becomes best DC premiere on HBO Max
“Lanterns” made its Season 1 debut on Aug. 16, and DC fans turned out in a big way for the series. Warner Bros. Discovery revealed the show pulled 9.3 million global viewers across HBO and HBO Max in its first three days of availability.
That not only makes it the best streaming premiere from DC Studios on HBO Max, but also ranks it among the top five series premieres in the service’s history. “Lanterns” outperformed fellow DC series “The Penguin,” as well as other IP-based titles like “IT: Welcome to Derry,” and it remains in the streamer’s Top 10 as of the time of this writing.
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.
Taylor Sheridan puts the kibosh on ‘6666’
For several years, rumors have abounded regarding the expansion of Taylor Sheridan’s “Yellowstone” on-screen universe on Paramount+. One project confirmed to be in the works in 2022 was “6666,” a series set at a fictionalized version of Sheridan’s real-life Four Sixes ranch.
On Tuesday’s episode of “Rodeo Time,” Sheridan revealed that “6666” will never see the light of day. The multi-hyphenate creator used blunt language to confirm that the show is never getting made, explaining that he didn’t want to trivialize the work of the ranch’s real employees with invented drama.
“I would never fictionalize that ranch,” Sheridan said. “People thought that that was going to be a thing, but I would never do that.”
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.
Indiana Pacers sign regional broadcast partnership with DAZN
YouTube may be the favorite to win the distribution rights for the NBA’s in-market streaming platform that will ideally be ready to launch ahead of the 2027-28 season, but there are still teams that need to sort out their local broadcasting arrangements in the meantime. The Indiana Pacers are no longer one of those teams, as the team has announced a deal with DAZN to distribute local games.
On Thursday, DAZN revealed that it would launch a team-branded Pacers streaming service in early September, giving viewers in Indiana, Kentucky, Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri the ability to watch all Pacers games in market. Twenty-two games will be available for free on the DAZN app, with 15 of those 22 games also expected to air on a local over-the-air broadcast partner to be named later. In addition, 11 games will be nationally televised through NBA broadcast partners like ESPN and NBC, while all locally available games will be available live and on demand through DAZN.
The cost of a season-long subscription for Pacers games on DAZN will be $120, but fans who sign up by Oct. 15 will be eligible for a 50% discount, lowering the price to $60 for one season.
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.
Pickup and renewal announcements
- As revealed Wednesday, FX and Hulu have greenlit “Legends,” a new meta drama series that will reunite the cast of “Sons of Anarchy” to play fictionalized versions of themselves as they face a real-world threat at a fan convention.
- HBO Max is bringing back “IT: Welcome to Derry.” As revealed on Monday, the show has been renewed for a second season, which will take place in 1935 and center on the bloody massacre of the Bradley Gang.
- Sticking with HBO Max, the streamer has announced renewal for “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.” No details about Season 2 were announced alongside the renewal.
- Netflix has revealed that “Blue Eye Samurai” is coming back for a third season.
- The Paramount+ adaptation of the popular 1989 video game “Golden Axe” will premiere on the streamer on Wednesday, Sept. 16, the streamer unveiled on Thursday.
- Paramount+ also revealed on Thursday that the final season of “Yellowjackets” will premiere on Nov. 20.
- Apple TV shared on Wednesday that it would roll out the second season of “Bad Monkey” on Wednesday, Dec. 2.
- Owen Wilson’s golf comedy series “Stick” is coming back for a second season on Apple TV; on Thursday, the streamer confirmed a release date of Nov. 4 for the new season.
This week’s major casting news
- Olivia Colman has officially joined the sixth season of “Only Murders in the Building,” as revealed on Tuesday.
- Oscar nominee Steven Yuen has been cast as the lead of the upcoming Netflix series “Pagans.”
Check out this week’s new trailers
Watch the trailer for ‘The Drop: A Snowfall Saga’ on FX
See the trailer for ‘Hollywood Arts’ on Netflix
Watch the trailer for ‘The Pitt’ Season 3 on HBO Max
Check out frst-look images from ‘Kill Jackie’ on AMC+
Click images to expand to full size.
See first look images from ‘East of Eden’ on Netflix
Click images to expand to full size.