Service

FIFA is getting into the streaming platform business with a football version of Netflix and Amazon Prime.The service is free and largely featuring documentaries and some live games at the launch but it could eventually be a way for FIFA to broadcast World Cup matches itself at a cost.While increasingly positioning itself as a rival to existing media companies, FIFA+ will also be used by the governing body to promote its sponsors.“There is no plan to charge a subscription fee for the service, that doesn't mean to say that…

FIFA+ — the free OTT streaming service announced by the international governing body for football — is now available globally including in India. Launched as a streaming platform not unlike Disney+ Hotstar and Amazon Prime Video, the service allows you to tune into special content including documentaries and features on Ronaldinho, Dani Alves, Ronaldo Nazário, Romelu Lukaku, Lucy Bronze, Carli Lloyd, and more. You can also check live statistics and updates for ongoing matches. FIFA+ will also give users access to live…

GTA+ — announced Friday — is a new subscription service for Grand Theft Auto Online, available only on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X. Those who pay the GTA+ monthly fee — $5.99 (roughly Rs. 460) a month — will get in-game currency to spend on the evolving open-world game, along with exclusive properties, vehicle upgrades, member-only discounts, and other benefits. Rockstar Games has suggested that GTA+ members may also gain access to unlock older gameplay updates, or previous time-limited content in the game.In its…

Chinese tech giant Tencent will close its game streaming platform, less than a year after authorities blocked a merger that would have powered its drive to take on Amazon's Twitch.Beijing has stepped up scrutiny over big tech, launching a major crackdown on some of the biggest names in the sector, while the gaming market has also taken a hit owing to tighter controls on play time for minors.Tencent's service, Penguin Esports, has halted new user registrations and in-app purchases, and will shut down all services on June…

SpaceX signed its first deal with an air carrier to provide in-flight wireless Internet using the Starlink satellite network, the space company said on Thursday as it jockeys with other burgeoning satellite firms to put high-speed Internet on commercial airlines.The company, owned by Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk, has been in talks for months with airlines to provide Starlink Internet in-flight, a key prong in SpaceX's strategy to scoop up enterprise customers beyond consumers and households in rural areas of the globe…

Amazon is extending the benefits of a Prime subscription to online stores beyond its own site, a move geared toward boosting revenue from merchant fees and expanding its logistics footprint.The company said Thursday the new service it calls “Buy with Prime,” will initially be available by invitation for merchants who ship their products using Amazon's warehouse and delivery services. Then, it will be rolled out for merchants who don't sell on Amazon or use its delivery services.Amazon said the service will only be…

Warner Bros Discovery announced on Thursday it would shut down its CNN+ streaming news service less than a month after its highly touted launch.The service, which sought to capitalise on the popularity of streaming video and the growth of digital news subscriptions, will cease operations on April 30. The executive who helped design CNN's streaming strategy, Andrew Morse, also will depart."CNN will be strongest as part of WBD's streaming strategy which envisions news as an important part of a compelling broader offering…