Disney+ crosses 100 million subscribers; Paramount+ goes live

The Program Guide highlights notable programming announcements and upcoming original debuts from online video platforms around the world.

Top News

* The Walt Disney Co.'s direct-to-consumer streaming service Disney+ has surpassed 100 million paid subscribers worldwide. The service was launched in November 2019. Disney+ aims to release more than 100 new content titles per year.

* ViacomCBS Inc.'s streaming service Paramount+ officially launched in the U.S., Canada and 18 Latin American markets. Following the launch, Paramount+ will introduce 36 exclusive originals in 2021 and a live sports lineup including UEFA Champions League and Europa League soccer beginning in the spring.

The Americas

* NBCUniversal Media LLC unit NBCUniversal International launched its hayu reality TV streaming service in Canada on Shaw Communications Inc.'s Shaw TV platform. A monthly subscription to hayu via Shaw TV costs C$5.99.

* Netflix Inc. pre-bought North America and Latin America rights to a World War II movie titled "Operation Mincemeat," Deadline reported.

* In more Netflix news, the platform launched its Fast Laughs feature for mobile devices that offers various funny clips from the streamer's catalog of movies, series, sitcoms and stand-up. The feature is currently available to iPhone users and will be tested for Android soon.

* Netflix, Steven Spielberg's Amblin Television and Paramount Television Studios will produce fantasy horror series "The Talisman," The Hollywood Reporter reported. The show is based on Stephen King and Peter Straub's book of the same name.

* Cinedigm Corp. said 11 of its free, ad-supported streaming services are now live on TCL Technology Group Corp.'s streaming entertainment platform TCL Channel on certain smart TVs in North America.

* British Broadcasting Corp.-owned streaming service BritBox North America and BBC Daytime commissioned crime drama series "Hope Street," set in the fictional town of Port Devine on Northern Ireland's coast.

* Apple Inc.'s streaming service Apple TV+ entered into a multiyear programming partnership with women's rights activist and youngest Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, for dramas, comedies, documentaries, animation, and children's series.

* In more Apple TV+ news, the streamer renewed "Dear..." for a second season that will debut with 10 new installments later this year.

* Comcast Corp.'s streaming service Peacock ordered a new series hosted by science educator Bill Nye, Variety reported. The show explores different myths and realities of both and natural and unnatural threats to the world.

* A documentary about the unprecedented sports shutdown of March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, titled "The Day Sports Stood Still," will debut March 24 on HBO Sports, Variety reported.

* Amazon.com Inc.'s premium free streaming service IMDb TV picked up a new spinoff series of "Bosch."

* Canadian Broadcasting Corp.'s sitcom "Kim's Convenience" is ending after five seasons, the show confirmed in a tweet. The program's first four seasons are available to stream on Netflix in the U.S., Variety reported.

Europe, Middle East and Africa

* Netflix struck a $55 million worldwide deal for horror-thriller "The Pale Blue Eye" at the virtual European Film Market, Deadline reported.

* ITV PLC and the BBC's joint streaming service BritBox UK will be available on Amazon's Prime Video Channels from spring.

* In more BBC news, the broadcaster announced a four-part adaptation of the novel The Girl Before, which is set to air on BBC One and the BBC iPlayer streamer in the U.K. and AT&T Inc.'s HBO Max in the U.S.

* BBC Studios Ltd. is producing "The Workout Badges" for Google LLC's YouTube Originals Kids & Family. Alphabet Inc. owns Google.

* Sky Ltd. streaming service Now TV will offer 1,000 hours of free additional content to Sky Sports Day Pass and Sky Sports Month Pass subscribers, Sunday Express (London) reported. Comcast owns Sky.

* Sports streamer DAZN teamed up with the Formula One team Scuderia AlphaTauri for the 2021 F1 season and signed Yuki Tsunoda as a brand ambassador in Japan.

* Nordic Entertainment Group AB signed a new distribution deal with partner Elisa Oyj in Estonia, which gives the latter's TV customers access to premium content from NENT's Viaplay streaming service as well as a deal to bring Viaplay's original Nordic productions to Tet's customers in Latvia.

* In more NENT news, the company secured a comprehensive package of women's top football for Viaplay in the Nordic and Baltic countries and Poland. The package includes Women's Super League, which NENT will hold exclusive rights for until the 2023/2024 season.

* Sports-focused ad-supported video-on-demand service SportsTribal TV beta launched in the U.K., Advanced Television reported.

Asia-Pacific

* Netflix confirmed the production of a Japanese film with the working title "My Dearest, Like a Cherry Blossom," which will exclusively premiere on the platform in 2022. Toho Studios is producing the film.

* The JEONJU International Film Festival will hold its 22nd edition this year as a hybrid online/offline event from April 29 to May 8, The Korea Herald reported. Directors of participating films will decide whether their respective films will be streamed online.

* Amazon's Prime Video streaming service postponed the release of a new season of its popular Hindi spy thriller series "The Family Man," Reuters reported, citing sources. Prime Video and Netflix are also reportedly scrutinizing other planned content for possible religious offenses, after the former apologized as it drew flak over objectionable scenes in original series "Tandav."

* Netflix unveiled its content offering in India for 2021. The roster includes a mix of films, drama and reality series, comedy specials and documentaries.

* Apple TV+ ordered its first Korean-language series "Dr. Brain." The global sci-fi thriller series, based on a popular webtoon of the same name, is in production in South Korea and will debut on Apple TV+ later in 2021.

* CJ ENM Co. Ltd. will release science-fiction action film "Seobok" on April 15, both in theaters and on online streaming service Tving, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing a statement.

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