Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Friday, August 11th, 2023

Technology is hard. Or, I'm a Hulu Live TV subscriber.

Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Friday, August 11th, 2023. 

THE WGA AND AMTPTP WILL CONTINUE TALKING
Every journalist is familiar with the feeling that comes when events change the story of the day. That certainly happened this evening, as the WGA negotiating committee released a brief statement to WGA members Friday night after meeting with AMPTP negotiators:

While I don't always agree with the "we shouldn't negotiate in public" stance that is the norm for the WGA and AMPTP, this seems like a good time to heed that advice. The note above carefully doesn't say negotiations are underway, just that the union negotiators will prepare a response for next week. So we shall see.

I will say that despite what you hear officially, people on both sides of the negotiations talk to the press during this process. Mostly off-the-record or on the deepest of background. Because both sides are always gently spinning the industry press and the other side's negotiations.

Sometimes that process blows up in the source's face, like the complaints last week from WGA negotiators that the studios were talking to the press ahead of their meeting. The problem wasn't that people were talking. It's that the discussions moved into the public industry discourse and that's not good for anyone right now.

I don't know about any of the trade reporters. But I know I've been hearing from people on both sides throughout the day. There's speculation, there's probing to see if I know anything I'll share. At least from my perspective, these are not the main negotiators on either side. But there are plenty of negotiation-adjacent people who know a lot of the details and certainly the direction of the process. And even when they don't tell you a lot at any one time, like a jigsaw puzzle, if you can talk to enough people you can begin to see the outlines of the picture come together.

I think I have a reasonable sense of what was discussed. At least enough that I'll be able to spend the weekend fleshing things out in mind. I'm certainly not going to provide details here. In large part, because even though I attempt to be scrupulous, I could be wrong. Either because sources misled me or just because I'm an idiot. Either way, the only thing worse than writing publicly about the negotiations and getting it wrong would be to write about the process and get it right. There's real potential for blowing things up in a world where every little shred of news is heard and misheard repeatedly across social media and DMs. 

So I'll just say this. I feel as if the studios see a path to getting a bunch of complicated topics worked out. Not that either side is close to that. But there at least appears to be a recognition that it's possible if both sides compromise.

So we'll see next week. I look forward to the day when this part of the negotiations will wrap up and the industry can move on to the SAG-AFTRA talks.

We're not near the goal line. Perhaps we are only at our own 15-yard-line. But we are slowly, incrementally moving in the right direction.

TECHNOLOGY IS HARD. OR, I AM A HULU LIVE SUBSCRIBER
The streaming video business is challenging in part because technology is never perfect. There are always unexpected issues, faults that aren't discovered until your service delivers an update to subscribers that for some reason breaks for 1 out of 100,000 users.

My family has been a subscriber to Hulu Live TV since it launched and after getting accustomed to the quirky interface, it's become a favorite. I've been a subscriber to Sling TV, Playstation Vue until it shut down and I currently also have a Philo Live TV account. And one thing I'd learned is that every service has its quirks.

Hulu Live TV certainly does, most notably a DVR problem which has been apparently an issue for at least a couple of years. And for whatever reason, it has never been fixed. I suspect that it's a combination of factors. Subscribers receive an unlimited DVR, so if the DVR records programs you don't want, the only real cost comes from annoying the customers. Plus, it's likely that when the Disney/Comcast ownership issue is resolved, the service will receive a much-needed upgrade.

But I am having an ongoing problem that to be fair isn't entirely of Hulu's making. But it still enormously annoying.

Hulu Live TV limits live viewing to a "home network," which is determined by your IP address. Hulu uses that IP address to determine what local channels to provide, and if you attempt to log into your account from a TV at a new IP address, you're asked if you want to change your home network. You are limiting to changing your home network to four times a year. Which is important to remember when I discuss my problem.

A few months ago I switched my broadband service from Comcast to Verizon's 5G service and it's generally been a great experience. In part because unlike Comcast, Verizon has no monthly bandwidth limit.

As it turns out, because Verizon's internet service uses cell towers to provide the connection, your IP can change. Sometimes it's because Verizon is moving customers around to shift bandwidth load. But is also changes if you lose power or accidentally unplug the unit.

Which means I can blow through those four IP changes pretty quickly and I don't realize there's a problem until I receive a message warning me that I've been limited to watching Hulu on-demand programming because I have changed my home network too many times.

So I have to call Hulu customer service and go through a whole process as they update and reset my account. Its typically a 15-minute or so call, but there are times when I have to do it once a month. Which isn't some horrible quirk. But it is annoying and while I understand why this is happening, it doesn't make the process any less annoying. In part because it will always happen at the most inconvenient time.

I have discovered that when this happens, I can connect to Hulu Live TV on my phone or computer, because as long as you log into your home network with your device at least once a month, you won't have a problem.

ODDS AND SODS
* Watching HGTV is making our lives boring and sad. 

WHAT'S NEW TODAY AND THIS WEEKEND:

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11TH, 2023:
All Up In The Biz (Showtime)
Big Sky River: The Bridal Path (Hallmark Movies And Mysteries)
Down For Love (Netflix)
Heart Of Stone (Netflix)
Hellhole (Film Movement+)
Men In Kilts Season Two Premiere (Starz)
Red, White & Royal Blue (Prime Video)
Sound Of The Police (Hulu)
Swagger Season Two Finale (Apple TV+)
Thanks A Million (The Roku Channel)
The Communion Girl (Shudder)
Toast Of Tinseltown Season Four Premiere (Roku Channel)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12TH:
A Safari Romance (Hallmark)
Abducted By My Teacher: The Elizabeth Thomas Story (Lifetime)
Behind Your Touch (Netflix)
Beyond The Headlines: The Elizabeth Thomas Story With Elizabeth Smart (Lifetime)
Hip Hop Treasures Series Premiere (A&E)
Kings Of BBQ Series Premiere (A&E)

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13TH, 2023:
Billions Season Premiere (Showtime)
ID Special Report: The Long Island Serial Killer (Investigation Discovery)
Telemarketers (HBO)
Trapped In The Cabin (Lifetime)

MONDAY, AUGUST 14TH, 2023:
90 Day: The Last Resort Series Premiere (TLC)
Solar Opposites Season Four Premiere (Hulu)

Click Here to see the list of all of the upcoming premiere dates for the next few months.

SEE YOU WEDNESDAY!

If you have any feedback, send it along to Rick@AllYourScreens.com and follow me on Twitter @aysrick.