Images have emerged of the long-awaited follow up to the Google Chromecast dongle device. Unlike the Chromecast that was designed to be plugged in out of site behind a television, it will be in the form of a set-top box and will be called the Google TV Streamer. Of course, the idea of set-top box is now historic, but this will be a table-top box, like many others, but with a more organic slanted pill shape.

The pictures have been published by the web site 9to5Google. The computer-generated images show a white rounded pill-shaped surface that is elongated rather than the rounded square shape of many similar devices. There are two connecting cables shown, assumed to be for power and an HDMI connection.

The remote control is also white, like that used for the Chromecast, with a round directional selection pad fitted into a curve at the top, with round buttons below for back and home. Below that there is a microphone button and a mute button. Additionally, there is an up and down button on the front rather than the side. There are dedicated buttons for YouTube and Netflix, a power button at the bottom, and a customisable button with a star on it. Google calls it a ‘magic’ button that can be used to launch a favourite app.

Google appears to be dropping the Chromecast term and using Google TV name, which aligns with the Google TV operating environment for televisions.

The new form factor may allow Google to increase the specification and performance but more significantly justify a higher price point than a dongle, which has been seen as a relatively low-cost device. It could also allow the integration of other smart home hub capabilities.

Given the timing, the device is likely to be launched at a Made by Google event in mid August.

tv.google

Netflix added over 8 million subscribers in the second quarter of 2024, beating expectations, taking its global total to 277.65 million, up by nearly 40 million in a year. While other online competitors are jostling for position in what many expect will become a bundle of services, Netflix seems to believe that it stands alone with the strength of its offering, but its advertising business remains nascent.

The quarterly subscriber gain was lower than in the first quarter, when Netflix added 9.33 million, or the last quarter of 2023, when it gained 13.12 million.

The greatest gains were in the Asia Pacific region, up by 2.83 million, followed by Europe Middle East and Africa at 2.24 million, Latin America at 1.53 million, and the United States and Canada at 1.45 million.

Quarterly revenue was correspondingly up by 16.8% to just under $9.6 billion, with net income of $2.15 billion.

Although some operators may include Netflix in a bundle with other services, Netflix says that it has not bundled its service with other services like Disney+ or Max “because Netflix already operates as a go-to destination for entertainment thanks to the breadth and variety of our slate and superior product experience.”

Netflix is working on a new television home page design, which it says is its biggest update in a decade, with more immersive trailers and bigger box art. The navigation bar is simplified and moved to the top of the screen. So all those applications that flattered Netflix by imitating its previous design may now want to reconsider.

The number of accounts taking the advertising tier grew by 34% over the quarter. It now accounts for over 45% of all new signups in markets where it is available. However, Netflix has not disclosed absolute numbers.

Having launched its advertising with Microsoft, Netflix is building an in-house advertising technology platform that it will test in Canada before launching more widely in 2025.

In the United Kingdom, audience measurement organisation Barb will report on the Netflix advertising supported plan from September.

Although it says advertising will be a key component of its longer-term revenue and profit growth, Netflix says “we don’t expect advertising to be a primary driver of our revenue growth in 2024 or 2025”. Spencer Neumann, the chief financial officer, told analysts that “when you get into ’26 and beyond, it can be even more meaningful and hopefully, it becomes the point where it is a primary contributor, given all of that engagement and reach that we’re building.”

www.netflix.com

Over 40% of total television viewing in the United States in June was to online video services. It was the highest share of television usage by online services seen so far. YouTube accounted for nearly 10% of viewing, its highest share ever, ahead of Netflix and well ahead of other online video subscription services.

Online viewing accounted for 40.3% of total television viewing in June, with YouTube taking 9.9%, its highest share ever, and Netflix taking 8.4%, just below its previous record of 8.5% in July 2023. They were well ahead of Amazon Prime Video at 3.1% and Hulu at 3.0%. Disney+ had 2.0%, which was the same as Tubi.

The increase in the share of online viewing coincided with the end of the school year and the beginning of the summer break. Online makes up a larger share of the television time of younger viewers. The summer months also tend to produce lower usage of traditional television channels.

It is notable that what Nielsen refers to as broadcast, as opposed to subscription channels, still account for over 20% of viewing, which is only fractionally less than a year ago.

It is also notable that YouTube viewing makes up nearly a tenth of all viewing, which is almost as much as Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, and Tubi combined.

www.nielsen.com