Freestar vs FreeWheel

Roku OS 15.3 Causes Random Nighttime Autoplay

Following a limited public rollout of Roku OS 15.3 in early August 2026 (after a July developer beta), households using Roku TVs and streaming players have reported devices waking in the middle of the night and automatically starting playback. The behavior affects some but not all devices that installed 15.3. Roku's official release notes emphasize developer tools and do not mention power management or autoplay changes, and the root trigger remains unknown. Owners have tried workarounds such as disabling Fast TV Start, turning off HDMI-CEC one-touch play, unplugging devices, powering sticks from wall adapters, or restarting systems, but no universal fix exists. Cord Cutters News has contacted Roku for comment.

• Roku OS 15.3 began a limited public rollout in early August 2026 after a July developer beta.
• Users reported Roku TVs and streaming players turning themselves on at night and launching content without remote input.
• Roku's 15.3 release notes focus on developer tools and do not mention power management or autoplay changes.

Hulu September 2026 Content Lineup

Cord Cutters News published a schedule of titles coming to Hulu in September 2026 (published August 30, 2026). Highlights include Chad Powers Season 2 starring Glen Powell arriving September 3; Dancing With the Stars Season 35 and RJ Decker Season 2 on September 16; and a three-episode premiere of American Horror Story on September 24. The article lists daily additions across the month, spanning movies, completed seasons of series, and dubbed/subbed anime. The page also discloses the publisher’s use of affiliate links (including Amazon) to support the site.

• Article published by Cord Cutters News on 2026-08-30.
• Chad Powers: Complete Season 2 (starring Glen Powell) scheduled for Hulu on 2026-09-03.
• Dancing With the Stars Season 35 and RJ Decker Season 2 scheduled for Hulu on 2026-09-16.

Simpsons 'Yellow Mirror' Episode Now on Disney+

Disney+ began streaming an exclusive Simpsons special titled "Yellow Mirror," published August 27, 2026. The episode contains two segments that explore artificial intelligence — one about a defective lamp and Homer’s perception of reality, the other about an AI-powered tablet that befriends and controls Maggie. Cord Cutters News notes this installment is the final of three Disney+ exclusives released ahead of The Simpsons Season 38 premiere on September 27, 2026. The article links to the episode trailer and points readers to The Simpsons collection on Disney+, which includes past seasons, the movie, shorts, and other exclusive episodes.

• An exclusive Simpsons episode titled "Yellow Mirror" is now streaming on Disney+ (article published August 27, 2026).
• The special contains two segments both themed around artificial intelligence.
• The episode is the third and final Disney+ exclusive released ahead of The Simpsons Season 38 premiere on September 27, 2026.

CTV Ad Consumption Grows Across Europe

FreeWheel, a Comcast company, released its Video Monetisation Report for the first half of 2026, revealing that Connected TV (CTV) now accounts for 53% of premium video ad views in Europe, up from previous periods. Premium video ad views overall increased 20% year-over-year, and programmatic CTV ad views grew 44%. Live programming's share of ad views rose to 32% from 25% in the second half of 2025. The report, based on aggregated data from the FreeWheel platform, highlights the shift toward streaming and programmatic buying, with broadcasters integrating linear and digital inventory. It also notes improvements in data availability and transparency, with enriched data increasingly incorporated into bid requests. Emmanuel Josserand, Senior Director at Comcast Advertising, emphasized the growing opportunity for advertisers and the need for broadcasters to evolve their streaming and programmatic strategies.

• CTV accounted for 53% of premium video ad views in Europe in H1 2026.
• Premium video ad views in Europe increased 20% year-over-year in H1 2026.
• Programmatic CTV ad views grew 44% year-over-year in H1 2026.

FreeWheel Video Monetization Report: 1H 2026

This VMR explores how streaming growth is delivering value for publishers, outcomes for advertisers, and relevant ad experiences for viewers.

FreeWheel Launches New Knowledge Hub and Publishes New Report: Why Brands Need TV

FreeWheel has added a new Knowledge Hub to its website and published a new report titled 'Why Brands Need TV: How Streaming Captures Viewer Attention That Drives Performance'. The report is featured prominently on the insights page, replacing the previous AI in TV Advertising report as the top item.