Kodi vs Plex

Kodi 22 "Piers" Beta 2 Released

Announcing the second Beta release of Kodi 22 "Piers"! A lot of polish has come together for the features added in Beta 1. HDR support is drastically improved, including HDR screenshots. International language support is also improved, especially for JSON-RPC consumers.

Kodi to Close at Least 19 Stores, Future of Others Uncertain

German non-food discounter Kodi is shrinking its store network as part of its ongoing restructuring. From 144 current stores, 19 are definitely closing, all in North Rhine-Westphalia. Negotiations are ongoing for 56 other locations, while 69 stores are confirmed to remain open. The company filed for self-administered insolvency in July, and wages are secured until September. Store closures are expected to begin after the formal insolvency opening in October. This is the second major downsizing for Kodi, which previously went through a protective shield procedure in 2024. The parent company also acquired the insolvent discounter Mäc Geiz in February, which itself filed for insolvency in May.

• Kodi will close at least 19 stores, all in North Rhine-Westphalia.
• Negotiations continue for 56 stores; 69 stores are to be retained.
• Kodi filed for self-administered insolvency in July 2026.

Plex Adds Five Free Channels to Live TV

Plex has added five new free ad-supported channels to its live TV lineup: IFC Films, PBS Nature, Manchester City 24/7, Team USA, and Fight Network. These channels offer curated independent films, wildlife documentaries, soccer club content, Olympic coverage, and combat sports. The additions bring Plex's free live TV channel count to over 600 in the US. Users can access the new channels through the Live TV section of the Plex app on various devices with a free account. The expansion continues Plex's growth in the free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) space, providing cord-cutters with more free alternatives to paid TV. Availability may vary by region due to licensing, and playback includes periodic ads.

• Plex added five new free channels: IFC Films, PBS Nature, Manchester City 24/7, Team USA, and Fight Network.
• The channels are available in the Live TV section of the Plex app for free after sign-in.
• Plex's free live TV lineup now exceeds 600 channels in the United States.

Hasbro Legends FAST Channel Expands to Plex Streaming Platform

Hasbro Legends, a free ad-supported streaming television channel featuring classic Hasbro programming, has expanded its distribution to the Plex platform. The channel, owned by Get After It Media and programmed with content from Hasbro Entertainment, launched over-the-air in July 2026 and is now available on multiple streaming platforms including Heartland+ and Amazon Prime Video's live TV guide. The Plex addition provides another nationwide, subscription-free entry point for viewers. The channel offers nostalgic animated series such as G.I. Joe, Transformers, Power Rangers, My Little Pony, and more, with a schedule evolving towards themed marathon blocks. The distribution strategy aims to reach audiences through multiple free pathways, leveraging both broadcast television and streaming services.

• Hasbro Legends launched over-the-air on July 13, 2026, covering 70 U.S. markets.
• The channel is available on Plex, Heartland+, and Amazon Prime Video's live TV guide.
• Initial coverage reached 70.8 million TV households (over 55% of U.S. TV households).

Plex Media Server Owners Urged to Patch Critical Zero-Day Chain

Plex Media Server owners running outdated versions face active exploitation of a vulnerability chain known as Plex2Shell, tracked as CVE-2026-96652, CVE-2026-96654, CVE-2026-96655, and CVE-2026-96656. The flaws allow unauthenticated remote code execution, enabling attackers to install cryptocurrency miners or proxy tools. A honeypot compromise was observed on October 17, 2026, shortly after public proof-of-concept code emerged. Plex has released patched version 1.43.3.10861 and urged users to update immediately. More than 36,000 internet-exposed servers were identified as vulnerable in September. The attacks can turn compromised computers into proxies for routing traffic, posing risks for botnet recruitment and network abuse.

• Plex2Shell vulnerability chain affects Plex Media Server versions prior to 1.43.3.10861.
• Active exploitation was observed on a honeypot on October 17, 2026.
• Attack delivered XMRig cryptocurrency miner and myawesomeproxy proxy application.