New “Instant Headlines” AI Feature Lets Fubo Viewers Watch Specific TV News Segments Instead Of Full Shows

A new AI feature being launched in beta by streaming pay-TV provider Fubo allows viewers to choose specific news segments from a continuously updated supply of “instant headlines.”

The ability to zero in on a news topic through the home page, as it’s reported on air, represents a first for live TV, Fubo said in announcing the feature Thursday. The company plans similar features for sports and entertainment programming down the line.

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The aim of Instant Headlines (watch a demo of it above) is to help subscribers “make better viewing decisions in real time,” a press release explained. Instant Headlines surfaces current programming topics and sums them up in 10-words-or-less headlines in the home page news carousel. The page constantly refreshes each channel tile in the carousel, updating the user on the current topic being discussed on that channel. The viewer can then click on the channel tile to watch the specific live segment.

Instant Headlines is available to Fubo users on FireTV and Android TV, and is currently integrated with select 24-hour news channels, including national networks and local stations in certain markets. The feature may be expanded to other devices in the future, according to the release.

Fubo, which launched in 2015, had nearly 1.5 million subscribers as of last September. Competing in a crowded streaming-bundle field against deeper-pocketed rivals like YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV, it has managed to steadily expand its footprint, in part by emphasizing personalization.

“Fubo continuously pushes the boundaries of innovation, delivering to consumers market defining product features optimized for live TV streaming,” co-founder and CEO David Gandler said. “We believe tech advancements will continue to demarcate Fubo from other live TV streaming services – appealing to both consumers and advertisers alike – and will contribute strongly to our profitability goals.”

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