Welcome to Lowpass, a newsletter about the future of entertainment and the next big hardware platforms, including smart TVs, ambient computing and AR / VR. This week: Plex’s next big bet, and Tripp’s new AI meditations.

Plex to launch paid movies, shows in early February

Independent video streaming platform Plex is gearing up for its next big launch: Plex will add paid movies and TV shows to its service in early February, executives told me during a meeting at the sidelines of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week.

Much like other online video stores (or TVOD services, as industry insiders like to call them), Plex will offer movies and TV shows for rent and purchase. Plex executives told me they had most studios lined up for launch, with plans to complete the catalog soon after.

But a movie and TV show store isn’t the only thing Plex is looking to launch in the coming months: The service is also gearing up for some big changes under the hood, additional social features, and a significant redesign. Keep reading for all the details on what’s in store for Plex in 2024, as well as some new Plex usage metrics:

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