DISH Network is accepting bitcoin as a form of payment, becoming the first pay-TV provider to accept the digital currency. Bitcoin can be used to pay for monthly subscriptions and pay-per-view content.

DIRECTV Now has added network affiliates in Greenville, N.C., and Las Vegas. The company is also reportedly adding several other Nexstar affiliates.

The Martin Agency is bringing back '80s relationship guru Dr. Ruth Westheimer in a campaign for Sling TV, with spots that humorously relay the message that "couples who Sling together, stay together." The push also includes radio, social, display and GIFs.

DIRECTV Now added 342,000 subscribers in the second quarter, steadily closing the gap with Sling TV. DIRECTV Now could surpass Sling TV and become the largest over-the-top service in the US this year if this rate of growth continues.

With an expected $8 per month price tag, Walmart's planned streaming video service could rival Netflix and Amazon, writes Kelly Mertesdorf. Rural areas, which have lower rates of cable and satellite subscribers, could especially give Walmart's streaming offering a boost, she writes.

Over-the-top services such as Amazon Prime and Netflix are slowly shifting into classic media models, writes Graeme Mcmillan. Partnerships with traditional pay-TV providers, the monetization of most streaming services and cross-platform bundles are all signs that these OTT services are evolving into frameworks akin to classic pay-TV models.

AT&T's purchases of Time Warner and AppNexus are part of its plans to build an ad platform that will enable advertisers to buy targeted ads for both traditional TV viewers and those who stream content, or the "unreachables," says Samba TV's Ashwin Navin. "The assets that AT&T is putting together through acquisitions could recover that audience, which is watching TV in a different way today," Navin says.

Microsoft has struggled to gain ground for its digital assistant, Cortana, and is seeking out alternative venues to expand its popularity, per company vice president David Ku. In addition, the company hopes to increase Cortana use via a partnership with Amazon.