- Kirby Grines
The Streaming Wars: If consumers lose, will they be driven back to traditional TV?
Updated: Aug 20, 2019
As Disney, NBCUniversal and AT&T’s WarnerMedia work furiously to stand out in the streaming-video arena, they are betting heavily on something that rivals like Netflix and Amazon can’t produce: decades of hit TV series to which the old-school entertainment companies ultimately control the rights. To keep watching some of their favorites, fans will have to pony up more dough for a wider selection of services. Here’s everything you need to know about Disney, Apple, WarnerMedia and NBCU’s streaming services.
Ultimately all of these new services will result in confusion and angst as consumers try to figure out where their favorite programs reside. Nielsen believes that too many streaming choices will lead some viewers back to traditional TV.
According to the 2019 Manatt, Vorhaus Digital strategy study The top 3 draws for a new SVOD service centered on exclusive content.
50% of people said they joined for a specific movie or TV series
43% cited an original series
33% signed up because of the general theme of the content offered, such as anime, sports or nature.
Return from Splitsvile?
After divorcing in 2005, CBS and Viacom are rumored to be working on a reconciliation and an announcement of their reunification, by way of a $15.4 billion acquisition, could be announced as early as August 8th.
Meanwhile, CBS channels went dark across AT&T’s services DirecTV and U-Verse late Saturday. CBS warns that the blackout could “last a long time”.
All aboard Disney Airlines
Disney is rumored to be launching its own airline in the US. The company has been cited in the past expanding their transportation offerings, with Disney’s Magical Express. The Magical Express is a transportation service that shuttles guests from Orlando’s Airport and to Disney Resort throughout the property. Now with Disney looking to operate in the air, they will control more of the guest experience. Will Disney+ subscribers get a discount?
ROUND UP
Spotify pacts with Disney to launch hub with music from movies, TV shows.
Youtube Music hopes to take a substantial share of the music streaming market and just launched a slick way of toggling music videos on and off.
Big Ten Network shifts conference content to Fox Sports app.
Apple will reportedly fund exclusive podcasts to challenge Spotify.
Roku rises to fresh record thanks to Amazon Prime Day.
Netflix has deal to integrate app in AT&T’s upcoming set-top box.
INSIGHTS
Whether you’re on the business, technical, or product side of digital video, Zype just published their “Essential Digital Video Infrastructure Guide for 2019”.
How OTT Platforms fit into the complicated TV landscape.
How to make sense of advertising in the streaming TV Industry.
BY THE NUMBERS
$9.1 billion. The amount of money OTT and pay TV companies will lose in 2019 from piracy. Parks Associates predicts this number to rise to $12.5 billion in the next five years. Link
$17 billion. The amount of value Netflix lost in one day. Link
15/20 of users’ favorite shows on Netflix are Netflix original programs according to a study commissioned by MoffettNathanson. Link
6/10 of the largest sports leagues now offer premium OTT streaming services and investing in establishing direct-to-consumer services. Rights holders will have to weigh their benefits of DTC revenues against the risk of diminishing the value of the packages they sell to distributors. Link
1 million. The number of times Sinclair’s Stirr was downloaded in 6 months. Link
75% of Australian consumers are driven by content preference rather than the device or channel. Link
FUN FACT
In 2005, Hulu.com was owned by Amy Hung and home to her family photos. Presumably after Facebook gained momentum, her site was rendered useless. If only she’d kept the domain name! 🤦
FOOD CORNER
NYC Restaurant Week Summer 2019 starts this week and runs through August 16. Below are some recommendations to check out. Maybe we’ll see one another?
38 E 19th St
Jean-Georges Vongerichten's upscale farm-fresh eatery serves Latin American fusion in a glam space.
355 W 46th St
Lidia Bastianich's lower-priced sibling to Felidia offering pasta specials.
19 E 26th St
Locally sourced, upscale American cuisine served in a barn-inspired setting with a chef’s table.
310 Malcom X Blvd
Popular, stylish comfort food eatery with creative cooking from celeb chef Marcus Samuelsson.
199 Bowery
Global street eats, American mains & cocktails in a splashy space with a lower-level lounge & DJs.
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