[opendtv] Re: Pete Deutschman: Linear TV dips below half of US viewers
- From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2015 01:02:34 +0000
Craig Birkmaier wrote:
They are already given catch-up options,
No, I'm not talking about catch-up options. I'm talking about the content
becoming available at a certain time zero, and then from that time zero to any
time afterwards, people can access that content from the beginning. There's no
reason to think that the content HAS to be either "linear," or on demand after
a long delay.
Think of it this way, Craig. A new product is introduced with great fanfare.
Say, one of your lemming-magnet iPhones. People can either queue up at the
store's entrance, to get their iPhone at time zero by appointment, or they can
walk into the store any time after that, without having to queue up at all.
There's no enforced rule that says, either you queue up, or you have to wait a
week to buy one. It's simply there for the taking (buying), beginning at a
specific time.
People will still watch the linear stream of a premiere,
Mostly, because they have no option. It's either "linear," or they have to wait
one or more days.
Let's say it is half, although I believe that is an overstatement.
It was already 53% many months ago, who watch TV programs non-linear, and 56%
who watch movies that way. For instance, only 44% of people care to watch HBO
et al "linear." Hardly what you would call "of no interest."
What's wrong with options, especially when they help the industry
make money?
Again with banalities? I'm explaining why linear-only distribution pipes are
wasteful, at a time when so many people have gone to on demand. We've covered
this ground already. Go back to the thread about dedicating spectrum to MPEG-2
TS broadcast streams.
But it is not FREE.
OTA is free to the consumer, except he gets ad breaks. This is unique to OTA,
except for FOTI which is always delayed by 1 day or more.
More people watch MVPD programming than the broadcast networks
Cord cutters are happy to stop watching those MVPD-exclusive channels, Craig.
They replace them with other content. But cord cutters do want to retain access
to the broadcast networks. This is fact. You can find articles and testimonials
that explain this phenomenon.
They want more than just the networks.
I never said they want just the networks.
As one of the article I posted this week stated, if someone,
perhaps Apple, can offer the right skinny bundle, the
traditional MVPD bundles could take a big hit.
Skinny bundles have been cropping up for many months now, Craig. No need to
wait for Apple. Sling TV offers one with ESPN. Many cable companies offer a
skinny bundle with HBO. Verizon wants to offer a skinny bundle with ESPN, which
I've already commented on. In true hypocritical fashion, Disney objected, even
though they themselves set one such bundle up with Sling TV.
FOTA could easily become FOTI,
The option exists today, but broadcasters are not embracing
it yet.
The congloms have done so, although delayed to the next day (in the wee hours)
or to 8 days, depending on the broadcaster. Broadcasters also offer their own
content online. European broadcasters have also done so.
There is much evidence that the effectiveness increases, but
the revenues decrease.
Okay, you're right, the effectiveness increases, which can only mean that as
more eyeballs use this method, the revenues will follow. Or said another way,
fewer and fewer companies will think it wise to invest in ads on linear
channels.
When I started watching online TV, Craig, there were perhaps three or four
30-second ads breaks, in a full length episode. That's certainly changed.
Someone must be getting that online ads make money.
Bert
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:
- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at
FreeLists.org
- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word
unsubscribe in the subject line.
Other related posts: