(08-10-2018 11:13 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(08-10-2018 10:45 AM)Gamecock Wrote:  Every network doesn't need their own streaming service.

Both Netflix and ESPN/Disney would benefit from from offering their content on Netflix's platform in exchange for a price increase. Most people are comfortable using Netflix already but when you start juggling 3-4 different apps it becomes burdensome.

That would be true for a smaller media conglomerate than Disney. Disney has ESPN, Disney (Mouse), Star Wars, Marvel, ABC-TV, and now the Fox catalog. From the Disney offices, what does Netflix really have? Eleventy million subscribers--based, in part, on access to a lot of that Disney content. (Netflix also has an enormous pile of cash in the form of stock price right now.)

Frankly, I was surprised that Disney isn't making Hulu (which they'll now own 60% of) the base of their streaming empire-to-come. The fact that they didn't tells me they don't think that building a streaming service with 100 million US subscribers is that big a lift--it's not worth letting NBC (30%) and Time Warner (10%) have a piece of the pie.

My crystal ball says that we are going to see a mad dash to be the new Netflix (didn't I read that Discovery is looking at bundling their content with content from some other small networks for a subscription service).

Disney ain't gonna lose in the streaming field because they own so much content people want.

But the CBS All Access thing is going to be the norm.

Some won't ever generate enough to make it worthwhile and some will get bought out simply because their installed base of X users getting debited every month coupled with their library will make them worth the trouble of someone else.

3-5 years from now people will complain that you have to have too many subscriptions to see everything they want.

10 years from now people will complain that three companies have bought everything interesting up and your only choice is to either pay them or figure out what you are willing to give up.

My guess is Hulu and Amazon have figured out a critical piece of the pie. The tack-on subscription but Hulu isn't going to offer ESPN+ or DisneyFlix as a tack-on because Disney would have to share.

ESPN+ is offering tack-ons for MLB and NHL but not pushing them yet. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't pursue similar eventually with NFL and NBA as well as with LHN, ACC and SEC.