Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

I'm using Appletv for nbcsports,
the bt sports app on windows 10 is amazing quality but i only have 40inch 1080p samsung tv i guess if my tv was bigger i'd prob see a difference between streaming and linear tv broadcasts.
You can get blu ray quality movies via BT too as i'd imagine would be same with any provider offering good speeds.
I agree never risk torrents i've repaired many laptops/pcs because people used torrents and got stung with malware./viruses etc which is why i use a android tv box for kodi and addons i research into before installing aka look at ratings, peoples comments etc.
I like you am lucky enough to know someone in the US who gave me a login to their tv provider for a small fee which is understandable $10p/m is peanuts really.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

By way of throwing you a wee bone for a change OB, last night our kids were watching Blue Peter, which included a live appearance by two of the young stars from Netflix's new adaptation of Lemony Snickett. It's clear to see the BBC is happy to treat Netflix as a serious platform, however I think we can agree that there is no way they would have done this had the series been premiering on CITV. So while they're treating it seriously, they're also treating it as something different, and not necessarily as competition.

---------- Post added at 18:00 ---------- Previous post was at 17:55 ----------

Oh, and by way of full disclosure, I've been full of the cold this week, and when one of my kids was off school with it a few days ago, we binge-watched all eight episodes. :D

We have finally taken a month's trial sub to Netflix as there was some stuff the kids wanted to see. It is definitely nice to have, but I'm finding that its main effect on me is to invite me to distract myself with TV at times when I'd otherwise just go and do something else.

It's been fun but we'll be cancelling before they start charging us. We might take out an ad hoc month here or there in future though, if they release something good ... like another series of Lemony Snickett.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

I use a variety of devices but for simplicity I'll just explain my living room setup.
For Netflix and Amazon Prime I use a Fire TV Stick (cheapest way to get both in 1080P with DD+ sound), for most of my media consumption I use a Windows 10 based HTPC which acts as a PVR, server, download machine, Kodi device and BT Sports app player, for Now TV I use one of the newer smart boxes (this I lucked on an offer and thought it worth a try and it is head and shoulders above any other device I've tried for Sky Sports on the platform).
I then have an Apple TV 4 as a backup for when the Kodi addons aren't working for the American channels (a reasonably common occurrence for most Kodi addons).
The ATV 4 gives the same results for NBC as the expensive Windows PC, whilst perfectly watchable its picture is not as good as the other services I mentioned in my previous post.

With regard to your comment about using an Android box for Kodi and researching ratings I hope you can forgive an old timer giving a little advice.
I've been using Kodi since I first soldered an xecuter chip into my original xbox and ftp'd an amazing program then called then XBMP into it.
In the near decade and a half since then I've always hailed it as the best example of how good a piece of software can be when its created as a labour of love rather than having any commercial interests.

Unfortunately over the last 4 or 5 years many nefarious interests have tried to make money out of it.
Whilst I'm out of touch with Android developments I'd say in its purest form Kodi is still best experienced on X86/64 hardware, and while I'd trust to install any addon from the official repository the 3rd party addon world has become the wild west, I personally wouldn't install any 3rd party addon I hadn't looked through its code, I'm not a coder but python is pretty easy to read through and understand what its doing and if the code has been encrypted so you can't read it never install that addon!

While I'm on my high horse I'd also say to anyone reading this thread never ever buy a "fully loaded" Kodi box, what you are buying has been opened by someone who has installed software not installed at the factory, you might be lucky and they've just used a commonly available wizard to do it to make a fast buck or you might be unlucky and malware has compromised your whole network!
Its a piece of P*** to install Kodi onto any compatible device without resorting to the "fully loaded" scamfest

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Thanks for the bone, Chris; appreciated!

It is indeed easy to get sucked into all that delicious content, but I deliberately steer away from the TV during the day and don't start watching until about 8.30pm at the earliest...although on a Friday and Saturday night, I don't retire until about 2 or 3 in the morning, unless I fall off the sofa first (hic!).

Probably explains why I have such a backlog of programmes yet to see!

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

I'm pretty sure the future of the "TV channel" is an on-demand themed section of an EPG (like a set of numbered or searchable fixed youtube channels), themed by each broadcaster, with a choice of programme releases that become available over time (like the Grand Tour on Amazon) and with very few channels being actually "Live" except 24 Hour news channels and live sports events.

Ultra-HD content could be pre-downloaded and "released" for vieweing at the scheduled time if you've series-linked that content.

There is also the possibility that any remaining linearly-scheduled TV content could be downloaded by the broadcaster to a server at the telephone exchange and the TV channel can be played out from there rather than keeping an open ongoing connection from a satellite feed for fibre. The content would be batch-downloaded over the internet according to a schedule and then played out "reassembled" from places local to the subscriber.

Terrestrial would remain for a while containing HD and SD public broadcasters but without many channels since the extra frequencies will be used for mobile services.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

BIB i second this completely the fully loaded boxes tend to be full of crap and most are fakes, i got my Android box from gearbest all it had was Android 5 on it nothing else and i knew it was genuine, i have in past fallen victim of fully loaded boxes when i bought a m8 of ebay was a pile of junk and fake i was lucky as got a full refund from seller, but now i have a genuine t95 box, kodi is very easy to install you get it from the google play store.
I remember kodi too in it's xbmc days on xbox a great media software, still is today under the kodi name.
I never use these wizards or builds i create my own build for my use only.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Now, this is an interesting development - Netflix setting itself up to run a premium channel. That should please those who have an antipathy to streaming!

At this stage, it appears a sensible move, given that the transition to streaming only is still a way off. This will enable Netflix not only to acquire new customers, but also to take advantage of advertising, the same way as Sky does on its premium channels.

Although the Netflix CEO has contended that he does not consider advertising as appropriate for the on demand service, he won't get much resistance to the idea if he uses commercials to part fund a premium TV channel.

http://tbivision.com/news/2017/01/ne...hannel/696371/

Netflix ‘repositioning as premium channel’

by Stewart Clarke January 10, 2017
Netflix2Netflix’s programming spend now matches that of the major premium channels and with geographical expansion largely complete, the US-based streaming service is repositioning itself as a premium TV offering, according to new research.

Ampere Analysis suggests Netflix is refocusing its strategy. “Netflix’s growth has relied heavily on geographic expansion to date, but, with its global launch, that road has now run out,” said Daniel Gadher, an analyst at Ampere.

“Increasingly, Netflix is re-engineering as a premium channel play and its content spend, as well as the refinement we are seeing in its content catalogue, reflect this.”

This repositioning will see Netflix differentiate itself from Amazon, which is becoming more of a pay TV platform offering in some markets and also wants to bolster a wider retail business. The two main global OTT players will occupy different places in the market in the future, according to Ampere.

“Netflix is clearly re-positioning as a premium channel in a strategy that differs considerably from that of Amazon,” Gadher said. “This duality of approaches will see the two operations increasingly carve out parallel but separate niches.”

Netflix spent US$4.7 billion on programming last year and will shell out almost US$6 billion in 2017. It has upped its spend on originals and also drastically reduced the volume of library fare on its service. Its spend and focus on originals puts it on a par with the likes of Sky and international channel groups such as NBCUniversal.

Amazon’s spends about US$2.7 billion on programming, less than its rival but at a similar level to Netflix at that point in its development.

“Although Amazon’s level of SVOD content expenditure against revenue from its video service is currently high, it is at a similar level to Netflix’s at the same point in its video development,” Ampere noted.

“Amazon is further able to use its retail business to supplement its content investment strategy, but has been positioning strategically as a platform content operation rather than a channel.”

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Nice to see you are starting to realise that Linear TV is here to stay OB.;)

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

No, not to stay, Den. But at this stage in history, it makes sense to enhance your offering in this way.

In a couple of decades, the situation will look completely different. Remember the Sky Box Office channels? They seemed thoroughly modern in the early 2000s, but now, just about 15 years later, they are no more, and all because of streaming.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

I'm not reading that the same as you Old Boy , I'm reading that as they see Netflix now positioning itself as a Premium channel in the sense of an HBO however On Demand rather than linear. Let's face it Netflix wants its service to be available on pay tv providers boxes , it's all ready available on Virgin and Youview and would love to be on Sky. In the USA it's struck a deal with Comcast and is available on Dish Network.

With must see Originals it appeals more to pay tv providers , more than it did when it was just merely a catalogue of older boxsets of shows.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

And to prove my wild west comment it seems even one of the most trusted 3rd party sources can't actually be trusted!

https://torrentfreak.com/popular-kod...botnet-170203/

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Also the author has recoded that particular addon to remove the botnet code, he did the botnet code as a group called Anonymous (not the hacking group) stole his code and copy and pasted it into their own addon, his coding was to strike at that particular group but unfortuantly it targeted others so Lambda the authour of that addon mentioned in the article updated it again removing the botnet code.
I've used kodi with addons for years and never had any issues, then again i only use it on my android tv box which has no personal info on it anyway and use a vpn too.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

I was quite interested in Kodi as it appeared to offer so much additional content. However, it seems to me that unless you get the addons which give you access to pirated material, there's not really much there of any interest.

I am not prepared to go down the content piracy route as it doesn't feel right to me. What we are doing by watching it is denying proper payment to the content provider, which damages the whole industry, added to which I am not convinced by those who say that watching content by this means is perfectly legal. I don't see how it can be, as the viewer is basically watching stuff that is offered in return for payment. And we all know what it amounts to if you take possession of something you haven't paid for, don't we?

The lesson for content providers is to stop doing these exclusive deals and putting in place other restrictions so that we can all gain legitimate access to the programmes we want to watch without paying an arm and a leg for doing so. I am sure that, in the end, a way will be found to prevent piracy more effectively, but I will not be taking advantage of this loophole in the meantime.

Besides, with Netflix, Amazon, Now TV and my cable subscription, I can view most things that I want to see. But not everyone can afford that, and I do wonder if a solution may lie in 'the cloud' whereby everyone can obtain access to content for a reasonable price without having to subscribe to multiple content providers. This could work by payment of a subscription that would allow access to a given number of hours of content over the course of a month, which could be tiered as well to reflect the value of that content.

That would, to my mind, make for a more 'equal society' in terms of access to programming.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

.... and another legal route will be Sky's "cable" service when it launches next year, as long as your broadband connection is decent enough.

---------- Post added at 16:45 ---------- Previous post was at 16:38 ----------

That's right.

Netflix has been saying for ages that they want to be like HBO's "channel."

Netflix knew that in the future as their popularity increased, they would get squeezed by the major media companies which would make the cost of buying in tv and films from others too high. Hence why they went down the route of making their own stuff.

But of course the whole point of Netflix is to watch films and tv from various different companies all in one place.

Whether their strategy works out in the long run, remains to be see.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

It does worry me that we could end up with a situation in which each studio has its own 'on demand' portal with separate subscriptions or pay per view. This could make things very expensive and it would encourage more piracy if the content on those platforms was exclusive.

---------- Post added at 16:39 ---------- Previous post was at 16:33 ----------

Here we go....

http://www.rapidtvnews.com/201702054...#axzz4XpUHnOWK

The eleventh-hour settlement of the high-profile carriage dispute between Sky and Discovery is not likely to be the end of the discussion as to what those channels are really worth.

The deal means that Sky subscribers will continue to enjoy Discovery’s bouquet of 12 thematic genre channels, yet it must be noted that according to Futuresource Consulting analysis, comparing data for the last seven months of 2016 with the same period for 2014 shows that Discovery’s ratings (excluding Eurosport) have declined, while Sky’s share of eyeballs has remained the same. That backs up Sky’s original beef with the programmer.

“The disagreement was simple – Sky said Discovery’s viewing on its platforms had fallen and it did not want to pay what was being asked to renew their long-term carriage agreement,” said Futuresource analyst John Bird. “Discovery said it was being paid less than it was 10 years ago, despite Sky subscription price rises and a claimed 20% increase in viewing of its channels on Sky platforms (the acquisition of Sky Germany and Italy in this period may well be a factor behind this assertion).”

But Bird added that the falling viewership was “almost certainly” due in a large part to the cannibalisation impact of on-demand viewing on traditional linear multichannel TV.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

For full disclosure I am no angel and have fractured the odd copyright law online for a couple of decades at least.

That being said I am somewhere in the middle of your moral stance.
To give an example, whilst I have free access to almost every sporting event I would wish to watch via my kind friend in America who gave me the login to their cable account I still pay for the events I can get on British TV, but that is on a PPV basis with Now TV or by giving a family member £5 a month to have BT Sports added to their BT account for me to use.
People may think I'm foolish to pay out for things I could watch for free but I prefer to pay my way when its an option and only use my alternative methods when the event is denied me on British TV, what I will never do again is pay VM, Sky or anyone else for a load of crap I don't want to get access to the things I do want.

Kodi is actually a really good platform to play your locally stored content, legal services as well as being a great PVR.
Unfortunately apart from BBC Iplayer and UKTV Player the other British broadcasters have pretty much closed off Kodi's access to their service but the same can't be said for the US, with the main exception of HBO (which I don't need as I get Sky Atlantic via Now TV) an awful lot of the US broadcasters services are available via (legit) Kodi addons.

With regards to the main point of this thread and the future of linear TV I am again occupying the middle ground,
pretty much all of my media consumption is via on demand/OTT services, I honestly can't remember the last time I switched on live TV to be entertained with the large exception of watching live sports or the latest news.
Actually I guess this paragraph isn't the middle ground but it shows there are some things that linear channels still need to be there for!

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Thank you for sharing that with us.

Just one thing, I completely agree that some things are best watched live, but you can still watch live events as they happen by way of streaming. For example, the BBC i-player enables you watch your channel as it is currently broadcasting. I am sure that this is the way that linear TV will be accessed in future, rather than via conventional broadcast channels.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

In a further indication that more streaming services may become available with their own pricing and exclusive content, things are looking to get a bit pricey over time. All the more reason for providers such as VM to seek wholesale deals and bundle them together, although this will not be easy with companies like Sky, one presumes.

http://www.digitaltveurope.net/65742...-says-murdoch/

Going OTT is an ‘option’ for Fox, says Murdoch

Direct-to-consumer streaming is an “option” for 21st Century Fox in the US market, and the company has the expertise to launch such an offering, according to CEO James Murdoch.

Speaking to analysts after Fox announced its latest quarterly figures. Murdoch said that Fox was focused primarily on developing its authenticated streaming service in partnership with pay TV providers for now.

However, he said, it remains “an option for us in the future” to develop “independently priced access to that suite of apps”.

Murdoch said that while Fox had not yet decided to go down that route, such an approach is “one that we feel we have the capability and the wherewithal and experience in terms of managing direct-to-consumer and subscriber businesses to tackle”.

Murdoch said that Fox had successfully developed a direct-to-consumer OTT proposition in India with its Hotstar platform. “Whether or not there’s a future for us in, for example, the way that CBS has taken some steps in the US is a decision that we can take at a later date,” he said.

Murdoch said that for now Fox was “very focused” on the authenticated partnership model, including developing services for “new digital MVPD partners” such as Sling Media, DirectTV Now, Hulu’s new platform and Google’s forthcoming service.

In his opening remarks on the call, he said that Fox would launch a “major overhaul” of its streaming apps “within the next few months”.

Murdoch’s comments came as 21st posted Q2 revenues of US$7.68 billion, up 4%, and operating income before depreciation and amortization of US$1.99 billion, up 15%.

Addressing Fox’s planned acquisition of the 61% of Sky that it doesn’t already own, Murdoch said that the deal represented a “major step” in “a long process that started a number of years ago” to realign Fox “around the future of video”. He said that “the combination of strengths required to operate a high-volume content business and a vast international video platform business is precisely the combination of strengths that we’re developing”. Murdoch said that using the company’s core strength in content to build a platform that reflected the long-term trends of high-speed connectivity, proliferation of end-user display devices and the opportunity to access content in the cloud “presents one of the most promising opportunities for our company in decades”.

Fox co-executive chairman Lachlan Murdoch said that the deal would “deliver more balanced revenue streams and geographic spread” and simplify the group’s “structure and operating model” as well as being “significantly accretive to our earnings per share and our free cash-flow”.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

It seems that there is an acknowledgement that the number of interruptions by commercials on TV is deterring viewers from watching conventional TV channels. This, of course, is what I believe will drive an ever increasing proportion of the TV audience to streaming services.

http://advanced-television.com/2017/...any-ads-on-tv/

Disney’s Iger: “Too many ads on TV”

Ad-free services from the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime are seemingly impressing Disney CEO Bob Iger, who has said he believes there are too many commercial interruptions on TV.

Iger added that he and his team were looking at reducing the number of adverts carried by Disney-owned sports channel ESPN and national network ABC. “I think in today’s world we have to be mindful of the number of commercial interruptions,” he said......

This opens up another possibility that could actually prolong the survival of our broadcast TV channels. If broadcasters concentrated their advertisements between, rather than during programmes, this would cause less upset or resistance among viewers and possibly even reduce the outflow towards streaming services. This would of course mean that the cost of advertising would be greater, but the smaller channels could benefit from this if companies with a smaller advertising spend found themselves priced out of the market in terms of the mass audience channels.

In my view, this alone would not be sufficient to save the broadcast channels, given the rigid set schedules broadcasters have to work to, but maybe 'red button' services could be expanded to provide the convenience of accessing more programmes on demand over a longer time span (say 3 to 4 months or even a year).

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

I said earlier in the thread old boy, that I reckon there will be casualties soon. There cannot be main/broadcast channels, millions of sat/cable channels, sat/cable on demand and streaming. They can't all survive.

I still believe there will be a core set of broadcast channels that will survive which will include the main networks and perhaps a few satellite/cable channels too.

As far as the American main channels go, if they do reduce the ads or even shunt them to between the programmes, then yes they will carry on too.

I said before that I reckon the main channels in the future will be like "shop windows" which will highlight all the goodies for viewers. This can be for both new and old shows. So a channel like ABC might show the first 6 episodes of The West Wing for a few weeks to get viewers interested and then you'd watch the rest on demand.

So in perhaps in future channel schedules, there could be say a 8pm slot everyday that highlights the best new shows and the cream of the crop from the past. And once viewers are enticed into the shop, they are then shepherded to the on demand services to continue watching the show highlighted in the slot.

For me, linear viewing finished years ago and I will never go back. I choose exactly what I want to watch and when, and never watch any adverts. (They should pay me if someone wants to advertise to me!).

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Dish TV surprises by adding TV subscribers!

Predicted to lose 87,000 TV subscribers.
Actually gained 28,000 TV subscribers.

But reality is that its new customers are those subscribing to a lower-priced Now TV-type service and not its higher priced satellite service.
http://fortune.com/2017/02/22/dish-network-sling-tv/

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

http://advanced-television.com/2017/...-the-internet/

He defended ‘binge viewing’, suggesting that most linear networks would adopt the model, drawing an analogy with reading a novel. “The original binge view was the novel. You got to stay up late, you could do it at your leisure, it was portable, you could take it to the beach. The Internet has brought back binge viewing. You’re going to see most linear networks convert to binge viewing,” he predicted.

Hastings is so wrong about this. Linear TV is not the place for back to back programmes. There are very few people who can spare the time to watch a whole series in one sitting. Linear TV simply isn't the place to go for binge viewing and if they did this, it would lead to the more rapid loss of viewers over time than even I have been forecasting.

Instead of trying to emulate the trends we have seen from the streaming phenomenon, broadcast TV needs to build on its own strengths, or they will lose everything very quickly.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

The problem the likes of Sky , VM and BT have is they can't keep up with the pace that the likes of Netflix and Amazon develop products and services at.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

So l gather you share the same opinions as our veritable OB?.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Yes, and the good bit of news I have picked up from this is that you will be able to retrieve programmes from the cloud for up to 9 months. I'd like it to be for a year, but this is better than I thought it would be.


We’ve also partnered with local TV stations, so you’ll also get sports and local news based on where you live. And YouTube TV offers dozens of additional cable channels, so you won’t miss out on the latest news from MSNBC or Fox News, popular shows and movies from USA or FX, kids programming from the Disney Channel or Sprout, or reality TV from E! or Bravo. You can also add Showtime, or Fox Soccer Plus to your networks for an additional charge. In total, YouTube TV gives you access to more than 40 networks,” advises Oestlien.

A cloud DVR, with no storage limits. “With YouTube TV, you’ll be able to record live TV and never run out of storage. Your cloud DVR can record as many shows as you want, simultaneously, without using precious data or space on your phone and we’ll store each of your recordings for nine months,” says Oestlien.

A service that works great on all a user’s screens. “You can watch YouTube TV on any screen—mobile, tablet or computer—and you can easily stream to your TV with a Google Chromecast or Chromecast built-in TV. YouTube TV works on both Android and iOS. And your cloud DVR goes with you, so you can stream your recordings on any device, whenever and wherever you want,” he says.

YouTube Red Originals. “With a YouTube TV membership, you can watch all of our YouTube Red Original series and movies right on the new YouTube TV app,” he notes.
Six accounts, one price. “Every YouTube TV membership comes with six accounts, each with its own unique recommendations and personal DVR with no storage limits. You can watch up to three concurrent streams at a time,” he confirms.

Half the cost of cable with zero commitments. “A YouTube TV membership is only $35 a month and there are no commitments—you can cancel anytime,” he advises.

It's a shame that You Tube currently have no plans to launch the service here.

http://advanced-television.com/2017/...be-35-live-tv/

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Google always say that they'll launch first in their home country and see what choices are available in overseas markets at a later date especially if the service proves a success in the US.

I'd expect to see others announce similar services , certainly Apple at some stage.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Source

We live in changing times.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Yes, it's both worrying and exciting at the same time.

Hopefully, now even the broadcast channels are admitting that the future is on demand, those who dismissed the whole idea that the linear channels would have to re-evaluate their approach can see what I was getting at.

This is just the start. It's when the live viewing of our conventional channels really takes a tumble that we will start to see the consequences. I guess the prediction should be 19 years now!

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

No more likely even when we have all gone the way of the dodo....:)

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

You do know the Dodo is coming back right?
Also mammoths are too.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

:D

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

It can't be long now, Den, before you have your Emporer's New Clothes moment. On demand is King and ye shall see the light of the new future as heralded by the prophets when all is revealed.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Well l do get moments every day but they are what you call senior moments OB and alas it can't be long before you will be accustomed to them yourself.:)

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

The impact of internet delivered services is having a devastating impact on the number of cable subscribers in the US, which ultimately will lead to the reduction in the number of channels. The rot is setting in across the water and this trend has already begun over here. It helps to explain why Sky are falling over themselves to offer deals you can't refuse, just to keep subscribers at a sustainable level.

In my opinion, Sky could slow the trend simply by offering fewer, better quality channels with more original dramas and shows. That would certainly go a long way to help retain subscriptions, as I think the public are tiring of poor quality reality TV and dumbed down documentaries. However, although this may help to reduce the flow of deserting subscribers, it is the streaming services that will ultimately win the day.

http://advanced-television.com/2017/...-subs-in-2016/

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Oh dear l have seen this same chapter of the book many times before methinks.;)

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

But in our advancing years, Den, consistency is what we all crave!

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

TBF to OB even mr Bentley slightly hinted at the future being online streaming in his v6 review.
He said "what people really want is a box where all apps such as netflix, amazon video, nowtv and so on are all one one device." basically.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

So what your saying is OB is really John Bentley :D

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

0.5% in a year is hardly "devastating".

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

indeed l think OB is getting lessons from the Daily Fail in the art of extreme exaggerating.;):D

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

That's a good theory :p:

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Damn! You've blown my cover! :D

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

The dissatisfaction with huge bundles of channels showing inferior material in the US is now gaining traction. The smaller channels will start to fold before too much longer, as viewers get smarter on their viewing habits.

http://www.digitaltveurope.net/67575...ing-to-an-end/

Neil: Age of the big TV bundle drawing to an end

The age of paying for a large bundle of channels but only watching a handful is coming to an end, according to broadcaster and journalist Andrew Neil.

Speaking at SES’s Satellite Monitors event in London this morning, Neil highlighted the disruptive force of Netflix and Amazon and new services like the forthcoming ‘skinny bundle’ YouTube TV offering in the US.

While cord cutting is still not a major issue in the UK, he said the picture is very different in the US where services like Netflix and Amazon have made the issue more stark.

“They used to say SVOD broadcasters would not affect traditional broadcasters in America. They’re not saying that anymore,” said Neil. “The dissatisfaction with pay TV is growing in America, cord-cutting is accelerating.”

“It hasn’t happened yet, but I think it will happen – the age of paying for a thousand channels and only six of which you ever watch is coming to an end. We were lucky to get away with it for as long as we could, but I just think we’re not going to get away with it anymore.”

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

That's odd. The link you posted 3 days ago told us cord-cutting in the US was at a 10 year low...

"Losses [of pay-TV customers] for the top cable providers were the fewest in any year since 2006 (the year Telcos introduced video services)"

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

You are becoming a bit like the Daily Fail OB in that you keep churning out the same old line time and time again and in the end some might actually believe you.;)

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

To be fair to OB, Den, he didn't right that article, he only posted it!

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Granted although the person writing it is not exactly pals with Rupert Murdoch ever since their split.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Well, I do try to provide some balance to the argument!

Yes, there are fewer cutting the cord, but the trend continues.

The top six cable companies lost about 280,000 video subscribers in 2016 – compared to a loss of about 410,000 subscribers in 2015, and 1,200,000 subscribers in 2014.

However, traditional pay-TV services (not including Internet-delivered services) lost about 1,640,000 subscribers in 2016 – compared to a loss of about 980,000 in 2015.

---------- Post added at 18:41 ---------- Previous post was at 18:39 ----------

You should be proud, Den. Clearly, you are living proof that even when presented with all the evidence to the contrary, some will cling to their mistaken beliefs until the bitter end! ;)

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

The chances of HBO coming to the UK as a stand-alone service look to be low if France is anything to go by. Orange has just renewed its exclusive contract with HBO in that country.
http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2017/...hbo-exclusive/

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

It was never going to happen despite the blind eyed optimism of one revered poster on this forum.;)

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

What we don't know are the implications of AT&T's $85bn purchase of HBO's owners, TimeWarner. AT&T are planning on keeping HBO but could they change the distribution strategy overseas? My instinct is no but if there's another mega-merger, who knows?

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Just because HBO grant exclusive first showing rights to other providers doesn't prevent them from providing a streaming service for all non-first run material. Indeed, this is a lucrative means for HBO to get the best of both worlds!

A little thinking outside the box helps sometimes, folks!

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

l quite agree OB....;)

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

HBO Nordic is a perfect example of this that one includes other networks too such as Showtime, Amc etc.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Not impossible...but not easy.
Trouble is, they're all licensed to Sky or BT and have different renewal dates.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Hopefully, something like this will show up in the UK before long. Ultimately, I hope that we will have much better availability of services that is the norm in the US so that there is rather less of a divide between us.

As we become more global in our outlook, this may ultimately wrong foot Sky with their obsession in respect to exclusivity of content. I don't have any problem with exclusivity of first run rights, but the contract they have currently with HBO is just plain wrong. How long has Game of Thrones been locked into Sky satellite subscribers only? It's just not right.

No wonder there is a piracy problem!

---------- Post added at 18:58 ---------- Previous post was at 18:53 ----------

It is very easy. HBO enter into a contract for first run rights only. Even first and second is acceptable. As long as there are good time constaints. I wouldn't mind at all if I had to wait for 12 months, but after that, it starts to become unreasonable, in my view.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Game of Thrones isn't locked into Sky satellite subscribers it's available to anyone with a 2mb or greater internet connection on Now TV.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

H'mm, yes, owned by Sky, of course. :rolleyes:

It still means that other subscribers to digital platforms have to pay more for this content.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

If I want AMC I have to subscribe to a BT package what's the difference.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

No chance in my view. The closest is Now TV which has HBO and Showtime content.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

You are talking about a channel. I'm talking about content.

The first series of Fear the Walking Dead was exclusive to the AMC channel, but after it had been shown, this was made available on Amazon Prime free of charge.

In my view, that is acceptable practice. All I'm saying is that exclusivity should not apply beyond a period of 1 or 2 years.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Live TV still the future according to Freeview boss. (Yes, I know, he would say that. etc)

http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2017/...n-valley-view/

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Given that many of our digital channels attract less than 2% of the viewing audience at the best of times, many must be uncomfortably close to the edge of viability. I think that the number of these channels still broadcasting in 10 years' time will have diminished substantially due to their audiences reducing still further at the hands of on line viewing.

What happens thereafter is the big question. You know my views on this, but it is probably fair to say that the big five digital terrestrial channels will survive longest, and maybe the Sky and BT sports channels.

I do not know what they might pull out of the hat to keep people viewing conventially, but it will have to be good.

I don't doubt for one minute that there are plenty of people out there who don't want change, but the question is whether there are enough of them to make it worthwhile to continue broadcasting our linear TV channels as streaming becomes more mainstream and the diehards become increasingly outnumbered by the millenials.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Here is proof, if it's needed, that sport can be delivered via streaming and not just through conventional linear channels.

http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2017/...gium-ott-only/

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Now TV have been offering a streamed sports package for quite while; over a year probably.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Agreed. Time flies - Now TV has offered sport for four years launching it in March 2013.
I guess Old Boy might mean "exclusively through OTT channels" though.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Yes, I did; sorry for not making that clear, I was multi-tasking at the time I wrote that!

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Not sure "exclusively through OTT channels" is relevant; the issue is whether it is streamable without a pay TV subscription via monthly subscription on a variety of devices. If the same service is also available via pay TV service, who cares?

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Nowtv, btsports, nbcsports, foxsports, Eurosport have been delivering sports via streaming for ages.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Proof isn't needed. The point, made repeatedly in this thread for many many months now, is that live broadcasts are linear by their very nature. Whether terrestrial, satellite, cable or IP stream is used to deliver it is irrelevant. Live TV is linear.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Yes, I raised this simply because some views expressed have been that there will always be the Sky Sports channels as they are now because people want to watch sport live. I just wanted to make it clear that we could simply have streamed channels, which you could watch live.

There has been confusion on this thread due to some pedantry over technical terminology. Whilst I accept completely that watching live by streaming is linear TV, just as our broadcast channels are linear, the word 'linear' has been used quite widely on the internet as meaning the conventional broadcast channels.

However, the point I have made here is not irrelevant to those who prefer to watch everything via conventional scheduled TV.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

True. But not really the point here.


Premium sports channels, until relatively recently, have only been available via a 12 month pay TV contract, where you have to pay for non sports channels as part of the package.


Streaming services such as the Now TV sports subscription gives people just the sports content, and don't force them into taking channels they don't want. Plus, it is a monthly subscription and people are not tied into a 12 month contract.


That is the significance of streaming services.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

If you are interested in how EPGs will adapt to new ways of viewing in the near future, you will find this a jolly good read.

It refers to the barker channel for Netflix mixed in with the broadcast linear channels (already on Virgin Media) and also suggests that we will have much shorter EPG lists in future which will include just the main channel (eg ITV), and when clicked will display the subsidiary channels (eg ITV2, 3, 4, ITV Be, etc). This would be much easier to navigate and reduce our reliance on channel numbers to find the channels we are looking for, I believe.

A nice little look into the very near future.


http://v-net.tv/2017/05/04/what-the-...ebook-channel/

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Seems like they just read my post from about a month ago. :D