Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

When you get a spare few minutes, just add the films and TV series you like the look of to your watch list. Then, when you later flop down in the sofa after a hard day's graft, just select something from that list.

It must be quicker and more satisfying than channel hopping, surely?

Oh, and whoops, looks like we have three scheduled linear channels closing in January.....

https://www.rxtvlog.com/2019/12/univ...-1-uk-axe.html

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

A music channel and a channel no longer needed since Comcast's purchase of Sky.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

It amounts to less programmes available, and 5Spike is going as well. I think the process has begun. Over the coming months and years, you will see more and more channels cease broadcasting and not being replaced. However, VOD will proliferate and overall we will have more choice.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Sky announced new channels didn't it ? Sky Crime already available and Sky Comedy coming soon.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

I can guarantee you I won’t.

My humble 4mbit is more than adequate for Netflix, Apple and Prime TV (and I have all of them), yet right now I’m happily watching the second half of a documentary on BBC4 that I stumbled across.

I don’t want to settle in for an hour of event TV. A little light filler for the 20-30 minutes before the kids go to bed is just what I’m after right now, and the linear tv schedule makes that quick and easy to find.

---------- Post added at 21:40 ---------- Previous post was at 21:36 ----------

Nope. But I can accept you may see it that way. Can you say the same for me?

Two channels I’ve never watched and won’t miss. ;)

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Sky Crime has replaced Real Lives, which no longer broadcasts.

Just noticed that Sky Comedy is actually going to replace the Universal Channel, so we've lost three and gained two, I'll grant you that! Keep your eye on Sky Two, though - that is rumoured to be next in the firing line.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

I'm going to ask the obvious question as to the ultimate source of the rumour. Is it you? given the number of years you've persisted with the same messages in the absence of any evidence at all.

I've seen you reference it numerous times and not once seen a single other person, on any forum, anywhere.

Even if Sky did close a channel that was ultimately repeats of the main channel, content replicated On Demand, etc. I'd be more worried if they closed down Sky One.

---------- Post added at 10:54 ---------- Previous post was at 10:52 ----------

I see we are still stuck on the Old Boy can't see past his own utopian vision of the future - one he pays £99 a month to Virgin of all people to enjoy!

I'll again reference the point since Tivo/Sky+ have become common not a single subscriber to Sky or Virgin has had to watch a second of live scheduled television, ever. Yet, they do.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

It's funny the multitude of streaming services that popped up in the USA such as Sling TV , DirecTV Now , Hulu Live , YouTube TV all carry a huge range of linear TV channels.

Strange that considering they haven't got long left and nobody watches them , In a country were cord cutting is far more advanced than here.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Probably because that's due to live football, and that will always be the case, for me anyway, I'd never watch a recorded football match.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

The OTT live streaming services don't seem to be doing particualrly well in the US.
Sony is closing down its Playstation Vue service and the other players in the market are raising prices quite considerably.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Price rises were always going to happen being that some of the services are owned by traditional satellite platforms like DirecTV (AT&T) and Dish Network.

It's the same way as Now TV continue to increase prices.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

We have Now TV for the next 3 months for £5 and as soon as that finishes we will cancel but everytime we are about to do they offer us another cut price offer for 3 months.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Good luck with that - Boxing Day and New Year have 9 games in one day, mostly 3 at a time - can't watch them all live

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Indeed, reasonable point made and nor would I. But with 84% of viewing of scheduled content “live” and 16% on catch up/time shift it can’t all be live football.

---------- Post added at 18:51 ---------- Previous post was at 18:51 ----------

I think what he’s saying is he’d rather give it a miss/watch highlights than watch a whole game “as live”.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Who does? I'd say that its ppl who follow whatever the team that they do follow will watch them live, the rest could be viewed by highlights

---------- Post added at 20:14 ---------- Previous post was at 20:12 ----------

Correct

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

On this occasion, the three channels being axed (and there maybe more to follow) is the result of the CBS/Viacom merger and Comcast's takeover of Sky. There are just too many channels.

However, if a pattern starts to emerge here that media companies start to withhold content for their own channels only and exclude other's content, then yes, that would be a clear signal of major changes as a result of the rise of the streamers.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

When Sky acquired the Flextech group of channels they reduced the total number of channels. It didn't herald the end of television as we know it then, I doubt this will now. :)

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

The streamers didn't exist then.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Very true. I think we all recognise the takeover/merger and consolidation behaviour as a fairly natural occurrence in the market (as indeed, in all markets not just television).

It's a leap to then attribute it solely to streaming, or to take anything meaningful as to the viability of linear/subscription television going forward. Especially as we have more linear channels than at any point in history, I believe.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

You cannot, logically, claim that because we have more channels than ever before that they will not begin a long decline before long due to the proliferation of streamers, changing viewing habits and the 'direct to consumer' approach of the studios, which is gaining traction.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Disney pulls shows from Sky as it prepares for UK streaming debut

Disney + will launch in UK and Ireland on March 31st 2020.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/20...treaming-debut

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

This shows just how serious the loss of content available to our conventional TV stations will be. And this article merely concentrates on Disney. Think about how the TV channels will fill their schedules if most studios pull content in this way.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

OMG Sky has lost WWE (From January 2020) now no more "The Simpsons" on Sky One.;)

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

I can show that the television market can support hundreds of channels despite millions of homes already having Netflix/Prime etc.

You cannot, logically, claim there will be a “long decline” on the basis of any observable evidence at all. More streamers = more competition for Netflix/Amazon and it’s not yet proven what the market will sustain. You continue with the flawed assumption that households will pay for these services regardless of quality. I don’t think every major studio necessarily has a product people want to buy.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Put it another way how much is Sky spending annually on third party content ?

It's strategy is clearly to develop more and more of its own content hence the recent studio announcement and with the money saved and Comcast's money behind it I'd expect it to go down that route should it not renew third party deals.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

I think Freeview / Freesat will be fine. It seems like pay TV providers like SKY are the ones who are going to be impacted most by multiple streaming services launching. Premium content (the stuff people are prepared to pay extra for) isn't really what Freeview / Freesat are all about.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Well they won’t, will they.

Sky and Disney both operate pay tv services that carry first run and other premium and/or exclusive content. Naturally Sky is under threat if content creators like Disney are no longer willing to sell that sort of material to them. But then that’s why Sky is investing in UK based production facilities. It knows it has to get into the business of making quality programmes rather than simply having the will and the means to buy exclusive rights to stuff.

I don’t know whether you’ve noticed but, largely because of Sky’s strategy over the last 25 years, BBC and ITV do not rely on expensive American imports for their prime time content any more. They make most of their own content, while smaller channels that run on shoestring budgets mostly broadcast old, low-value content of the sort that Disney and others aren’t going to be in any hurry to lock behind a paywall.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Yes, although Sky will have to do a lot more to remain a must-have service as the number of streamers increase.

You are also right about fewer US imports being relied upon for BBC and ITV, both of whom have improved on their own originals in recent years, in quantity as well as quality.

ButbI do think that the smaller channels will be struggling to fill their schedules with anything people are going to want to tune into, leading to loss of audience share and advertising revenue.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

It’s subjective to say Sky will have to do a lot more. We’ve already got competition from Netflix, Amazon and it’s barely made a dent. What the numbers show is Sky remains must-have and the rest are often add ons to existing pay-tv households.

Unless and until anyone is in a position to buy meaningful football rights Sky’s position in the market is safe. Again, I’ll take the opportunity to point out that Sky correctly predicted the fall in the rights this time out, despite a lot of noise (and ultimately no action) from streamers/social media companies in the first round of bidding.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Being our self-appointed resident economist, you must know that the channels will have to remain financially viable to survive.

So with this idea of yours (which flies in the face of opinion in the TV industry), where would all these hundreds of channels get their content from to keep audience figures up to a sustainable level if the streamers take all the decent stuff for themselves?

It is true that some people are happy to watch any old rubbish served up, and some are happy with watching repeat after repeat of old material they have seen already, but the majority of viewers would not be happy to watch that.

The main demand these days is for quality original drama/comedy; factual/nature programming; and live sport. The smaller channels will lose out when most decent content has gone to the streamers or is retained by the bigger TV companies, who themselves will rather hold on to their originals to use on streamers of their own, such as Britbox and Now TV.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

The media cos withdrawing their content from others and keeping it on their own services, is a result of the streamers though, as with the Disney announcement that they're withdrawing content from Sky. Although, at the moment this doesn't look like it will effect the Disney linear channels on Sky, such as they are and so far, no one else is following Disney's move.

As you say, there are more channels than ever, which is why I don't believe they can all survive in tandem with several streaming services too,. And this current wave of media consolidation is the perfect opportunity for the media cos to reduce some of their linear channels.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

As do streamers, Old Boy. There’s nothing unique about the delivery method that exempts them from the rules.

Given 2% of all Netflix views are the TV series “Friends” that’s not unique to linear television either. What you think viewers want to watch and what they actually watch are two different things, arguably demonstrated by the success of ITV1, and if not by that certainly the amount of channels churning out old content.

Can you actually find genuine TV industry quotes that say my opinions are invalid or ironically will those be unsubstantiated opinion pieces themselves?

All in your subjective fantasyland. Go onto the BARB site and find the lowest rated channels going then check their schedules. If streamers think there’s a market for that at £5.99 a month then good luck to them.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

But the DTC approach has only just started and so far, Disney is the only Hollywood major going purely down this route.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

In the U.K., Friends was the most watched show on Netflix; in the USA, The Office and Friends were the two top shows...

https://www.joe.co.uk/entertainment/...friends-194366

https://people.com/tv/the-office-bea...-show-netflix/

btw, not nice to continue with the ad hominem attacks on people who hold a different view to you - he has never described himself as "the self-appointed resident economist", just pointed out that he is an economist.

It weakens your position when you decry the person rather than refuting the argument.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

BUt as I just said, Disney is the only co doing this so far.

AT&T(Warners) did a new five year deal with Sky to keep Sky Atlantic fed with stuff and so we won't see HBOMax here for at least five years.

ViacomCBS said they're happy to work with third parties and allow their content to remain on other platforms in parallel with having their own DTC services and Comcast have made similar noises about Peacock and allowing their content on other platforms too. No idea about Sony, but I doubt they will be around in their current form in the next year or so.

So, at the moment it's only Disney meeting Netflix head on out of the traditional Hollywood players. It will be interesting to see who has the right policy.

---------- Post added at 09:40 ---------- Previous post was at 09:38 ----------

Is that confirmed that the Simpsons is going?

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Its Disney IP, so yes.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Agree that the football rights is the big thing to watch out for, but as to your first paragraph, when did Sky last publish their tv subscribers...? So, I disagree about the dent comment.

Here's a Guardian article from a year ago on this:

https://www.theguardian.com/media/20...by-end-of-year

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

The difference being Sky is making money Netflix is losing it hand over fist.

Explain to me how Netflix turns that around ?

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

I don't think Netflix will be around in 10 years time tbh especially now the big boys such as Disney, WB etc are launching services and HULU is rumoured to be entering the uk market too.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

There are too many channels anyway, not sure why minor channels have +1 versions in these days of multi-tuner recorders.

I rarely step outside my list of favourites, around 30, I seriously doubt if any of these will disappear in the next 10 years - so my viewing is unlikely to change at all

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

The only stuff being removed according to that article was from Sky's on demand services and no mention of the Simpsons at all.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Terrestrial defo on the slide there.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

"Terrestrial only" 10.18 million nine years ago, now it's 11.58 million...

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Yet “terrestrial only” is on the up. Would be interesting to know the background to that.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

That makes no mention of the Simpsons being removed from Sky One, just alludes to possible picture problems should past seasons appear on Disney+

---------- Post added at 16:45 ---------- Previous post was at 16:42 ----------

As I'm sure you know Barb figures are estimates. The only people who know how many tv subscribers Sky has is Sky/Comcast themselves.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Terrestial only now also includes BTTV, You View and Talk Talk TV customers.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Phew. I was starting to worry it might be evidence of cord cutting!

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Now my maths is not that clever but those figures do tell me something.;)

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Immigration.

---------- Post added at 19:02 ---------- Previous post was at 19:00 ----------

Yes, that's it!

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Stealing all the good jobs you'd think they'd at least pay for subscription television.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

That's in regards to aspect ratio on older episodes of the Simpsons. No mention is made of removing new eps from Sky. And note the "maybe" even in regards to this issue.

Look, it may happen, but Disney like to make money (unlike Netflix at the moment..) and Sky is a guaranteed revenue stream for them, so I doubt they will mess with things too much.

Don't forget that if Disney and Comcast full out in the UK, then it will be bloodbath between them in the States and everywhere else too. I don't think at this point, they will risk that.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

This is the thing. If the market won't sustain dozens of streamers with millions of subscribers each, and I don't believe it will, suddenly £x per month per subscriber to join a wholesale deal or a fixed risk free fee for your content to go onto other platforms is massively appealing.

A deal with Sky and Virgin, for example, at £1 per month would be £150m a year relatively risk free. On the other hand, a fledgling streaming service at £7.99 a month would need 1.8 million subscribers to achieve this once VAT is taken off. Your content, and brands, are now in 12.5 million homes, instead of less than 1.8 million. Gaining more reputation for your content and thus increasing its back catalogue value in the future. You make a dead duck series on a streamer nobody has and it's gone forever.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

It is in regards to the aspect ratio of older episodes on the streaming service.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

But people don't have to subscribe to all those steamers every month. It will likely be a pick and mix situation. As for what's appealing, in the States anyway, people are still cutting the cord and going down the streaming route, so customer action in favour of the streamers is driving the direction this will all go.

Lets go back to the beginning of all this and why all these media companies are joining up with each in the first place and that's because of the existential threat to their business' from the tech giants, especially Netflix.

At the moment it appears that all the Big 5 (as they are now) Hollywood players are going down the DTC route while maintaining their existing relationships with all the various broadcasters over the world. Super RTL being a example in Germany where Disney did a deal with RTL and sold their rights to them, but I don't see how such arrangements are sustainable in the long term in parallel with DTC services.

I would expect (hope) that common sense would win through in the end and that the Hollywood media cos and platforms like VM, BT and Sky can reach an accommodation where the platforms take a cut of the various streaming services and integrate the streamers into their own UIs along with keeping a smaller collection of linear channels.

But I'm sure Disney and all the others have thought very hard about the sort of problem you raise and at least as far as Warner's go, they are not going to risk the revenue from Sky's 22 million customer base in favour of their own streamer (for now) and we'll see what happens with Disney and the others in the coming months.

What's not risk free for Hollywood and hence the catch 22 situation here, is to allow Netflix to continually dominate in the streaming world, but personally I think its too late. Netflix is so far ahead, even the likes of Disney will never catch them now.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

If people don’t subscribe to every streamer each month, which I reasonably accept, then it still adds to the precarious nature of the limited revenue in the £8-10 a month market.

If you’ve one headline series and people subscribe, binge it, dabble in a few other series here and there and cancel until next year it’s a lot of £8s you are going to need in that month to make up the business model.

It’s equally a strength of Sky/Virgin who do have the subscribers month in/month out and fairly stable revenue streams.

I do accept your point that the major studios all want to be Netflix, have that customer base (ideally without the debt) and also agree it’s too late. Netflix have first mover advantage and while their debt situation is a problem that’s just bad news for the existing shareholders. The subscriber base will always have vultures circling. I don’t think there’s space in the UK market for two Netflixs, let alone dozens.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

But there won't be dozens, there aren't dozens now, not out of the big film/tv streamers. There will be a top tier of three or four "must have" streamers that most people will pay for and then a lower tier of "optional" streamers that people may pay for sometimes.

I'm pretty sure Disney and Netflix will in that top tier, it's just a case of seeing who will join them at the top table.

As Disney has already said that the price of Disney+ is only introductory, I would expect all the streamers to raise their prices in "true" pay tv fashion eventuality. As you yourself have said, the new streaming world doesn't automatically mean everything will be cheaper, it could get a lot pricier.

On your second paragraph, this is why Netflix has had to spend so heavily, to create a programming library from scratch. Disney et all have the inherent advantage in that they don't need to create a new series every five minutes due to the enormous archives they posses. Even if films/tv shows are 30 years old, they will be "new" to someone and some things (like people) age better than others.

And as we've seen in the States, guaranteeing "some" revenues is the reason some platforms and content companies have come together and I expect that process to continue.

As for space in the UK market, depends what the market looks like. Possibly the licence fee may not be compulsory soon, so that would be a game changer... and I've already expressed a view in other threads about how I see the platforms changing in the future, ie by merging.

I do think there is space in the market for two Netflix's, in fact at least three or four, but not three or four big streamers AND a pay tv package AND paying for the licence fee too.

Which is why I still believe the bulk of the pay tv channels will disappear over the next ten years and the streamers will in effect take their place with Sky/VM/BT bundling them as they do with channels now.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

You need to add AVOD options to your equation, jfman.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

No real need. The advertising market will follow the viewers which I have no reason to expect will not be ITV, Channel 4, Five across all methods of distribution - linear, on demand and streaming. The amounts left over will be so minuscule as to be irrelevant.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

This is true Old Boy, but the popularity of Netflix was based on ad free viewing, so I would expect those ad based streamers to be in my lower tier of steamers, not the ones sitting at the top table. Then again, everyone may prefer the free streaming options.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

The general feeling seems to be that people watching streams dip in and out of subscribing on a regular basis.

This argument flies in the face of 'a must have' streamer - this would suggest you have them as a base and add others for limited time periods.

This means £30pm for your base and a number of others at £5-7pm each - starts getting expensive without ever guaranteeing you can see what you want.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

It all depends what people want.

If people have kids and like Star Wars, then I would assume that Disney+ becomes a must have every month. If new tv shows are the priority, then Netflix is the must have. It all depends on what services becomes available over the next year, what they show and at what cost.

Don't forget that Apple, Amazon and Netflix are "new" to the media world and show additional content than what has previously been available from a sat/cable subscription. So, yes, if everyone wanted everything, the cost will be much higher.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

I expect there to be a variety of revenue options available, the most obvious being:

- Subscription
- Advertisement supported with no subscription
- Advertisement supported with a lower level subscription
- Pay per view

Given that, there is room for a variety of streamers to appear over time.

Clearly, they will not all be able to go subscription only because people cannot keep shelling out for more and more services.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Just to be clear, there has been no announcement from Disney.

What there is is a news story from The Guardian based on a research report from Ampere that the number of ABC owned seasons on Sky Now's box sets has reduced from 99 last spring to 45 seasons in October. What that means is anybody's guess - clearly there are many box sets still there per the report, but it may just be winding down over a long period.

Looking at Virgin Media, there appear to be 8 different ABC series box sets at the moment, one of which is mentioned in the article, Greys Anatomy, and that alone has 14 seasons available.

I think we will need to wait until Disney+ launches in the UK before we can be clear what is happening. There could be different answers for ABC content vs Disney content and TV vs Films.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

...indeed, as I've been saying across two different threads.

The only information concerns old stuff on Sky's on- demand servive, no mention has been made of anything being removed from Sky's channels and I doubt there will be, at least this time around.

On your last sentence, I reckon the difference will not be between the various divisions of Disney, but the content itself, ie some stuff like The Mandolorian will only be on Disney+, where as new episodes of existing shows will stay on Sky's channels for now.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Indeed, we will have to wait and see. However, the fact that they are already pulling Disney content from Netflix is not a good sign.

Let's face it, if Disney + is to draw a big audience, having all their content on their new streamer makes sense. After all, if you are content with what you can watch now on Sky Disney, Disney Channel and Disney XD, why would you also subscribe to Disney+?

Although I would not rule out some sort of deal between Disney and Sky to preserve the continuation of the existing channels, I think the current contracts will not be renewed when they expire. Instead, Sky viewers are likely to get the streamer included on one or two of Sky's subscription packages.

A compromise might be that the channels continue on a non-exclusive basis, but viewers could only access them with a Disney+ subscription. That might work.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

What no new articles from OB this new year.:D

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Maybe he is on his month long world cruise paid for by Netflix..:D

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Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

If the terrestrial and pay TV channels are to survive in the future, they will have to pay more attention to the revenues side of their operations. ITV has taken measures to be less reliant on advertising, but even now, their woes continue when advertising revenues decline.

Despite some believing that pay tv channels will survive even with a reduction in advertising, I think this has its limits. There are only so many efficiences that you can make without leading to a decline in output.

To my mind, ITV's continuing difficulties tell me that traditional TV has its days numbered.

https://www.rapidtvnews.com/20200506...#axzz6Leubj4ud

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Oh look, another digital marketing blog.

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You are clutching at straws there, Chris. This has been widely reported.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Er no, what's straw-clutching is you quoting an article that specifically discusses the business impact caused by lockdown and using it to make entirely generalised comments about the state of ad-supported TV.

What you're saying may or may not be valid, but the article you referenced doesn't support your argument even slightly, and even suggests the opposite, once virus related losses are accounted for:

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Yes, that certainly plays to your mindset, Old Boy. :)

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

ITV may be struggling with a drop in Advertisement Revenue but the BBC won't be.

Whilst ads are an income stream for Pay TV channels the subscription money paid to view these channels will keep them going.

I would think those minor channels who pay VM to carry them and are free to air will be the first to go.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Interestingly, Britbox UK and the ITV Hub are both performing well. This will concentrate minds not only of ITV but also other broadcasters. Clearly, the future is in streaming.

https://www.rxtvlog.com/2020/05/mixe...sitive-on.html

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

No announcement of giving up their Channel 3 licences I see. Clearly there's money to be made in linear broadcasting, in addition to other revenue sources like streaming. :)

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Quite. For the time being, at least.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Not sure how a growth in free services shows the future is in streaming?

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

You could also ask how a decline in free TV audiences shows that the future includes TV channels.

You've only got to look at the US to see the way we will be going.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Thank you for answering my question with a question*, Socrates...

I could have, but strangely enough, I didn’t.

You could have answered my question, but not strangely enough, you didn't. ;)

*not really...

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

I had Britbox for the initial free trial and cancelled , I've now got it again for the 6 months free trial but whilst watching it occasionly certainly won't continue past this period.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

This article acknowledges the recent increase in TV viewing during the lockdown, both traditional and streamed. However, it draws attention to a minority who are struggling with the latest technology. One person's viewing had greatly reduced since buying a smart TV because of its complexity. Others wanted Netflix but couldn't understand how you joined. Some folk cannot understand modern remote controls so leave it to their partners. Others cannot cope with iPlayer and ITV Hub.

I am 72 and record on the V6 and use Netflix and Amazon Prime and have recently acquired a Chromecast to stream Disney+ from my phone BUT when I sit down I want it easy and relaxing. I find some modern technology is going in the opposite direction.

https://thenextweb.com/syndication/2...-inaccessible/

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

If you search for your Netflix and Amazon programmes in the 'search and discover' part of your menu, you can bookmark the show and it will appear in 'My Shows'. That way, accessing your streamed programmes is as easy as accessing your recordings.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

I think a vaccine will be the future, forget streaming, it'll be of little relevance.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

What I am finding is that the picture quality from my phone by WiFi to the Chromecast plugged into the TV is, amazingly, better than from the fully wired V6. As Disney+ is not on the V6 and I rarely record premium channels it questions the need for the V6.

It is easier to get the apps going by casting from my phone (strangely turning on Chromecast by pressing the cast button automatically turns on my pre-smart TV and selects the correct input) so I use my phone for all three streaming services as well as iPlayer.

Not yet ready to ditch recorded linear programmes, however. One reason is that I must have subtitles. Once you get away from the major linear channels, subtitles are somewhat hit and miss. For example, though iPlayer has them for recorded programmes it doesn't for live programmes or if you use the 'start from the beginning' facility.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

This is something i noticed regarding skyq my netflix, itvhub etc pic quality is better from my nvidia shield than skyq, however live channel wise skyq wins hands down for pic quality.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Yes, I am amazed that your Chronecast method gives you a better picture. As a matter of interest, have you set your picture settings on the V6 to the UHD setting (assuming you have a UHD TV, of course)?

Like you, I am not yet ready to ditch the linear channels, but my reason is simply that there are some programmes that would not be accessible through streaming only at present. I would expect that to change before too much longer, however. I did work out what I would be missing if I cut the cable a couple of years ago, and the TV Player appeared to fill most of the gaps, but this turned out to be a disappointment and I gave up with TV Player. Given that it is taking services off its platform now, I think perhaps I'm not the only one to be disappointed with it.

I look forward to the day when I can get all of my programme needs through VM without the need to subscribe to all those rubbish TV channels I don't use and simply access their comprehensive on demand selection. Provided it gives me what I need (particularly the ability to watch stuff I've bookmarked for up to a year), this could save me a sum of money. Hopefully, VM will step up to the plate and let me do this, with all the new streaming services provided from launch. The failure so far to acquire the rights to bring us Disney +, however, is not a good sign.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

My PanasonicTV is not UHD (6 or 7 years old). In my opinion, it gives an excellent picture but it seems even better on streaming services cast from my Pixel 3a XL phone. So easy to do!

I must have subtitles. TV player does not have them, nor can you rely on ITV Hub, All4 or the Channel 5 one. Everything I have ever watched on Netflix does have subtitles; some things on Prime and Disney+ do not. BBC iPlayer has them on recorded programmes but not live broadcasts. I am reluctant to try Britbox as apparently around half the programmes lack subtitles. I have cast some good old programmes from UK TV. All I have tried have subtitles.

To sum up, having different boxes and plug ins has put me off streaming but the ease and quality of casting from my phone via Chromecast is a very pleasant surprise. I can even control it with my voice through my Google mini speaker!

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

Indeed, it would be great to only have to pay for sky sports and BT sports in HD with recording facilities and dump the rest.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

They could be streamed and made available on demand after the event. No need even to record.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

The BBC is expected to announce the reopening of BBC Three as a linear channel today.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52719883

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

I hope BBC launch the World News Channel on Sky/Virgin in the near future

It’s refreshing to get news from other parts of the world that are not normally covered.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

"Socialism saves linear TV from extinction."

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

l just hope its not at the expense of BBC Four as it would be sad to lose that channel as they have some good content on there.

---------- Post added at 09:26 ---------- Previous post was at 09:23 ----------

That would be nice but given the BBC has only a finite amount of license payers money to go around l would say it was very very unlikely.

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

But isn't linear tv dead?

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

BBC World News channel is commercially funded therefore is not allowed to broadcast to the UK

Re: Linear is old tech - on demand is the future
 

The reports of its death are greatly exaggerated :D