Originally Posted by jfman (Post 36021195)

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.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 36021229)

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

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 36021197)

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.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 36021229)

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.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 36021202)

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.

Originally Posted by Media Boy (Post 36021204)

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

Originally Posted by Horizon (Post 36021235)

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?

Originally Posted by jfman (Post 36021228)

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.

Originally Posted by muppetman11 (Post 36021248)

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

Explain to me how Netflix turns that around ?

Originally Posted by pip08456 (Post 36021243)

Its Disney IP, so yes.

Originally Posted by Horizon (Post 36021256)

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

Originally Posted by Horizon (Post 36021247)

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

Originally Posted by Mad Max (Post 36021288)

Terrestrial defo on the slide there.