Interesting look at the future of web based entertainment

[BostonTim]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/01/BU7A1M6257.DTL&tsp=1

Well researrched and well written summary. I won't try to post this whole article but this may not be great news. Major cable companies working on data usage based fees. The Gov has apparently tipped it's hand that it trends toward supporting the move.

Cheers, BostonTim

 

[Steve-o]

Cable has to figure out a new model. The days of huge cable bills with 500 channels that you don't watch are over.

A la cart TV is the future. Pay only for what you watch.

Networks will provide their own streaming services. Cable companies and phone companies are going to merge and be nothing but bandwidth providers.

Cable is dying.

 

[3 Point Stan]

After Boardwalk Empire ends, we are trimming down our cable options considerably. Honestly, the only thing keeping me subscribed at all is the Red Sox.

After the Bobby Valentine hiring, I'm not sure I couldn't stand to take the year off anyway

 

[BradyLady12]

Cable companies and phone companies are going to merge and be nothing but bandwidth providers.

That's already being done, at least cable and phone together under one supplier.

 

[Steve-o]

That's already being done, at least cable and phone together under one supplier.

That's not what I mean.

I mean cable, and phone are both going away. At least so far as land lines are concerned.

Wireless and broadband are the only services they will have left.

 

[HarpoonIPA]

I have said over at http://www.iptvconnection.com/ The FCC and Congress better step in if they try pulling that cap limiting BS. With Comcast I get 250 limit and I'm a heavy user, the most I have ever used during a 1 month period is 118 gigs and that was also downloading all my Steam games after I got a new PC 5 months ago

 

[Steve-o]

http://adage.com/article/digitalnext/tv-s-scariest-generation-cable-nevers/231330/

A Credit Suisse analyst this week projected that the multi-channel TV universe will fall by 200-thousand subscribers in 2012. They had previously forecast a GAIN of 250-thousand subs. The report said "the real challenge to the pay TV business model are behaviorally-driven cord-nevers.". Who are these phantoms? They are young. They are growing up watching online video. When asked to PAY for TV - the answer is often "WTF"!

Separately, comScore reported this week that online video watching hit a record 43 BILLION views in October. The average viewer consumed over 21 hours of video.

We've heard plenty of talk about "cord-cutting," which really means "cable TV cutting" because everyone still needs a broadband connection. But who's doing it?

I'd put the "cord-cutters" in three buckets:

Cord-cutters - These are the REAL "cutters", they have had a cable box in their home for years and now have had it. Or they've found better alternatives. This number is still small. MSO execs have rightly diminished the impact this group has on their bottom lines!

Cord-shavers - This group is downgrading service. They are canceling premium channels or getting a more basic service plan. It's been hard to find any publicly available numbers on this category.

Cord-nevers - This is the most troubling group for the traditional operators. They are graduating college, leaving the nest and have become comfortable finding their viewing choices online. They don't recognize networks - they know "shows." They like on-demand viewing. They like skipping commercials, too!

If you have a better name for this group than "cord-nevers" - please speak up! "cord-zeros"? "cord-less"? "cord-wtf"?

The Credit Suisse report also states that "other than content rights protection and content cost growth, we view the generational culture shift surrounding video consumption as the biggest challenge pay TV will face over the next ten years."

The game-changer:

I predict that a true OTT (over the top) player will emerge in the next twelve months. This service will offer 40-50 live TV channels, a rich VOD offering, cloud DVR functionality and portability. Portability is key! A service that will truly live on your iPad or smartphone and not be tethered to a cable box in your home.