here we go again, DirecTv/AT&T about to enter yet another local channel dispute, this time, with CBS

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Well, let's give credit to the fact that Netflix has a HUGE first-mover advantage and has built up a lot of brand loyalty/force-of-habit with many Americans, especially those under 30. I think they're probably doing a decent job getting the YA and kid audiences invested in their Netflix Originals, which they consume on their phones and tablets (when they're not watching YouTube). And they've had some bona-fide big hits with adults too, including stuff that gets lots of acclaim. (They had the most Emmy noms last year and the second-most behind HBO this year.)


That's not going to stop cash strapped millennials from subscribing one month at a time a few times a year as they hop over to Disney (gotta get their Marvel and Star Wars fix) etc. other months. They are the ones who pushed the whole "binging" thing, people can still watch those Emmy nominated series via binging over a month before rotating to another streaming service.

If enough people only subscribe 3-4 months a year instead of 12 they don't need to have ANYONE cancel them to devastate their revenue picture. They have always and are still losing money, they depend on constantly growing revenue to keep borrowing more money. If the revenue begins shrinking, banks are less likely to loan them money or will demand a much higher interest rate.
 
That's not going to stop cash strapped millennials from subscribing one month at a time a few times a year as they hop over to Disney (gotta get their Marvel and Star Wars fix) etc. other months. They are the ones who pushed the whole "binging" thing, people can still watch those Emmy nominated series via binging over a month before rotating to another streaming service.

If enough people only subscribe 3-4 months a year instead of 12 they don't need to have ANYONE cancel them to devastate their revenue picture. They have always and are still losing money, they depend on constantly growing revenue to keep borrowing more money. If the revenue begins shrinking, banks are less likely to loan them money or will demand a much higher interest rate.
I think eventually, you may see these companies go to Yearly rates not allowing month to month subs ... that would stop the bouncing between products, but also lose customers at the same time.

Personally, I sign up for the year, regardless ... do I use each every month, probably not, but I don't have to sign up every time I want to see if I like something.

I have Netflix, Prime and Hulu ...

Of the three, I use Hulu the least, and may drop it next year.
 
I think eventually, you may see these companies go to Yearly rates not allowing month to month subs ... that would stop the bouncing between products, but also lose customers at the same time.


If they did away with month to month subs how would it be any different than Directv's 24 month contract other than the length of the contract? Look at how people try to avoid "commitment" now (granted for a higher priced item) I'm not sure this would be a winning move for them. They'd have to pitch it as saving money, which means it would cost them revenue (or they'd have to do yet another price increase and say "keep the old price by committing for a whole year")

With all the other changes in content etc. Netflix taking a step like this would only hasten their decline, I think.
 
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That's not going to stop cash strapped millennials from subscribing one month at a time a few times a year as they hop over to Disney (gotta get their Marvel and Star Wars fix) etc. other months. They are the ones who pushed the whole "binging" thing, people can still watch those Emmy nominated series via binging over a month before rotating to another streaming service.

If enough people only subscribe 3-4 months a year instead of 12 they don't need to have ANYONE cancel them to devastate their revenue picture. They have always and are still losing money, they depend on constantly growing revenue to keep borrowing more money. If the revenue begins shrinking, banks are less likely to loan them money or will demand a much higher interest rate.

Yeah, good points. But I think you overestimate the likelihood that average consumers (especially millennials) will really mind their budgets closely enough to cancel a given service in time to avoid the next monthly charge to their card. Juggling subscriptions is a hassle. (And I know you've suggested that a major third party, like Apple, might offer to do that via their payment platform but no, they won't. They're not going to make enemies with the services that they need to exist on their iPhones and Apple TV. And, BTW, you can't even sign up for and pay for Netflix via Apple -- or Amazon or Roku -- any more. And when have you ever known Apple to offer a service designed to help folks pinch pennies?)

It's easier for cash-strapped millennials to just join up with a friend or family member (as many already do) and informally split the cost of Netflix between them and share one account. Even the most popular $13 HD plan allows 2 simultaneous streams.

I think eventually, you may see these companies go to Yearly rates not allowing month to month subs ... that would stop the bouncing between products, but also lose customers at the same time.

No, going to a one-year contract would just be way too risky for the first mover to do so. "OMG, they've become just like the bad old cable company we all tried to escape!" everyone will say. Remember, all of these services are competing against each other for your monthly entertainment budget.

What I do think will become increasingly common is offering a discount (10-20%) when prepaying for a full year's subscription vs. the standard monthly rate. We're seeing Disney+ do this out of the gate. Monthly price is $7, annual prepaid price is $70, which works out to $5.83 per month. Essentially, you're getting 2 free months in the year. I believe Showtime does the same thing when you subscribe directly as a streaming service.
 
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Yeah, good points. But I think you overestimate the likelihood that average consumers (especially millennials) will really mind their budgets closely enough to cancel a given service in time to avoid the next monthly charge to their card. Juggling subscriptions is a hassle. (And I know you've suggested that a major third party, like Apple, might offer to do that via their payment platform but no, they won't. They're not going to make enemies with the services that they need to exist on their iPhones and Apple TV. And, BTW, you can't even sign up for and pay for Netflix via Apple -- or Amazon or Roku -- any more. And when have you ever known Apple to offer a service designed to help folks pinch pennies?)


Apple designs things for customer convenience, which this certainly would be, and they shouldn't have a problem helping consumers pinch someone else's pennies ;)

But yeah good point about Netflix, I forgot about that. They could do it for the rest though, and at least give people a reminder to cancel Netflix. Heck, if people wanted to have Apple managing their Netflix subscriptions to save money they'd be willing (or at least should be willing) to pay Apple that 15% premium Netflix is avoiding and the Apple TV could go to the Netflix web site and activate/deactivate your Netflix subscription.

Or heck, maybe it only supports deactivating it, and tells people to go to Netflix's web site to re-activate it. If enough people forget or don't bother in favor of using services that are more convenient for them, too bad for Netflix!
 
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What I do think will become increasingly common is offering a discount (10-20%) when prepaying for a full year's subscription vs. the standard monthly rate. We're seeing Disney+ do this out of the gate. Monthly price is $7, annual prepaid price is $70, which works out to $5.83 per month. Essentially, you're getting 2 free months in the year. I believe Showtime does the same thing when you subscribe directly as a streaming service.
I wish Netflix and other would do this ... hell, Netflix makes you bend over backwards if you want to pay for more than a month.
I can't even go on Netflix website and pay for the year with a Credit Card ... for some reason ...
They make me go down to the local Krogers and get a Netflix Gift Card and put enough money on it to cover the year .. I obviously don't get any yearly discount doing that ... but I'd like one.
 
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Just signed up for Troy internet 500 speed kept Directv. After Two year when price go up I cut back to 100. Never thought we get fast internet here in the rural area. I have ota mast finally went back hook up am21. Shut the local down all they are is a bunch greedy peoples. By the way the LCC is a joke.
 
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If you ask me there’s too many channels.
I don't think it's too many channels, I think they put networks into packages that people don't like or their favorite network is in another package and they have to pay for channels they never wanted. If they could choose what networks they wanted that would help but that will never happen, to much trouble.
 
But yeah good point about Netflix, I forgot about that. They could do it for the rest though, and at least give people a reminder to cancel Netflix.

But for those other services such as Hulu, CBS All Access, etc., that you CAN sign up for and pay through Apple/iTunes, Apple is taking a cut of the subscription price -- something like 20%. (This is why Netflix doesn't allow that kind of third-party billing any more, except through their MVPD partners like Comcast.) I just don't see Apple making it easy to auto-cancel subscriptions on which they get a cut of the revenue. Even if they're going to be auto-enrolling you in a different service at the same time. Wouldn't Apple rather you just subscribe to multiple services simultaneously and not cancel any of them? And you can see how having an auto-subscription rotation feature would alienate Apple's video partners, right? As Hulu continues to grow, they may not need much encouragement to just do what Netflix has already done and say, "You want our service, you come to our website and give us your credit card number. No more middle-men." Being an unreliable distributor, by enacting a subscription rotation feature, would just increase the likelihood that Apple sees those subscription commissions completely walk out the door.
 
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Just wondering if this continues into NFL season, would Sunday Ticket be able to carry home Broncos games? And if so, would those games still be blacked out for those in the KCNC DMA?
 
the answer simply is no, local team is blacked out on NFLST even with a dispute. meaning you are SOL for the local games that airs on CBS in your local market as long as the dispute is ongoing. that means OTA, Stream, visit a friend or go to a bar/restaurant with Dish or Cable instead of DirecTV is the only options if the local team is playing on CBS in a market affected by this dispute.

example, in Dallas, the Cowboys face off against the Texans and it's on CBS (in Dallas, it would be CBS O&O KTVT 11), that would mean you will be blacked out if you have NFLST with or without the local CBS station.
 
Is there a streaming option available?
the answer simply is no, local team is blacked out on NFLST even with a dispute. meaning you are SOL for the local games that airs on CBS in your local market as long as the dispute is ongoing. that means OTA, Stream, visit a friend or go to a bar/restaurant with Dish or Cable instead of DirecTV is the only options if the local team is playing on CBS in a market affected by this dispute.

example, in Dallas, the Cowboys face off against the Texans and it's on CBS (in Dallas, it would be CBS O&O KTVT 11), that would mean you will be blacked out if you have NFLST with or without the local CBS station.

Sent from my SM-G950U using the SatelliteGuys app!
 
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