CBS Offers Web Service as TV Unbundles Itself

I am not going to pay to stream content that still has ads in it . . . this is one reason that I am a "cord never" in the odd parlance of the article.

Re: CBS Offers Web Service as TV Unbundles Itself

#6

Post by ansible » Thu, Oct 16, 2014, 6:17 PM UTC

For the live stream, the ads will be the same as those on the traditional television broadcast. For the on-demand programming, the typical 12 to 16 minutes of ads an hour will be reduced 25 percent.

I guess I'm not their intended customer. I'm not going to pay for a service to give me ads. If I'm watching a live show, I want the ability to pause it, walk away for a few minutes, and then skip commercials.

For on-demand content, I don't want any commercials. I don't see the value otherwise.

Re: CBS Offers Web Service as TV Unbundles Itself

#7

Post by dragonwriter » Thu, Oct 16, 2014, 6:18 PM UTC

jpmattia wrote: post #4

Watching CBS over lines owned by Comcast (who owns NBC) will be interesting.

> Watching CBS over lines owned by Comcast (who owns NBC) will be interesting.

People having been watching CBS over lines owned by Comcast most of the nearly half century Comcast has existed, including the period where it has owned NBCUniversal (it has been, after all, a CATV company a lot longer than its been an ISP.)

Re: CBS Offers Web Service as TV Unbundles Itself

#8

Post by tedivm » Thu, Oct 16, 2014, 6:20 PM UTC

ansible wrote: post #6

For the live stream, the ads will be the same as those on the traditional television broadcast. For the on-demand programming, the typical 12 to 16 minutes of ads an hour will be reduced 25 percent. I guess I'm not their intended customer. I'm not going to pay for a service to give me ads. If I'm watching a live show, I want the ability to pause it, walk away for a few minutes, and then skip commercials. For on-deman…

Do you have cable? My guess is they're targeting existing cable customers who are considering cutting the cord- those people are already paying for a service that gives them advertisements, so for them this isn't much different (in fact it's 25% less ads and potentially a much smaller cable bill).

Re: CBS Offers Web Service as TV Unbundles Itself

#9

Post by dchuk » Thu, Oct 16, 2014, 6:23 PM UTC

While I'm excited that more Big Networks are realizing that offering streaming only packages to consumers is a Good Idea, I'm really worried about how the cable internet companies will retaliate. We've already seen them blame Netflix for its own popularity, what's stopping them from doing this to companies like HBO and CBS that are now willing to offer a package that circumvents TV entirely?

Re: CBS Offers Web Service as TV Unbundles Itself

#10

Post by jpmattia » Thu, Oct 16, 2014, 6:24 PM UTC

dragonwriter wrote: post #7

jpmattia wrote: post #4

Watching CBS over lines owned by Comcast (who owns NBC) will be interesting.

> Watching CBS over lines owned by Comcast (who owns NBC) will be interesting. People having been watching CBS over lines owned by Comcast most of the nearly half century Comcast has existed, including the period where it has owned NBCUniversal (it has been, after all, a CATV company a lot longer than its been an ISP.)

And now Comcast will be carrying that content with no extra charge. Maybe that will just work out that Comcast lets them send full video, but I suspect there will be nflx-like carriage arrangements by the time it's done.