Like setting the VCR clock, most of us are lazy. It takes time to seek out show to record when it is much easier to just search and watch as we please. And as more content is available through streaming and on demand, DVR use seems to be declining. According to yesterday's Mediapost article, "time-shifted viewing (DVR) declines are at the lowest level in three years." As more and more content is at our fingertips, it makes sense. Our need for immediacy makes on demand and streaming a more compelling option.
To be a DVR user, one must be proactive. You must actively seek out future times for a show of interest and tell the cable box to record and save it, either as one show or the whole series. Most don't plan their TV viewing like that anymore, especially millennials. Instead, we go to our app to stream content or our cable box to access the content via on demand with the intent to watch immediately. Now that we find ourselves with content everywhere, we simply need to get it to watch it.
But as a TV viewer who despises most commercials on live TV, the DVR offers one advantage over on demand and some streaming. I can control the trick features, fast forwarding through ads to get back to the content. On demand tends to restrict those trick features forcing ads to be shown as we wait for our program to resume. As a DVR user, I am in the minority, but I do love the added control.
One final point on ads. A newly discover network by me is Buzzr. It has acquired the old black and white game shows that GSN once aired. Shows like I've Got A Secret, What's My Line, and To Tell The Truth. Even better, Buzzr plays the b&w ads that played with these shows. Ads like Cool Whip and Toni put a smile on my face. I DVR these shows and don't fast forward through those ads.
Showing posts with label DVR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DVR. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Monday, July 25, 2016
The VCR is Dead; Goodbye Old Friend
Technology is full of life changing moments. With every change, our life is meant to get easier and easier. But it has also spelled the death for the old technology before it. There are too many examples to recount, but one that hits home for me is the announcement that the VCR, the videocassette recorder is dead. Production of new models will cease and their use will become a memory as the digital revolution completely takes over. Goodbye old friend.
I remember when we first got one in our home. It was life changing allowing us to record and watch any show we wanted. It also let us watch theatrical movies when ever we wanted. And we could pause or stop them for the necessary potty break. When I moved into my first apartment, the VCR was a gift from the folks. I was ecstatic. Now I could go out on a Saturday Night and know that SNL was being recorded for my Sunday viewing pleasure. For those that knew how to program the VCR clock, TV was finally on your time. Of course, tapes were limited to 6 hours at the most, but that was never an issue.
Many people used their VCR to make endless recordings of their favorite series, keeping them in their video library. I too would record my favorite movies to watch again and again. Friends would borrow and some would even forget to return. A number of years later, I was at a friend's apartment. She had moved to LA and looking at her tape collection, I saw one of my copies. I had always wondered where that tape had gone.
The VCR outlived its competition, from laser discs to betamax, but it couldn't outlive technological change. The VCR was still analog and digital technology was emerging. For many, the VCR made TV viewing easier; for others, they could never figure out how to set the clock. The launch of the DVR, the digital video recorder, took away that problem and more. We were no longer limited to the tape length of 6 hours although viewing was limited to the box that we saved our show on. That iss ue has now been solved through digital streaming.
The VCR was a breakthrough technology. Not only could we watch time shifted programming, we had more controls, too. We could fast forward through commercials and rewind to watch over and over our favorite parts. It put TV into the hands of the individual. It was the first device to deliver what you want, when you want it.
I no longer own a VCR and yet I still have old tapes lying around the house. For some, I feel the need to transfer off analog tapes and onto another for later viewing. I would say to transfer onto a CD but that technology is likely the next to see production stop. No longer do Apple computers include CD players in their laptops or desktops. Cars no longer need them either. Our digital memories are to be stored in cloud libraries, not physical ones in our study or family room.
Millennials will pay little attention to the news announcing the end of VCR production. They know only DVRs, on-demand, and streaming. But the VCR was an important part of my youth and the way that TV viewing changed for me. Goodbye old friend.
I remember when we first got one in our home. It was life changing allowing us to record and watch any show we wanted. It also let us watch theatrical movies when ever we wanted. And we could pause or stop them for the necessary potty break. When I moved into my first apartment, the VCR was a gift from the folks. I was ecstatic. Now I could go out on a Saturday Night and know that SNL was being recorded for my Sunday viewing pleasure. For those that knew how to program the VCR clock, TV was finally on your time. Of course, tapes were limited to 6 hours at the most, but that was never an issue.
Many people used their VCR to make endless recordings of their favorite series, keeping them in their video library. I too would record my favorite movies to watch again and again. Friends would borrow and some would even forget to return. A number of years later, I was at a friend's apartment. She had moved to LA and looking at her tape collection, I saw one of my copies. I had always wondered where that tape had gone.
The VCR outlived its competition, from laser discs to betamax, but it couldn't outlive technological change. The VCR was still analog and digital technology was emerging. For many, the VCR made TV viewing easier; for others, they could never figure out how to set the clock. The launch of the DVR, the digital video recorder, took away that problem and more. We were no longer limited to the tape length of 6 hours although viewing was limited to the box that we saved our show on. That iss ue has now been solved through digital streaming.
The VCR was a breakthrough technology. Not only could we watch time shifted programming, we had more controls, too. We could fast forward through commercials and rewind to watch over and over our favorite parts. It put TV into the hands of the individual. It was the first device to deliver what you want, when you want it.
I no longer own a VCR and yet I still have old tapes lying around the house. For some, I feel the need to transfer off analog tapes and onto another for later viewing. I would say to transfer onto a CD but that technology is likely the next to see production stop. No longer do Apple computers include CD players in their laptops or desktops. Cars no longer need them either. Our digital memories are to be stored in cloud libraries, not physical ones in our study or family room.
Millennials will pay little attention to the news announcing the end of VCR production. They know only DVRs, on-demand, and streaming. But the VCR was an important part of my youth and the way that TV viewing changed for me. Goodbye old friend.
Monday, March 23, 2015
Could Streaming Network TV Boost Advertising
With the planned release of Apple's TV subscription streaming service, networks might just be greeted with an advertising opportunity, the ability to dynamically insert commercials to specific households. Thus one commercial spot could be sold to reach a certain household based on relevant data while the same spot could be sold again to a different set of households. Advertisers would pay a premium but would have more certainty that their ad was reaching a relevant audience. And networks could sell the same ad spot multiple times. In addition, different ads could be served based on the device being used to watch the program, one for the Apple TV box, another to the iPad or iPhone. Ads could be dynamically inserted on linear as well as on-demand and DVR programming. The likely results, higher engagement, higher viewership, and more revenue.
Friday, March 6, 2015
TiVo Claims Better Solution to Comedy Subscription Service
A few days ago, NBCU announced plans to create a comedy subscription service for streaming users to enjoy programs like The Tonight Show, Saturday Night Live, and more. With a proposed monthly fee of between $2 and $4 dollars, viewers without access to the broadcast channel can enjoy these shows. The problem is they already do, on You Tube, on Yahoo Screen, and in the SNL 40 app. Why pay for the cow if the milk is free?
Obviously, once these agreements expire, NBCU could make a case for exclusive access but aren't these online tools helpful in building subscriber loyalty and moving them to want to watch the latest shows. Could advertising dollars suffer in trying to start a subscription service? And aren't there alternative ways to watch these great shows.
TiVo thinks so and is touting their aggregation marketing plan that brings comedy programming from all the broadcast channels to your digital devices. Per Fox Business, "The 'Comedy Collections,' culled from ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC, will be customized by TiVo subscribers into bundles of favorite sitcoms and late night shows. According to Rogers, the cord cutters -- or TV viewers who get content over the air (OTA) without paying a cable company -- will be able to easily do their bundling as well, thanks to TiVo's Roamio OTA (Over the Air) device." With a digital antenna and a DVR box like TiVo or Slingbox, anyone can achieve the same kind of collecting and viewing.
The challenge for cord cutters and any of us that use a DVR to record and playback later is that we have to plan in advance to record certain shows. With a streaming service, we simply have to check that a show is available then click to watch. No advance planning or set up required and that has been the beauty and simplicity of streaming content services.
Obviously, once these agreements expire, NBCU could make a case for exclusive access but aren't these online tools helpful in building subscriber loyalty and moving them to want to watch the latest shows. Could advertising dollars suffer in trying to start a subscription service? And aren't there alternative ways to watch these great shows.
TiVo thinks so and is touting their aggregation marketing plan that brings comedy programming from all the broadcast channels to your digital devices. Per Fox Business, "The 'Comedy Collections,' culled from ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC, will be customized by TiVo subscribers into bundles of favorite sitcoms and late night shows. According to Rogers, the cord cutters -- or TV viewers who get content over the air (OTA) without paying a cable company -- will be able to easily do their bundling as well, thanks to TiVo's Roamio OTA (Over the Air) device." With a digital antenna and a DVR box like TiVo or Slingbox, anyone can achieve the same kind of collecting and viewing.
The challenge for cord cutters and any of us that use a DVR to record and playback later is that we have to plan in advance to record certain shows. With a streaming service, we simply have to check that a show is available then click to watch. No advance planning or set up required and that has been the beauty and simplicity of streaming content services.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Networks Quickening Their Demise
With viewership erosion due to streaming video, network ratings and consequently ad revenue are suffering. But rather than seek ways to grow eyeballs, networks would rather add more ad minutes to stabilize and try and grow revenues. But according to two different research studies, as mentioned by Deadline Hollywood, "Major TV network owners led by Viacom, A+E, and Discovery significantly
increased the amount of prime time commercial minutes in their shows in
Q4, helping to compensate for a decline in viewing." It seems adding ad minutes is both short-sighted as well as likely to drive viewers to flee networks faster.
Advertising is necessary to support content creation and cable networks in particular have enjoyed a two stream revenue model of subscription and advertising dollars. But adding more ad minutes that interrupts content is what has driven users of TiVo and DVRs to embrace their trick features and fast forward through ads. And millennials have discovered the joy of subscription services like Netflix to enjoy content without any ad interruptions. It is that next generation that is leaving traditional viewing patterns.
For now, networks are seeking short term results but it is leading to long term losses. According to the research, "the most aggressive network owners were those with the worst ratings trends". That is to say, more ads lead to lower ratings. Perhaps it is time for TV networks to become more innovative with their advertising issues. It is time to break away from the notion of ad breaks and think more outside the box; otherwise, sticking with the current approach is hurting your long term outlook.
Is it time to consider again network sponsorship of shows, ad integration inside programs, and other ad efforts. Less ad breaks insure viewers stay on the channel and deliver a higher attention span. The longer the break, the easier it is to switch channels. Less clutter, more impact. It is time for networks to reassess their ad strategy. What has worked in the past is now not working at all. The model is broken and needs to be fixed.
Advertising is necessary to support content creation and cable networks in particular have enjoyed a two stream revenue model of subscription and advertising dollars. But adding more ad minutes that interrupts content is what has driven users of TiVo and DVRs to embrace their trick features and fast forward through ads. And millennials have discovered the joy of subscription services like Netflix to enjoy content without any ad interruptions. It is that next generation that is leaving traditional viewing patterns.
For now, networks are seeking short term results but it is leading to long term losses. According to the research, "the most aggressive network owners were those with the worst ratings trends". That is to say, more ads lead to lower ratings. Perhaps it is time for TV networks to become more innovative with their advertising issues. It is time to break away from the notion of ad breaks and think more outside the box; otherwise, sticking with the current approach is hurting your long term outlook.
Is it time to consider again network sponsorship of shows, ad integration inside programs, and other ad efforts. Less ad breaks insure viewers stay on the channel and deliver a higher attention span. The longer the break, the easier it is to switch channels. Less clutter, more impact. It is time for networks to reassess their ad strategy. What has worked in the past is now not working at all. The model is broken and needs to be fixed.
Friday, January 2, 2015
TV Viewing On Your Terms
According to the Leichtman Research Group, "
76%
of U.S. homes have a DVR, subscribe to Netflix or use video-on-demand from a
cable or telco provider …26% of homes use two of those services, and 11% use
all three ". As for my household, we are in the 11%. We are getting more comfortable with technology in the home and more apt to use it more frequently. Income levels certainly play a part in this research study, as indicated. But I would also like to know if geography also is an issue. is DVR, VOD, and Netflix usage higher in major cities than in rural markets. And is Netflix access taken more through broadband access or by cellular. Clearly, the study demonstrates a trend toward ubiquitous behavior.
(76%)
of U.S. homes have a DVR, subscribe to Netflix or use video-on-demand
from a cable or telco provider - See more at:
http://www.multichannel.com/news/technology/76-homes-have-dvr-netflix-or-use-vod-study/386584#sthash.zFv2q2Xu.dpuf
(76%)
of U.S. homes have a DVR, subscribe to Netflix or use video-on-demand
from a cable or telco provider - See more at:
http://www.multichannel.com/news/technology/76-homes-have-dvr-netflix-or-use-vod-study/386584#sthash.zFv2q2Xu.dpuf
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Avoiding TV Ad Interruptions
As the holidays approach, gifts may include new Apple TV, TiVo, or Roku boxes, a Slingbox or Hopper or two, a subscription to Netflix or other services designed to help us avoid ad interruptions. These products are popular, not just because they let us watch TV shows and movies, but because they let us skip through or avoid television ad messages. And the more comfortable we get using these outlets, the more we seek them for our viewing pleasure.
For content obtained off our TV, it is just as easy to record first and watch later with our finger pressed on the fast forward button every time an ad appears. For cord cutters and those watching through OTT platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, shows can be viewed without ever an ad in sight. We pause when we want to and not because an ad is present. And so as TV ratings decline and we watch our shows on our DVR or mobile device, we can enjoy all our shows without those dreaded commercial break.
For advertisers, the challenge becomes watching ad rates go up for spots on linear TV viewing while viewership declines. The economics seem off. Consumers have grown tired of these ad interruptions with the only exception being big event programming like the Super Bowl where the ads become more interesting and note worthy. For almost all other times, they are an intrusion.
This trend toward ad skipping and ad avoidance with subscription programming will only continue to grow. The current model seems broken and it may now be time to revisit the TV ad model. Branded entertainment, product placement, show sponsorship may now become the ideal means to assure that advertised brands get noticed regardless of where or how the content is being consumed. You can't avoid ads baked into the content of the show. Till then, ad avoidance seems like to continue to grow.
For content obtained off our TV, it is just as easy to record first and watch later with our finger pressed on the fast forward button every time an ad appears. For cord cutters and those watching through OTT platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, shows can be viewed without ever an ad in sight. We pause when we want to and not because an ad is present. And so as TV ratings decline and we watch our shows on our DVR or mobile device, we can enjoy all our shows without those dreaded commercial break.
For advertisers, the challenge becomes watching ad rates go up for spots on linear TV viewing while viewership declines. The economics seem off. Consumers have grown tired of these ad interruptions with the only exception being big event programming like the Super Bowl where the ads become more interesting and note worthy. For almost all other times, they are an intrusion.
This trend toward ad skipping and ad avoidance with subscription programming will only continue to grow. The current model seems broken and it may now be time to revisit the TV ad model. Branded entertainment, product placement, show sponsorship may now become the ideal means to assure that advertised brands get noticed regardless of where or how the content is being consumed. You can't avoid ads baked into the content of the show. Till then, ad avoidance seems like to continue to grow.
Monday, October 27, 2014
DVR Fails For SNL, While Yahoo! Screen Delivers
Our cable dvr is set to automatically record certain programs, but doesn't always succeed. In most cases, it cuts off programs before they end and every now and then fails to record at all. Such was the case when I turned to the dvr on Sunday to catch up on last night's Saturday Night Live only to find that it didn't record. I looked through the history but it failed as well to tell me what went wrong. And going to our cable's on demand function was no better as the SNL episode was not immediately accessible. But thanks to streaming, I had another option.
Opening up the iPad, I clicked on Yahoo! Screen and there was every skit and all the musical performances from the show. And while You Tube carries certain clips from the show, it doesn't show it all. The best part watching was that I did not have to endure one commercial to watch; the worst part was that buffering created certain delays that forced refreshing in order to watch. Once each clip played, I was shown a short promo to watch SNL on NBC and then the next clip would automatically start to play. Yahoo! Screen proved to be a great solution to a cable dvr catastrophe.
Opening up the iPad, I clicked on Yahoo! Screen and there was every skit and all the musical performances from the show. And while You Tube carries certain clips from the show, it doesn't show it all. The best part watching was that I did not have to endure one commercial to watch; the worst part was that buffering created certain delays that forced refreshing in order to watch. Once each clip played, I was shown a short promo to watch SNL on NBC and then the next clip would automatically start to play. Yahoo! Screen proved to be a great solution to a cable dvr catastrophe.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
TiVo Wants Its Piece Of The Aereo Market
As Aereo's business model fades away, others are trying to pick up the pieces. The latest to step in is TiVo who has announced a new DVR box that can receive digital broadcast signals from an at home antenna and deliver DVR functionality, all without a cable subscription. Per Multichannel, the Roamio OTA box "is also compatible with the TiVo Stream, a Slingbox-like device that can stream live and recorded TV to smartphones and tablets in or out of the user’s home".
The TiVo box costs under $50 and requires a monthly subscription to TiVo at about $15 a month, a little more expensive than what Aereo charged, but cheaper than a cable subscription. The service is clearly aimed to the cord cutters and antenna households that might want more functionality and channel availability at a lower price than cable TV. Given the court decisions against Aereo, this device might be a great solution, but it is not the only one as other services are popping up as well. With Aereo on the way to oblivion, others are clearly picking at its carcass.
The TiVo box costs under $50 and requires a monthly subscription to TiVo at about $15 a month, a little more expensive than what Aereo charged, but cheaper than a cable subscription. The service is clearly aimed to the cord cutters and antenna households that might want more functionality and channel availability at a lower price than cable TV. Given the court decisions against Aereo, this device might be a great solution, but it is not the only one as other services are popping up as well. With Aereo on the way to oblivion, others are clearly picking at its carcass.
is
also compatible with the TiVo Stream, a Slingbox-like device that can
stream live and recorded TV to smartphones and tablets in or out of the
user’s home - See more at:
http://www.multichannel.com/news/technology/tivo-roamio-ota-model-targets-cord-cutters/383346#sthash.TIBw6cO4.dpuf
Friday, May 23, 2014
TiVo Strategic Shift To MSO Working
As a standalone set top box, TiVo worked hard to build a market and attract consumers willing to buy their DVR recorder. The need for CableCards and costs to own limited the interest and appeal. It was the Porsche of set top boxes but for a business seeking growth, a slow road. The decision to attract cable MSO partnerships to offer a TiVo rental box to households has enabled TiVo to grow much faster. "
TiVo swung
to a first quarter profit as the DVR pioneer and video software company set a
record by signing on 341,000 subscribers through partnerships with pay-TV
partnerships, enough to nudge its total sub base past 4.5 million for the first
time." As a result, TiVo has over 3.5 million cable subscribers through this partnership and less than a million subscribers through direct purchase.
Unfortunately, the top cable MSOs have been reluctant to offer TiVO set top boxes. Currently, "
TiVo is
only about 5% penetrated with its current batch of U.S. cable partners."Should TiVo start to do deals with Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cablevision, and others, future growth of TiVO could be enormous.
TiVo
swung to a first quarter profit as the DVR pioneer and video software
company set a record by signing on 341,000 subscribers through
partnerships with pay-TV partnerships, enough to nudge its total sub
base past 4.5 million for the first time. - See more at:
http://www.multichannel.com/news/technology/tivo-adds-record-341000-mso-subs-q1/374733#sthash.G4sFsn1j.dpuf
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Success Of Linear TV: Eventize
With so much shows to watch on broadcast and cable, on demand, DVR, and streaming, its a wonder we get any sleep at all. In the golden age of TV, choice was limited to broadcast and every show was special. But today we go through TV shows quickly and if they don't show any chance for audience share, they are thrown away and replaced with the next show. Just look at the list of cancelled shows that are quickly buried.
To adjust to a very competitive landscape of content choice, networks have embraced live programming. From baseball and football to Olympics, sports promises good audiences and linear viewing. NBC has bought all three of the Triple Crown horse races and audiences are tuning in. Reality shows with live voting and results from shows like American Idol, Dancing With The Stars, and The Voice have helped as well. Saturday Night Live has been live for years, although not in prime time. And NBC with its Broadway push through Sound Of Music last year and Music Man this year are meant to excite audiences to tune in. Fox is copying this strategy with their production of Grease. The term for all these big live events, eventize, which could arguably be both a noun and a verb.
I expect that we will see all the networks eventize their programming schedule. Perhaps one day, one sitcom will be programmed live every week and not as a special event, as was done a couple times by 30 Rock. Unfortunately, like all good things, the notion of live programming will get so overdone by all the networks that the viewer will grow tired of this too and move on to the next new thing.
To adjust to a very competitive landscape of content choice, networks have embraced live programming. From baseball and football to Olympics, sports promises good audiences and linear viewing. NBC has bought all three of the Triple Crown horse races and audiences are tuning in. Reality shows with live voting and results from shows like American Idol, Dancing With The Stars, and The Voice have helped as well. Saturday Night Live has been live for years, although not in prime time. And NBC with its Broadway push through Sound Of Music last year and Music Man this year are meant to excite audiences to tune in. Fox is copying this strategy with their production of Grease. The term for all these big live events, eventize, which could arguably be both a noun and a verb.
I expect that we will see all the networks eventize their programming schedule. Perhaps one day, one sitcom will be programmed live every week and not as a special event, as was done a couple times by 30 Rock. Unfortunately, like all good things, the notion of live programming will get so overdone by all the networks that the viewer will grow tired of this too and move on to the next new thing.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Aereo Just A Remote Antenna And Cloud DVR
As the Supreme Court listens to arguments regarding the Aereo service, many also speculate what a ruling either way will do to future cloud based services. Broadcasters are concerned that this disruptive model will kill is license fee revenue model, although it would also increase its viewership reach. Aereo argues that it is simply selling a technological service to receive and transmit free programming.
Today's Business Insider article argues that a ruling against Aereo will also negatively effect the future of cloud based services. Previous rulings have enabled cloud based DVR service; in fact, Cablevision was the cable operator behind an N-DVR push. And when you look at the basic model, Aereo is simply leasing remote antennas rather than placing one on your roof and adding enhanced cloud based DVR capabilities in exchange for a monthly fee. BI's argument, and a compelling one is this: "Make no mistake, large media companies hate technical innovation. TV and movie studios also believed that DVRs and VHS cassettes would kill their businesses. In fact, they enhanced them. Aereo is simply a remote personal video recorder."
Should Aereo lose its court case, it claims no "Plan B" and would cause an end to its business. But it is argued that such a ruling would be counter to previous rulings enabling cloud based content capture and transmitting services. And would lead to "Any company whose business model relies on letting viewers store copyrighted material on a remote server for later viewing could find itself suddenly illegal" including services like Dropbox. The concern is that a ruling would significantly alter further innovation for all cloud based services.
Broadcasters argue that it will kill their business model although they have argued that before with the rise of cable, VHS, and DVR services. Some have threatened to move from over the air to a cable based model. While they argue the possible loss of license fees, I am skeptical that cable operators will move to an antenna based system as a result so no significant loss of revenue. I believe that as long as broadcasters use over the air to transmit, consumers should be allowed to lease antennas from Aereo or other to capture and stream programming. If we can do it with a DVR why not with Aereo.
Today's Business Insider article argues that a ruling against Aereo will also negatively effect the future of cloud based services. Previous rulings have enabled cloud based DVR service; in fact, Cablevision was the cable operator behind an N-DVR push. And when you look at the basic model, Aereo is simply leasing remote antennas rather than placing one on your roof and adding enhanced cloud based DVR capabilities in exchange for a monthly fee. BI's argument, and a compelling one is this: "Make no mistake, large media companies hate technical innovation. TV and movie studios also believed that DVRs and VHS cassettes would kill their businesses. In fact, they enhanced them. Aereo is simply a remote personal video recorder."
Should Aereo lose its court case, it claims no "Plan B" and would cause an end to its business. But it is argued that such a ruling would be counter to previous rulings enabling cloud based content capture and transmitting services. And would lead to "Any company whose business model relies on letting viewers store copyrighted material on a remote server for later viewing could find itself suddenly illegal" including services like Dropbox. The concern is that a ruling would significantly alter further innovation for all cloud based services.
Broadcasters argue that it will kill their business model although they have argued that before with the rise of cable, VHS, and DVR services. Some have threatened to move from over the air to a cable based model. While they argue the possible loss of license fees, I am skeptical that cable operators will move to an antenna based system as a result so no significant loss of revenue. I believe that as long as broadcasters use over the air to transmit, consumers should be allowed to lease antennas from Aereo or other to capture and stream programming. If we can do it with a DVR why not with Aereo.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Should Advertisers Pay More for C7 Ratings?
As more and more viewers get comfortable with their DVR, networks would love to extend the period of delayed viewing counting toward ratings from 3 days to 7. The good news is that shows would show higher ratings based on how consumers are really watching these days; the bad news, advertisers would pay more for those added quantifiable eyeballs. According to the TiVo research, some show ratings could increase more than 10%.
At the same time, advertisers might need to challenge how often viewers are using trick features like fast forward on their DVR boxes to pass through the commercials to get to the show. In my household, DVR and on demand viewing, especially during prime time, happens more and more often. And the remote is close by in trying to judge when to start and stop the fast forward button. Sometimes, the first commercial and last commercial in the break are viewed in getting close to the show content.
C7 Ratings, used to judge popularity of a show is certainly important. But in regard to raising advertising fees, some formula might be needed to ascertain the true value of delayed DVR viewing. Still it is nice to see that the rise of DVR viewing is seen as more than just 3 days from initial linear airing of a show.
At the same time, advertisers might need to challenge how often viewers are using trick features like fast forward on their DVR boxes to pass through the commercials to get to the show. In my household, DVR and on demand viewing, especially during prime time, happens more and more often. And the remote is close by in trying to judge when to start and stop the fast forward button. Sometimes, the first commercial and last commercial in the break are viewed in getting close to the show content.
C7 Ratings, used to judge popularity of a show is certainly important. But in regard to raising advertising fees, some formula might be needed to ascertain the true value of delayed DVR viewing. Still it is nice to see that the rise of DVR viewing is seen as more than just 3 days from initial linear airing of a show.
Looking
at 10 top primetime shows on the broadcast networks, TiVo Research
found $88 million in additional revenue that could be captured by
switching to C7 from C3. The ratings lift ranged from a low of 6.2% for
CBS’ The Good Wife to 10.9% for ABC’s Modern Family. - See more at:
http://www.multichannel.com/news/technology/change-c7-would-boost-ratings-revenue/373981#sthash.1IwCTEoc.dpuf
Looking
at 10 top primetime shows on the broadcast networks, TiVo Research
found $88 million in additional revenue that could be captured by
switching to C7 from C3. The ratings lift ranged from a low of 6.2% for
CBS’ The Good Wife to 10.9% for ABC’s Modern Family. - See more at:
http://www.multichannel.com/news/technology/change-c7-would-boost-ratings-revenue/373981#sthash.1IwCTEoc.dpuf
Looking
at 10 top primetime shows on the broadcast networks, TiVo Research
found $88 million in additional revenue that could be captured by
switching to C7 from C3. The ratings lift ranged from a low of 6.2% for
CBS’ The Good Wife to 10.9% for ABC’s Modern Family. - See more at:
http://www.multichannel.com/news/technology/change-c7-would-boost-ratings-revenue/373981#sthash.1IwCTEoc.dpuf
Looking
at 10 top primetime shows on the broadcast networks, TiVo Research
found $88 million in additional revenue that could be captured by
switching to C7 from C3. The ratings lift ranged from a low of 6.2% for
CBS’ The Good Wife to 10.9% for ABC’s Modern Family. - See more at:
http://www.multichannel.com/news/technology/change-c7-would-boost-ratings-revenue/373981#sthash.1IwCTEoc.dpuf
Monday, April 14, 2014
Everyone Wants To Be A TV Network
If only it were so easy to pick great TV show, all the networks would be winners. NBC would never had lost its dominance with "Must See TV" on Thursday nights and shows like "Hello Larry" would have never made it on the air. But the process of selecting scripts to become TV pilots and pilots to be picked up for series is much more a matter of art than science. And unfortunately, most TV shows that I like and want to watch seem to quickly be cancelled.
Competition for programming has increased and so has the number of outlets. When it was just broadcast, only a limited number of shows could actually find time slots; with the rise of cable TV, number of slots have increased and the audience started to fragment. But it also allowed some edgier programming to slip through and find a significant audience. Shows like HBO's "The Sopranos" and AMC's "Breaking Bad" were discovered and loved. But with the size of the pot, or number of cable networks ever growing, audience size per network kept fragmenting. Some networks have grown their ratings, many have not. And broadcast continues to see eroding share.
The savior for some programming has been technology. From DVDs to DVRs to on-demand, viewers could watch shows whenever they wanted. Two shows competing in the same time slot meant little when both could be seen hours or days later. And now with the growth of streaming media, viewers can catch up with subscriptions to Hulu or Netflix.
Not being content with licensing previously created shows, streaming media has now entered the original content game. Netflix has found success with "House of Cards" and Amazon with shows like "Alpha House". Today we learn that Yahoo also wants to enter the picture with long form TV content. But with more platforms to choose from, the audience continues to fragment further. Capturing a meaningful audience size gets more and more difficult.
The winner in all this is the viewer who now can choose from almost an infinite number of choices. The challenge is in discovering which of the long form content is worth spending time with and which to ignore. Where to find it and how to retrieve it become our goals; discoverability and search. And how can you identify which shows are good and which are dogs? With a couple of networks airing linear programming, measurement was easier to achieve. Now it may be harder to compare, broadcast vs cable vs on demand vs streaming. An ever increasing number of networks and platforms offering an ever increasing amount of original TV shows to an audience trying to find the best stuff.
Which brings me back to picking the best content to create. As broadcasters have been well aware, it is not easy to pick the winners. HBO could have picked "Mad Men" but declined it; AMC thought differently. Making such decisions is a bit of an art and some luck. And as the article in today's NY Times suggests, its a gamble. But Yahoo smells advertising dollars from streaming long form content. And if they pick right, they see financial rewards. That is, if the audience can discover it, like it, and want to keep watching it. Ask the broadcast and cable networks, it isn't easy.
Competition for programming has increased and so has the number of outlets. When it was just broadcast, only a limited number of shows could actually find time slots; with the rise of cable TV, number of slots have increased and the audience started to fragment. But it also allowed some edgier programming to slip through and find a significant audience. Shows like HBO's "The Sopranos" and AMC's "Breaking Bad" were discovered and loved. But with the size of the pot, or number of cable networks ever growing, audience size per network kept fragmenting. Some networks have grown their ratings, many have not. And broadcast continues to see eroding share.
The savior for some programming has been technology. From DVDs to DVRs to on-demand, viewers could watch shows whenever they wanted. Two shows competing in the same time slot meant little when both could be seen hours or days later. And now with the growth of streaming media, viewers can catch up with subscriptions to Hulu or Netflix.
Not being content with licensing previously created shows, streaming media has now entered the original content game. Netflix has found success with "House of Cards" and Amazon with shows like "Alpha House". Today we learn that Yahoo also wants to enter the picture with long form TV content. But with more platforms to choose from, the audience continues to fragment further. Capturing a meaningful audience size gets more and more difficult.
The winner in all this is the viewer who now can choose from almost an infinite number of choices. The challenge is in discovering which of the long form content is worth spending time with and which to ignore. Where to find it and how to retrieve it become our goals; discoverability and search. And how can you identify which shows are good and which are dogs? With a couple of networks airing linear programming, measurement was easier to achieve. Now it may be harder to compare, broadcast vs cable vs on demand vs streaming. An ever increasing number of networks and platforms offering an ever increasing amount of original TV shows to an audience trying to find the best stuff.
Which brings me back to picking the best content to create. As broadcasters have been well aware, it is not easy to pick the winners. HBO could have picked "Mad Men" but declined it; AMC thought differently. Making such decisions is a bit of an art and some luck. And as the article in today's NY Times suggests, its a gamble. But Yahoo smells advertising dollars from streaming long form content. And if they pick right, they see financial rewards. That is, if the audience can discover it, like it, and want to keep watching it. Ask the broadcast and cable networks, it isn't easy.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Aereo Needs Supreme Court Victory
This month the Supreme Court will hear from Aereo and the broadcasters about whether the Aereo business model is legitimate or stealing. Aereo believes that it has the right to take the over the air broadcast feeds via their antenna farm and sell online access to consumers; Broadcasters like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC believe that Aereo should be required to pay for the content from their networks. The decision will decide the fate of Aereo.
For those old enough to remember, households used to purchase antennas that they would put up on their roofs. Homes were wired so that TVs inside the house could each access the antenna. And some fancy antennas could even be made to rotate to help receive some remote signals. As a boy living in the suburbs of Philadelphia, I remember turning that dial to access New York's Metromedia station to watch "Wonderama". The day we switched to cable meant the loss of that station but the beginning of a whole new assortment of programming.
Despite broadcasters switching from analog to digital, they still use over the air transmission and consumers can continue to access broadcast TV from antennas. That Aereo has build a business model that moves the antenna off the roof and into a centralized farm doesn't change for me the transmission. So that instead of buying an antenna, consumers lease one instead. And for that they get additional features including the ability to record programs for later viewing. Consumers with antennas at their homes can do the same thing with boxes from TiVo and others. That Aereo has simplified the reception and delivery issue for broadcast signals does nothing to change the fact that consumers could do the same thing with a store bought antenna and in home DVR box. It is for that reason, from what I see as an outsider to the process, that would cause me to side with Aereo in this Supreme Court ruling.
Certainly a loss for the broadcasters should do nothing to change the business model that they have in place with cable operators. The expense for operators to build their own antenna farms so as to not pay broadcasters a retransmission license fee would likely outweigh the cost of the current contract. Plus all the broadcasters own cable networks too and would surely figure out a bundle type strategy to keep the status quo alive. And should broadcasters decide to give up this spectrum and behave like cable networks, then the FCC could make a bundle selling this spectrum for additional wireless broadband opportunities.
So let the battle for broadcast rights move ahead. I see Aereo coming out the victor, for if they lose, they will be no more.
For those old enough to remember, households used to purchase antennas that they would put up on their roofs. Homes were wired so that TVs inside the house could each access the antenna. And some fancy antennas could even be made to rotate to help receive some remote signals. As a boy living in the suburbs of Philadelphia, I remember turning that dial to access New York's Metromedia station to watch "Wonderama". The day we switched to cable meant the loss of that station but the beginning of a whole new assortment of programming.
Despite broadcasters switching from analog to digital, they still use over the air transmission and consumers can continue to access broadcast TV from antennas. That Aereo has build a business model that moves the antenna off the roof and into a centralized farm doesn't change for me the transmission. So that instead of buying an antenna, consumers lease one instead. And for that they get additional features including the ability to record programs for later viewing. Consumers with antennas at their homes can do the same thing with boxes from TiVo and others. That Aereo has simplified the reception and delivery issue for broadcast signals does nothing to change the fact that consumers could do the same thing with a store bought antenna and in home DVR box. It is for that reason, from what I see as an outsider to the process, that would cause me to side with Aereo in this Supreme Court ruling.
Certainly a loss for the broadcasters should do nothing to change the business model that they have in place with cable operators. The expense for operators to build their own antenna farms so as to not pay broadcasters a retransmission license fee would likely outweigh the cost of the current contract. Plus all the broadcasters own cable networks too and would surely figure out a bundle type strategy to keep the status quo alive. And should broadcasters decide to give up this spectrum and behave like cable networks, then the FCC could make a bundle selling this spectrum for additional wireless broadband opportunities.
So let the battle for broadcast rights move ahead. I see Aereo coming out the victor, for if they lose, they will be no more.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
TiVo Winning Strategy Working With Cable Operators
TiVo seems to have found the winning strategy, partnering with cable operators to get their TiVo boxes into the home. That resulted in them installing to more than 300,000 customers in their Q4 announcement, and an increase of 34% from the same quarter last year. TiVo now has more than 4.2 million customers, an impressive number.
I only wish my own cable operator offered TiVo as a set top choice; instead they are pushing their own Xfinity branded IP set top device. "TiVo said it’s poised to make more progress with Comcast, which doesn’t lease TiVo boxes but has integrated its VOD service with retail-bought TiVo DVRs in select markets. After putting that plan on pause last year, TiVo said it and Comcast have since resumed that work and expect to complete the deployment in all Comcast markets by June 30, 2014. Comcast markets in line to support VOD on retail TiVo boxes include Chicago, Atlanta and Houston."
As TiVo continues to grow its base, the research that it draws from their boxes become more valuable to advertisers and to agencies. Connecting the dots between household demographics, psychographics, and preferences and watched programs helps to make a more efficient advertising buy. Its an exciting growth story for TiVo and for the premier DVR device.
I only wish my own cable operator offered TiVo as a set top choice; instead they are pushing their own Xfinity branded IP set top device. "TiVo said it’s poised to make more progress with Comcast, which doesn’t lease TiVo boxes but has integrated its VOD service with retail-bought TiVo DVRs in select markets. After putting that plan on pause last year, TiVo said it and Comcast have since resumed that work and expect to complete the deployment in all Comcast markets by June 30, 2014. Comcast markets in line to support VOD on retail TiVo boxes include Chicago, Atlanta and Houston."
As TiVo continues to grow its base, the research that it draws from their boxes become more valuable to advertisers and to agencies. Connecting the dots between household demographics, psychographics, and preferences and watched programs helps to make a more efficient advertising buy. Its an exciting growth story for TiVo and for the premier DVR device.
Monday, January 20, 2014
"How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria" (or DVRs)
It seems that NBC recognizes the key to survival of linear television is live programming. Credit sports, award shows, and now for NBC, Broadway musicals on television. With the success of The Sound Of Music last December, NBC has announced its second live production, Peter Pan.
Certainly casting will drive the buzz worthiness. For Sound it was Carrie Underwood vs Julie Andrews; and for Peter Pan, the question will be who will play the role made notable by Mary Martin. Viewers still willing to make appointment television, will enjoy these programming choices. Peter Pan may not have the same fan base as Sound of Music, but it certainly has the name recognition. Should this strategy prove another ratings hit, other Broadcast and Cable networks may soon try to overload us with this same approach. And sometimes too much of a good thing is too much.
Certainly casting will drive the buzz worthiness. For Sound it was Carrie Underwood vs Julie Andrews; and for Peter Pan, the question will be who will play the role made notable by Mary Martin. Viewers still willing to make appointment television, will enjoy these programming choices. Peter Pan may not have the same fan base as Sound of Music, but it certainly has the name recognition. Should this strategy prove another ratings hit, other Broadcast and Cable networks may soon try to overload us with this same approach. And sometimes too much of a good thing is too much.
Friday, September 27, 2013
VOD Matters
Missed last night's shows on CBS, don't worry, CBS will remind you that you can still watch them through video on demand. As shows are rated based on both live and VOD viewing, it makes sense to continue to promote them and remind viewers of how easy they are to watch, or catch up, before the next new show airs the following week. "CBS predicts that increased use of video on demand for time-shifted viewing, binge-viewing and catching up with missed episodes will be 'really transformative' for the television business, Mr. Poltrack (chief research officer, David Poltrak of CBS) said." Truth is, on demand has been around for a while and consumers have been using it more and more to watch their shows. In fact, viewers used to record shows on VHS even before DVRs and even before VOD so Mr. Poltrak should also be reminding his audience to record and watch, too.
So why this news during Ad Week? Perhaps the fact that CBS is promoting series the day they were viewed. Certainly for shows that are important to the future of CBS for ratings and ad dollars, it makes sense to promote across the Fall Season, not only before its premiere but after as well. With so many premieres on so many networks, broadcast and cable, constant promotion, before and after the linear show date, makes sense for building interest and appeal and viewership, whether on linear or DVR or VOD. Frankly, it sounds like a no brainer.
So why this news during Ad Week? Perhaps the fact that CBS is promoting series the day they were viewed. Certainly for shows that are important to the future of CBS for ratings and ad dollars, it makes sense to promote across the Fall Season, not only before its premiere but after as well. With so many premieres on so many networks, broadcast and cable, constant promotion, before and after the linear show date, makes sense for building interest and appeal and viewership, whether on linear or DVR or VOD. Frankly, it sounds like a no brainer.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Our Next Generation Being Raised As Cord Nevers
My daughter has been asking us recently for a Netflix subscription. Despite having full access to cable, linear, premium channels, and on-demand programming, as well as full use of the DVR, she wants to watch shows on her iPad. And the shows she wants are shows her friends are watching on Netflix. She also just downloaded an Amazon rental movie to watch. My son, on the other hand, prefers watching tons of You Tube videos as well as shows like The Awesomes on Hulu. For them, and countless of other teens, video is streaming and watched on personal devices. They may be watching still some shows on cable television, but they are increasingly moving away from it. And when they finally leave the home and start their own households, it will be the broadband connection that matters most to them.
While my kids are not there yet, others are, and cable television is feeling the results of cord cutting. "The shift in viewing habits is putting pressure on cable, satellite and phone companies by pinching subscriber numbers, which may have a knock-on effect on revenue growth. The impact on the $80 billion pay-TV industry is already being felt, with 2013 on pace to be the first year ever that total U.S. pay-TV subscriptions will decline, falling to 100.8 million from 100.9 million last year, according to researcher IHS." Younger generations especially will not have the disposable income to buy both cable and broadband access. They will be forced financially to choose and their preference is a cellular or broadband connection over a fiber line.
Certainly content companies are recognizing this trend as well. Although careful not to hurt their current cable revenue stream, they are building windows for streaming access. And some are going directly to these streaming OTT competitors for exclusive first run airings. For Netflix, that resulted in their exclusive series, House of Cards, getting multiple Emmy nominations, the first time ever a streaming show was nominated. As once cable took more Emmy awards from broadcast, so too could streaming shows one day take more Emmy awards from cable. And as better content goes to streaming so too will more audiences follow. No longer will the next generation need a cable subscription; they are indeed being raised as future cord nevers.
While my kids are not there yet, others are, and cable television is feeling the results of cord cutting. "The shift in viewing habits is putting pressure on cable, satellite and phone companies by pinching subscriber numbers, which may have a knock-on effect on revenue growth. The impact on the $80 billion pay-TV industry is already being felt, with 2013 on pace to be the first year ever that total U.S. pay-TV subscriptions will decline, falling to 100.8 million from 100.9 million last year, according to researcher IHS." Younger generations especially will not have the disposable income to buy both cable and broadband access. They will be forced financially to choose and their preference is a cellular or broadband connection over a fiber line.
Certainly content companies are recognizing this trend as well. Although careful not to hurt their current cable revenue stream, they are building windows for streaming access. And some are going directly to these streaming OTT competitors for exclusive first run airings. For Netflix, that resulted in their exclusive series, House of Cards, getting multiple Emmy nominations, the first time ever a streaming show was nominated. As once cable took more Emmy awards from broadcast, so too could streaming shows one day take more Emmy awards from cable. And as better content goes to streaming so too will more audiences follow. No longer will the next generation need a cable subscription; they are indeed being raised as future cord nevers.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
TiVo Seems Ready for IPTV And The Cloud
Great news from the TiVo camp on their partnership with Entone. "The agreement appears to represent TiVo’s first that will factor in
potential cloud DVR services. Last week, TiVo CEO Tom Rogers said his
company doesn’t care whether DVR storage is based in the cloud or in the
home, but still believes that local storage still hold some advantages." It also clearly shows that TiVo is following the trend toward more IP based and OTT content opportunities. There is clearly more push toward IP based distribution and this partnership will foreshadow the direction the cable companies need to proceed.
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