Comments
faryl
7/30/2016 8:01:49 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: No suprise
The content Comcast offers through their online xfinity site is better than Hulu, Netflix & Amazon combined.
In addition to pay-per-view & free/included VOD, they have a decent selection of live TV options and their UI is actually pretty good.
Comcast isn't a cable provider where I live - I'd pay for an Internet-only package if they offered one. (Not sure if that still qualifies as OTT though?)
elizabethv
7/30/2016 9:29:27 AM
User Rank Platinum
Re: No suprise
@Joe Stanganelli - I certainly agree there are a lot of OTT services right now, and they most definitely overlap. But I don't really see overlap as a bad thing - because where one might overlap I might not like the rest of their content, versus another service with the same overlap, but different separate content that I would like.
Actually, I think Amazon might be a good example here. You shared in another post you don't care for Amazon and have had some problems. Personally, I LOVE Amazon. I'm a huge fan. I order things far more frequently than I should, and I rarely watch any other OTT services than Amazon. For reasons all your own, apparently they don't work for you. And that's fine. But Amazon works wonderfully for me - in fact I have really only had one hiccup only to find their customer service was amazing and took care of the situation with no issue. You've had a different experience, so you do business elsewhere. This is where various OTT providers are actually a great thing.
Whether or not Comcast needs to be in the game? I suppose that's mostly up to them, they seem to have decided against at this point.
elizabethv
7/30/2016 9:22:01 AM
User Rank Platinum
Re: No suprise
@MikeRobuck - One aspect you mention is key, they have access to the content rights. And this includes the newer shows. This could really, potentially, make them a major competitor - in my opinion. They could potentially make their service cheaper than Hulu, with fewer commercials. Or offer shows that Hulu doesn't offer - that you might find on Amazon but have to pay for in addition to what you already pay for Prime. But then, you're right in the other aspect as well, do they offer their service in areas where there are other cable operators? Or perhaps all of the cable operators could get together and launch something? I think it's possible to offer a service that would help them stand out - but I think it would have to be done right. They must not be interested.
Re: No suprise
@afwriter: That's just it. Comcast SHOULDN'T try to compete. There is so much competition in the OTT marketplace right now and there are no real differentiators in terms of content.
And that's where Comcast is focusing and must continue to focus (and it understands that) -- differentiated, exclusive content. Beyond the content, there's not much room for real innovation in this space at the moment -- and a glut of cooks in the kitchen.
Re: No suprise
@vnewman: Amazon is *hardly* good at everything. ;)
Sincerely,
A former Amazon customer who recently did business with them after years again only to be again disappointed
Sounds fine to me
I don't think this he's wrong. Despite the tremendous growth of OTT and mobile video, cable is still here to stay and isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Comcast understands the business it's in and wants to stay there -- as a stalwart complement to online video instead of a competitor.
afwriter
7/30/2016 12:13:33 AM
User Rank Platinum
Re: No suprise
@Mike I wouldn't argue with any of your points but I still think that Comcast would not be able to provide anything drastically different than Netflix or Amazon right now in terms of content and they would most likely not undermine them in price either. I feel like this is a case of Comcast saying they are not interested instead of trying and failing.
I will be interested to see how their slim package compares to others when it rolls out nation wide.
Michelle
7/29/2016 4:54:18 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: No suprise
Sounds like there's not enough pie to go around... any chance this might turn out differently?
Re: No suprise
It's been that way ever since the first franchise agreements were signed. Each cable operator got its own piece of the pie. Then Verizon, A&T and the overbuilders came along. I agree with what Adi wrote; Comcast is biding its time for now.
vnewman
7/29/2016 3:25:12 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: No suprise
So @Mike - do you think that's like a professional courtesy in a way?
I sort of like the strategy of Comcast keeping it's focus and not trying to get its hand into everything - I mean, you typically can't be good at everything - unless you're Amazon :)
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