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clrmoney
clrmoney
6/9/2017 10:42:14 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Pay TV is an Option
Pay TV is is very popular like Spectrum, Dish Direct TV etc. Mostly the young crowd is obsessed more with it and some older people.  Some have ridiculous payment options and hidden fees so you have to ask yourself at the end of the day is it really worth it just to see Pay TV.

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mhhf1ve
mhhf1ve
6/9/2017 12:12:13 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV is an Option
Are we seeing the death of OTA TV? The switch to digital broadcast has brought some benefits but also drawbacks for people with antennas. If you're lucky enough to get a signal, it's great, but if not -- you're left with just pay TV or OTT services (or DVDs by mail?).

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afwriter
afwriter
6/11/2017 12:35:38 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV is an Option
You are right about the signal, I live in a metro area so I get a decent signal and somewhere around 40 channels, but just 150 miles away my dad can't get a single channel using my antenna. I think that OTA would see a huge boom if someone could introduce a cheap and effective DVR for OTA. 

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mhhf1ve
mhhf1ve
6/11/2017 3:10:23 AM
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Platinum
Re: Pay TV is an Option
I think that's what Aereo was trying to do -- make a DVR for OTA transmissions that was inexpensive and reliable. But the Supreme Court somehow came up with a "looks like a duck" judgment that killed it off. If the decision had gone the other way, there would be a crazy amount of competition for internet video streams.

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Ariella
Ariella
6/12/2017 10:53:15 AM
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Re: Pay TV is an Option
@mhhf1ve that reminds me of the case against VidAngel that resulted  See http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=7dfc9441-e563-467a-a865-0c68c92c5ce8

VidAngel describes itself as a family-friendly video streamer that allows users the ability to filter language, nudity and violence from movies and TV shows. Its business model involves selling new movies to customers for $20, allowing customers to select which snippets of content to edit out, and then buying movies back for $19. The price VidAngel will pay to buy back the content diminishes by a dollar for each day the buyer keeps it. In other words, VidAngel does not license the movies from the studios who hold the copyrights to the content like, for example, Netflix does.

The big studios took notice, and in June filed suit, alleging that VidAngel was operating as an "unlicensed [video on demand] streaming service." Among other claims, the studios requested that the court grant an injunction blocking VidAngel from continuing to stream films. VidAngel fired back with counterclaims alleging antitrust violations by the studios.

In December, a federal district court judge ruled in the plaintiffs' favor and issued a preliminary injunction against VidAngel pending the outcome of the copyright-infringement trial. "VidAngel has not offered any evidence that the Plaintiffs have either explicitly or implicitly authorized DVD buyers to circumvent encryption technology in order to view the DVD on a different platform such as VidAngel's streaming service," wrote Judge Andre Birotte Jr. of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

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mhhf1ve
mhhf1ve
6/12/2017 1:50:36 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV is an Option
@ariella - RE: "the case against VidAngel" -- That'a another classic example of how copyright infringement cases can stamp out the competition for alternative pay-TV services.

There's a very fine line between caching a video stream and "quacking like a duck" -- that is, providing a cable TV service, "Quack!"... as the Supreme Court avoided all technological issues and simply made all services that appeared to be cableTV to be treated as cableTV. That ruling effectively shuts down a lot of innovative OTT services that might otherwise try to exist.... 

https://dltr.law.duke.edu/2016/01/21/aereo-and-internet-television-a-call-to-save-the-ducks-a-la-carte/

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Ariella
Ariella
6/12/2017 2:00:22 PM
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Author
Re: Pay TV is an Option
Thanks for the link @mhhf1ve so all this stems from the transmit clause enacted in 1976 Copyright Act. Broadcasting has really changed a great deal since then!

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mhhf1ve
mhhf1ve
6/12/2017 2:08:50 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV is an Option
Old laws are not necessarily bad.. it's how we interpret them -- or allow them to be interpreted. The Surpreme Court could have threaded the needle with some technological argument, but it doesn't have to.. and "quacks like a duck" is now a precedent for future law suits... no matter how ridiculous it sounds as a legal argument. 

I guess it's no worse than "I'll know it when I see it"..... 

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Ariella
Ariella
6/12/2017 4:22:59 PM
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Author
Re: Pay TV is an Option
@mhhf1ve If you're referring to the ruling I think you're referring to, that actually did evolve somewhat according to this.

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Adi
Adi
6/12/2017 4:09:51 AM
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Author
Re: Pay TV is an Option
afwriter - I believe Dish is trying to do that in the US with AirTV -- it's a hybrid OTA-broadband set-top box, and I think they do the installation. So you can get your local broadcast channels for free, use the DVR in the box and get streaming videos from, various sources, including Sling.

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elizabethv
elizabethv
6/12/2017 6:03:12 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV is an Option
@Adi - on the surface is sounds like it would be an appealing product, i would think even to those in the yuounger generation. My big question would be about price. If it was a reasonable price, I'd probably consider it. Especially with Sling added and the ability to access local channels. I'm not opposed to being chained with a cord, but I am no where near willing to jump into bed with an expensive contract that has an ever-increasing bill attached. 

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Adi
Adi
6/12/2017 7:04:44 AM
User Rank
Author
Re: Pay TV is an Option
elizabethv - I think the basic box is about $100 (which you have to buy), and then there's no monthly fee for the broadcast service -- and obviously also no contract. But they do have a bunch of add-ons, both in terms of services and devices, so that's where it gets more complicated and expensive. But you can start comparatvely low and select what works for you. The key of course, is whether you get reception, how clear it is, and for how many and which, channels. 

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mhhf1ve
mhhf1ve
6/12/2017 1:44:37 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV is an Option
> "The key of course, is whether you get reception, how clear it is, and for how many and which, channels."

That's the part that Aereo was good at.. since it captured the OTA transmissions at a central location that presumably had good reception for all the local channels, it made it a reliable source of quality OTA video for its "cloud DVR" service. 

Unfortunately, that business model is pretty much dead now, due to the licensing restrictions that can't possibly be met by doing what Aereo did.

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elizabethv
elizabethv
6/13/2017 7:13:06 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV is an Option
@Adi - Sounds like a really good deal to me. I'd imagine I wouldn't get great service  where I am though. I'm on the outskirts of Denver and even getting internet out to us seems to be complicated. 

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afwriter
afwriter
6/14/2017 11:38:30 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV is an Option
This would be perfect for me. I am glad Adi steered me in this direction and I hope that I can get my hands on one. 

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elizabethv
elizabethv
6/12/2017 5:47:15 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Pay-TV for everyone
I think Pay-TV providers will be more successful if they focus on maintaining a product that could be useful for any age. Part of their marketing and product needs to be appealing to the younger generation who potentially may have never even been a part of the Pay-TV market. That means offering convenience and innovation. Still, a big part of their market comes from an older generation not willing to cut the cord. As such, they need to offer a product that is helpful and basic for the older generation to remain a part of their business. With most people, old or young, a big part of their decision to do business with a company is customer service. Offer solid customer service that is useful and helpful to all generations, and their company will be successful. 

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afwriter
afwriter
6/14/2017 11:46:17 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay-TV for everyone
<a big part of their decision to do business with a company is customer service. Offer solid customer service that is useful and helpful to all generations, and their company will be successful. >

Isn't that the truth. Companies have been skating by too long being the only player(s) in town and not caring about their customer service. Now that they actually have competition they have to take care of their customers in order to keep those profits.

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srufolo1
srufolo1
6/13/2017 1:11:15 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Pay TV
"Maybe don't focus on age brackets at all? I think the best strategy is to focus on making products that appeal to everyone. The iPad is simply a great design that anyone can use, so I doubt Apple tried to make it appeal to young kids OR older adults -- they just made a product that was easy to use."

 

I agree. After all, the Millennials are going to grow older, and their habits may change. And it's not good to ignore existing customers over trying to gain new ones. Anyone in a successful business knows that. Existing customers bring a steady stream of revenue.


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DHagar
DHagar
6/13/2017 6:30:05 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV
@srufolo1 - hurray for your option!  I fully agree!  I think age will not matter if you provide services that people want.  The old age designation I believe is an outdated model.  Your idea has more merit.

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srufolo1
srufolo1
6/13/2017 8:39:17 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV
@DHagar Thank you! I just think leaving age out of it has is a more sustainable approach to business. People grow older; another group will be replacing Millennials. What will they be called, I wonder? And what will their viewing habits be?

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elizabethv
elizabethv
6/14/2017 8:35:56 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV
@srufolo1 - I recently learned there are actually different variations on this "generation" thing. And I found one I prefer because it created a small buffer between Generation X and Millenials with a Generation Y. It actually placed me in Generation Y (in other charts I'm at the very start of the Millenial Generation.) I agree though with the addition of Generation Y because I knew the world before technology really took over. I never had a cell phone until I was out of high school (and no one in my graduating high school class had one at the time.) I learned all about the Dewey Decimal system, and my first research papers were all researched with strictly books. I never started using internet references until the end of high school/ college. Somehow, I could wait in a line without whipping my phone out! (I can't do that now, I've lost the ability.) And the Generation after Millenials is Generation Z, some charts place my oldest son in Generation Z, some don't. I can say at nearly 5 years old, he does NOT know how to use a computer, but he can navigate his tablet very well - though he sometimes struggles with my phone. But his Dad and I are very strict with his electronics usage. We prefer our kids to play outside. Though he is starting online Kindergarten in August, so how all of this will change, is anyone's guess. 

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srufolo1
srufolo1
6/14/2017 9:33:29 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV
@elizabethv  You've definitely described the situation very well. Labels mean nothing. I am considered a Baby Boomer. I also used the Dewey Decimal system. When I started as a reporter at a local newspaper in Pennsylvania, I tracked sources down by telephone and by going out to find them. I learned their titles and how to spell their names correctly by asking them. And everything needed to be accurate. "Fake news" was unheard of! That would be grounds for termination. My first cellphone was a Motorola flip phone at the age of 38. My viewing of choice is still television, although I really was never much of a TV-watcher. Labels like Baby Boomer, Millennials, Generation X, Y or Z mean nothing to me.

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DHagar
DHagar
6/15/2017 5:18:57 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV
@srufolo1, plus I believe that the "aging" and interests is different today.  You truly are having cross-generational interests that require a new way to track markets and expenditures for more accurate market demographics.

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elizabethv
elizabethv
6/14/2017 8:43:39 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV
@DHagar - Exactly! Why would any business want to limit who can access their product? (Obviously there are some exceptions) but for things like technology, especially TV, my grandparents down to my kids watch television. That's Ages 8 down to 3 months. (My 3 month old loves to watch TV.) While my 3 month old isn't making any viewing decisions, my grandparents definitely are. And they love being able to call Samsung for tech support, who are always extremely polite and helpful to them. 

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DHagar
DHagar
6/15/2017 5:22:48 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV
@elizabethv, I think your experience will become more the norm, interests will not be restricted to age.  With social media, and the multiple channels for entertainment now, the segmentation is not as relevant by channels and/or age.

Plus your example provides another reason to open up cross-generational interests - families can use this as a shared experience.

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dcawrey
dcawrey
6/18/2017 2:24:46 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV
Operators need to cater to everyone. It's bad business to ignore a certain subset of customers. 

When it comes to customer choice, consumers are in a golden age of entertainment. And with things like driverless cars and AI around the corner, we're going to need more entertainment than ever before. 

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DHagar
DHagar
6/19/2017 4:47:01 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV
@dcawrey, great vision!  Yes, entertainment is becoming our individual right to develop the world we choose (from news, to sports, to movies, to TV viewing, etc.)  I also see the lines blurring between education and education and learning. 

It can be a great "equalizer".

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Ariella
Ariella
6/20/2017 9:15:31 AM
User Rank
Author
Re: Pay TV
It appears that YouTube is poised to become a greater contender in this space. According to this:

CANNES, France—YouTube sees a big opportunity in original content.

The Google-owned site announced deals for 40 original programs with talent including Ellen DeGeneres, Kevin Hart and Demi Lovato. By the end of the year, YouTube expects it will have 50 new programs exclusively for the site.

After her Cannes keynote on Monday, YouTube's global head of original content, Susanne Daniels, spoke about the video giant's foray into original content. While YouTube has traditionally leaned on its popular creators who have amassed millions of fans and user-generated content, more and more deals are happening with large traditional film studios like Lionsgate and Sony. Daniels said that as YouTube invests more in programming, she'd like for half of content to come from traditional film companies with the other half coming from other creators including YouTube celebrities or digital production companies such as BuzzFeed.

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elizabethv
elizabethv
6/21/2017 9:15:22 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV
@Ariella - I think YouTube is in a great position to expand. If people are willing to cozy up with another OTT. Because I'd imagine for the newer content you have to agree to go to YouTube Red. With names like Ellen DeGeneres and Kevin Hart they just might make it work. Even I'm interested, but at this point am starting to think I could easily get to the cost of my previous cable bill in monthly OTT costs alone. Then the only thing I've gained is entertainment freedom.... 

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Ariella
Ariella
6/21/2017 10:00:43 AM
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Author
Re: Pay TV
@elizabethv Right, they would have to factor in what people are willing to pay. My impression is that people's "anchor" amounts for such services are linked to what Netflix typically charges.

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afwriter
afwriter
6/28/2017 11:53:06 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV
Even then, you have to deal with OTT overload. I already have Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and a few other free apps. I am not sure if could handle another provider right now. 

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elizabethv
elizabethv
7/27/2017 9:14:14 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV
@afwriter - I COMPLETELY agree with that. I have the same big three and I know I don't have time for any other OTT service. The only thing that might change my mind is a specific OTT provider offering a specific show that I can't watch elsewhere, but want to. Like "Early Edition" I'm dying to watch Early Edition anymore, and no one has it!

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dlr5288
dlr5288
7/31/2017 4:40:30 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV
Yes me too! They're all useful in different ways, but I can't handle having another one..

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freehe
freehe
6/22/2017 5:59:44 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Pay TV
Service providers should focus on all customers. One day millennials will be elderly customers and if the company only focuses on millennials they will lose their elderly customers and that part of revenue will be taken by a competitor.

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dlr5288
dlr5288
6/28/2017 2:30:02 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV
Very true. I know that companies like to focus in on one big group because it's easier. However, one day that group will be gone and then what?

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afwriter
afwriter
6/29/2017 5:47:03 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Pay TV
I agree, instead of focussing on a particular group they should follow, or even dictate trends. 

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freehe
freehe
6/22/2017 6:04:07 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Millennials and others
The problem with this thought process is that companies believe or have been brainwashed in thinking that millennial customers:
  • are somehow better than customers in other age group,
  • have unique interests that no other age group has,
  • are the only age group that wants new features,
  • are the only age group thats want information faster and in high quality,
  • are the only age group that watches video and/or streaming data,
  • are the only age group that likes to conduct operations via their mobile phone or moble apps, etc.

I could go on but you get the point. This is simply wrong thinking. If companies spent time finding out what all their customers want they would see a lot of similarities across age groups.

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