A new report from media researcher Interpret indicates that if cable operators are successful with their "TV Everywhere" push, it could leave 7.7 million viewers unable to access TV programs online.
TV Everywhere is an initiative under way by Time Warner and Comcast to make cable TV content available across all devices to cable subscribers. If successful, it could potentially allow cable subscribers to access their favorite cable content on other devices, but it would also require that they are cable customers in order to view the content.
Currently, the cable operators are saying they will make the content available to subscribers online, at no charge, but some in the industry predict there will eventually be a charge for the content, writes MediaBuyerPlanner.
This could be potentially problematic, Interpret said, since 11% of all US active streamers of video, or 7.7 million, do not subscribe to cable or satellite. Those viewers would be unable to access content online without subscribing to such a service.
Epix and Other Examples
There are many reasons to believe that the cable industry and content producers will continue to promote TV-Everywhere and similar delivery and monetization models. Disney, for example, is about to launch a similar initiative - code-named "Keychest" - which will give consumers lifetime rights to a piece of content - say, a movie or TV show - across multiple digital platforms such as a smartphone or on-demand cable service or computer.
More recently, Epix, a new subscription movie channel launched - along with a web streaming version of its channel. A joint venture between Paramount Pictures, MGM and LionsGate, Epix kicked off on Friday with only one broadcast provider, Verizon FiOS, which is charging users a $10 monthly fee.
Epix opted for the dual-delivery model because that is what its customers want, said Chief Digital Officer Emil Rensing (via TechNewsWorld). "Our goal is to acknowledge the audience trends and habits and desires are changing," he said. "If you get the channel at home on your TV, then you can go online, authenticate with data that the TV gives you, and you're free and clear to watch the movies."
Lower Income Bracket
If streaming video does become a casualty of this trend, its impact would likely be felt most by those in the lower average-income bracket, according to the Interpret study - especially among adults in the 18-34 age range, many of whom stream video online rather than pay for cable or satellite service.
The average income of all age groups that only stream video online, rather than watching television, is $42,314, compared with the $60,054 average income of those who both stream video and subscribe to a cable or satellite service.
