[opendtv] Re: Unwrapping the Cable TV Bundle
- From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2015 01:05:10 +0000
Craig Birkmaier wrote:
For months I have been saying that there will be less channels -
that the hundreds of "rerun" channels are no longer needed in
a world where content libraries can be accessed on demand.
Because, just like the author of that article, you only think in legacy
linear-channel MVPD terms. The concept of "bundles" is what's changing, not the
fact that they might or might not have fewer channels in them. Dwelling on the
legacy "bundle" formulas, and how many "channels" may or may not remain, is so
yesterday.
We've been here already. Think in terms of technology. "Channels," and "bundles
of channels" were the only way to get TV content distributed, once upon a time.
It is not the only way anymore. It is a very limited technology, being replaced
by something much less limited.
Used to be, 200-channel systems were huge. Even after recorders came on the
market, where one could hope to extract some meaningful benefits from these, it
still pales compared with how much TV material can be made available now. The
punchline should not be that slimmer bundles will be created in the future. The
punchline should be that bundles of linear streams are being replaced with
content libraries, and these are from a potentially huge number of competing
sources, not just the one.
OTT services like Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime video do
not have channels.
They don't need "channels." They have gotten past that technology. At the same
time, if these services wanted to provide "linear streams," they easily can. No
problem at all. They simply use packet switching instead of channel switching.
Programs are not channels Bert.
Channels were a means to an end, Craig. The end was to distribute content, and
channels were the only game in town. That's what's changing.
"Channel surfing" is dying...
It is easily replaced with "library surfing." I do it all the time, for
instance.
Bert
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