Do you think CBS All Access might be playing a long game?

[Lord Garth]

DISCLAIMER: This is ONLY speculation on my part and I don't pretend it's anything more.

Netflix is King when it comes to streaming. CBS All Access is late to the game. Like it or not. By having Discovery only on CBS All Access in America, the audience becomes too limited. Not everyone who watches the premiere on CBS will migrate to CBS All Access because, to them, watching the first two episodes of Discovery might just be a one-time event. The ratings for Star Trek pilots, from DS9 on, having always been higher than the rest of the series.

BUT...

Eventually, Discovery will be available on other platforms. DVD (which is becoming passe) and even on Netflix. People starting binging Discovery on Netflix. They get hooked after watching all of Season 1.

Then CBS All Access rolls out Season 2. Maybe, maybe some of the people who became hooked on Season 1 will think, "I can't wait! I have to see it NOW!" and then will... subscribe to CBS All Access to watch Season 2.

I wonder if TPTB behind CBS All Access have this type of idea going on in their heads? Otherwise, I hope Discovery and any future series can migrate elsewhere if not enough people get behind it. But, being invested in CBS All Access, the people behind it are probably only thinking about doing everything they can to get it to pick up steam.

What do you think?

 

[Guy Gardener]

Different wings of the company sell different media formats, and they are in competition with each other for quarterly bonuses.

The Streaming Vice President is not going to help the DVD Vice President, if it cuts into his or her bottom line.

Right now, all CBS access cares about is whether or not Netflix buys season two, and continues to keep the global rights for season 1. What they can make from local subscriptions, because of Discovery, which is hard to isolate and identify, must be peanuts compared to licensing to 188 separate countries in one swell swoop.

 

[KennyB]

I am quite sure CBSAA is playing a long game. Crosspromotion will be part of that.

 

[dahj]

I'm not sure how much actual foresight can come from a company that continuously stubbornly region-locks promotional material for its worldwide debuting show...

 

[KennyB]

I'm not sure how much actual foresight can come from a company that continuously stubbornly region-locks promotional material for its worldwide debuting show...

Once again, it is not debuting on CBSAA anywhere other than the US. That's why it is geolocked. It's a pain but the reason is pretty simple.

 

[dahj]

Once again, it is not debuting on CBSAA anywhere other than the US. That's why it is geolocked. It's a pain but the reason is pretty simple.

It's a stupid reason.
It's like banning people from seeing movie trailers that end with "see it in IMAX" if they don't have an IMAX nearby...

 

[KennyB]

Actually more like banning people from buying tickets at AMC theaters if you live in a country with only CineWorld theatres.........

 

[Starscream2112]

I will wait until it is released on iTunes or blu-ray. I would rather own the episodes then subscribe to CBSAA. probably be cheaper too.

 

[Krandor]

They are playing a long game to get more into streaming. And no, it will not be on netflix in the US.

here is an article I posted in another thread that explans future plans for streaming for CBS including not just AA but showtime streming and even a new sports streaming channel and AA to canada next year.

http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/cps-all-access-showtime-4-million-subscribers-1202518063/

 

[Noname Given]

It's a stupid reason.
It's like banning people from seeing movie trailers that end with "see it in IMAX" if they don't have an IMAX nearby...

^^^^
Netflix is handling worldwide promotion in areas outside the U.S. (and Canada) <--- That's what happens when you get a license to distribute. CBS is allowing Netflix to handle the outside U.S. marketing as they see fit.

 

[psCargile]

Streaming will grow and eventually replace cable, and give us what cable companies don't want to do, a la cart purchasing of entertainment. I'm willing to pay for Discovery episodes, but nothing else from CBS has my interest. Yet if the network as a whole is pretty cheap, what's a few bucks a month? I started to look more into Amazon Prime—since I'm paying for that—watching Fortitude (finished), Goliath, and Comrade Detective (hilarious).

Long game? Is there anything else going forward?

 

[Krandor]

Streaming will grow and eventually replace cable, and give us what cable companies don't want to do, a la cart purchasing of entertainment. I'm willing to pay for Discovery episodes, but nothing else from CBS has my interest. Yet if the network as a whole is pretty cheap, what's a few bucks a month? I started to look more into Amazon Prime—since I'm paying for that—watching Fortitude (finished), Goliath, and Comrade Detective (hilarious).

Long game? Is there anything else going forward?

People say that wanted al la cart channels but I don't think most people would have liked the reality of what that would have looked like.

 

[Tuskin38]

probably be cheaper too.

if you plan to re-watch them over and over sure, but if you only ever plan on watching them once, CBSAA is the cheapest option.

 

[Jedi_Master]

Streaming and viewer's choice purchasing is the future.
So, this is the long game.

 

[psCargile]

People say that wanted al la cart channels but I don't think most people would have liked the reality of what that would have looked like.

What would it look like?

 

[RobinSpace]

people still download shows, right? So if CBS is sensible and wants to prevent leaking the STD/DIS/DCR they would release an episode to netflix 48 hours after it is shown on on CBS all access. Because it will gives the early adopters of CBS ALL ACCESS a benefit and CBS can actually get more accurate viewer data through Netflix before everyone just skips Netflix and see it through other means

 

[KirkusOveractus]

I was reading about CBS AA planning a worldwide system soon. So that may mean DSC will end up only a CBS AA series worldwide and not on anything else, maybe if there's a second season.

 

[RobinSpace]

I was reading about CBS AA planning a worldwide system soon. So that may mean DSC will end up only a CBS AA series worldwide and not on anything else, maybe if there's a second season.

If it isn't in a tv channel package deal as a tv digital provider,Then they need a lot more quality shows than just this to make an impact

 

[Starscream2112]

if you plan to re-watch them over and over sure, but if you only ever plan on watching them once, CBSAA is the cheapest option.

I guess it depends on how many months Discovery is dragged out. If it ends up being more then 40 bucks worth they buying it might be cheaper and then you have the option to watch it anytime you wanted.

 

[Tuskin38]

I guess it depends on how many months Discovery is dragged out. If it ends up being more then 40 bucks worth they buying it might be cheaper and then you have the option to watch it anytime you wanted.

Well if you wait for the show to finish and then binge it all at once, it is less then $10 dollars.