Discovery is being “overshadowed" by The Orville

[MvRojo]

Discovery's release method had been part of the plan since day one, built into the fabric of its business model. Its not a surprise to CBS that is going on their upstart streaming service, that was the whole point. Along with the Good Fight, they're aiming to use franchises with proven audiences to drive subscriptions. Now, whether or not I think there is room in the market for small streaming services is a different matter. I personally think CBS would have been better going all in in a deal with Netflix to stream their content. But that's not what they've done. Discovery isn't competing on Netflix (in the US) nor in the broadcast market.

Yeah, while it would have definitely been easier for Americans and Canadians if they had gone with Netflix, CBS has long-term plans to go global with CAA, starting with Canada and Australia in 2018.

This is a great article about the business decision, and how CBS is positioned well for streaming:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/can-cbs-change-streaming-game-star-trek-discovery-1037576

"It's not going to be sufficient to say, 'I only do streaming,' or 'I only do broadcasting,' " says Michael Morris, a media and entertainment analyst at Guggenheim Securities. "You want to be a pay TV network and an ad-supported streaming business."

CBS' most important move might have been its 10-year-old decision to not join rivals ABC, Fox and NBC in their Hulu joint venture. "CBS made the conscious decision to control their content and to do so in a way that left them with a tremendous amount of optionality," says Evan Shapiro, former head of NBC's short-lived comedy OTT service Seeso, who calls the upcoming Star Trek rollout "just fucking genius."

 

[Garth Rockett]

CBSAA has a 7 day trial IIRC, so if you grab it say, next Monday you can watch the first 3 episodes for free.

I think this is being overlooked. In fact, I think CBS is counting on something like this. If someone on the fence sits down and watches the first episode (which we're told is part 1 of 2) and the ending really compels them to want to see the second one, they will probably figure, what the hell, it's free for a week. I'll get the trial and watch the second one. They might also think, if I sign up tomorrow, I can get 2 and 3 free. Then they've sampled three episodes, and if they like it they keep the subscription. If they don't hate it and can't make up their mind, they might not cancel right away and CBSAA just picked up a new subscriber for a month or more. I think the way they are handling it is the right approach.

 

[MvRojo]

I think this is being overlooked. In fact, I think CBS is counting on something like this. If someone on the fence sits down and watches the first episode (which we're told is part 1 of 2) and the ending really compels them to want to see the second one, they will probably figure, what the hell, it's free for a week. I'll get the trial and watch the second one. They might also think, if I sign up tomorrow, I can get 2 and 3 free. Then they've sampled three episodes, and if they like it they keep the subscription. If they don't hate it and can't make up their mind, they might not cancel right away and CBSAA just picked up a new subscriber for a month or more. I think the way they are handling it is the right approach.

That's another good point. CBS is playing the long game with Star Trek and CAA. Whether someone subscribes this weekend, or a month from now after hearing good things, CBS will be getting subscription revenues. It also doesn't matter if it's an 18 year old subscribers or a 90 year old subscriber.

On broadcast televisions, the ratings matter that particularly day or week it's shown, and to a certain extent, only those viewers ages 18-49, which the advertisers care about.

 

[Apparition B5]

I'm outside of the US, so I will be watching on Netflix, but I have to say, with CBSAA offering shows like The Twilight Zone, Mission: Impossible, Perry Mason, Frasier, Cheers plus all Star Trek series (including a completely new one) it wouldn't be a hard decision to me.

It wouldn't be, if TOS, TAS, and TNG on CBS All Access weren't all in 480i. Seriously.

 

[Mudd]

I care more today about The Orville and less about Discovery than I did three weeks ago.

 

[donners22]

Yeah, while it would have definitely been easier for Americans and Canadians if they had gone with Netflix, CBS has long-term plans to go global with CAA, starting with Canada and Australia in 2018.

Netflix Australia confirmed that it will continue to screen Discovery for the life of the show even if All Access is introduced in Australia, though.

 

[Tuskin38]

Netflix Australia confirmed that it will continue to screen Discovery for the life of the show even if All Access is introduced in Australia, though.

Hopefully Bell made a similar deal with CBS in Canada.

 

[johnjm22]

The Orville sucks.

 

[Tuskin38]

The Orville sucks.

Thank you for the insightful and detailed post.

 

[Mudd]

The Orville sucks.

 

[fireproof78]

Thank you for the insightful and detailed post.

Short, sweet and to the point

 

[Mudd]

The Orville is already on and it's entertaining. It would be silly to expect people to withhold judgment in favor of an unseen series.

When Discovery premieres the balance will shift.

 

[fireproof78]

The Orville is already on and it's entertaining. It would be silly to expect people to withhold judgment in favor of an unseen series.

When Discovery premieres the balance will shift.

Don't be ridiculous. I have already prejudged DSC, all of the Marvel films as well as Star Wars Episode 8 and 9, and predicted the Super Bowl Champions.

There's a joke in there somewhere, I'm sure of it.

 

[pst]

i live in LA so there's an overabundance of TV and movie advertising everywhere, but it's basically discovery on billboards and buses, the orville on bus shelters.

i'm loving the orville as a guilty pleasure, but i have a feeling as well as it's doing now in ratings, it won't last. discovery may not do as well or be as popular, but it has the prestige factor for CBS to give it longevity where the orville might not. my two cents anyway.

 

[Fateor]

i'm loving the orville as a guilty pleasure, but i have a feeling as well as it's doing now in ratings, it won't last. discovery may not do as well or be as popular, but it has the prestige factor for CBS to give it longevity where the orville might not. my two cents anyway.

Discovery also has a lot of negative press, and has for some time.

 

[Mirror Mirror]

What a load of biased BS.

 

[MvRojo]

Discovery also has a lot of negative press, and has for some time.

True. Discovery has had some negative press. However, it has all been about the behind the scenes issues, and not the end product, which has been the case with Orville. That may change if the reviews for Discovery suck, but bad press about the process doesn't always end up in a bad product.

 

[Dr. Bashirs protege]

True. Discovery has had some negative press. However, it has all been about the behind the scenes issues, and not the end product, which has been the case with Orville. That may change if the reviews for Discovery suck, but bad press about the process doesn't always end up in a bad product.

Westworld for example.

 

[Amalak]

Don't be ridiculous. I have already prejudged DSC, all of the Marvel films as well as Star Wars Episode 8 and 9, and predicted the Super Bowl Champions.

There's a joke in there somewhere, I'm sure of it.

So, who is going to win the Super Bowl?

 

[fireproof78]

So, who is going to win the Super Bowl?

If I tell people, it won't come true! O_o