CBS Reaches Subscribers Goal Two Years Early

[The Habs Fan]

At a time where numerous media companies are trying to get into the streaming business and ramp up their original direct-to-consumer content, CBS' disclosure shows it has already been able to gain some traction. The company said it hit the landmark two years ahead of schedule. The subscriber number accounts for consumers of both CBS All Access and Showtime

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/14/cbs...reaming-subscribers-goal-two-years-early.html

Record results show the 90-plus-year-old mainstay is on the right track, Ianniello maintained, with upgraded streaming targets now forecasting 25 million domestic streaming subscribers by 2022. The split is roughly 50-50 between CBS All Access and Showtime, the acting boss said, though the company has reported only a combined number.

https://deadline.com/2019/02/cbs-br...tegy-progress-with-revamped-board-1202557920/


CBS All-Access grew faster than its target date. If we take the split being 50-50 as accurate, CBS All Access now has 4 million subscribers. Discovery (and All-Access) are definitely not failing. That is a very good number considering that people mostly only subscribe for Discovery at the moment.

Sorry if this is the wrong forum for this thread. Mods: please move if it should be somewhere else.

 

[Campe]

But... but... Doomcock said CBSAA was a failure!

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Grain of salt, since the numbers for CBSAA itself remain "classified." But, yeah, congrats to CBS.

 

[The Habs Fan]

Grain of salt, since the numbers for CBSAA itself remain "classified." But, yeah, congrats to CBS.

A company has to be accurate with its earning report, so we can take the 8 million as accurate. The 50-50 split is a quote from the acting CBS boss. That could be inaccurate, but there's nothing to suggest it is.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

The 50-50 split is a quote from the acting CBS boss. That could be inaccurate, but there's nothing to suggest it is.

No. The Deadline article didn't say that the boss said it was 50-50 split. It said he said it was roughly a 50-50 split. The operative word is roughly, and that's a big enough loophole for it to be, oh, 40-60, for instance. That would round down to 3 million CBSAA subscribers from 3.2M.

The fact that the word "roughly" was used does in fact demonstrably suggest that the split isn't in fact 50-50. The Deadline article even drew attention to this fact by pointing out that only a combined number was reported.

 

[The Habs Fan]

No. The Deadline article didn't say that the boss said it was 50-50 split. It said he said it was roughly a 50-50 split. The operative word is roughly, and that's a big enough loophole for it to be, oh, 40-60, for instance. That would round down to 3 million CBSAA subscribers from 3.2M.

The fact that the word "roughly" was used does in fact demonstrably suggest that the split isn't in fact 50-50.

I see it as closer than 40-60. But anyway, why assume that All Access, not Showtime, has the lesser number of subscribers?

 

[CorporalCaptain]

I see it as closer than 40-60. But anyway, why assume that All Access, not Showtime, has the lesser number of subscribers?

I didn't assume jack shit. All I said is it's to be taken with a grain of salt and congrats.

But Showtime (as a brand) is established. CBSAA is the new baby. If there were something to really brag about regarding the new baby, they'd show it off. The fact that they're putting a spin on it suggests that... well... it's still a work in progress.

 

[KennyB]

But... but... Doomcock said CBSAA was a failure!

Lol. You beat me to it. Let’s see how ME spins this. You know they will.

 

[STR]

A company has to be accurate with its earning report, so we can take the 8 million as accurate. The 50-50 split is a quote from the acting CBS boss. That could be inaccurate, but there's nothing to suggest it is.

Yeah, CBS is a publicly traded company. Lying on their financial statements is not only illegal, but thanks to Sabarnes-Oxley, could potentially land the CEO/CFO in jail.

Public statements don't carry that kind of a risk, but shareholders can sue the company if they can prove they were misled. You can also run into suits (civil or ciriminal depending on circumstances) from state attorneys general. There is some wriggle room here for vague statements. "Evenly split" could mean 60-40, not just literally 50-50.

So, yes, they have about 8M subs for CBSAA and Showtime and they really do expect 25M within 3 years. They may not hit that, and we don't know what they expect specifically for CBSAA, but we've got an idea. At least 3M subs right now is probably a safe, even conservative estimate.

 

[Q2UnME]

Will they still be celebrating and patting themselves on the back when Discovery finishes it 2nd Season run and ...... 1.5 million subscribers cancel their service ... ? (I know I'll be doing it...)

 

[The Habs Fan]

Lol. You beat me to it. Let’s see how ME spins this. You know they will.

I saw someone post on another site that Doomcock is now saying that the Picard series and talk of season 3 of Discovery has been put on hold until April. They are so full of it.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Whatever the actual number of subscribers is, it seems impossible to believe that CBSAA is a failure!

 

[The Habs Fan]

Will they still be celebrating and patting themselves on the back when Discovery finishes it 2nd Season run and ...... 1.5 million subscribers cancel their service ... ? (I know I'll be doing it...)

Which is why we'll be getting Star Trek all year round soon

 

[NeoStar9]

Pretty damn good news!

 

[Jax]

Star Trek all year round will help though CBS will need to expand more from Trek for real long term success.

 

[Campe]

I saw someone post on another site that Doomcock is now saying that the Picard series and talk of season 3 of Discovery has been put on hold until April. They are so full of it.

And his "source" is Fred Archer. So... nuff said.

 

[Jedi_Master]

Will they still be celebrating and patting themselves on the back when Discovery finishes it 2nd Season run and ...... 1.5 million subscribers cancel their service ... ? (I know I'll be doing it...)

Congratulations. New subscribers will certainly be added in sufficient numbers to overcome the loss of your dollars.

 

[F. King Daniel]

But this doesn't jibe with what losers on Youtube told me. CBS must be lying.

 

[Greg Cox]

Star Trek all year round will help though CBS will need to expand more from Trek for real long term success.

Naturally. Which is why we're getting the new TWILIGHT ZONE and whatever other new projects they have in development.

Speaking of which, has anybody checked out STRANGE ANGEL yet? I'm intrigued by the premise and wondering what people think of it so far . . .

 

[Succubint]

If loads of people cancel when Discovery is finished for the season, then it proves what a great asset the show is to the service. Which is why they are expanding the number of Trek universe or sci fi shows to try to keep that base of viewers all year round.

I really don't get why people think that cancelling their subscription abruptly after DISCO is finished for the year is somehow a bad indicator for the show, that it's sticking it to 'the man' or something.

It's the opposite of that. It's proving them right that DISCO is a money-maker for them and is attracting subs.