Will CBS All Access Remain Viable in the Streaming Wars?

[Therin of Andor]

In the streaming wars, content is king and CBS is going have to find a way to get way more content quickly

CBS recently bought Network TEN in Australia, and immediately added a local pay channel, TEN All Access. The plan is to have the unique Australian shows made by TEN All Access for reciprocal use in the USA. If they do this in other countries, they gain access to a range of international shows for CBS AA.

 

[bigdaddy]

It has already last longer than I thought it would. If people are willing to pay for it right now when it's only one shit Star Trek show and an anti-Trump show why wouldn't they want to pay for it in the future?

I think the first one to fail will be Apple, it just has nothing going for it.

 

[pst]

It has already last longer than I thought it would.

disregarding most of what you said above, yeah i’m with you on this point. i don’t know why i expected CBS AA to fail, but i was wrong and it’s soaked up way more of my money than i expected by the sheer fact of me forgetting to cancel when i’m done watching.

but apple TV+ feels like a solid no from me. if they weren’t opening up shop in the shadow of disney+ and the mandalorian, i might be interested, but bad timing and lack of compelling content haven’t worked in apple’s favor.

 

[Amasov]

So far Playstation VUE and FilmStruck are shutting down. Though there never seemed to be a clear vision for those platforms other than wanting to just compete with all the heavy hitters.

 

[donners22]

I think the question should be, Will our love for Star Trek (and other franchises, like Marvel) survive the shitstorm of content these streaming wars are creating? Five Trek series, running all year around is utterly bonkers.

The test for me is having them being split across services. Disco on Netflix, Picard on Amazon, season 2 of Short Treks nowhere at all yet, goodness knows about the rest.

I don't watch other TV shows, so it's quite an inconvenience to juggle subscriptions just to watch each Trek show as it comes out. I'm certainly not doing that for the animated series.

 

[bigdaddy]

disregarding most of what you said above, yeah i’m with you on this point. i don’t know why i expected CBS AA to fail, but i was wrong and it’s soaked up way more of my money than i expected by the sheer fact of me forgetting to cancel when i’m done watching.

but apple TV+ feels like a solid no from me. if they weren’t opening up shop in the shadow of disney+ and the mandalorian, i might be interested, but bad timing and lack of compelling content haven’t worked in apple’s favor.

Does CBS AA have the older Twilight Zone streaming yet? My main thought for AA failing is because it's a USA only platform. You can get the Star Treks elsewhere in every other country. Apple + is at least worldwide, but they literally have nothing for $5 a month is insane. Apple and HBO Max ($15 a month!!!!?) will have issues as Disney destroys everyone. Disney is smart, they can charge next to nothing for a few year, make it seem like a great deal as the other ones fail and people ditch Netflix, then jack the price up.

 

[Kelso]

Apple has come out of the gate with a strong lineup of original content- much stronger than what CBSAA has offered thus far.

I'll keep coming back to CBSAA for Star Trek and The Twilight Zone, but I can't imagine that anyone but the most die-hard nerds will do the same.

 

[Masiral]

Apple has come out of the gate with a strong lineup of original content- much stronger than what CBSAA has offered thus far.

All of which can be binged in the 7 day free trial offer. What's going to get people to subscribe for December?

 

[JD]

I'm honestly not sure what will become of CBS AA. One other point a lot of people have ignored that was as much a selling point for me as the Star Trek show is that it is the only way to get access to their TV series full seasons. I watch a lot of stuff on CBS, but I also tend to fall behind a lot, and there were a lot of times where I would lose track of a show and by the time went to get caught up the episode would have all been locked out to non-subscribers, now that's not a problem.

 

[Campe]

Ouch!

Then again, for new content Hulu is $50/mo. Their library catalogue, which new content isn't going to be a part of, is $6/mo...

Well, that's just not accurate. For a long time, we paid $6 a month for new content. We went ad free with Hulu and now pay $12 a month. I can watch all kinds of new content on it, not only network shows from ABC, NBC and Fox but also Hulu originals including The Handmaid's Tale and Castle Rock. No, the $50 plan you're talking about is Live TV (which is actually $45). Frankly, while I do on occasion miss live sports, I can wait a day to watch The Good Place.

 

[EnderAKH]

Also, Twilight Zone, Star Trek and the Good Fight are not the ONLY appeal of CBSAA. CBSAA is the ONLY place to stream CBS shows. Big Bang Theory (until it ended)? Survivor? Big Brother? The Unicorn? NCIS? The Neighborhood? Bull? FBI? Seal Team? Young Sheldon? Evil? God Friended Me? Mom? Etc. If you want to watch ANY of those and you are a cord cutter, your ONLY option short of buying them is CBS All Access, not to mention the ability to watch the live feed of the network. Those shows may not appeal to some here, but as CBS is the #1 or #2 network which means SOMEONE is watching them, and may want to stream them. I know we are biased but it is not all about Star Trek.

 

[Masiral]

I'm honestly not sure what will become of CBS AA. One other point a lot of people have ignored that was as much a selling point for me as the Star Trek show is that it is the only way to get access to their TV series full seasons. I watch a lot of stuff on CBS, but I also tend to fall behind a lot, and there were a lot of times where I would lose track of a show and by the time went to get caught up the episode would have all been locked out to non-subscribers, now that's not a problem.

I still haven't finished the last season of Madam Secretary, but, since I have CBS AA, I know I can watch it whenever I want. It's incredibly valuable in that way.

 

[The Overlord]

Also, Twilight Zone, Star Trek and the Good Fight are not the ONLY appeal of CBSAA. CBSAA is the ONLY place to stream CBS shows. Big Bang Theory (until it ended)? Survivor? Big Brother? The Unicorn? NCIS? The Neighborhood? Bull? FBI? Seal Team? Young Sheldon? Evil? God Friended Me? Mom? Etc. If you want to watch ANY of those and you are a cord cutter, your ONLY option short of buying them is CBS All Access, not to mention the ability to watch the live feed of the network. Those shows may not appeal to some here, but as CBS is the #1 or #2 network which means SOMEONE is watching them, and may want to stream them. I know we are biased but it is not all about Star Trek.

Except, CBS All Access does not have the rights to Big Bang Theory, that will be streaming on HBO Max:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/l...billion-dollar-hbo-max-streaming-deal-1240250

Heck, Viacom properties like South Park will stream at HBO Max, not CBS All Access:

https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/30/hbo-max-nets-south-park-exclusivity-for-a-reported-500-millio/

How is CBS All Access supposed to be competitive, if it cannot get the rights to CBS' former flagship show or various Viacom properties, despite the fact CBS and Viacom are about to merge?

Really how of a deep bench of content does CBS have on its site compared to Disney, Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon, Netflix, Peacock, etc. Can reruns of Survivor or NCIS compared to what these other companies would offer? Heck CBS All Access doesn't even stream Showtime content, I am not sure how serious CBS is about All Access if it won't even put the Showtime content on it.

Nickelodeon made cartoon specials for Netflix, not CBS All Access. CBS All Access' kids content seems to amount to obscure cartoons they could buy for a cheap price:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv...SE-CLOUDY-WITH-A-CHANCE-OF-MEATBALLS-20190809

If CBS wants to make CBS All Access competitive, it will have to try harder or give up the ghost and be a third party like Viacom is.

If everything from CBS/Viacom was on CBS All Access, then it would be a real player, but it isn't.

 

[fireproof78]

How is CBS All Access supposed to be competitive, if it cannot get the rights to CBS' former flagship show or various Viacom properties, despite the fact CBS and Viacom are about to merge?

If they are about to merge why fight for the rights when they will probably have an easier time post merger.

Personally, if I were CBS, I would play this game long form, anticipating struggles at the beginning, while ensuring their licenses are free and clear to continue forward, i.e. post merger, after Netflix contracts are up.

There is no short term answer to this.

Also, bear in mind that CBS AA audience is not going to be the same as Disney or HBO, per se. My parents much prefer CBS programming (Blue Bloods, Survivor, Seal) to Disney or Netflix or HBO. Markets are far smaller, far more niche than before, and expecting broad sweeping appeal may not work as it did in years past.

I think they will try harder but that will depend on current licenses and the merger.

And if they don't try harder, oh well. Welcome to business.

 

[The Overlord]

If they are about to merge why fight for the rights when they will probably have an easier time post merger.

Personally, if I were CBS, I would play this game long form, anticipating struggles at the beginning, while ensuring their licenses are free and clear to continue forward, i.e. post merger, after Netflix contracts are up.

There is no short term answer to this.

Also, bear in mind that CBS AA audience is not going to be the same as Disney or HBO, per se. My parents much prefer CBS programming (Blue Bloods, Survivor, Seal) to Disney or Netflix or HBO. Markets are far smaller, far more niche than before, and expecting broad sweeping appeal may not work as it did in years past.

I think they will try harder but that will depend on current licenses and the merger.

And if they don't try harder, oh well. Welcome to business.

And a lot of other people may prefer HBO or Disney content over CBS content, especially if HBO takes their former flagship show and Viacom sells its content to HBO or Netflix, instead of putting it on CBS All Access.

Wouldn't CBS All Access be more competitive if it had the South Park streaming rights? I do not feel like CBS/Viacom will bring their A-game to CBS All Access because they are unwilling to put all their content on it, I like Star Trek, but new Star Trek and old NCIS reruns are not going to make for a competitive streaming service. The fact is, there are only so many services people will be pay for and CBS All Access just seems a half measure at the moment. It's better then Apple+, but I am not sure it's in the league of these other streaming services and I am not sure its niche appeal is enough to keep from getting crushed by the juggernauts entering the fray, especially since CBS is not bringing its A-game. CBS could at a minimum move their Showtime content to CBS All Access, they could do that right now if they wanted, rather then trying to double-dip.

If the purpose of CBS/Viacom remerging is to be competitive in the streaming wars, why do CBS and Viacom have different strategies, CBS seems to want to be a player in its own right and Viacom wants to sell its content to other platforms. Viacom/CBS has to pick one or the other, half measures do not cut it in this more competitive streaming era.

 

[fireproof78]

And a lot of other people may prefer HBO or Disney content over CBS content, especially if HBO takes their former flagship show and Viacom sells its content to HBO or Netflix, instead of putting it on CBS All Access.

Wouldn't CBS All Access be more competitive if it had the South Park streaming rights? I do not feel like CBS/Viacom will bring their A-game to CBS All Access because they are unwilling to put all their content on it, I like Star Trek, but new Star Trek and old NCIS reruns are not going to make for a competitive streaming service. The fact is, there are only so many services people will be pay for and CBS All Access just seems a half measure at the moment. It's better then Apple+, but I am not sure it's in the league of these other streaming services and I am not sure its niche appeal is enough to keep from getting crushed by the juggernauts entering the fray, especially since CBS is not bringing its A-game. CBS could at a minimum move their Showtime content to CBS All Access, they could do that right now if they wanted, rather then trying to double-dip.

If the purpose of CBS/Viacom remerging is to be competitive in the streaming wars, why do CBS and Viacom have different strategies, CBS seems to want to be a player in its own right and Viacom wants to sell its content to other platforms. Viacom/CBS has to pick one or the other, half measures do not cut it in this more competitive streaming era.

It is difficult to tell, since rights and streaming platforms are still a new market. CBS is slow to adapt, and they might get left behind. Since I am neither a shareholder nor a market guy I'm not overly worried about it.

Personally, I don't think it is in the league of the juggernauts, and I don't care. As long as they produce content that I and my family will watch (NCIS, Blue Bloods, Survivor, Star Trek, not to mention all the archives I enjoy) then I don't worry about longer term viability. Largely because it is asking for a future's prediction when we don't have all the information as to how their licensing agreements work, much less what FCC regulations might be at play.

There are a lot of assumptions and not enough information.

 

[The Overlord]

It is difficult to tell, since rights and streaming platforms are still a new market. CBS is slow to adapt, and they might get left behind. Since I am neither a shareholder nor a market guy I'm not overly worried about it.

Personally, I don't think it is in the league of the juggernauts, and I don't care. As long as they produce content that I and my family will watch (NCIS, Blue Bloods, Survivor, Star Trek, not to mention all the archives I enjoy) then I don't worry about longer term viability. Largely because it is asking for a future's prediction when we don't have all the information as to how their licensing agreements work, much less what FCC regulations might be at play.

There are a lot of assumptions and not enough information.

Fair enough, I just think its a shame that Star Trek's fate is tied to a streaming service that seems like it is on shaky grounds.

If CBS All Access does fail, what does happen Star Trek after that?

I mean, I live in Canada, where Discovery and Picard will air on Crave TV, which generally has better content then CBS All Access IMO (it has stuff from HBO, Showtime, etc), the thing that sucks about Crave its run by Bell Media and to get all the content on their site (movies, newer HBO stuff) you have to pay double the price. Star Trek is still on the cheaper section though.

 

[EnderAKH]

Except, CBS All Access does not have the rights to Big Bang Theory, that will be streaming on HBO Max:

I'm not talking about later, I'm talking about while it was airing. For the last several years of its run, we watched it weekly on CBSAA. Fox, ABC, and NBC are mostly on Hulu next day, but not CBS. For that next day experience with CBS shows, you have to subscribe. As for why the back catalog isn't on CBSAA? It was produced by Warner Bros, not CBS Productions. That's why TBS/TNT had the syndication and streaming rights. To get those streaming rights away, Warner had to pay (themselves) a billion dollars. CBSAA isn't in that game, the price would have been higher.

 

[The Overlord]

I'm not talking about later, I'm talking about while it was airing. For the last several years of its run, we watched it weekly on CBSAA. Fox, ABC, and NBC are mostly on Hulu next day, but not CBS. For that next day experience with CBS shows, you have to subscribe. As for why the back catalog isn't on CBSAA? It was produced by Warner Bros, not CBS Productions. That's why TBS/TNT had the syndication and streaming rights. To get those streaming rights away, Warner had to pay (themselves) a billion dollars. CBSAA isn't in that game, the price would have been higher.

But why list Big bang Theory at all, when HBO Max has the streaming rights to it now? It's supposed to be ''CBS All Access'', yet they cannot air their former flagship show? Pretty lame.

Exactly how is CBS on its own supposed to compare to HBO or Disney or any other major streaming service? Warner Brothers are throwing everything and the kitchen sink at HBO Max and CBS won't even put the Showtime stuff on CBS All Access. What if Peacock has everything from NBC, Univeral Pictures, USA Network, Sci Fi, etc, how will CBS All Access compare to that? CBS and Viacom are merging, yet Viacom is still selling the rights to South Park to HBO Max, if Viacom/CBS wanted to make CBS All Access a thing, shouldn't South Park be on CBS All Access instead?

No offense, but all those CBS shows you mentioned are not enough to compete with the other major players in the streaming wars, CBS All Access needs more stuff than that. If CBS All Access does have CBS/Viacom putting its A-game behind it, it will be a loser in the streaming wars.

CBS/Viacom has 3 options:

1. Put everything they got in CBS All Access (everything from Viacom. CBS, Showtime, that they still have the rights to).

2. Give up on CBS All Access and simply sell their content to other platforms, which is what Viacom is doing now.

3. Sell CBS/Viacom to a bigger player, shut down CBS All Access and put all the CBS/Viacom stuff on that service (That Apple+ service looks pathetic, they could benefit from getting the content of an established media company).

As it stands now, CBS All Access is a half measure in the upcoming brutal streaming wars and half measures are losers in battles like these. I think its a shame Star Trek's fate is tied to a rather weak player in the streaming wars.

 

[Skywalker]

I read something the other night about CBS wanting to be more of a player in the streaming war, keeping their own content on their own service, while Viacom are more interested in leasing their programs out to other companies for a pretty penny. The two halves of the company are gonna have to get on the same page eventually.