Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Not impossible...but not easy.
Trouble is, they're all licensed to Sky or BT and have different renewal dates.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Hopefully, something like this will show up in the UK before long. Ultimately, I hope that we will have much better availability of services that is the norm in the US so that there is rather less of a divide between us.

As we become more global in our outlook, this may ultimately wrong foot Sky with their obsession in respect to exclusivity of content. I don't have any problem with exclusivity of first run rights, but the contract they have currently with HBO is just plain wrong. How long has Game of Thrones been locked into Sky satellite subscribers only? It's just not right.

No wonder there is a piracy problem!

---------- Post added at 18:58 ---------- Previous post was at 18:53 ----------

It is very easy. HBO enter into a contract for first run rights only. Even first and second is acceptable. As long as there are good time constaints. I wouldn't mind at all if I had to wait for 12 months, but after that, it starts to become unreasonable, in my view.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Game of Thrones isn't locked into Sky satellite subscribers it's available to anyone with a 2mb or greater internet connection on Now TV.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

H'mm, yes, owned by Sky, of course. :rolleyes:

It still means that other subscribers to digital platforms have to pay more for this content.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

If I want AMC I have to subscribe to a BT package what's the difference.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

No chance in my view. The closest is Now TV which has HBO and Showtime content.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

You are talking about a channel. I'm talking about content.

The first series of Fear the Walking Dead was exclusive to the AMC channel, but after it had been shown, this was made available on Amazon Prime free of charge.

In my view, that is acceptable practice. All I'm saying is that exclusivity should not apply beyond a period of 1 or 2 years.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Live TV still the future according to Freeview boss. (Yes, I know, he would say that. etc)

http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2017/...n-valley-view/

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Given that many of our digital channels attract less than 2% of the viewing audience at the best of times, many must be uncomfortably close to the edge of viability. I think that the number of these channels still broadcasting in 10 years' time will have diminished substantially due to their audiences reducing still further at the hands of on line viewing.

What happens thereafter is the big question. You know my views on this, but it is probably fair to say that the big five digital terrestrial channels will survive longest, and maybe the Sky and BT sports channels.

I do not know what they might pull out of the hat to keep people viewing conventially, but it will have to be good.

I don't doubt for one minute that there are plenty of people out there who don't want change, but the question is whether there are enough of them to make it worthwhile to continue broadcasting our linear TV channels as streaming becomes more mainstream and the diehards become increasingly outnumbered by the millenials.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Here is proof, if it's needed, that sport can be delivered via streaming and not just through conventional linear channels.

http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2017/...gium-ott-only/

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Now TV have been offering a streamed sports package for quite while; over a year probably.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Agreed. Time flies - Now TV has offered sport for four years launching it in March 2013.
I guess Old Boy might mean "exclusively through OTT channels" though.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Yes, I did; sorry for not making that clear, I was multi-tasking at the time I wrote that!

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Not sure "exclusively through OTT channels" is relevant; the issue is whether it is streamable without a pay TV subscription via monthly subscription on a variety of devices. If the same service is also available via pay TV service, who cares?

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Nowtv, btsports, nbcsports, foxsports, Eurosport have been delivering sports via streaming for ages.