Welcome to News Views, CASBAA’s news round-up culled from sources across the industry for the week ending Jan 16th. Curated by CASBAA, News Views keeps you in the loop. We always value your feedback, so tell us what you think!
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Christopher SlaughterCEO |
I spent several overwhelming days in Las Vegas at CES week before last (me and 160,497 of my closest friends), and have spent a fair bit of time since then processing the experience. Given that it’s still principally a consumer products show, there were seven square miles filled with gadgets on display, but it was the 4K TVs that caught everyone’s attention. It’s clear that manufacturers are doubling down on 4K (to use a casino metaphor, of course). Although there is still some confusion in the market, there are also efforts being made to standardise. And despite the proliferation of hardware, there are still questions about how much Ultra HD content is available. But even so, the consensus is clear: 4K is coming, and sooner, rather than later. |
John MedeirosChief Policy Officer |
A media analyst in Thailand is expecting another challenging year for pay-TV players. And I expect he is right, with the industry being squeezed on one hand by the plethora of new digital terrestrial channels, and on the other hand by growing online piracy. Expanding broadband connectivity is a two-edged sword – it brings market opportunities as well as piracy challenges. Following a merger last year between pay-TV providers CTH and GMMZ, the revamped company is looking at large-scale broadband distribution – on an OTT basis, apparently, as they don’t own any networks. (CTH is still trying to claw its way back from vastly overpaying for the current 3-year EPL rights.) Market leader True Visions, in the meantime, is seeking to broaden its appeal, moving toward a more mass-market base. Their new Chief Commercial Officer told The Nation that a subscription mix of 30% premium, 20% mid-tier, and 50% mass-market would be great. |
Mark LayVice President, Singapore |
Who remembers the TV series The Kraft Music Hall? Of course nobody does!!! But that was the last time Woody Allen wrote for TV and the year was 1969. Now, after Woody’s one-film-per-year formula that he’s been doing forever, he has signed up to do a full season of a half hour program for Amazon. Whoa!! When people say that OTT is changing the business, this is proof. Chet Fenster, head of MEC Content, believes it’s an arms race, and if so, Woody Allen doing TV is definitely an unconventional weapon. |
Kevin JenningsProgramme Director |
PRESTO online TV device in Australia has announced its basic service will cost A$9.99 per month– thought to be on par with Netflix which will launch in March and 1 cent cheaper than its local rival STAN charging A$10 per month for TV and Movie access.
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Anjan MitraExecutive Director, India |
Indian distribition market is heading for some very interesting times in a regulatory regime that continues to become more challenging. After having promised to bring in quality 4G and GSM services (consumers are actually waiting for the formal launch of such services having experiencing falling quality amongst incumbent telcos), Reliance Jio proposes to apply for an all-India MSO licence. Being part of a cash-rich Reliance Industries Ltd, promoted by Mukesh Ambani, Reliance Jio has all the hallmark of playing the disruptive game over a long period of time very effectively. |
Christopher SlaughterCEO |
Remember how a couple weeks ago, we predicted that you’d start seeing articles in trade press full of predictions? Add Deloitte to the list, with their TMT Predictions 2015 report now available. Best takeaway line? The rise of Netflix doesn’t mean the demise of pay TV. |
John MedeirosChief Policy Officer |
In Korea, the cable channels established just a couple of years ago are coming under criticism as too conservative, and also too focused on news coverage. It seems the critics want more “generalist” programming… (Another case of “I want my MTV?”) |
Mark LayVice President, Singapore |
Receiving unauthorised content through use of a VPN is something that the CASBAA Regulatory and Anti-Piracy Committee often discusses. Variety sheds some light on the double-edged sword that could cut Netflix’s subscriber base. And, previous claims that Netflix was cracking down on VPN use may not have been accurate. |
Kevin JenningsProgramme Director |
Vodafone’s boss claims customers don’t care about 4G and are only interested in whether the network can perform fast enough for streaming. |