Like Apple, Amazon abandons 'skinny' TV bundle plans following network resistance
For now, Amazon has allegedly jettisoned plans to offer a "skinny" bundle of cable and broadcast TV channels, owing to low expected profit margins and the same problem rumored to have halted Apple's bundle: resistance from networks.
In talks, both sides butted heads over network demands that Amazon include "weaker" channels in any bundle, Reuters sources said. That practice is common in negotiations with cable and satellite providers, but Amazon is said to have been unwilling to budge, insistent that it be able to sell a smaller selection of channels at a low price.
Apple's own efforts collapsed in 2015 for the same reasons. The company was reportedly hoping to offer about a dozen channels for less than $30 per month, comparable to services like Sling TV or Philo.
Amazon was also asking for terms alien to the entertainment business, such as discounts based on the number of subscribers it brings in.
The company is willing to wait out the networks, sources said. It's expecting traditional cable and satellite subscriptions to decline over time and push more content online, hopefully to be picked up by Amazon Channels. At the moment Channels offers subscriptions to individual networks like HBO and Showtime, but with the convenience of watching from a single app.
Apple is meanwhile pushing ahead with a slate of original high-budget TV shows, such as morning show drama starring Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, and a remake of Steven Spielberg's "Amazing Stories." The content could premiere in 2019, available to anyone with an Apple device.
In talks, both sides butted heads over network demands that Amazon include "weaker" channels in any bundle, Reuters sources said. That practice is common in negotiations with cable and satellite providers, but Amazon is said to have been unwilling to budge, insistent that it be able to sell a smaller selection of channels at a low price.
Apple's own efforts collapsed in 2015 for the same reasons. The company was reportedly hoping to offer about a dozen channels for less than $30 per month, comparable to services like Sling TV or Philo.
Amazon was also asking for terms alien to the entertainment business, such as discounts based on the number of subscribers it brings in.
The company is willing to wait out the networks, sources said. It's expecting traditional cable and satellite subscriptions to decline over time and push more content online, hopefully to be picked up by Amazon Channels. At the moment Channels offers subscriptions to individual networks like HBO and Showtime, but with the convenience of watching from a single app.
Apple is meanwhile pushing ahead with a slate of original high-budget TV shows, such as morning show drama starring Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, and a remake of Steven Spielberg's "Amazing Stories." The content could premiere in 2019, available to anyone with an Apple device.
Comments
I also don't like SlingTV now because they stopped supporting the Mac and make you use Chrome in order to watch on your Mac which is what I do more often than watching on the actual TV.
Someday cable companies will realize their business model no longer works...I think its already doing this as more and more people are canceling their cable tv service and just using Netflix, Amazon, etc.
No, "It's rumored Apple's own efforts collapsed in 2015 for the same reasons." We don't even know if there were efforts, let alone why they didn't come to pass. There are only rumors.
I did keep their cable modem service. For $50/mo, it is stable and reasonably fast. I would try the centurylink service that is now available, but it requires new equipment I'd have to buy, and I'm not displeased with comcast's internet service. One quirk: comcast has a yearly contract to get that price; otherwise they always try to jack it up like $15/mo. As long as I get the reliable and speedy service, I'm ok with a year commitment at $50.
I'd sort of like to try the centurylink deal for 30 days. I'd pay maybe $50 for that trial. But no, you gotta get into bed with them...etc etc.
And I put up a Mohu leaf on the upstairs window. About 10 HDTV channels, and I don't watch that a lot. Local sports, news. Turns out my library has a lot of CDs for free checkout if I want to watch something. And the library even has digital downloads. Maybe not Netflix quality catalog, but free is a good price.
Commercial: the Seattle Public Library web site and app is *great*.
Only in TV world are you forces to pay for something you do not want, or force to watch commercial which you have not interest in their product. In most cases you have to pay and watch content which is not that great.
I remember having this discussion over 25 yrs ago when I live in Calif and the cable company had two cables coming into your house, Usually they would make you rent a box to have a remote to allow you to switch between cable A and B. My TV at the time had to antenna inputs so I could easily switch between cables. Not shortly after the install did I figure out the B cable was all the foreign language channels which I had no interest in watching. I called up the cable company and ask they disable the B cable and cut my bill in half. Needless to say, I was told no, and it was one price and you get it all since they claim there was no way to turn on one cable, I told them to come out and cut if they like. I was way ahead of you folks on trying to tune down my cable bill which was $20 at the time.
Seriously, Amazon? The iPhone 8 and iPhone X are out. But, the promised port of Amazon Prime Video, which has been out for iPhone and iPad for years - STILL hasn't been made available for the AppleTV? This was promised SOON back in August, and now we are closing on December - this simple port from iPad to AppleTV shouldn't take your seasoned programmers all that long.
All you need to do, is just let us watch the programs we paid for, on our AppleTV's. You know, just like your Roku, SLING, Android, PS4, XBOne and FireStick customers have been doing for years. It's not like we are demanding much - just that you actually do what you promised.
Guess these networks are as stubborn as some thought.
I wonder where Apple is going with their original content?
Let’s hope Apple makes the TV app more simple and fun to use also.
The best deal for movies is switching each month between Showtime, Cinemax, HBO each month, which will cost you about $10.
The reason this is the best deal, is these guys pay through the nose for the newly released blockbusters (to attract new customers) rather than give you a bunch of old garbage like Netflix.
P.S. Sprint LTE garbage