Roku plans to go original
Roku published a job listing for a lead production attorney for Roku's original episodic and feature length productions which means likely plans to acquire and create its own slate of original content. Additional duties listed in the posting include interacting with guilds and unions, working on "option purchase agreements, script acquisition agreements, agreements to hire writers, actors, directors and individual producers and production services”. This renewed push into originals comes just weeks after Roku acquired Quibi's content library. Future Roku originals are likely to be shown on the Roku Channel, the company's free, ad-supported streaming service.
The NPD Take:
- By acquiring and creating original content Roku can better differentiate the Roku channel in a market with numerous similar free streaming offerings.
- Formerly a hardware company, original content production demonstrates another dramatic pivot to services.
ViacomCBS full stream ahead
ViacomCBS is overhauling its streaming service CBS All Access and rebranding it Paramount+ with a release date of March 4th. The company has commissioned a slate of original series, including shows inspired by movies “Flashdance,” “Grease” and “The Godfather,” as well as new versions of past hits “The Real World” and “Behind the Music.” They are also looking into reboots of “SpongeBob SquarePants,” and are focusing on news and sports programming. The service already offers live sports, and earlier this year secured rights to the UEFA Champions League. It’s also moving a version of “60 in 6,” which is a spinoff of the popular “60 Minutes” news show that it made for Quibi, to Paramount+. Moreover, the Paramount Pictures movie studio is exploring ways to reduce the window between when its new projects appear in theaters and online.
The NPD Take:
- Focusing on news and sports is the last pillar needed to transition viewers from cable TV to streaming, in that regard Paramount+ differentiates. However, regional sports rights will be needed to truly migrate viewers away from linear channel bundles.
- Notably, we’ve yet to hear much about integration of PlutoTV other than the two services being run by the same CEO and it being a gateway to and funnel for the company’s pay services. More to come Wednesday at the investors event…
YouTube TVs bundle of joy
YouTube TV launched a new “Entertainment Plus” add-on that will bundle HBO Max, Showtime and STARZ for $30, a savings of $5 if purchased a la carte. The new bundle comes as YouTube TV is making several changes to the service. YouTube TV will be adding a new premium add-on which includes 4K streaming, the ability to download shows offline, and watch unlimited simultaneous streams in your home. In September 2020, YouTube TV offered their first channel bundle add-on package with their “Sports Plus” add-on which includes NFL RedZone, Fox College Sports, Fox Soccer Plus, GOLTV, MAVTV, Stadium, and TVG for $10.99 a month.
The NPD Take:
- Bundling premium channels is nothing new for the cable industry. It’s that YouTube is continuing to focus on their vMVPD with a wide spectrum of upgrades.
- The vMVPD sector has finally stabilized with Hulu, YouTube and Sling as the primary offerings.