TVision migrates from TV provider to aggregator
After just a few months, T-Mobile is sunsetting its TVision service. The launch of TVision was challenged from the get-go as content providers pushed back on the tiered offering provided by T-Mobile. T-Mobile is instead shifting strategy to aggregate TV services at a discount for its subscribers. To that end, the company has partnered with YouTube TV and Philo to offer TVision and post-paid mobile customers discounted offers to these other services. Indeed, this will bring T-Mobile subscribers more programming than before with discounts on both premium and budget level streaming offerings.
The NPD Take:
- T-Mobile’s new TV strategy focuses on what has been successful for them in the past, partnerships that offer value to their subscribers. Instead of competing in a crowded market, this allows them to follow the trends and offer subscribers discounts on the TV services they want.
- There remains an opportunity for the company to integrate the content too, as such the Android based TVision Hub could do that. But it would require viewers to migrate from the platforms they already use such as Roku and Fire TV.
Peacock’s movie offering might get bigger
Comcast and NBCUniversal are considering bringing its movies from Netflix and HBO Max exclusively to Peacock. Current deals with Netflix and HBO Max allow Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures titles, respectively, on these services about nine months after theatrical release. These agreements end this year however no decisions have been finalized, there is still an opportunity that some sort of sharing agreement can still be reached.
The NPD Take:
- Bringing NBC Universal’s slate of movies and exclusive access of new theatrical titles could be a big added value to Peacock as it offers viewers blockbuster franchises such as Fast and Furious and Despicable Me/Minions.
- It will all come down the core strategy, how much content licensing revenue can be forgone to bolster Peacock.
Dish and Sling TV drop regional sports networks
Dish and Sling TV announced that subscribers will lose access to the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network and NBC regional sports networks affecting ten states and the DC metro area, citing increased costs of carrying these networks. The timing of the decision comes on MLB’s opening day. Dish instead would prefer to offer subscribers the opportunity to choose which regional sports networks they want without having to pay for channels they do not need.
The NPD Take:
- DISH has already been going down this route. For many sports fans, DISH and Sling TV are no longer an option. They are becoming an entertainment pay TV offering akin to low cost Philo.
- A select few providers will pay to retain sports rights as there will always be an audience for that programming. As such, FuboTV has become the non-cable TV option for sports.