The Streaming Era Is Over, They Are Turning It Into Cable TV
There are over 200 streaming services available around the world, including Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu, so it’s no surprise that people are overwhelmed by what to watch and where to watch it. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav understands that streaming options need to be simplified, so he is proposing a solution that sounds reminiscent of good old cable TV. The executive has been discussing new streaming bundles with other companies, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
David Zaslav discussed the idea of bundling more streaming services while at a Goldman Sachs conference on Wednesday. He shared that his company has been having more conversations with other companies over the past few months about this idea. The goal of bundling multiple streaming services together is to improve the experience for consumers and to make it as easy as possible to watch TV shows and movies.
If streaming services can bundle together, then it will be similar to cable TV, allowing consumers to have seemingly endless watch options available to them.
Recently, Warner Bros. Discovery offered content from AMC Networks on their streaming service, Max (formerly HBO MAX). The limited bundle was an experiment that allowed both companies to see how working together could benefit both parties as well as consumers. The experiment seemed to have gone well since the conversations to bundle streaming services has picked up between companies.
Consumers are frustrated by having too many streaming options and by having to pick and choose their subscriptions. Years ago, consumers just had cable TV, which meant they only had to pick a provider like Comcast, DIRECTTV, or Verizon. Then they would only have to worry about which channel to watch.
With the rise in streaming services, cable TV has been on a steady decline. Year over year, millions of people are cutting the chord and canceling their cable TV packages. However, if streaming services can bundle together, then it will be similar to cable TV, allowing consumers to have seemingly endless watch options available to them.
“You know, as we talk to consumers, they find it difficult, and so I think one of the things that we’re going to see as we look into the future is bundling. Some of this disruption and some of these moments of what’s going to happen may activate a quicker transition to things like some of us in the content business bundling together as a way to create more value and create a better consumer experience.”
David Zaslav
In addition to discussing the streaming services bundles, David Zaslav also spoke out about the ongoing Hollywood actors and writers strikes that have completely shaken the entertainment industry.
He confessed that the strikes could cause Warner Bros. Discovery up to $500 million this year. While this is a huge hit for his company, he focused on how important it is for writers and actors to be appropriately paid and to be valued by the corporations they work with.
He seemed fueled by the need for everyone to work together in order for great content to be seen by consumers. If writers, actors, and streaming services can all work together to deliver content as easily as possible, then we all win.
On the opposite side of the streaming services bundle conversations, Disney is in an ongoing dispute with Charter Spectrum after pulling several of their channels, like ABC and ESPN, from the cable TV company. The CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery briefly mentioned the dispute, saying that his company is “on the sidelines” and that they still believe in linear TV.
At the moment, no new streaming bundles have been announced yet, but major deals may be coming in 2025.
