Monday, June 17, 2013

As GCI expands further into TV, new online threats

The traditional broadcasting model took a fresh hit this morning: Netflix announced another original programming deal.

The company, best known for renting videos, said it will carry a new series based on DreamWorks Animation franchises, with the first series expected to debut in 2014. Netflix is already set to debut a new DreamWorks Animation series, Turbo F.A.S.T., this fall, according to MarketWatch.

Netflix shares, already on a tear, rose 6% this morning to $229.

Online streaming companies such as Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, and even chipmaker Intel, are spending heavily on content as they fight for a piece of the fast-growing market for movies and TV shows delivered over the Internet, according to Reuters.

Netflix, the industry's pioneer, is counting on winning new subscribers by offering original series such as the Kevin Spacey drama House of Cards.

In addition, the company brought back the cult TV comedy series Arrested Development in May and allowed viewers to see each 15-episode in one sitting, harnessing the trend of viewers binge-watching TV series online and through DVDs.

Last week, Gannett said it would pay $2.2 billion, including the assumption of debt, for TV company Belo Corp.

GCI's stock fell 19 cents in early afternoon trading, to $24.79.

Related: TV networks face falling ratings and new rivals.

4 comments:

  1. Time to resurrect the Gannett Superchannel. You've got interesting content from dozens of locations around the country. You've got tons of columnists to do commentary and analysis.

    All that's needed is a few genial hosts like Bill Macatee, a cool name (NOT "USA Today on TV") and a location. Dallas is centrally located.

    Then you just have to extract a channel from the cable/satellite providers in exchange for local carriage. Charge a few cents a months per sub, and voila! Rolling in dough.

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  2. I subscribe to Newflix and enjoy the programming and flexibility. I can tell you that it would need to be a hefty combination of Netflix, Hulu Plus(which includes commercials), Amazon Prime and others to push me away from cable. Even then I would be missing a great deal of current content. Using the contant from the network apps (which also include commercials) is cumbersome at best.

    House of cards was great but we buzzed through that in a few weeks and now have to wait for who knows how long for more. Hemlock Grove was pretty boring in comparison so their own content may not always be that great or appeal to everyone.

    No, I don't see me cutting the cable cord any time soon, especially with the flexibility of a DVR. On streaming site like Netflix is enough for me.

    Nice try Jim but it would help if you provided better content of your own.

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  3. Nobody under 40 cares about cable, nobody under 60 cares about broadcast, and nobody but nobody cares about print.

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  4. 7:27 I must be nobody then.

    ReplyDelete

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