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[LordOfLore]

Link.

AMC Networks Inc, whose shows include "The Walking Dead," is planning to launch a commercial-free online video streaming service aimed at millennial TV subscribers, two sources familiar with the situation told Reuters this week.

Unlike standalone streaming options from Time Warner’s HBO and from CBS Corp, AMC's would be exclusively available to consumers who subscribe to a cable TV package. AMC is doing this, the sources said, as a way to support the traditional cable television industry at a time when many younger consumers are increasingly cutting the cord.

AMC is discussing featuring digital-only spinoff shows of its existing programs like "The Walking Dead" and is considering pricing between $4.99 to $6.99 a month, according to the sources, who cautioned final details are still being worked out.

The sources wished to remain anonymous because they are not permitted to speak to the media. An AMC spokesman declined to comment.

Packaging the service as an add-on to existing cable bills allows AMC to curry favor with cable and satellite companies.

"The Walking Dead," the highest-rated show among adults 18-49 for the past five years, has experienced audience erosion in its seventh season, with ratings down nearly 16 percent with two episodes left. Among viewers overall, this season has fallen 13 percent from last year.

AMC is still betting on its popularity with younger, tech-savvy viewers. The network currently has four of the top 10 highest rated shows with adults 25-54 in ad-supported cable, according to Nielsen.

As television networks struggle with declining advertising sales as more brands look to place ads online, selling a subscription-based offering could also be a way to recoup lost ad revenue. AMC will hold an event for advertisers next month during what is known as upfront season, when many U.S. media companies try to sell the bulk of their advertising inventory for the next year.

As viewers increasingly watch programming on their own time, live TV viewing have has declined across the entire TV ecosystem.

This wouldn’t be the first time that AMC offered a streaming-only option to consumers. The company has launched Shudder, aimed at horror fans, and one for its cable network Sundance. The company also has an online application where cable subscribers can view its network with commercials.

Give TWD another season if old.

 

[Saucycarpdog]

I'd jump on this if AMC had more quality shows besides The Walking Dead and Better Call Saul. I doubt it's going to be cheap.

 

[Futureman]

I'd jump on this if AMC had more quality shows besides The Walking Dead and Better Call Saul. I doubt it's going to be cheap.

Sounds like it's just an app if you already subscribe to cable so it's free.

 

[Slayven]

Unless i missing something AMC doesn't really have a library to support this. And channels are going to have to figure something out. Paying 7 bucks for every channel with content spread all over the place? You might as well pay for cable

 

[Impeccable]

I'd jump on this if AMC had more quality shows besides The Walking Dead and Better Call Saul. I doubt it's going to be cheap.

Into The Badland is fun.

 

[serenewarfare]

AMC is discussing featuring digital-only spinoff shows of its existing programs like "The Walking Dead" and is considering pricing between $4.99 to $6.99 a month, according to the sources, who cautioned final details are still being worked out.

Wait, so you want me to pay for cable, and then on top of that pay for your streaming service?

Sounds like it's just an app if you already subscribe to cable so it's free.

Doesn't sound like it.

 

[Lord of Castamere]

Oh boy, more steaming services. Because that's exactly what everyone wants.

 

[JJH]

I'd jump on this if AMC had more quality shows besides The Walking Dead and Better Call Saul. I doubt it's going to be cheap.

 

[KernelPanic]

Please do this so I can S2 of Into the Badlands

 

[Killing_Joke]

Wait, so they will stream the show live but commercial/ad free or is this delayed streaming with no ads?

 

[kevin1025]

Wait, so you want me to pay for cable, and then on top of that pay for your streaming service?

It's looking that way. It's really unfortunate that some of these cable channels are going this way. Some don't have the library for it to pull it off, and the digital-only companion shows that it sounds like AMC won't be enough to justify the price.

My concern is that in five years time, everyone will have jumped off Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime, and started up their own services and it'll cost just as much as cable, if not more, to watch everything you want. Some of these channels have great shows, but the library can't sustain people keeping the subscriptions for more than a month or two of binge watching.

 

[freeofgreed]

Wait, so you want me to pay for cable, and then on top of that pay for your streaming service?



Doesn't sound like it.

Yeah I honestly don't know wtf they're thinking with this? So to attract millennials who don't want cable, they are offering a streaming service that you have to pay for, on top of paying for cable....??? Like what?

 

[rrs]

"digital only spin-offs" nope nope nope outta here

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Wait, so they will stream the show live but commercial/ad free or is this delayed streaming with no ads?

Yes to the first one. You'll be able to stream the episode live but with no ads. The episodes will also most likely feature uncensored content.

I think there's a market for it - an insane number of people whine about how horrible/intrusive ads are during live TV (in particular during The Walking Dead), so I think it'd be worth it to those people to pay five bucks extra a month to bypass it.

That being said, I think it will remain a relatively niche service unless they build it up into more of an HBO Now/Showtime Anytime/Starz App type of thing, but for AMC Networks: the full back catalog of AMC shows (including Rubicon!), as well as everything from IFC, Sundance (!), BBC America, and WeTV. Plus a host of compatible (classic, foreign, independent) films. I think that would be really appealing.

Yeah I honestly don't know wtf they're thinking with this? So to attract millennials who don't want cable, they are offering a streaming service that you have to pay for, on top of paying for cable....??? Like what?

They're still in the exploratory phase, but I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually extended this to non subscribers as well (with a Netflix/Hulu level price structure), at some point.

 

[Slayven]

"digital only spin-offs" nope nope nope outta here

Have any of those ever been good?

 

[RustyNails]

We need a disruptor in cable industry.

A true a-la-carte system where you choose what individual channels you want.

For example, basic channels + FX, AMC, CNN, tbs, Food Network, HBO, NatGeo for $65.

Let me dream.

 

[TheCochese]

We need a disruptor in cable industry.

A true a-la-carte system where you choose what individual channels you want.

For example, basic channels + FX, AMC, CNN, tbs, Food Network, HBO, NatGeo for $65.

Let me dream.

Except for basic channels, which you can get with an antenna, I have all that and more for $35.

 

[Sweeney Tom]

Not shocked. Each channel wants a piece of the pie, knowing they can get it if they refuse an affordable all in one option

 

[Dishwalla]

We need a disruptor in cable industry.

A true a-la-carte system where you choose what individual channels you want.

For example, basic channels + FX, AMC, CNN, tbs, Food Network, HBO, NatGeo for $65.

Let me dream.

Sounds close to Sling tbh. Pretty sure I get every one of those channels except HBO for 40 bucks, and if I wanted to add HBO it's like 5 dollars more.

 

[Grizzlyjin]

They don't have enough shows for me to be interested in this. I dropped Fear the Walking Dead, and Halt & Catch Fire is ending. So that leaves The Walking Dead and Better Call Saul. Even if the lump the Sundance library in there, it's still not something I'd consider subscribing to. Rectify is done and already on Netflix.

FX would have an easier time convincing me to subscribe to a streaming service. Fargo, Legion, The Americans, their FX movies, all the FXX comedies, and The Simpsons? I'd have to think about subscribing to that from time to time.

 

[eosos]

They don't have enough shows for me to be interested in this. I dropped Fear the Walking Dead, and Halt & Catch Fire is ending. So that leaves The Walking Dead and Better Call Saul. Even if the lump the Sundance library in there, it's still not something I'd consider subscribing to. Rectify is done and already on Netflix.

FX would have an easier time convincing me to subscribe to a streaming service. Fargo, Legion, The Americans, their FX movies, all the FXX comedies, and The Simpsons? I'd have to think about subscribing to that from time to time.

FYI - FX has exactly this, but with commercials.

 

[mnannola]

AMC is discussing featuring digital-only spinoff shows of its existing programs like "The Walking Dead" and is considering pricing between $4.99 to $6.99 a month, according to the sources, who cautioned final details are still being worked out.

Wait so I have to subscribe to AMC with a cable package AND pay 5 bucks a month? Fuck that.

 

[The Greek Freak]

If I was still paying for cable I would just dvr the one show a year they make that I care about.

Talk about useless.