News Disney and Fox come to terms -- announcement soon; huge IP acquisition

[mikejs78]

This is exactly why we still have cable. To get everything we want, that’s too many bills and really the cost for cable (feautures in x1 platform are user friendly) isn’t much more. We do have one streaming service amazon, but that’s because it came with prime and we RARELY use it. I know people that have 5+ streaming services and the cost doesn’t make sense, after paying for internet.

I currently have 3 streaming services - Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Netflix. I don't count prime because I don't use it (I get prime for the shipping, not the streaming, and it's not compatible with my Chromecasts...). I get 90% of the content I want via Netflix and Hulu currently. If there is a specific show not available on either of those two, I might buy that show. When Disney+ comes out, I will likely get that.

Cost for me is *way* less than it was for cable. I could easily add another two streaming services and still be under what I was paying for Cable, and get a lot more options. I am considering the WB streaming service and CBS All Access. Netflix may be the first to go as they continue to lose good content - we will see.

I do see some consolidation in the future. Right now every company is trying their own service. That's not sustainable. Over time I think there will end up being 3-4 major streaming companies, and a few niche ones. CBS for example has Star Trek, so they will get that audience. But smaller content providers will start to gravetate towards the bigger streaming services, or they will create low-cost niche al-a-carte services of their own for low price (like $2-3 a month). I do think the cable bundle will be dead in 10 years.

 

[bartholomr4]

This is exactly why we still have cable. To get everything we want, that’s too many bills and really the cost for cable (feautures in x1 platform are user friendly) isn’t much more. We do have one streaming service amazon, but that’s because it came with prime and we RARELY use it. I know people that have 5+ streaming services and the cost doesn’t make sense, after paying for internet.

We have DirectTV, at a huge discount because we threatened to leave, Free HBO+ because we have cell phones with AT&T, and 500+ channels of which we watch maybe 6. For cable to survive, they have to provide something we will watch, and not 400 channels of "Stop Hiding your Aging Neck, the New Bissell Crosswalk, Medicare Plans and Grill Master TV"......

 

[MisterPenguin]

Some of the services are a bit full of themselves. Lots of individual channels having their own service, and as just said, not sustainable. I can't imagine CBS being able to have their own sustainable streamer let alone so many of the smaller channels.

I subscribe to 3 streams. But with the new Star Trek series, I'm content to wait for this year's season to be over, then subscribe to CBS for a month and binge watch the season, then unsubscribe. It's cheaper than waiting for a season to show up on Amazon or Vudu a year later and buying the season for $20.

Which now makes me think that the services which provide pay-as-you-go streams (buy or 'rent' a digital product) might find themselves in a difficulty if the cost of a month's subscription (and then unsubscribe) from all these content providers is less than the cost of a move or series you'd want to buy or rent.

 

[Indy_UK]

I can't wait to ditch SKY and Comcast soon to properly cord cut. I'm going to get a HD homerun to have free to air TV on my AppleTV. I'll get Disney+ when it launches of course. Netflix I'll grab a couple of months a year and maybe Hulu if i can get it working again here in the UK.

We have a ton of other free catch-up services here too, plus I watch a lot of YouTube for Disney content. Between those services, I'm well coverd

 

[Delgado]

I currently have 3 streaming services - Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Netflix. I don't count prime because I don't use it (I get prime for the shipping, not the streaming, and it's not compatible with my Chromecasts...). I get 90% of the content I want via Netflix and Hulu currently. If there is a specific show not available on either of those two, I might buy that show. When Disney+ comes out, I will likely get that.

Cost for me is *way* less than it was for cable. I could easily add another two streaming services and still be under what I was paying for Cable, and get a lot more options. I am considering the WB streaming service and CBS All Access. Netflix may be the first to go as they continue to lose good content - we will see.

I do see some consolidation in the future. Right now every company is trying their own service. That's not sustainable. Over time I think there will end up being 3-4 major streaming companies, and a few niche ones. CBS for example has Star Trek, so they will get that audience. But smaller content providers will start to gravetate towards the bigger streaming services, or they will create low-cost niche al-a-carte services of their own for low price (like $2-3 a month). I do think the cable bundle will be dead in 10 years.

If we didn’t watch sports...mlb,nba,nfl, ncaa ...huge Chicago cubs fan, husband is from Texas .... sports Is what kills our streaming vibe. When we played around with streaming service there is always an issue with watching sports. By the time you add each sports individual stream, you’re broke. Sling was the only one that I could compare to our cable network. And I’d still need Internet from somewhere else so the bill is about the same.
I hope there is some consolidation and a couple standouts, I’d happily try it out if they could give me something I actually watch.

 

[Lensman]

Some of the services are a bit full of themselves. Lots of individual channels having their own service, and as just said, not sustainable. I can't imagine CBS being able to have their own sustainable streamer let alone so many of the smaller channels.

I subscribe to 3 streams. But with the new Star Trek series, I'm content to wait for this year's season to be over, then subscribe to CBS for a month and binge watch the season, then unsubscribe. It's cheaper than waiting for a season to show up on Amazon or Vudu a year later and buying the season for $20.

Which now makes me think that the services which provide pay-as-you-go streams (buy or 'rent' a digital product) might find themselves in a difficulty if the cost of a month's subscription (and then unsubscribe) from all these content providers is less than the cost of a move or series you'd want to buy or rent.

We're cord-cutters at 6 streaming services plus FuboTV for the NFL season (is there something better and cheaper for NFL games?). It ends up that we're still saving money but over time as we get addicted to one thing or another we're saving less - though I think it's still worth it to watch what we want at the vacation home without getting a cable package.

Part of the excessive number of streaming services we get is the need to watch British murder mysteries.

Like you, I draw the line at CBS All Access, though I'm worried that one of these years we'll give in and stop unsubscribing after I've watched a season of Discovery.

Speaking of bundling, I've gotten interested in Amazon Channels where you can add-on certain smaller streaming packages like HBO or PBS Masterpiece. I think this is another way forward that reduces the clutter of different top-level streaming subscription services while still providing additional a la carte packaging. I've also noticed that Roku has started providing some ability to simulate single sign-on. This also reduces the clutter of having a large number of streaming providers.

 

[mab7689]

I can't find much more than this at the moment but Street Insider are reporting the CADE in Brazil have ruled there is cause for concern. I'm trying to find more information.

 

[Indy_UK]

Brazil pavilion now confirmed lol

 

[brodie999]

I can't find much more than this at the moment but Street Insider are reporting the CADE in Brazil have ruled there is cause for concern. I'm trying to find more information.

I hope Cade realises the deal doesn't pose a threat in the end and approves the deal before the end of the year because it's becoming more and more likely that it'll close by Jan. 1st.

 

[mab7689]

I've found this article that gives more information. I translated the text from Portuguese to English (court of the organ is evidently a mistranslation haha) then took the screenshots, as I wasn't sure a non English url would have received moderator approval.

 

[Twilight_Roxas]

They have to approve the deal even with a condition.

 

[Rodan75]

I've found this article that gives more information. I translated the text from Portuguese to English (court of the organ is evidently a mistranslation haha) then took the screenshots, as I wasn't sure a non English url would have received moderator approval.

I'm sure Disney will proactively come to terms on a behavioral settlement here. They have been very quick to resolve these types of issues in their negotiations.

 

[bartholomr4]

I'm sure Disney will proactively come to terms on a behavioral settlement here. They have been very quick to resolve these types of issues in their negotiations.

I think we had heard of the suspicions of this issue in August/September..... The CADE notified Disney of the concern in July. The blurb from Reuters says the CADE has “recommended Remedial Measures”. If Disney / 21CF accept these measures then the approval should be a foregone conclusion.... The question is will the CADE accept them this week ( the 5th of Dec was the original date) or drag this out to March. With this announcement today, I am wondering if March is now the likely date?

Reuters also has this statement from Disney “The filing of the report on CADE's review of the 21st Century Fox acquisition is part of the agency's normal pre-merger process," a Disney spokesman said. "We have been and are continuing to work productively with the agency to address any concerns."

 

[mab7689]

Does anyone know if any other approvals are required or is Brazil the last one? It would be a shame if it is held up at the very final hurdle.

 

[Twilight_Roxas]

US, Europe, and China were the major hurdles.

 

[Indy_UK]

Hopefully if this all wraps up in January that maybe by Aprils earnings call we will have a better idea how the structure and everything else is going to work.

We assume most Fox content will go to Hulu. Still a lot of unanswered questions

 

[Twilight_Roxas]

Looks like it involves the Sports Channels. The only option is to have Disney sell the Sports channels in Brazil.

 

[bartholomr4]

Looks like it involves the Sports Channels. The only option is to have Disney sell the Sports channels in Brazil.

Reuters reported last night the CADE "recommended Remedial Measures" to Disney. If this includes selling sports broadcasting rights, then they can do that...... hopefully, it is more like an agreement on access to cable operators and a cap on what they can charge......

 

[Lafayettecalboy]

Reuters reported last night the CADE "recommended Remedial Measures" to Disney. If this includes selling sports broadcasting rights, then they can do that...... hopefully, it is more like an agreement on access to cable operators and a cap on what they can charge......

I feel like Disney just wants to at least get this deal done by the 1st quarter 2019, either by selling or agreeing to other conditions for the sports channels in Brazil.

 

[Rodan75]

I feel like Disney just wants to at least get this deal done by the 1st quarter 2019, either by selling or agreeing to other conditions for the sports channels in Brazil.

Yeah, for the health of the 21CF properties and employees, it is better to get this done quickly. Iger needs to stabilize the brain drain at 21CF and they need to make sure they have product in the pipelines. Even though they are both saying everything is BAU at the moment, things really aren't.