Live TV vs. App/On Demand

[Radiant97]

I took the liberty of making this thread to continue the discussion that has been going on in the Infinity Train thread so as to not derail the discussion there.

Anyways, we all know that CN, scratch that, all of Turner has been actively trying to emphasize their streaming platforms while deemphasizing their live feeds in the process. One could argue that this is the right way to go since streaming is supposedly the future, but will this warrant the extinction of the linear channel altogether? Has the live feed lost its relevance?

 

[chocolate]

On Demand might kill the channel because it provide more content that appeals to all ages and you choose the show you wish to watch. On the other hand, the channel puts the shows they watch but we all know the schedules aren't that good. Also, On Demand has Teen Titans Original, Cow and Chicken, PPG Original, Dexter's Laboratory, Johnny Bravo and too many more!

 

[Light Lucario]

As things are right now, no because you still need cable in order to access On Demand services. The service could be changed in the future to where Cartoon Network becomes the On Demand section, but I don't think that we're there yet. You still need a cable plan to access On Demand and channel's specific website. Before we upgraded our cable plan a couple of years ago, I saw a listing for the Hub/Discovery Family On Demand section, but I couldn't watch any of their shows due to not having access to the channel.

Besides that, it is still easier for people to have access to basic cable than cable and stable Internet, even with how common place computers have become in mind. Not to mention people still like to watch shows live for various reasons. While On Demand and other streaming services have drastically changed how people watch TV shows, I don't think it has evolved to where it could replace a channel completely for everyone. I don't know when or if that could possibly happen, but despite the growing popularity of formats like On Demand and Netflix, I don't think that we're there yet.

 

[Toon4Thought]

Not the title I would have gone with, but thank you for making this thread nonetheless.

Anyway, I don't think it'll quite do so yet, but I believe it may in the future should trends continue going on like they have been. I personally think cable would be best off switching to showcasing On Demand by default (it's not like even kids would have a hard time navigating through it), with only the new episodes and other live events being streamed live. Kind of like Twitch, in that respect.

 

[Radiant97]

On Demand might kill the channel because it provide more content that appeals to all ages and you choose the show you wish to watch. On the other hand, the channel puts the shows they watch but we all know the schedules aren't that good. Also, On Demand has Teen Titans Original, Cow and Chicken, PPG Original, Dexter's Laboratory, Johnny Bravo and too many more!

View attachment 123821

On Demand does provide much more variety than the live schedule ever will. I see the linear channel as nothing more than a gateway for kids to get introduced to shows that will lure them to the app or VOD.

As things are right now, no because you still need cable in order to access On Demand services. The service could be changed in the future to where Cartoon Network becomes the On Demand section, but I don't think that we're there yet. You still need a cable plan to access On Demand and channel's specific website. Before we upgraded our cable plan a couple of years ago, I saw a listing for the Hub/Discovery Family On Demand section, but I couldn't watch any of their shows due to not having access to the channel.

Besides that, it is still easier for people to have access to basic cable than cable and stable Internet, even with how common place computers have become in mind. Not to mention people still like to watch shows live for various reasons. While On Demand and other streaming services have drastically changed how people watch TV shows, I don't think it has evolved to where it could replace a channel completely for everyone. I don't know when or if that could possibly happen, but despite the growing popularity of formats like On Demand and Netflix, I don't think that we're there yet.

I was asking the question in the context of CN becoming an exclusively On-Demand platform and not cutting the cord completely. I see your points though. I think the live feed is still necessary for the audience CN is targetting because they're typically not as into binge-watching as the older audience. Personally, I only watch TV for premieres.

Not the title I would have gone with, but thank you for making this thread nonetheless.

Anyway, I don't think it'll quite do so yet, but I believe it may in the future should trends continue going on like they have been. I personally think cable would be best off switching to showcasing On Demand by default (it's not like even kids would have a hard time navigating through it), with only the new episodes and other live events being streamed live. Kind of like Twitch, in that respect.

Honestly, this isn't a bad idea at all. For me at least. I don't know how the kids will respond, because live TV has always had a more identifiable personality than On Demand or other streaming platforms, one that kids can relate to. And like Light Lucario said, some people still like to watch shows live for various reasons, regardless of how unimportant they might be to others.

 

[jaylop97]

For CN it definitely looks like they are trying to go another direction, premiering shows specifically on the app for the most part while sometimes premiering episodes on TV. Even then it is more common now to see new episodes first on the demand than on the channel.

I think as a whole on-demand does it better, live-TV you have to see an episode all the way to the point that it enters the commercials, while on demand is watching up to a point you want even skipping commercials. These days I don't even watch much live-tv due to a busy schedule and for the most part I think that trend is also rising with most kids on the channel's demographic due to extracurricular activities and what not, that ratings are falling as they aren't available to watch a new episode live, rather CN is allowing them to see new episodes ahead of time to their convenience. I think that is one reason why premieres aren't happening as much as they did back then on live-TV.

Now for the future of live tv it is a hard one to think of, since CN is doing this maybe other non Turner channels will follow suit and new methods of premiering shows will happen or maybe the channel will still hold on to another factor that the app doesn't have. But for the most part It will at least rerun some shows.

 

[Radiant97]

For CN it definitely looks like they are trying to go another direction, premiering shows specifically on the app for the most part while sometimes premiering episodes on TV. Even then it is more common now to see new episodes first on the demand than on the channel.

I think as a whole on-demand does it better, live-TV you have to see an episode all the way to the point that it enters the commercials, while on demand is watching up to a point you want even skipping commercials. These days I don't even watch much live-tv due to a busy schedule and for the most part I think that trend is also rising with most kids on the channel's demographic due to extracurricular activities and what not, that ratings are falling as they aren't available to watch a new episode live, rather CN is allowing them to see new episodes ahead of time to their convenience. I think that is one reason why premieres aren't happening as much as they did back then on live-TV.

Now for the future of live tv it is a hard one to think of, since CN is doing this maybe other non Turner channels will follow suit and new methods of premiering shows will happen or maybe the channel will still hold on to another factor that the app doesn't have. But for the most part It will at least rerun some shows.

Pretty much the only things live TV has that VOD doesn't are promos, bumpers, and much, much more ads, though one could argue that the former two are what makes live TV more engaging for kids. VOD does enable you to watch whatever whenever, but aside from that, it can feel a bit soulless. That's where live TV comes in.

 

[Red Arrow]

Can't you record whatever you like in the US with digital TV? That's basically how I watch every show I like.

 

[Action!]

I actually think that them releasing episodes early on the app hurts the live feed.

 

[ShadowBeast]

while on demand is watching up to a point you want even skipping commercials.

Being able to skip commercials is getting rarer with On-Demand though. I watched a bunch of Randy Cunningham episodes yesterday, and I couldn't skip commercials, Watched The Walking Dead, couldn't skip commercials, watched Star Wars Rebels, couldn't skip commercials. Once in a while I'll be able to, but most often I can't fast-forward.

Pretty much the only things live TV has that VOD doesn't are promos, bumpers, and much, much more ads, though one could argue that the former two are what makes live TV more engaging for kids. VOD does enable you to watch whatever whenever, but aside from that, it can feel a bit soulless. That's where live TV comes in.

On-Demand having less ads would only be a temporary thing since it's growing popularity will lead to putting more ads in for more money in the future.

Can't you record whatever you like in the US with digital TV? That's basically how I watch every show I like.

I think you have to pay extra for that recording service.

 

[Toon4Thought]

I actually think that them releasing episodes early on the app hurts the live feed.

It does, but it's possible that may actually be the intent. By providing this much incentive, they are basically hoping their viewers progressively migrate away from the live feed. At least, that's how I view in the situation.

Pretty much the only things live TV has that VOD doesn't are promos, bumpers, and much, much more ads, though one could argue that the former two are what makes live TV more engaging for kids. VOD does enable you to watch whatever whenever, but aside from that, it can feel a bit soulless. That's where live TV comes in.

I would argue live TV in general has become just as soulless lately, largely due to how it's been executed. Apart from some ads here and there, most of which aren't made by the networks themselves, they feel kind of 'generic'. The On Demand ads are debatably more generic and soulless even with that said, but there are less of them.

I think the only thing live TV has over VOD are sporting events and live-streaming, things like that.

Can't you record whatever you like in the US with digital TV? That's basically how I watch every show I like.

Many cable providers offer a DVR add-on, if that's what you were referring to.

 

[ShadowBeast]

One advantage of Live-TV is that it can force viewers to try new shows when nothing you like is on. There are shows that don't look interesting until you give them a watch. with On-Demand/app/online, you can skip those shows without giving them a chance.

 

[Red Arrow]

So in the USA, On Demand is free but a DVR add-on is not? In Belgium, it's the other way around.

 

[Toon4Thought]

One advantage of Live-TV is that it can force viewers to try new shows when nothing you like is on. There are shows that don't look interesting until you give them a watch. with On-Demand/app/online, you can skip those shows without giving them a chance.

Not really, since one could just turn off the TV if nothing they like is on. At least, that's what I would do. It could incentivize them more if it follows a show they just watched, but by no means are they forced.

So in the USA, On Demand is free but a DVR add-on is not? In Belgium, it's the other way around.

Now that's interesting to think about. I wonder how differently things would be if the same applied here.

 

[Radiant97]

I actually think that them releasing episodes early on the app hurts the live feed.

But it helps the shows if they do very well on the app, like OK K.O.! for instance. With the relevance of the live feed continuously fading, it's better to incentivize viewers to use the app/VOD by releasing episodes early there.

One advantage of Live-TV is that it can force viewers to try new shows when nothing you like is on. There are shows that don't look interesting until you give them a watch. with On-Demand/app/online, you can skip those shows without giving them a chance.

This is true to an extent, but this seems to be an exception rather than the rule. CN has a very dedicated fanbase, arguably more dedicated than other kids networks, and typically they're willing to give anything CN makes a chance. CN just gotta know how to market their shows properly. That said, the CN fan base is mostly comprised of people not in the target audience, and the VOD-only business model will most likely be engaging for them only.

So in the USA, On Demand is free but a DVR add-on is not? In Belgium, it's the other way around.

This is interesting. I wonder if it's only a Belgium thing. In SEA On-Demand and DVR follows a similat business model to the US.

Not really, since one could just turn off the TV if nothing they like is on. At least, that's what I would do. It could incentivize them more if it follows a show they just watched, but by no means are they forced.

That's what I'd do too, but most kids have a different viewing habit to adults, so I don't think it's fair to compare it to ours, especially since we're not in the target audience. A proper survey on children's preferred method of viewing TV shows would be very useful to this discussion.

 

[Surreal Kangaroo]

When it comes to CN I pretty much only watch it on the app. I live with my parents and I don’t have a TV in my room so I have to use my iPad. There have been times were I housesat for people and I would rather watch their TV. Typically my life is so empty and dull I have nothing better to do then to watch something live.

 

[Elijah Abrams]

I like to watch only the "See it First" premieres on the app, but only one view per episode.

 

[Fone Bone]

One advantage of Live-TV is that it can force viewers to try new shows when nothing you like is on. There are shows that don't look interesting until you give them a watch. with On-Demand/app/online, you can skip those shows without giving them a chance.

I'm the opposite. I try new shows when they are OnDemand that I would never sample over the air. That's the only reason I started watching 12 Monkeys and now it's one of my favorite shows.

 

[Radiant97]

I like to watch only the "See it First" premieres on the app, but only one view per episode.

Likewise. See It First premieres are much more convenient for the viewers. I don't get why so many people are against it.

 

[Ansi_Molina]

As things are right now, no because you still need cable in order to access On Demand services.

Not really though. I mean, you can call it "On Demand" or "Video on Demand" or "VOD" or whatever, but it all amounts to the same thing.

I get VOD with my YouTube TV subscription (for CN even). That isn't cable...

Typically my life is so empty and dull I have nothing better to do then to watch something live.

LOL!