Just curious, what is the point of premium channel add-ons at same price as standalone?

[subjonas]

Not really an Apple-related question, but just curious if anyone here might know...

I’m looking into signing up for a new live TV streaming service, and I found it odd that services offer premium channel add-ons for the same price as standalone. HBO Now is $15. Hulu offers HBO for same $15. The Showtime add-on for Youtube TV is $11 (actually $0.01 more than standalone). HBO is supposedly coming to Youtube TV soon, but that made me wonder, is anyone waiting for this? People can sign up for HBO Now now. Is there an incentive to sign up with an add-on when it’s the same price? If not, why even bother offering add-ons? Are people actually watching the shows live like they used to in the cable days? But actually they can watch live with on demand too since shows are usually made available the moment they air. If services offered add-ons at a DISCOUNT price, it might entice people to sign up for their service. I know ATT TV Now does that. Why don’t all? Or just not bother? Am I missing something? Just super curious.

 

[akash.nu]

The benefit is for the companies to reach more people via various platforms.

The benefit for the user is to sign up once in one platform, and could potentially use the same login in some other platforms or within standalone services.

 

[gnasher729]

You might prefer all programs looking as if they come from one service. Not having to switch between different services. I watch program A, then I decide to watch program B - the effort to switch should be minimal.

The cost is a problem. Because there is cost, and there is value. For example, if I switch from nothing to Netflix, that's a huge increase in value. If I switch from HBO to HBO and Netflix, the increase in value is much less, but the increase in cost is the same.

 

[subjonas]

Thanks for the replies.

The benefit is for the companies to reach more people via various platforms.

So you mean if users weren’t on those platforms, they wouldn’t know about or think to sign up for the standalone service? I suppose that’s possible.

The benefit for the user is to sign up once in one platform, and could potentially use the same login in some other platforms or within standalone services.

True, that could be some convenience. I actually like the modular approach myself, just so that I can discontinue/resume individual services as needed. And with keychain I never worry about sign ins, but most probably don’t use keychain.

You might prefer all programs looking as if they come from one service. Not having to switch between different services. I watch program A, then I decide to watch program B - the effort to switch should be minimal.

Do you mean switching around live channels? Yes, but not sure if live is the way people watch premium content these days. I think some platforms like Apple TV app will highlight specific content from premium service apps, but usually to see what you want, I believe you have to head into the standalone app anyway.

The cost is a problem. Because there is cost, and there is value. For example, if I switch from nothing to Netflix, that's a huge increase in value. If I switch from HBO to HBO and Netflix, the increase in value is much less, but the increase in cost is the same.

I think you’re making the argument that signing up for multiple services has lesser value. I don’t think that applies to my question of the value difference between signing up for premium service as an add-on vs. standalone.