The CW's New Apple TV App Doesn't Require a Cable Subscription to Watch

[wikiverse]

Great - now how about the rest of the networks join in - Looking at you CBS, NBC, ABC, and FOX

CW is CBS and Warner Bros.

A network channel and a Cable network are doing this. You can bet it is the test case to see how it goes.

They've also chosen the channel aimed at younger audiences who are more likely to purchase the merchandise, music, and digital versions of files.

 

[D.T.]

That's my guilty pleasure: The Flash. Can't get enough of that show.


My ladyfriend and I binged Crazy Ex-Girlfriend on Netflix. It's a fantastic show that slightly fills the hole left behind by Flight of the Conchords.

The Flash is really fun, it's tonally right on, and strikes just a terrific balance of fun, drama, mystery, etc.

The hole left behind by FotC is a huge chasm ...

 

[coolfactor]

CW is the T-Mobile of television, and that's a compliment. They are gonna going to piss off the cable and satellite companies doing this, but their younger viewer base is going to reward them well in the end.

Hey cable companies, why the heck should we pay again for TV that already has commercials in it?

So maybe this answers my question — does CW incorporate commercials? How else could they be providing this for free?

 

[malexandria]

I love all the TV Apps and understand why sign-in is required but there has to be a better way. Yesterday, I literally had to activate 20 different TV Apps and that's just on my ATV4. I didn't reactivate in my living room or my other devices. The worst part is you have to go through this process EVERY month. There HAS to be a better way. Like maybe just letting us verify everything once through our Cable provider. The Cable providers already have the direct licenses with the various Networks and it's why we have to reauthorize every month to begin with, so why not do the authentication through them once a month - especially since we have to authenticate through the cable provider ANYWAY?

[doublepost=1475196504][/doublepost]Is The 100 Vampire Diaries a show?

 

[jhfenton]

CW is the T-Mobile of television, and that's a compliment. They are gonna going to piss off the cable and satellite companies doing this, but their younger viewer base is going to reward them well in the end.

Hey cable companies, why the heck should we pay again for TV that already has commercials in it?

The cable companies won't mind this at all. I work for a phone company providing TV service, and the amount we pay to rebroadcast FREE OTA local stations from the big 4 networks has gone from $0 to ridiculous levels over the last decade. Every negotiation I advocate offering free digital antennas to all of our subscribers and calling the networks' bluff. I've always lost the internal argument, at least so far, but we lose money carrying the networks. Heck the margins on TV service overall are minimal with the per sub fees we pay for virtually every channel on the box (including the crap channels they make us pay for in order to get the good ones). The TV service is mainly there to sell our fiber Internet service and keep people from doing any business at all with the cable company (who also sells Internet and phone service).

 

[okboy]

Their banner needs some diversity, it's lacking men.

This is the type of cry-baby, over-sensitivity people hate about your movement.

 

[bladerunner2000]

This is the type of cry-baby, over-sensitivity people hate about your movement.

I was being facetious.

 

[Mtmspa]

Meh. I get CW OTA and can record the shows I want and can skip commercials.

 

[ike1707]

the beginning of the end, muaahahahhahahaha

 

[npmacuser5]

Notice all the devices other then Apple TV. Really good news!

 

[Defthand]

Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t the CW network a broadcast network that you can watch without a cable connection? If so, this isn’t a big deal unless the app lets you stream archived episodes.

 

[macs4nw]

I recommend checking out Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. One of my favorite TV shows.

But, but... that show sounds like a nightmare I wanne forget..... OK Juli, I'll check it out

On topic, CW making their content available without a cable subscription, albeit with commercials, is good news. Like pre-cable, pre-satellite days really.... free tv content with commercials you were forced to, if not watch, at least endure. I'll take that any day over those bloated and pricey cable packages we're offered today. Hope more content providers follow suit. The providers will always still have the option to charge for blockbuster content.

 

[superheroux]

What I find interesting in all this is that the CW recently pulled all of its shows off Hulu due to contract negotiation issues, Hulu wanted full seasons and not just the five most recent episodes, and a new contract with Netflix, all episodes available two weeks after the season ends, thus leading to this standalone app. This is not an insignificant loss for Hulu. At the same time, Time Warner, the parent company to the "W", Warner Brothers, in the CW bought a 10% share in Hulu. It might just be me, but if I bought a tenth of a company i think I would try to keep it viable instead of offering content to my competitors and for free. That being said, I will take my free DC shows and ditch Hulu.

 

[IlllIlI]

The cable companies won't mind this at all. I work for a phone company providing TV service, and the amount we pay to rebroadcast FREE OTA local stations from the big 4 networks has gone from $0 to ridiculous levels over the last decade. Every negotiation I advocate offering free digital antennas to all of our subscribers and calling the networks' bluff. I've always lost the internal argument, at least so far, but we lose money carrying the networks. Heck the margins on TV service overall are minimal with the per sub fees we pay for virtually every channel on the box (including the crap channels they make us pay for in order to get the good ones). The TV service is mainly there to sell our fiber Internet service and keep people from doing any business at all with the cable company (who also sells Internet and phone service).

spot on about the cost per drop going up, and also the desire for an Ota device to offset sub cost for locals.

 

[kazmac]

Very nice move by the CW.

 

[Mtmspa]

Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t the CW network a broadcast network that you can watch without a cable connection? If so, this isn’t a big deal unless the app lets you stream archived episodes.

Correct. I get it OTA.

 

[Shadowx65]

Do they air live show or have to wait the next day?

 

[zorinlynx]

Only the United States of America matters. We are the dog and the rest of the world is just the tail.

Not always. For example, in other countries Netflix is getting the new Star Trek series. But in the US you have to subscribe to another service (CBS) to watch it.

 

[mrfoof82]

This is great news. Good for CW for doing right by the people who want to watch their shows.

Yep. I don't watch broadcast television, nevermind CW, though that could change if broadcast networks continue to do things like this. Genuinely can't complain, and if they offered an ad-free version of the service (for some monthly sub) that'd be a great next step.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Can't wait to watch 45 mins of commercials and 15mins of actual show.

 

[sleepydinosaur]

This is great for CW. Just wish they would also create a No Commercial Tier for those willing to pay for it. Really hate we lost this option under Hulu.

I don't watch CW but I agree. Free tier with ads and 5 most recent shows. Paid subscription with (maybe) a few ads at the very beginning of each show and then the ability to binge the entirerty of their programming.

 

[KiwiAdventure]

Are you people for real as all of these shows are rubbish.

 

[Black Magic]

I'm gonna say it one time and then never speak of it again! SuperGirl, The Flash, Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow, and iZombies are some fantastic shows to watch! My woman likes Jane the Virgin as well. This TV Station is a hidden GEM that folks need to be aware of!

 

[tentales]

Their banner needs some diversity, it's lacking men.

Oh c'mon, misandrists are a valid target audience

Seriously though, men are not the target audience here, kinda like the opposite of SpikeTV.

 

[bladerunner2000]

Oh c'mon, misandrists are a valid target audience

Seriously though, men are not the target audience here, kinda like the opposite of SpikeTV.

Isn't it funny how misogyny is condemned but misandry is celebrated? It's like today's feminists thrive on hating men and get applauded for it.