YouTube Working on 'Unplugged' TV Subscription Service for 2017 as Hulu Confirms Live TV Plans

[bpeeps]

It all comes down to ones Internet Provider, what will happen if "they" decide to start using data caps?

Thankfully TWC/Charter can't cap us for 7 years.
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I don't care about channels. Channels are not content.

Without channels, your content does not get made.
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Let's clog up the Internet with more I Love Lucy reruns.

I Love Lucy was such a huge influence on our culture, television, and society challenging civil rights, sexuality, and domesticity. You don't have to like it, but it set a lot of precedents for television shows that followed it.

 

[Karma*Police]

None of this seems like a good deal. Fewer channels than basic cable for about the same price/month? Seems the true setup cord cutters want will never materialize.

I agree. I'm not seeing the value. When scale is lost, we'll inevitably get less, not more bang for our buck.

Users can get the best of both worlds now with Apple TV and cable. Just download the apps for stations you like and you can watch shows on demand or live; whether it's ABC, NFL, History, FX or HGTV, it works great.

The only downside is the pesky sign in you have to do every month or so. If Apple can address that, and unless I'm missing something, I don't see why anyone would want fewer channels for the same, or more money.

 

[magicschoolbus]

Playstation Vue is the future of TV. It really has gotten great reviews and not nearly enough push from Sony. They have a fabulous product on their hands that I barely feel like they are pushing.

 

[thebroz]

The "channels" like CBS and NBC are liking the app concept along with streaming, because they can force viewers to watch ads. Media owners can set rules on how their content is viewed, and not viewed, by setting timeframes on its availability. HBO can allow you to watch "Trainwreck" now, but not after August 31, for instance. A cable plan and a proper DVR (TiVo), allows me to record programs and keep them as long as I like. I can also skip ads.
This is a big deal. The Supreme Court has ruled on recording programs and skipping commercials in the past.
Many Network TV show ads hog up a high percentage of the program's length. They are wasting my time by showing me stuff I'd never buy. And they show me that stuff over and over and over.
I'll keep my cable TV subscription, and grumble about the cost. I won't waste 24 minutes out of an hour watching a TV show.

 

[gotluck]

Playstation Vue is the future of TV. It really has gotten great reviews and not nearly enough push from Sony. They have a fabulous product on their hands that I barely feel like they are pushing.

I have been eyeing this very closely. It does look very promising. I would need an antenna because I am out of market (wouldnt mind getting orlando's local channels if that was allowed) for OTA local channels but that isnt a dealbreaker.

I am worried about 'wife approval' though

Only other issue I have is that it seems to max at 720p right?

 

[magicschoolbus]

I have been eyeing this very closely. It does look very promising

I am worried about 'wife approval'

Only other issue I have is that it seems to max at 720p right?

I do not know what the highest resolution is that it can go to; but how is it only outputting at 720P any different then a box? As far as I know, most broadcasts are only in 720P anyway. I actually think I answered my own question in that. It's the broadcast thats limiting it, I would imagine - not the service itself.

 

[Ghost31]

It's a little groan worthy that the most valuable company in the world has the wait for somebody else to solve the streaming TV problem.

You mean like how they waited on everybody else to enter multiple markets before entering it themselves? It's like what Apple does is new to you

 

[gotluck]

I do not know what the highest resolution is that it can go to; but how is it only outputting at 720P any different then a box? As far as I know, most broadcasts are only in 720P anyway. I actually think I answered my own question in that. It's the broadcast thats limiting it, I would imagine - not the service itself.

I'm getting 1080i on some channels (many are 720p indeed) via uverse or brighthouse, Ive never actually seen VUE in the flesh.. only read some comments on picture quality online

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

It all comes down to ones Internet Provider, what will happen if "they" decide to start using data caps?

Internet speeds are going up and prices are coming down all the time for cellular.

For many people, it's already to the point where you should just ditch your local ISP and swap to one of your cellular providers. For others, it'll come within a few years.

And because cellular networks overlap, there's real competition and real effort to retain customers, unlike with broadband internet where 90% of people only have a single option.

 

[npmacuser5]

Regardless of content packaging, the elephant in the room remains the tight hold of the bandwidth suppliers on streaming.

My opinion is that they are not going to secede their grasp of their home markets easily and morphed into pipe providers, as there is no value add to them.

[Thus we already see bandwidth caps being placed (eg. Comcast > 300GB-month caps for "foreign" content).]

Unless there is a new wireless technology that bypasses these land-locked monopolies, multimedia streaming onto the home remains a pie dream.

Unless, of course, it is delivered heavily compressed (eg. 480p30) -- an unacceptable outcome to those that watch on mega-sized panels.

Comcast moving to 1,000 gb.

 

[magicschoolbus]

I'm getting 1080i on some channels (many are 720p indeed) via uverse or brighthouse, Ive never actually seen VUE in the flesh.. only read some comments on picture quality online

My understanding is 720P is better then 1080i.

If you have a Playstation, there is a free trial you can use - just download it in the PS Store. It's great. On demand, Live TV, NO CONTRACT, DVR straight to your systems HD - and you can also watch on iPad and iPhone!

 

[bniu]

I wonder what negotiations would be like if Steve Jobs was around to bully the network executives.

That would be a conversation I would like to listen to

 

[sir1963nz]

Channels....NOOOOOOoooooo.......

Get away from this channels ********, its CONTENT thats important. I want to watch what I want to watch when I want to watch it.

I don't want to be adjusting my life around someone else scheduling decisions
I want Netflix where I can watch what ever I like as often as I like when I want to watch it. I want to be able to binge watch, oh and I DONT want adverts.

And content implies quality content because I can avoid the rubbish all by myself, and content providers will soon realise that having crap available is not cost effective, it takes up server space for no good reason.

Channels on the other had work on the basis that no one really watches that slot because something better is on elsewhere, so they fit in rubbish shows like the Kadasians, Toddlers in tiaras , The Batchelor (in fact any "reality tv" crap).

 

[jayducharme]

This would be a great way to slide people over to Google's own Internet service that it's gradually rolling out. They could entice customers with far cheaper prices than conventional cable services and make up addition incoming by monetizing their ads. In any case, this still doesn't get you true "a la carte" television. You'll take the bundle Google gives you.

 

[Swift]

How is this a Macrumor worthy news?

This is one of the biggest changes computers are bringing. Kill the cable companies, TV = apps. Give us high-speed internet and shut up about tiers and packages. That sort of thing.

 

[macintologist]

I refuse to pay for media subscriptions of any kind, whether it's movies, music, or TV shows.

 

[Swift]

This would be a great way to slide people over to Google's own Internet service that it's gradually rolling out. They could entice customers with far cheaper prices than conventional cable services and make up addition incoming by monetizing their ads. In any case, this still doesn't get you true "a la carte" television. You'll take the bundle Google gives you.

If they provide Gigabit Internet, more power to them. But they must not use it to give Google services preference.

 

[TerrellAmerica]

Internet-based subscription television plans are growing in popularity, and YouTube is the latest company rumored to be working on a standalone television service. According to Bloomberg, YouTube is developing a paid subscription service called "Unplugged," offering a bundle of channels for a set price.

YouTube has already built the infrastructure necessary for the service and is prioritizing its development for a 2017 debut. YouTube has been in talks with major media companies like NBCUniversal, Viacom, Fox, and CBS, but has not yet been able to secure rights for the service.

YouTube is said to be aiming to build a streaming service similar to the service Apple hoped to offer before putting its streaming TV plans on hold. It would include a "skinny bundle" of channels from the four major U.S. networks along with a few popular cable channels priced at around $35 per month.

YouTube is also considering plans offering a collection of less-watched television channels or smaller groups of channels built around different themes, such as comedy or lifestyle.Along with YouTube, Hulu is also building its own competing streaming television service. News of Hulu's plan surfaced earlier this week and was confirmed this morning by Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins.

Hulu's subscription model will offer customers cable-style access to popular broadcast television networks and cable channels to complement its existing streaming service, plus it will include a cloud-based DVR feature. Hulu is also aiming to launch its live TV subscription plan in 2017 and is close to signing deals with partners like Disney and Fox. Pricing for the service has not yet been announced, but rumors suggest it will be available for around $40.As network executives grow accustomed to establishing deals for streaming television services, Apple may be able to revisit its television plans. Apple has been working on some kind of subscription TV service for several years, but executives have not been able to establish deals with content owners. Apple's latest streaming plans reportedly fell apart because media companies demanded more money than Apple wanted to charge for its TV service and were reluctant to unbundle channels.

Article Link: YouTube Working on 'Unplugged' TV Subscription Service for 2017 as Hulu Confirms Live TV Plans

 

[oneMadRssn]

Without channels, your content does not get made.

What magic do channels add that no one else has? Also, someone call Hulu, Netflix, and all the other streaming content producers out there and tell them the content they made does not get made without a channel.

 

[TerrellAmerica]

I hate what Google has turned Youtube into

 

[oneMadRssn]

Serious question. What do you do if the content you personally like isn't very popular regionally/nationally? In that "content world" the only content that will be made consistently is content that will generate revenue. Content creators won't be taking many chances since a high dollar production like GoT could turn out to be Marco Polo.

I would actually argue that by removing channels, and putting everything online, it democratizes the process and would result in more content. With cable, there is a limited number of channels that can be supported, and a limited number of hours in a day. While the number of channels has increased, it is not unlimited like the internet is theoretically unlimited. So, on cable, broadcast time is a scarce resource reserved only for the most profitable content. On the internet, there is no such limitation. If someone wants to make a low-budget show about trimming hedges, there is ample opportunity for them to do so and find an audience, whether on a free-for-all distribution system like YouTube or Vimeo or Podcasts, or on a partnered distribution system. There is simply more space this way.

 

[Lodoss]

My understanding is 720P is better then 1080i.

If you have a Playstation, there is a free trial you can use - just download it in the PS Store. It's great. On demand, Live TV, NO CONTRACT, DVR straight to your systems HD - and you can also watch on iPad and iPhone!

Even better Vue counts as a cable provider so every channel that has their own mobile app you can use Vue as your login provider to use those apps on other devices.

 

[2010mini]

How is Hulu and Youtube able to do this when the talks with Apple fell through?

Unfortunately content owner fear Apple will do to them what they did to the music industry with iTunes. That's why they UV consortium.

 

[bushido]

whatever happened to that Google TV thing anyway

 

[Hardscan451]

Slightly off topic. Does anyone know what Apple have against 24fps support as is common in pretty much all blu-ray players? It's all very well having high def but what's the point when it's crippled especially on slow camera pans.