TDG: NBCU, Fox, and Disney (san ESPN) Top List of Preferred Network Families

PLANO, Texas, March 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new research from The Diffusion Group (TDG), the nation's research leader on the future of TV and interactive entertainment, despite declines in viewing, broadcast networks top the list for most desired channels groups. TDG's most recent national study, Video Viewing Behavior in the Age of Quantum Video, examines preferred network groups by demographics and video behavior.

TDG recently surveyed 2,030 connected consumers as to the five network families they'd prefer to have included in a 5-group skinny TV plan. (Respondents were able to see which channels were included in each network group before selecting.) The Big-4 broadcast network groups occupy four of the top five spots, lead by NCBU (selected by 48%), followed by Fox (41%), Disney/ABC (41%), and CBS (38%).

"Live Big-4 broadcast viewing is diminishing, as with virtually every major network. This should not imply, however, that their death as brands or as major forces in consumer video is inevitable," says Michael Greeson, Director of Research at TDG. "The value of their content is immense; top of mind for many viewers."

These rankings offer important insight into the viability of direct-to-consumer (DTC/D2C) services. For example, the fact that the ESPN family failed to rank in the top 10 suggests Disney's decision to make ESPN Plus a premium add-on to its linear ESPN channel may have been a wise move. "Many expected ESPN Plus to be the online equivalent of ESPN, but Disney decided that the risk of cannibalizing high-value linear pay-TV subscriptions would create substantial channel conflict and hasten the declines in pay-TV subscriptions. This risk is inherent in the DTC model and must be addressed group by group, even channel by channel."

For example, though ESPN Plus may be best positioned as a value-add to its live linear pay-TV service, Disney's family-focused DTC service appears destined to follow in the footsteps of CBS All Access – that is, serve as a full-on replacement to its linear channel, with a growing number of high-value titles reserved for the DTC service.

These standings also offer important insight into the viability of a new vMVPD entrant, Philo, which is populated by the channels of A&E, AMC, Discovery, and Viacom. While this may at first glance seem too specialized to gain mass appeal separate from a broadcast bundle, the combination of networks may prove attractive. Keep in mind that A&E was selected as top-5 by 37% of connected consumers, AMC by 28%, Viacom by 24%, and Scripps by 21%. "The potential is there, but having to pay $16-$20/month for a TV service without the Big-4 broadcasters and live sports may prove a bitter pill to swallow."

TDG's annual research includes assessments of consumer video behavior and preferences. The Future of Direct-to-Consumer Video Services - Analysis & Forecasts, 2018-2022 is the latest project dedicated to this effort. In April, TDG will launch a research study of the 12 million current DTC users; exploring who these consumers are and when, why, and how they decided to subscribe to DTC services, as well as its impact on their TV viewing and subscriptions.

For more information about our primary research or this report, please contact us at [email protected], or call 469-287-8060.

Contact: 
Wendy Stockard
469.287.8061
[email protected]

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TDG provides actionable intelligence on the quantum shifts impacting consumer technology and media behavior. Since 2004, we've helped incumbent and emerging technology vendors, media companies, and service providers master the digital transformation and meet the needs of viewers in real time -- whenever and wherever they may be.

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SOURCE The Diffusion Group