Streaming Video Evolving with More Ways to Watch, More Ways to Pay

Globaldata’s Streaming Video Evolving with More Ways to Watch, More Ways to Pay report focuses on the current state of streaming TV, and current perspective among others.

Streaming TV and video is evolving beyond its origins as a cable TV alternative. Among the latest developments, Apple is encouraging shared viewing and new player Struum aims to bring affordable a la carte access to content.

“More” sums up the current state of video streaming. More services, more price levels, more partnerships, and more opportunities to discover. In a flock of news announcements from SharePlay was announced at Apple's recent Worldwide Developer Conference, opening the door to sharing. When viewing the experience through Facetime, many apps already have integrated features. Now ad based video On-demand (AVoD) services are on the rise, and HBO Max and Paramount + have recently launched new services to support advertising level. As for carriers, Verizon continues its quest to leverage content partnerships to add value to wireless and landline carriers. Use broadband services to guide customers to move their value chain to the premium service segment. Finally, Struum, a new service backed by Hollywood heavyweights, made its initial debut in preparation for full rollout later this summer. The service offers viewers the ability to sample content affordably without requiring them to subscribe to and pay for multiple subscription video services.

Access key takeaways from the report:

• Apple’s SharePlay is a clever way to exploit the watch party craze while giving people more reasons to use FaceTime and Apple’s overall platform

• Ad-supported streaming video is booming as people seek more affordable ways to access multiple video services so they can find and view the content they desire

• Verizon beat a retreat from being a content creator, but its stable of third-party video (and gaming) partnerships is driving mobile and fixed broadband customers up the value chain

• Struum, backed by Hollywood bigwigs, is pushing a credits-based approach to make content accessible without costly subscriptions. Struum’s plan is either genius or another Quibi in the making

• Apple SharePlay Enables Real-Time Connections: At its Worldwide Developer Forum in June, Apple announced that as part of the FaceTime update in iOS 15, users will be able to share experiences via SharePlay, which works across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. SharePlay, likely arriving this fall, enables everyone on a FaceTime call to listen to Apple Music together or watch shows on Apple TV+ or other streaming services in sync or by sharing the screen to view apps together

• Ad-Supported Video Trend Keeps Expanding: New AVoD services keep rolling out. As expected, AT&T’s (for now, anyway) HBO Max SVoD service in June launched an ad-supported tier, charging $9.99/month – $2/month less than the version with no ads – for a stripped-down version that does not support downloadable content and is missing 4K video, but still caps resolution at a reasonable 1080p

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