May 25, 2021
Last week, AT&T announced that its subsidiary WarnerMedia would officially merge with Discovery, Inc, forming a new (publicly traded) company that includes major brands such as HBO, CNN, Cartoon Network, and much more. This merger brings with it one of the biggest shake-ups in the cord-cutting market but raises a ton of questions about the fate of several streaming services.
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Streamer's Spotlight: So...What Happens to Discovery+ and HBO Max?
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Let's start with the good news: It's great that HBO will no longer be under AT&T's ownership. AT&T has done a rather poor job of managing its cord-cutting operations. Just take a look at DirecTV Now/AT&T TV Now/AT&T TV. Or AT&T WatchTV. The company has a history of running its streaming services into the ground. The news is a bit of a refresher for those who enjoy the content it holds.
But we're also dealing with, yet again, the problem of consolidation within the cord-cutting market. It's a double-edged sword. More streaming services means consumers end up having to pay more to get everything they want because of siloed content. But more services also means greater variety and lower prices.
Discovery+ and HBO Max Combo Pack?
This is simple: The new Discovery/WarnerMedia company would be crazy not to do what Disney has been doing with its various streaming services. If you recall, after it launched Disney+ and acquired a majority stake in Hulu, Disney began offering a combination package that included Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+. The WarnerMedia/Discovery merger gives these two companies the opportunity to do exactly this with their various networks.
For example, they could soon roll out an HBO Max and Discovery+ combination pack. The pricing on that would be a bit hard to predict. However, the two services bought separately cost about $20. Presumably, the new company would likely offer both for around $16.99 per month.
Other Services Will Be Forced to Adapt
Discovery, Inc. owns a ton of content across its many properties. So does WarnerMedia. The new merger would bring those content libraries together with a tour-de-force that would give the new company tens of thousands of hours of on-demand content ready to roll. Competitors like Disney and Netflix will be forced to get creative with how they compete. And one thing that would allow them to do that? Free with ads.
The "free with ads" model is already taking off. It's easy to see how this model would allow competitors like Netflix and Disney to better compete against such a heavyweight. Other providers, including NBCUniversal's Peacock, have been dipping their toes into this model. For consumers already buried under half a dozen streaming service payments, free options (with limited library access) is probably going to spur continued growth.
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This Week's Streaming Guide
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1. Explore Mike Tyson's Rise, Fall, and Comeback This Week
ABC's new documentary Mike Tyson: The Knockout streams live TONIGHT (Tuesday, May 25) at 8 PM EST. - Watch ABC Live Without Cable
2. New Discovery+ Show Follows First Time Homebuyers
The name says it all. Watch 40 Year Old Property Virgin this Wednesday (May 26) on Discovery+. - Watch on Discovery+
3. New Discovery+ WWII Documentary Achieves Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score
The 100% Certified Fresh documentary, Apocalypse '45, available to watch on Discovery+ this Thursday (May 27). - Watch on Discovery+
4. 'Friends: The Reunion' Is Finally Here This Thursday
The moment you've all been waiting for. Watch Friends: The Reunion this Thursday on HBO Max to see just how old these stars have gotten. - Watch on HBO Max
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News and Industry Developments
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1. AT&T, Discovery Join Media Brands as Cord-Cutting Pressures Industry
Things are getting interesting, and potentially expensive for cord-cutters. - NPR
2. Complete 'Walking Dead' Series Coming to Disney+ Stars
Further proving Disney+ Stars is serious business, The Walking Dead is on its way - Comicbook
3. Here's Everything Coming to Netflix in June
You know the drill. There's new stuff on the way, and some stuff you may want to watch before it's gone. - MarketWatch
4. In Case You Didn't Know: Sports Streaming Doesn't Offer Slo-Mo
If you're a slo-mo fan, streaming sports can be feature-limited. - Techhive
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