YouTube TV snares AMC’s ‘Walking Dead’ for live service
YOUTUBE, the world’s most popular website for free, shortform video, introduced its live pay-TV service on Wednesday — with a little help from raging zombies.
YouTube TV, which had been in testing, will soon add six cable channels from AMC Networks Inc., including AMC and BBC America, as part of a US$ 35- amonth live TV subscription that already includes the four major broadcast networks and dozens of cable outlets. That gives the fledgling online service popular shows like AMC’s zombie thriller “The Walking Dead.”
The explosion of video from Netfl ix and Amazon.com, along with shrinking cable audiences, have led pay-TV providers and technology giants to court young viewers with online offerings they can watch on iPhones and TVs. Dish Network, AT& T and Sony are all selling small packages of channels on the web that include live programming and on- demand libraries of shows. These skinny bundles have amassed almost two million subscribers.
AMC Networks, based in New York, is the only pure-play cable programmer chosen for YouTube TV, which has decided not to carry Time Warner Inc.’s CNN, TBS and TNT channels, for example. YouTube’s other partners all own major broadcast networks and were able to use popular over-the- air shows as leverage to include their cable channels.
Media companies without that bargaining chip are fi ghting for spots in new skinny bundles — and facing more subscriber losses as such plans gain favour and traditional pay-TV loses viewers. Hulu said in March it would carry six channels from pay-TV programmer A& E Networks, including History, in its forthcoming online service. Viacom, the owner of MTV and Nickelodeon, won’t be part of that plan.
With the YouTube deal, AMC Networks has secured a place in every new online package now in the marketplace, including Dish’s Sling, AT& T’s DirecTV Now and Sony’s PlayStation Vue. The company doesn’t have a deal with Hulu, which is owned by Walt Disney Co., 21st Century Fox, Comcast, the respective owners of ABC, Fox and NBC, as well as Time Warner.
Shares of AMC rose 4.1 per cent to US$ 61.49 at 1: 23 pm in New York. They were up 13 per cent this year through Tuesday.
AMC’s fl agship network airs “The Walking Dead,’’ one of the most-watched shows on TV, as well as “Better Call Saul’’ and “Into the Badlands,’’ two of the most popular cable programmes. Its other cable networks air critical darlings “Portlandia,’’ “Orphan Black’’ and “Doctor Who.’’
“We have vital content that stands out above the pack,’’ Chief Executive Officer Josh Sapan said in an interview. “The content is really desired by select groups of people. It’s on their favourites list.’’
AMC Networks demands less for its programming than some peers. Viacom charges more than US$ 3 a month per subscriber for its suite of cable channels, including Comedy Central, according to data from S& P Global Inc.’s Kagan division. AMC charges less than half of that.
“Our wholesale rate is very agreeable and fair and appropriately priced,’’ Sapan said. “Someone constructing their offering doesn’t bust their budget, which they might if they buy from someone else.’’
In addition to marketing a monthly live TV service, Google’s YouTube will also offer premium services, like Showtime, for an additional fee. AMC Networks will take part in that as well, with the Sundance Now independent fi lm and documentary service available for US$ 7 a month and the US$5a-month horror fl ick service Shudder. — WPBloomberg