Streaming Video Generated a Lot of Buzz at CES 2016

CES 2016 validated the recent trends toward Over-the-Top (OTT) video, TV Everywhere and multi-screen TV experiences.  The growing popularity of OTT services poses challenges and opportunities for traditional Pay-TV services and streaming video providers alike.

CES 2016

These trends are supported by new research finding that mobile devices are the most popular choices for watching paid OTT TV content – and mobile consumption of OTT video content is booming.  OTT leaders like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Instant Video are registering gains from a plethora of new devices through which that content can be accessed.[subscribe_reminder]

Increasingly, Pay-TV providers are reinventing themselves to reduce churn and to optimize their services to meet the need of their target audiences. Pay-TV providers such as Time Warner Cable and Dish Networks have a big play in taking “TV Everywhere”.  Successful navigation of these trends can be a boom for cable and satellite providers -- if they can build a better value proposition than their streaming competitors can.

Don’t Count Out Pay-TV Providers Yet

CES 2016 product launches reflect growing cross-device viewing trends, according to new research from PayWizard, a Pay-TV SaaS platform.  The company noted that mobile devices are now the most popular choices for watching OTT TV content.

Paywizard

Indeed, phones are emerging as one of traditional TVs fiercest competitors. With bigger and better screens, mobile devices take up more of our time, and are increasingly being used for video viewing, and not just for short clips.  Here are a few highlights from CES 2016:

• More Pay TV operators are going to launch ‘Lite’ OTT services similar to NOW TV from Sky or Sling TV from DISH Networks.
• Technicolor’s CES show-floor showcased LEA™ -- a user centric cloud-based software video solution for Pay-tv operators and MSOs. The solution allows service providers to deploy immersive, personalized and unified multi-screen experience.
• Canada-based Shaw Communications has launched its FreeRange TV mobile streaming app, bringing the company in line with rivals in offering its full TV service to any subscriber with an Internet or mobile data connection.

Links:

http://www.computerworld.com/article/3019329/personal-technology/sony-to-launch-4k-streaming-service-in-us-this-year.html

http://www.timescolonist.com/shaw-launches-mobile-tv-app-for-its-cable-subscribers-1.2145133

http://www.itwire.com/your-it-news/entertainment/71001-ott-mobile-tv-boom-reflected-by-ces-2016-launches

http://mediatel.co.uk/newsline/2016/01/14/what-did-we-learn-from-ces-2016/