In a recent Kidscreen online exclusive, HBO president of programming Michael Lombardo said, “We have been discussing the children’s area more and more recently, especially in light of our expansion into streaming platforms with HBO GO and HBO NOW.
“Children’s programming plays very well on those types of services. So, when Jeffrey Dunn began talking to us about Sesame Street, it didn’t take us very long to realize that it was a perfect fit.”
As to whether or not HBO will increase its investment in kids content, Lombardo contends that the network will be very selective if it chooses to pursue children’s programming and is in no hurry to grow a large library.
However, recent reports examining churn rates for SVOD services may explain why it could be in HBO’s best interest to keep up with the Netflixes and the Amazons of the world when it comes to kids content. According to the OTT Video Market Tracker from US research firm Parks Associates, cancellation rates are very high for OTTs compared to cable networks. Approximately 4% of US broadband homes have discontinued their Netflix subscription in the last year, accounting for almost 9% of the SVOD’s subscriber base. And Hulu’s 7% churn rate for its Hulu Plus service over the past year represents a whopping 50% of its subscriber base.
From the article "Windows of opportunity in an SVOD world?" by Jeremy Dickson.
More than half of all U.S. homes with broadband subscribe to both a pay TV service and at least one over-the-top video service, according to a new study by Parks Associates. In its OTT Video & TV E...
More than half of all U.S. homes with broadband subscribe to both a pay-TV service and at least one over-the-top video service, according to a new study by Parks Associates. In its OTT Video & TV E...
HBO Now leaped into the top-five for the first time, YouTube Red solidified itself into the top-10 for the first time, and both Showtime and Starz moved up or entered the list compared to 2016. "Wh...
Indeed, Parks Associates recently tallied the known universe of subscription streaming services at more than 200. And Fox Networks senior VP of distribution Sherry Brennan said that “only a handful of...