In the history of TV—all 75 years of it—there has never been a time when so much content has been so readily available to watch.

But with the average cable package now topping $103, according to Leichtman Research Group, and a new wave of direct-to-consumer services, viewers have more choices than ever in how they watch, via over-the-top, or OTT, services.

“The key advantage to launching a stand-alone service is growing their audience beyond the traditional pay-TV ecosystem,” said Glenn Hower, a senior media analyst at the Dallas-based research firm Parks Associates.

From the article "Why Brands Like HBO and WWE Are Flocking to Streaming Subscription Services" by A. J. Katz.