4 ms·

It's not short sighted. I know it has become a meme for tech geeks to paint industries like content/media as "out of touch" or "dinosaurs", but they aren't. The

by cremnob 14y ago

It's not short sighted. I know it has become a meme for tech geeks to paint industries like content/media as "out of touch" or "dinosaurs", but they aren't. They aren't trying to stop the future, they just want to make the most money. Right now 'the future' isn't capable of delivering that to them. But when it can, content companies will gladly be there. They aren't going to be disrupted because of these deals, which seems to be a common opinion among the tech community. To think so is to misunderstand their business and the large moat that exists around it. Your gripe (and other tech geeks') is really about middle-men, and your preferred middle-man isn't in the position to give you what you want. Some of them, like Apple, are negotiating to do just that and they may be successful if the value proposition to content companies is greater than it is now. Middle-men may disrupt other middle-men, but content companies are going to be fine.

antoncohen 14y ago
Ten years. For 10 years they are going to be locked into the language of that contract. Here is an example of what contracts like this get you: The NFL has an online streaming service. It's only for replays of games after they have been broadcast live on TV. Fine, ok, they signed some contacts giving TV networks exclusive live broadcast, so we can't watch live online. But then it starts to get crazy. Their online service is unavailable on Sunday and Monday nights! Huh?! Yes, some executive signed a contract giving TV networks exclusive rights to NFL broadcasts on Sunday and Monday night, so you aren't allowed to watch replays of other games on those nights. I understand the NFL makes its money with those contracts, but stupid language in those contracts prevents other revenue streams that short sighted executive can't predict. When you heard that the Olympics where going to be available on YouTube did you get excited and try to watch? Oh, you don't pay for cable? Sorry, to watch the Olympics on YouTube you had to authorize through your cable company. Why? Because the Olympics gave NBC an exclusive contract in the US. Until 2020. You won't be able to watch the Olympics streaming online without a cable or satellite subscription until 2024. Deals like that are short sighted.

by cremnob 14y ago

antoncohen 14y ago

Ten years. For 10 years they are going to be locked into the language of that contract. Here is an example of what contracts like this get you: The NFL has an online streaming service. It's only for replays of games after they have been broadcast live on TV. Fine, ok, they signed some contacts giving TV networks exclusive live broadcast, so we can't watch live online. But then it starts to get crazy. Their online service is unavailable on Sunday and Monday nights! Huh?! Yes, some executive signed a contract giving TV networks exclusive rights to NFL broadcasts on Sunday and Monday night, so you aren't allowed to watch replays of other games on those nights. I understand the NFL makes its money with those contracts, but stupid language in those contracts prevents other revenue streams that short sighted executive can't predict. When you heard that the Olympics where going to be available on YouTube did you get excited and try to watch? Oh, you don't pay for cable? Sorry, to watch the Olympics on YouTube you had to authorize through your cable company. Why? Because the Olympics gave NBC an exclusive contract in the US. Until 2020. You won't be able to watch the Olympics streaming online without a cable or satellite subscription until 2024. Deals like that are short sighted.