Is what the world needs right now yet another streaming service? For Alphabet Inc., it appears the answer is yes. And we can’t deny that, as a video content-focused social platform, YouTube has managed to pull massive market traction. Whether on-demand streaming needs to be part of that, however, is the key question. Blake & Wang P.A entertainment lawyer, Brandon Blake, discusses what we know.
Streaming from the World’s Second-Largest Search Engine
Last week we saw Alphabet Inc. announce that YouTube would move to a ‘channel store’ format, offering streaming video on demand. The change to the operational model could be live as early as the fall, and has been in the works over the last 18 months.
In fairness, Google is the only major tech company without a streaming platform of their own, and it’s easy to assume this move hopes to address that.
Capitalizing on Pay-Tv Losses
Despite the streaming squeeze currently underway, the decision to transition into the same space can probably be tied to the noted decline in cable and satellite subscriptions over the last year. Also, it’s undeniable that Roku, in particular, has seen some fantastic results from a similar easy-come, easy-access streaming model. Apple, Alphabet Inc.’s primary competitor in the wider tech market has also managed to gain itself some visible streaming traction and even some noted awards and accolades for its content in the last few years.
All in all, it’s an intriguing announcement. While it won’t reinvent YouTube to a ‘true’ streaming service, it’s certainly an attempt to muscle in on the same space from the last tech holdout in this particular arena. With most streamers producing lackluster (at best) earnings reports for this quarter, it seems odd timing at best. But, as they say, the proof lies in the results, and it will be interesting indeed to see if this experiment pays off for them.
Film and Television 