New SVOD entrants are prioritising reach over revenue in the US with extensive ‘free’ offers, including Apple TV+ (to hardware buyers), Disney+ (to Verizon customers), HBO Max (to HBO subscribers) and Comcast’s Peacock (to basic cable homes).

This is the latest development in an unfolding global story of partnerships, continuing on from multiple Netflix and Amazon distribution deals with platforms, bringing benefits to both parties.

In Europe, Sky faces price pressure, but it has secured its HBO partnership and can now talk to Disney from a position of strength.

Contents

The unfolding SVOD price war

• Disney+: was Verizon a second choice after no pay-TV deals?
• HBO Max: in a strategic mist
• Peacock as a digital age NBC
• Apple TV+: focussed on retail

Pay-TV and SVOD partnerships

• Rationales and workings of partnerships

Launching SVOD services and UK platforms

Bundling is here to stay

List of charts/tables

Figure 1. Major SVOD services launches

Figure 2. Selected SVOD retail prices in the US, $ per month

Figure 3. SVOD retail prices in the US, $ per month

Figure 4. Evolving European pay-TV package prices, offering better value

Figure 5. Operators integrating Netflix and Amazon Prime onto their platforms

Figure 6. SVOD and distributors relationship layers Figure 7. Streaming services customer bases Figure 8. Video provider penetration by pay-TV platform