CBS All Access Added a Small Library of Movies to Its Streaming Selection Without Telling Anyone

Earlier this week, CBS All Access added new titles into the thousands it already has in the mix. Joining original series like The Good Fight, a spin-off of The Good Wife, are a strange combination of Paramount-owned film titles. Just 16 movie titles have been added for CBS All Access members, ranging in genre from Rosemary's Baby to Up in the Air. Five films offered in the library are from the Star Trek franchise, as CBS will debut a new Star Trek series at some point. The service previously offered subscribers access to episodes of current and classic shows as well as livestreams of local CBS stations. The CBS All Access library of films are currently available on iOS, Android and Windows mobile devices and tablets, as well as Roku devices, Xbox, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV and Chromecast. Soon they will be available on the Apple TV and PS4. "We've begun to expand CBS All Access's content offering to include a selection of film titles relevant to our audience, such as a number of films from the Star Trek franchise," said CBS Interactive president and COO Marc DeBevoise. "The addition of films complements our existing library of 8,500 on-demand episodes spanning CBS's current line-up, past seasons and CBS Classics," he said, "as well as our growing line-up of CBS All Access Originals, plus livestreaming TV, including sports and special events." As more streaming services offer all kinds of content, does each one want to be the one-stop-only shop for viewers? What's the benefit of offering beyond what traditional viewers have come to know you for? According to Chris Wexler, svp and executive director of media and analytics with Cramer-Krasselt, it doesn't hurt or help them. "They're trying to up the value equation for paying members," said Wexler. "Since it's older Paramount titles, this decision extends the corporate synergy." "The newest formula is to provide great original content, a decent movie selection, and some tentpole TV moments," he said. "If a streaming platform doesn't have those three legs of the stool, then they're a little wobbly." "For CBS and other networks providing their own separate streaming service, they have to consider why it exists to begin with," said Ken Kraemer, CEO of Moment Studio. "Cables channels let networks and advertisers target and reach a certain demographic. The more broad, original networks have to figure out how they're segmenting audiences." Kraemer also noted that consumers might feel fatigued by building monthly payments to streaming bundle services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO, cable replacements like Sling TV, and now new services from the networks themselves. "We're still in the early days of the streaming competition," said Kraemer. "Every network wants their offering to edge out the other one. But as you're able to aggregate and search for the show you want to watch, customers will watch it without caring who's streaming it to them."