Juggling? There’s a VOD for That

By Karen Fratti 

Well, now that spring has taken a wrong turn over here on the east coast, there’s very little reason to not hole up in your house, binge watch “Bloodline,” and scroll through Twitter until April. Or is that just me?

In any case, there are a few things we didn’t get around to this week. So to start your journey into a television industry clickhole, here are some jumping off points.

1) This guy is really, really excited about HBO Now:

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Apple seems to have a full blown commitment to doing this right – no brand confusion around pricing or catalog – a no hassle sign-up – and of course – that beautiful Apple usability. It’s one thing when an average innovator like Dish tries to roll out a poorly conceived SlingTV offer. It’s quite another when you have the greatest innovator on the planet coming after you with all guns blazing.

I love my shiny Apple products and HBO as much as the next over educated media type, but I don’t think we should get too crazy. Excuse me while I contain my excitement.

2) YouTube is toying with the idea of an SVOD modeled off of Music Key:

Launched last fall in a closed beta test, Music Key provides unlimited, ad-free access to music videos and some 30 million songs on Google Play Music, for a six-month introductory price of $7.99 per month. An exec at one YouTube partner says reps from the vidsite reached out late last year about an SVOD licensing deal. But the offer came with a warning: If the partner didn’t agree to the terms of the subscription service, it would be excluded from any future ad revenue — a tactic YouTube has used in dealing with independent music companies that refused to get onboard with Music Key.

The upcoming version would let you watch videos ad-free.

3) Now here is another little SVOD that should be bundled into the Sling TV core package: Juggling.tv. Much like porn sites, you can pick your poison. There’s amateurs, pros, comedic channels. Instructional. Hats and canes. Rings, clubs, and balls. There’s something for everyone. You’re welcome.

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