said. It’s similar to how Amazon packages its
streaming service with its $119-a-year Prime
loyalty program.
Ultimately, content will be king, experts say. The
services are investing billions into creating new
shows and building up their libraries to find or
create the next “Stranger Things.”
Apple TV Plus inked high-profile deals with
Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer
Aniston. Comcast’s NBCUniversal reportedly
paid $500 million to take back “The Office,” and
Netflix reportedly paid even more to claim
global rights to “Seinfeld.”
“The weapon of choice for retention is exclusive
programming,” said Peter Csathy, founder of
Creatv and an industry consultant. “All of these
behemoths are investing billions of dollars
in originals with the hope of finding the next
‘Game of Thrones’ that becomes ‘Must See TV.’”