Cable companies have made a big effort with online video ever since Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) and Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) started the TV Everywhere drive nearly three years ago. However, the term "TV Everywhere" is still considered a bit of a misnomer. Today, The Wall Street Journal is reporting on industry frustrations with online video, and the slow pace of extending premium TV to new platforms.
Last week, Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes said at an investor conference, "We have to move much faster. And if we don't, we do risk letting others take this opportunity." That sentiment comes as cable operators continue to face threats from the likes of Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) and Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN), and new online video players like Aereo. However, moving faster assumes that cable companies can come to financial terms with the studios providing their content.
Content licensing is a major sticking point for programmers. There are no established rules to say how much streaming rights are worth, and battles over fees are being fought in both court rooms and board rooms. The cable industry is committed to making TV Everywhere work, but there are still significant hurdles ahead, and, as The Wall Street Journal notes, everyone is starting to get just a little bit impatient. Read more...