The transition to streaming may see the end of some niche cable networks, reports Television News Daily. According to the post, the biggest threat “could come to Paramount Global, where S&P says 18 small to-mid-sized channels — with many related to the bigger mothership brands such as MTV, BET, and Nickelodeon — could be in trouble.”
Television News Daily states these include “BET Gospel, BET Her, BET Hip-Hop, BET Jams. For the MTV brand, MTV Classic, MTV Live, and MTV2. Other networks include Smithsonian Channel, POP and TeenNick.
“Warner Bros. Discovery could have seven channels facing this situation: American Heroes Channel, Boomerang, Cooking Channel, Destination America, Science, TCM, and truTV.
“Comcast Corp./NBCUniversal may see CNBC World,E!, Syfy, and Universal Kids on the ropes.”
“We predict the next few quarters will be transformative for the cable industry as streaming services become available to traditional linear subscribers and niche cable networks start being phased out,” writes Scott Robson, senior research analyst.
Some of this might be of TV network owners’ own doing. “The decline in original content production at some networks has resulted in programming lineups full of reruns of syndicated sitcoms and blockbuster films,” says Robson.
More here.
This also might have to do with the $55 Billion (that’s right with a B) that Warner Bros Discovery is saddled with after the spinoff from AT&T.