Cablevision Strikes Deal To Resell Hulu Plus To Its Optimum Broadband Customers
Cable companies are faced with a decision as more and more TV viewers cut the cord in favor of streaming -- evolve or become extinct. Only one of those options is enticing, and so Cablevision has gone and inked a deal with Hulu to apparently resell its Hulu Plus subscription service to its Optimum customers. As such, Cablevision becomes the first cable or satellite or TV provider to distribute Hulu.
We say "apparently" because the press release Cablevision put out is short on details. The alternative to reselling Hulu Plus would be to offer it as a free service to Optimum subscribers, either as part of the package or possible dangle it as an incentive to customers who call to cancel their service. If you've ever cancelled cable or satellite TV service, then you're familiar with this strategy -- it's not uncommon to offer free bonuses if you stick around.
Either way, it's an interesting proposition. Hulu Plus is a $7.99/month service that offers access to programming from networks like FX, Fox, Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, NBC, ABC, and TNT. It also has a collection of movies, plus its own original shows.
"The partnership with Hulu reflects Cablevision’s desire to meet customers where they are," said Kristin Dolan, chief operating officer, Cablevision. "There is a new generation of consumers who access video through the Internet, and whatever their preference, Cablevision will facilitate a great content experience."
This isn't the first move by Cablevision to help customers cut the cord, so to speak. It recently launched a high-speed broadband package intended for over-the-top (OTT) video enthusiasts who don't subscribe to the company's cable TV service, and was the first pay TV provider to resell access to HBO Now, HBO's standalone subscription service.
It will be interesting to see what, if any, incentive Cablevision offers subscribers through its partnership with Hulu. Specifically, we'll be looking to see if Optimum subscribers get any kind of discount for subscribing to Hulu Plus through Cablevision, or if the pitch is simply bill consolidation.
We say "apparently" because the press release Cablevision put out is short on details. The alternative to reselling Hulu Plus would be to offer it as a free service to Optimum subscribers, either as part of the package or possible dangle it as an incentive to customers who call to cancel their service. If you've ever cancelled cable or satellite TV service, then you're familiar with this strategy -- it's not uncommon to offer free bonuses if you stick around.
Either way, it's an interesting proposition. Hulu Plus is a $7.99/month service that offers access to programming from networks like FX, Fox, Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, NBC, ABC, and TNT. It also has a collection of movies, plus its own original shows.
"The partnership with Hulu reflects Cablevision’s desire to meet customers where they are," said Kristin Dolan, chief operating officer, Cablevision. "There is a new generation of consumers who access video through the Internet, and whatever their preference, Cablevision will facilitate a great content experience."
This isn't the first move by Cablevision to help customers cut the cord, so to speak. It recently launched a high-speed broadband package intended for over-the-top (OTT) video enthusiasts who don't subscribe to the company's cable TV service, and was the first pay TV provider to resell access to HBO Now, HBO's standalone subscription service.
It will be interesting to see what, if any, incentive Cablevision offers subscribers through its partnership with Hulu. Specifically, we'll be looking to see if Optimum subscribers get any kind of discount for subscribing to Hulu Plus through Cablevision, or if the pitch is simply bill consolidation.
