While it seems as though Netflix in particular have been doing quite alright on their own developing original TV shows for an online audience, they and their streaming rivals have been offered assistance in the matter by one of America’s biggest TV networks.
Of course it’s not an offer that the streaming services would have to accept, but CBS have looked to tweak their direction a little, with network CEO Les Moonves, speaking at an earnings call earlier this week, claiming that their CBS Television Studios division are developing a collection of original television series purely to pitch to and produce for streaming providers such as Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu.
The CBS Television Studios brand is currently and naturally mainly seen on CBS and its family of supporting networks, with NCIS being the headlining act of the studio since foundation in its current form in 2009. However, like any other network production spin-off, there is plenty of leeway towards selling formats to rival networks for monetary gain, a strategy which online streaming now seems ‘sufficient enough’ to touch by major television networks.
Continuing a natural cross-genre ‘relivalry’ between TV and streaming (in which studios sell streaming rights for extra profit and streaming providers use the content to drive subscriber numbers whilst also attempting to compete with networks for viewers).
While not revealing any names of who he might be in contact with over original content deals, Moonves stated to attendees: “Shortly, you’re going to hear us being in business with some of the [streaming video services] with original programming. [We] will be producing more and more shows for more and more outlets, including major streaming companies and other emerging distributors. Ownership of the content is the key to our success.“
Whether the decision to ‘permit’ such sales still seems a little arrogant by the networks is up for long-term debate, but on a purely qualitative basis, will the streaming services like what CBS Studios have to offer them?
