TV Everywhere less than half deployed

TV Everywhere access to cable TV content is still only available to less than 50% of American multichannel TV subscribers, according to a new study by research firm The Diffusion Group (TDG). 

The firm said that, based on the 14 leading TV networks and subscribers to the 15 biggest multichannel TV operators, these networks are only available via TV Everywhere to 45% of subscribers.

This was in spite of the fact that the US cable industry’s TV Everywhere initiative – to allow TV service providers to verify users so that they can watch content over the web – was first announced four years ago.

“TV Everywhere is arguably the best response that the multichannel TV operators and networks have to the competitive threat posed by online video services, including those from Netflix and Aereo. Despite this fact, TV Everywhere rollout has been disappointingly slow,” said TDG senior analyst Bill Niemeyer.

“Ironically the delay is not due to technology but rather business friction between TV networks and operators – the two parties who stand to benefit the most from a timely TVE rollout,” added Niemeyer. “The pay-TV industry needs to move now to conclude agreements and become fully engaged in the game with its online programming services.”