CBS-owned Ten network has followed the footsteps of its US owners in launching its own subscription video-on-demand service, dubbed 10 All Access.
The new SVOD platform is the Australian version of CBS's All Access, which has become increasingly popular in the U.S. thanks to a slate of original programming. 10 All Access will launch alongside the existing Ten Play app, but will feature an additional 7,000 episodes of advertisement-free shows from CBS and Ten. It will also include the streaming of CBS's 24-hour news service CBSN.
But Ten surprised analysts by launching 10 All Access at a price point that is significantly higher than expected. Analysts had predicted that the service, which is expected to have less variety of programming from fewer publishers, to be priced below that of local competitors Stan and Netflix, but at $9.99 per month, it is higher than the $6.99 per month pricing for Amazon Prime. In addition, many of the original and exclusive content for CBS All Access will not be available on 10 All Access, including the TV series that helped launch CBS All Access, Star Trek: Discovery. Due to the vagaries of licensing, the latest Star Trek TV series, despite being created especially for CBS All Access, is actually licensed to Netflix in Australia. In addition, Stan has an exclusive access to CBS’s Showtime library, including CBS'a American remake of the Australian show 'No Activity'.
And unlike CBS All Access, Ten has decided to launch 10 All Access without a cheaper, advertising supported tier. In the U.S., CBS All Access can be subscribed to at US$5.99 for the ad-supported tier, as well as US$9.99 for the ad-free tier.
Ten's foray into the streaming business has followed that of other TV networks, including Nine who co-owns Stan, and Seven's failed venture with Foxtel in the form of Presto. Pay TV provider Foxtel now has its own streaming service, and has just recently launched Kayo Sports, its spin-off sports streaming service - both are priced at $25 per month, but both feature more premium content.
As with its competitors, users can sign up to 10 All Access and get 1 month free access to the service. You can sign up here, at the official 10 All Access website.
[via The Age]
