Why don't networks just stream programming online? (Annoying)

[Yong Fang]

I am someone who lives outside of the United States. Right now, I am trying to watch the National Championship Football Game between Alabama and Clemson. However, it is almost impossible to be able to watch it online.

Why dont the networks just stream the broadcast online with the commercials? Mobile devices are the new television, and just showing the game, or a TV show online with the commercials increases the number of people being able to watch said programming.

For those not in the know, Hulu and services like this are not allowed to stream content outside the United States to my great annoyance. Why this is, who knows. Fortunately, there are websites where I can watch current series, but sometimes they are "hit and miss", and the makers of the television show will have it removed on copyright grounds.

Speaking of football, the NFL is extremely annoying about this and will only allow their games to be viewed on television or on their NFL "packages".

Is it because local affiliates are afraid of losing viewers this way? I would probably watch the show from my local affiliate.

Just annoying and think they could do better and incorporate themselves to the modern day and new technology.

[favoriteshow]

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

I am someone who lives outside of the United States. Right now, I am trying to watch the National Championship Football Game between Alabama and Clemson. However, it is almost impossible to be able to watch it online.

Why dont the networks just stream the broadcast online with the commercials? Mobile devices are the new television, and just showing the game, or a TV show online with the commercials increases the number of people being able to watch said programming.

For those not in the know, Hulu and services like this are not allowed to stream content outside the United States to my great annoyance. Why this is, who knows. Fortunately, there are websites where I can watch current series, but sometimes they are "hit and miss", and the makers of the television show will have it removed on copyright grounds.

Speaking of football, the NFL is extremely annoying about this and will only allow their games to be viewed on television or on their NFL "packages".

Is it because local affiliates are afraid of losing viewers this way? I would probably watch the show from my local affiliate.

Just annoying and think they could do better and incorporate themselves to the modern day and new technology.

Local affiliates only have the rights for transmission inside of their Nielsen DMAs. Sometimes it extends a county or so out if there is significantly viewed viewership. For example in my market, the Philly TV stations might be still on cable in Elkton, MD/Cecil County MD without blackouts but the Baltimore stations are still the primary local outlets.

Using NFL as an example, NFL is making big $$$ on it's distribution. Fox and CBS pay the NFL, then CBS and Fox charge their affiliates (like Tribune) because of those rights, and then Tribune will charge carriers like Spectrum, who are profiting from selling subscriptions which include that expensive programming.

As far as Hulu, it doesn't have programming rights for out of country. Possibly because the content holders have agreements for some of the same shows, with TV channels not available in the US.

In the end of the day, it comes down to content rights and business models. It's like wondering why are new Hollywood movies released still in movie theaters, when technology exists to go direct via a pay per view model for those new releases instead.