Multichannel News reports that STARZ streaming service saw a 23% increase bringing its overall direct to consumer products customer count to 10.6 million in the fiscal fourth quarter. This is an important show of the strength of the appeal of direct to consumer products because the increase came on the heels of Comcast dropping STARZ from it linear TV lineup. The company has 12.1 million subscribers via traditional delivery systems via cable and satellite customers.
Customers access streaming services differently than they do traditional TV services and channels because doing so requires some sort of way to access the app whether it be via a streaming device like a Roku or a smart TV.
Direct to consumer products are growing fast in the TV market as Comcast itself looks to get into the game with Peacock. As direct to consumer offering grow more popular it could lessen the impact of carriage agreements with the big names in cable and satellite delivery.
