TOP 10: My 2015 Predicitions

It is the end of another great year of television The CW looks to be rebounding. Over The Top/ A la carte services are coming to consumers. Mergers of media giant, successful and unsuccessful, are taking place. And, sadly, Aereo is dead.

So, what will be in store for 2015? what will the big stories and new trends in the industry? Well, I'll throw in my two cents worth and try to predict some of the stories, with my top 10 predications, in no particular order.


1) More OTT Services:
CBS has already launched and HBO will launch in April. Direct online access of networks, not necessarily needing a cable subscription, but for a fee. I think we will see a broadcast network, including Spanish language networks, following the money trail, lead by CBS. Univision and The CW are my top picks, but I will not rule out anyone. Showtime is in the works for their own services, but I think an other network/cabe media company will also go OTT, like HBO.

2) The Comcast/TWC merger is not approved:
The government will not allow the Comcast/Time Warner Cable merger to not happen. They will not happen. Public sentiment will go against the proposal, in a rise to try and keep a free internet continue. A TWC/Comcast merger would create such a giant on internet and content distribution in one entities hand. We can't have that.

One interesting wrinkle I did hear a few days ago that could push the deal through is, Comcast selling its interests in NBCU. Would that be enough to satisfy government officials?

3) AT&T/DirectTV merger is approved:
Unlike the previous merger, an AT&T/DirectTV merger would put more muscle behind another choice in content distribution. AT&T would have the backing to go head to head with the likes of Comcast and TWC. Something DirectTV, and Dish, currently, do not have.

4) A new major merger proposed:
When FOX failed at trying to takeover/merge with TimeWarner, there was a lot of speculation as to who and when the next major media consolidation would take place. CBS is a prime target for getting back with Viacom, or, perhaps buying parts of Sony. A lot has happened in just december that could break loose a tide of change to see one media company join another in 2015.

5) CBS/NFL renews its Thursday night football package:
The NFL Network ratings saw a small bump in the ratings, for exclusive games, over last season. Getting fans to get on the bandwagon of games on the night, like they do for Monday Nights, is the ultimate goal and another season of a simulcast of the first half of the package will further solidify that goal. CBS will have another season of TNF, in the first half of the NFL season, in 2015.

6) FOX will bring back THE X FACTOR:
FOX is in such a mess, I can see them tucking tail and going back to Simon Cowell for another edition of the talent competition series. Compared to most of the current FOX line up THE X FACTOR looks really good right now. Expect a fall edition of the series in 2015.

7) A major series cancellation in 2015:
A major series, to me, is defined as something like CSI, SLEEPY HOLLOW, 2 BROKE GIRLS, etc... A veteran series that may not be considered as a bubble series, but is axed. No freshman series allowed in the predication. A little vague, but I am looking at a reaction like I had when A&E suddenly cancelled LONGMIRE.

8) BETTER CALL SAUL will not get a second season on AMC:
One of the more anticipate new series for 2015 is AMC's BETTER CALL SAUL. I can see BRAKING BAD fans not caring about the spin-off, pushing the ratings low enough for AMC to not pick up a second season. Someone else may come in and grab it, but not by AMC.

9) Stephen Colbert tops Jimmy Fallon:
This one is pretty straight forward. After the November 2015 sweeps, THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT will have either more viewers and/or a better A18-49 ratings, than THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON.

10) NBC finally cancels LAST CALL WITH CARSON DALY:
NBC will finally develop a replacement for the 1:35 .m. slot and dump LAST CALL and/ore Carson Daly.