TOP 10: Predictions for 2018

TV consumption is in a major change. Going from cable TV to OTT and streaming. Companies are positioning themselves for the next chapter of "broadcasting", with media buyouts, mergers and reorganizations. Predicting what may come next, based on what has already happened is tough, but here is my best attempt to look in to the near-future.


1) The Government will not approve one BIG Media purchase:
Either the AT&T purchase of TimeWarner or the Disney deal for the 21Century Assets will get axed by the federal government. Having a mega-media company is not good for the consumer and the government will step in on one, if not both, of these pending transactions.

2) Netflix will purchase a major media company:
Because of the two buyouts above, Netflix will feel the pressure to increase their library and add a company like a CBS or AMC Networks or another media company.

3) Amazon and/or Apple will buy a media company:
For the same reasons as Netflix, Amazon and Apple will become aggressive to keep up in the media content and distribution wars. The BIG four use to be NBC, ABC, CBS and FOX, Soon it may be Netflix, Amazon, Apple and Disney.

4) My Network TV will close up shop:
Unless the government steps in early in the process of the Disney buyout, FOX will shutter My Network TV. This may not come until 2019, but if things are going well in the first half of 2018, FOX will announce the end of the fledgling TV network, as "New FOX" is moving towards sports & News as it main staple of programming.

5) CBS will get bigger:
I keep trying to bring CBS together with another media company and this year is no different. To survive, CBS needs more properties than it currently has. It needs franchises, a theatrical presence, something to help it break the mold of "Your fathers TV network." CBS will merge/buy/be purchased with another media company in order to compete against Netflix and  Disney.

6) ESPN subscribers falls under 82,000,000:
The latest subscriber numbers for ESPN has it at just under 90,000,000, about 10% below its peak just a couple of years ago. The erosion will continue an ESPN will get under 82,000,000 by the end of 2018.

7) A new broadcast network:
This is a bit of a stretch, but if AT&T completes it purchase of TimeWarner and things are looking good for Disney's purchase of FOX, a new network will rise out of the ashes. This could be a new WB network, with AT&T eliminating CBS out of The CW, a "New Fox" company network to replace MyTV, something out of the blue that we can't yet see.

8) New player in Thursday Night Football:
With NFL ratings on the downfall, we could see a new partner to air THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL with/for the NFL Network. One possibility is a streaming/online company stepping up to be the exclusive simulcast provider of the 10-game package. At the very least, I think we could see FOX be a serious contender on the upcoming bidding process.

9) CBS All-Access hits two million:
The CBS streaming service, CBS All-Access, has over one million subscribers and in September, with the STAR TREK DISCOVERY launch, it had its biggest week of new registered subscribers. Although we don't know the current subscriber number, it may be safe to say its under 2,000,000 since CBS has not yet touted the milestone in any earnings reports. in 2018, the service will cross that mark.

10) FOX will get WWE:
When the new FOX emerges in 2019 with just sports and news programming, the FOX Broadcast network will have a WWE wrestling programing. WWE RAW is on USA through 2018 and no new contract has been set. In 2018, FOX will steal a part or all of WWE Programming from NBCU.