CBS has launched its own subscription video-on-demand effort for $5.99 a month, as the broadcaster looks to beat rival HBO to take on the likes of Netflix and Amazon in the video-on-demand arena.
The ad-free service, called CBS All Access will offer subscribers thousands of episodes from the current season and previous seasons, as well as library CBS shows on demand.
To provide audience analytics, All Access viewing will be measured by Nielsen.
In addition, customers will be able to stream “unprecedented ability” to access local CBS Television stations live in 14 of the largest U.S. markets at launch.
“CBS All Access is another key step in the company’s longstanding strategy of monetizing our local and national content in the ways that viewers want it,” said Leslie Moonves, president/chief executive officer of CBS Corp.
“Across the board, we continue to capitalize on technological advances that help consumers engage with our world-class programming, and we look forward to serving our viewers in this new and exciting way,” he added.
CBS says it offers full current seasons of 15 prime-time shows with episodes available the day after they air, as well as full past seasons of eight major current series, including “The Good Wife,” “Blue Bloods” and “Survivor.”
CBS says that for older classic CBS shows, like “Twin Peaks,” the viewing will be free of advertising.
Live streaming will be available in CBS’ 14 owned-and-operated markets, including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, San Francisco, Boston, Detroit, Minneapolis, Miami, Denver, Sacramento, Pittsburgh and Baltimore. CBS says more markets will be added.
CBS says those who don’t subscribe will still have access to the most recent current episodes of CBS programming on CBS.com, select CBS Audience Network partner sites and through the CBS App. Programming will be available the day after the shows air on TV, with an eight-day delay on mobile devices for prime-time series only.
The news follows last week’s announcement that HBO announced a streaming stand-alone video service starting next year. The stand-alone subscription video on demand service that initially would target mostly homes with no pay TV subscriptions and only broadband services.
Watch this video from CNN analysing the deal:
