Online streaming to ‘pressure’ UK broadcasters warns Viacom chief
The chief executive of Viacom has issued a stark warning to UK broadcasters, stating that the shift towards non-linear viewing options could strangle TV revenues.
Speaking at the Royal Television Society Conference in Cambridge, Viacom chief Philippe Dauman, who has a stake in the UK market following the Viacom’s Channel 5 acquisition last year, said online streaming and VOD services present a challenge to the coffers of traditional broadcasters.
Dauman said: “It is undeniable that the media industry in the US and around the world is in a period of transition.
“The trend is clear - the revenue models that are being challenged in the US will also come under increasing pressure here as the digital revolution continues to transform viewing habits.”
However, he did issue a stark defence of broadcasters: “What makes television ‘television’ - that is the content - is here to stay. Let’s not confuse medium with message. Whatever the screen, people are watching more video content - a lot more - than ever.”
Implying that UK broadcasters such as Sky, ITV, the BBC and more will have to adapt to the digital age, he concluded that “audiences the world over are hungry for the high-quality content we all produce”.