Google Play flogging TV shows from mobileGoogle Play TV has hit OZ, joining countries US, UK and Japan. Google
Play store is now selling TV shows – everything from Mrs Brown Boys,
The Big Bang Theory, Downton Abbey, The Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire,
from local networks like ABC, Seven and Nine as well as international
channels.
So how much? An
episode of the laugh-a-minute show Mrs Brown Boys is $2.99 and you can
buy the seasons in High Def for $21.49 and Standard Definition for
$17.99 although if you want something like Two and A Half Men, it costs
$35.99 for a HD season.
But
there is also free shows like pilot episodes of Braking Bad, Community
and Justified, and other TV categories like Documentaries, Comedy,
Reality TV, Sci-Fi and Fantasy and Kids TV.
There’s
also ratings and reviews of TV shows although there seems to be a dire
lack of Aussie content with US titles dominating the scene, but this may
change over time.
Play TV could prove a
threat to local players like Quickflix and Foxtel, although content
analysts have told SmartHouse new Over The Top (OTT) services like
Google Chromecast and Netflix are less of a threat than they appear.
There
might be “cord shaving”, as opposed to “cord cutting” meaning users
will slim down their Pay TV service to the bare essentials and opt for a
supplementary offering, whether its a movie, sports or language
service.
However, the availability of Google
Play app on every Android tablet and smartphone could mean Play TV could
pose a significant threat to local players, if it gains traction
locally, especially since Foxtel is now depending on tablet Internet TV
(IPTV) viewers for growth. Google Play Australia now has the full line up including Music, Books, Magazines and Movies.
