Cloud pvr and some other stuff

[Danger]

So I recently did a survey and the main focus was on a new cloud pvr service. It asked me how much I would be willing to pay for cloudpvr and how long I would want to store shows for. At the end it confirmed they are looking to launch cloudpvr and aiming for $5/month. They will also limit the time it stores pvrd shows to around a week if I recall correctly (might be slightly longer). Am I wrong in thinking that if I am paying $5/month for this service I should be able to store for as long as I want, up to a predetermined size limit. Seems wrong that if I record something I want to watch it is because I am busy and don't have the time to watch it and If I stay busy for a week then I guess to bad, don't get to watch the recording I paid to record. It also sounds like they are (might be) releasing an android tv app as that was a question it also asked if I would use. I said yes multiple times to that question.

[WestCoasterBC · Accepted solution]

PikTV already is an android tv app so that makes no sense. Services such as slingtv charge $5/month for cloud dvr and is the norm for such a option for streaming. Remember this is an option for cord cutters looking to save money. They generally watch little tv and not looking to pay for the premium Optik tv with all the bells and whistles. To some who want more then on demand $5 is a deal to record what they want.

Was this “survey” actually from Telus?

[PBA]

Yes, it was a legitimate product/service market testing survey. I took it too.

It's common for technology companies to sound out potential customers to see how they react to new features or products, and test the pricing waters.

In my survey (and it's common for product marketing teams to send different versions questioning a subset of features so as not to give the whole game away) I got the following insights:

• A question asking what features I'd be interested in, including 4K and HDR.
• The hypothetical new add-on would have: Pause live tv, skip/rewind live tv
• Go to the beginning of a live TV show if you joined late
• Cloud PVR, with a potential name of "Pin for Later" (there were other names they were testing but that one I remember)
• 2 weeks of storage time, but with an option to pay for 4 weeks (This doesn't match what was seen above, but this might be one of the options they are testing across the survey group) 
• A "Just for you" service: I didn't quite understand the value of this one, but it was described as a selection of VoD shows chosen "just for you" based on your viewing interests and available in your Cloud PVR.

The survey also asked me how much storage I would need based on the number of 30 min, 60 min and 2 hour programs I would want to keep in the Cloud PVR.

As to competing with Optik, I think we maybe witnessing the evolution of Pik into Telus's next generation of cloud-based, al a carte, 4k HDR TV service that will eventually replace Optik.

From a product management standpoint, the biggest problem with Optik is a lot of the functionality is buried in those proprietary PVRs. They are hard to program, and need specialist developers. Those skills are not common and expensive. Building value in the Telus cloud, and using off-the-shelf Android and iOS devices bring better user experience and more agile, cheaper development costs, as any Android or iOS developer can skill-up on the respective TV libraries easily. 

In this way Telus can have a future proofed TV product delivered over IP, with best of class user experience on Android and iOS devices, giving Telus an agile platform that can add new features without trying to sell you a new Optik box.

I can see a future where Pik for TV at $10 p/m is foot in the door, and all those cool things can be added al a carte if you want them: we already can with HBO, and Sports. Want 4K and HDR? pay a few bucks extra p/m (Netflix does that). PVR? $5 p/m. Dolby Atmos? Sure... 

Just because Pik is targeted at the low end of the TV consuming market, it does not mean the technology stack isn't built for scale. The Pik infrastructure is a lot of investment for a relatively small slice of the TV watching cake...

[Mim]

Can you suggest a no contract economical tv and internet company as telus sent a bill for $200. For canceling their service when moved into a place included tv and internet. Returned all the hardware and was sure had credit on account as pay ahead of use. Ccts working on it as saying improper notice and I never would have agreed to pay Telus for prevlidge of dtopping their service after 3 years ..still have telus cell had for 25 years..so can not understand

[NFtoBC]

Replied in another thread on topic.

[Danger]

I get this is a service for cord cutters, and a cheap alternative to boot, I am not complaining about paying for the cloud dvr service. I was actually interested in it till the 1ish week limit on recordings. As for the androidtv app it was for devices (I think) other than the pik box.

[Danger]

Sorry, I hadn't read PBA post stating that it is 2 weeks, which still, if I am paying $5/month I see no reason for a limit, and then charging even more but still limited to 4 weeks.

[xlxo]

Isn't the Video on Demand (VOD) feature a form of a cloud pvr? 

[PBA]

@xlxo Sort of. This new feature would allow you to record any program you want, like a traditional PVR, but the recordings are stored "in the cloud", which means you can record something from your Android/Apple box at home and watch it on your mobile device later. 

[id013]

Yeah I got the same survey but it didn't have any questions pertaining to the possibility of an android TV specific app just stuff about the cloud PVR stuff. It's great that you got some questions about an Android TV app since every time I had a free form answer in the survey I said that they needed to do an app specifically for other Android TV devices. 

[Skulchyski]

So they want you to pay for as service you can get for free from the major networks?! That is rediculous! Why not just add in the option to sign in to the major networks websites for $5. I’d do that! I hate that you only get a small amount of on demand and you can’t login to GlobalGo because we don’t have a full tv package.

[WestCoasterBC]

Cloud PVR you record what you want to watch. Not all content is a available on demand. More and more content providers are making pay walls and distributing content themselves.

[NFtoBC]

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@WestCoasterBC wrote:
 More and more content providers are making pay walls and distributing content themselves.

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As ever more users are connected with high bandwidth, high usage cap plans, we will likely see ever more subscription-based options from the various TV networks. You'll likely get a small trial amount (like the Times does with newspaper stories) then hit the pay wall for more, or different viewing. I might guess the daily news hour might be free, but all entertainment would be pay per month.

The user will be able to pick and chose the exact networks they wish to watch.