Episode SummaryOn this episode, we take a look at the streaming services industry with Ian Greenblatt, managing director for technology, media and telecommunications intelligence at J.D. Power, and we consider the challenges that face WWE (NYSE:WWE) with Brandon Thurston, editor of Wrestlenomics.Resources:Benzinga Pro Benzinga.comPhil's Articles on Benzinga.comBenzinga PodcastsGuests:Ian Greenblatt, Managing Director at J.D. Power Brandon Thurston, Editor of WrestlenomicsHost:Phil HallSubscribe to all Benzinga Podcasts at https://www.benzinga.com/podcasts Disclaimer: All of the information, material, and/or content contained in this program is for informational purposes only. Investing in stocks, options, and futures is risky and not suitable for all investors. Please consult your own independent financial adviser before making any investment decisions.Unedited transcript:Um,Hello? Hello. Hello. It is. I feel whole for yet. Another episode of Benzinga show business today, we're going to be taking a look at some home entertainment later in our show. We're going to be joined by Brandon thirst and he is the editor of wrestle Nomics. And he's going to be discussing all things WWE.Just between you and me, you can admit that you watch WWE wrestling on TV, whether it's broadcast or streaming. I watch it every night. I'm not ashamed of that. But first up on today's program, we're going to be talking about streaming services in general. Our guest is somebody who knows a great deal on the subject.He's Ian Greenblatt and he's managing director for technology media and telecommunications intelligence. J D power in Greenblatt. Thank you so much for being a guest on today's episode of Benzinga show business. You recently published an article called despite the return to normal people are spending more time and money on streaming services now than during the height of the pandemic.And I found that rather curious, because here we are, uh, we're actually recording this episode at the end of August, going into September, whether it's still nice, uh, Even with the Delta variant, people are still out and about. And yet it seems from your article that more people are home watching Disney plus and Netflix and Hulu and whatever is out there.Then they were during the height of the pandemic. How do you, how do you explain that? Well, first thank you for having. So there's a couple parts of that, right? Well, when I say it, when you said, uh, spending more time, well, it's more time, more money on streaming services now than at the pandemic site. So let's take them one by one.So. Uh, consumers are spending more on streaming compared to six months ago. And compared to April 20, when we asked you about for the first time. So we did three, just for the sake of the viewers. We did the three pulse surveys when an April 21, December of 21 in June, it's 21 around this topic. Right? So we're charting to trend across those two time points.When we asked them, how much time did you spend streaming compared to six months ago, a 79% of respondents, so that they're spending the same, but more time stream than they did six months ago. So that about the same categories, 35% of that 79% number. But if you're talking about, about the same or more, I mean, that's an awful lot.And if we're talking about spending, right. Um, how much are you, how much, how much per month are you paying for all of your streaming services combined? This has gone up straight line, but since our first outing at this in April from 38 to 47 out of $55 per month on streaming. So when we take them all together, uh, we feel fairly confident in saying, yeah, they're spending more time and more money.One of the things I found fascinating in your report was the success of the HBO max presentation of the friends reunion. I mean, I like to joke with people that friends don't watch live friends, watch friends, but in this case, a lot of people watching friends. And, uh, what, why is that? I mean, this is a show that had been rerun to death for decades.What brought people back to watching. So, I, I, there's a very special place in my heart for this show for a couple of different reasons. Uh, my father was in television syndication. If anybody remembers what that was, it's essentially, uh, selling reruns and friends was his show. He sold it. So I I've known this is the show has been a part of the family.Moreover, I was a war, uh, lawyer at Warner brothers. Uh, so I remember negotiating with the cast. Um, I, like I said, I have a spare, very special place in my heart for this. Why do others though? We'll keep in mind. This is a largely one sec. That is about friends, spending time with each other. And if we've done anything, we're close, close friends, spending time with each other.And if we've all done anything during this pandemic, it spent an awful lot of time with those closest to us. So I think maybe that might be part of it, but it's, it's long been a very successful Mr. ...
