LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. — For those who reside in the New York Tri-State Area who choose the Altice USA-owned Optimum brand for access to cable television selections, the Optimum Stream has been a virtual MVPD offering included with other customer options.
Now, Optimum Stream is heading to more customers in five states with plans for future rollouts. That expansion has led to the launch by Optimum of a new internet TV package that is being marketed as a “skinny bundle” at “an attractive low price to customers.”
The price reflects the absence of local television channels in this mini-tier comprised solely of cable TV channels.
It’s the latest attempt by an industry that continues to struggle with “cord cutting” to save its video business, rather than morphing into a broadband internet service provider in an environment where wireless services companies are rapidly encroaching on that important segment of what was once the cable television industry.
For Optimum customers, Entertainment TV arrives as a new internet TV package available through Optimum Stream with a $30 monthly fee, before taxes and surcharges.
What does it include? There’s no mention of any local TV channels. RBR+TVBR reached out to an Optimum spokesperson at its headquarters for comment. In response, the full channel lineups for West Coast and East Coast Optimum markets was shared. Indeed, there are no local offerings; network fare is limited to all-news free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels.
What Entertainment TV does feature are “80+ top-rated channels” — all MVPD-distributed basic and expanded-tier offerings including AMC. Access to Optimum’s “News 12” service serving the New York Tri-State Area is also included.
“While this is an entertainment-focused product, Optimum does offer additional TV packages with a diverse range of channels for all customer preferences,” the company spokesperson said. “The company plans to bring even more video solutions to customers in the coming months, which will further expand and diversify Optimum’s TV offerings and channel lineups.”
In a recent visit to Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y., in lower Westchester County, a home television system featured an Optimum Stream package mirroring what is described in the Entertainment TV offering. For local TV channels, a $25 digital TV antenna was affixed to a living room set. However, the notoriously hilly terrain due north of Yonkers makes broadcast TV and radio signals unpredictable, and WABC-7 and its digital multicast channels could not be viewed.
Travel north to Putnam County’s bucolic Garrison, N.Y., and over-the-air signals from the City of New York are even more problematic for those without a roof antenna or traditional MVPD and vMVPD services inclusive of broadcast TV stations.
While some say apps deliver what broadcast signals can’t for these far-flung locales, it’s not so simple and could be a cumbersome experience; attempts to watch WABC-7 resulted in shifting to a smartphone to view ABC content.
Leroy Williams, Chief Growth and Innovation Officer at Optimum, commented, “Optimum is focused on providing superior customer experiences at every touchpoint – backed by a world-class network and product set – and putting our customers at the center of everything we do. This launch demonstrates our commitment to further enhancing the Optimum TV offering and bringing customers innovative TV packages that satisfy their unique viewing habits. We know our customers want choice and flexibility, and Entertainment TV does exactly that, providing an amazing option for the entertainment content customers want to watch, all at a competitive price point.”
Ironically, the arrival of Entertainment TV and the larger expansion of the Optimum Stream service comes alongside a new marketing effort with the tagline “Where local is big time.” This effort centers on Optimum’s “ability to bring customers the reach and connectivity resources of a large national provider with the localized care and support of a small business to cater to the unique connectivity needs of each community it serves” — and does not discuss access to local broadcast television stations.
Optimum Stream is already available in such markets in the “West” footprint as Georgetown, Tex.; Bossier City, La.; and Greenville, N.C.
