Turner Broadcasting boss says pay-TV challenged as millenials think content is free

September 5, 2014 12:27

Gerhard Zeiler speaking yesterday

The president of the Turner Broadcasting International has warned the subscription television industry faces real challenges in engaging young consumers and combating the growth of piracy globally.

Speaking at yesterday’s ASTRA conference in Sydney, Gerhard Zeiler, who heads Turner’s operations for brands like CNN, TNT, and TCM in Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America said that solving both problems would be crucial to the future of the television industry.

“We have a problem,” declared Zeiler. “There is a phenomenon which describes that a significant percentage of millennials, in the US it is almost 20 per cent, have no pay TV subscription and don’t show any inclination to get one. To get them into the pay TV system will be a challenge, I admit that.”

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Nic Christensen

Nic Christensen worked for Mumbrella from 2013 to 2016, in roles including deputy editor and media & technology editor. He is former media writer for The Australian and has also worked as a reporter for The Daily Telegraph and senior producer for Radio 2GB.

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2 COMMENTS

ElMack 6 Sep 14

If you think its a problem – its a problem. I’m so over this conversation on ‘streaming’. Give the customer what they want, provide quality, easy access and release content on the same dates as the US & UK. It’s not rocket science. Hell I may even pay for it!!!

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punter x 7 Sep 14

Elmack you are so right. I cannot understand why these apparently intelligent industry leaders don’t get it.

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