After angering many customers by unexpectedly shutting down their MTV Information web site, Paramount execs made one other controversial transfer this week.
As The Hollywood Reporter first noticed, the media conglomerate eliminated just about all streamable content material from the Comedy Central, MTV, CMT, and TV Land web sites this morning.
Customers who wish to stream the preferred exhibits from these websites are actually redirected to an internet site for Paramount+.
“Whereas episodes of most Comedy Central collection are now not obtainable on this web site, you possibly can watch Comedy Central by your TV supplier,” reads a message acquired by customers.
“You can even join Paramount+ to observe many seasons of Comedy Central exhibits.”
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The corporate defined the choice in a press launch that reads partly:
“As a part of broader web site adjustments throughout Paramount, we’ve got launched extra streamlined variations of our websites, driving followers to Paramount+ to observe their favourite exhibits.”
After all, as is often the case with this form of retooling, a substantial amount of content material was jettisoned, fairly than being migrated to the brand new web site.
Solely the 2 most up-to-date seasons of The Each day Present can be found on Paramount+, which means that a lot of the present’s run is now not obtainable on-line in any respect.
As LateNighter factors out, many episodes of the favored “pretend information” present can be found on YouTube, however the oldest installment is from 2016.
Since The Each day Present premiered on Comedy Central again in 1996, which means the overwhelming majority of episodes — lots of that are of historic curiosity, particularly in an election yr — are now not obtainable. Anyplace.
The information is equally bleak for followers of South Park.
Paramount boasts solely a handful of latest South Park specials and the 1999 characteristic movie, Larger, Longer, and Uncut.
The remainder of the present’s 26-season run can solely be accessed by subscription by way of Max.
That is higher than the scenario with Key & Peele and Workaholics, as massive segments of each exhibits are actually solely accessible on YouTube, the place they are often fairly troublesome to search out.
Right this moment’s unhappy information would not come as a complete shock, as Paramount’s co-CEOs not too long ago knowledgeable shareholders that the corporate is trying to reduce $500 million in prices in response to latest revenue losses.
Internet hosting all that free content material throughout a number of platforms was costly, and regardless of right this moment’s grumblings, it’s going to possible turn into a savvy transfer for the corporate.
However the cuts level to a disturbing development in our all-digital media panorama.
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In a world the place only a few customers personal any form of bodily media, CEOs primarily resolve what we’re allowed to observe.
When followers discover {that a} present or film has disappeared from Netflix or Disney+, they may complain on social media, however only a few observe by on threats to cancel their subscriptions.
This apply has been occurring for therefore lengthy that the powers that be now have sufficient information to assist their concept that the boycott threats are principally empty.
Which is how we find yourself with a scenario the place any one in every of these guys can wipe a long time’ price of content material with a snap of their fingers, like some form of Armani-clad Thanos.
It is a unhappy scenario — however most customers most likely really feel that there is little they will do about it. And as fewer exhibits obtain bodily releases of any type, they could be proper.
What do you assume, TV fanatics? Is the way forward for streaming as dismal because it appears?
Hit the feedback part beneath to share your ideas.
Tyler Johnson is an Affiliate Editor for TV Fanatic and the opposite Mediavine O&O websites. In his spare time, he enjoys studying, cooking, and, in fact, watching TV. You possibly can Observe him on X and e-mail him right here at TV Fanatic.
