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Were not all things to all people, McDermott says.
We dont believe we have to be like the other big streaming services.
And yet AMC Networks does think itcanget dramatically bigger in streaming, and quickly.
Miquel, youve been in the direct-to-consumer world for a long time, well before streaming took off.
Whats your take on where the streaming industry is now headed into 2022?
They could watch content commercial-free, any time they wanted, however they wanted.
And that convenience was the big point of differentiation.
But the biggest difference, I would argue, was convenience.
Is it Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, HBO Max, Peacock, and two or three more?
Or is it just two or three of those?
Same thing with the targeted services.
So where does that leave AMC Networks?
McDERMOTT:Were not all things to all people.
Were more about super-serving specific audiences [with] content that they already have a demonstrated affinity for.
We clearly are in the latter category, and we think thats our advantage.
Were not competing with the Netflixes and the Disney Pluses and the Amazons.
Theyre in an arms race to find mega-ginormous content that they can spend a fortune on.
Thats not our business.
And what exactly is that brand, that sensibility?
McDERMOTT:Premium marquee content for adults.
I want to watchMoonhaven.
Are we going to see more content from Acorn or ALLBLK on AMC+?
PENELLA:Weve already started doing some of that.
We have this Canadian police show called19-2that premiered on Acorn and actually went to ALLBLK.
The Walking Deadwas so vital to AMCs linear growth the past decade.
Is there still life left in the undead?
Similarly, weve announced the Daryl and Carol spinoff with Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride.
So the exact shape of what that looks like is to be determined.
McDERMOTT:That is the subject of significant debate inside the company right now and were determining whats best.
McDERMOTT:That is correct.
So we have to be mindful of the fact that both of them work well together.
A rising tide floats all boats here.
Lets talk about distribution.
Why does it work for AMC Networks?
So what we are doing this fourth quarter is a test.
Could we see that as soon as early 2022?
PENELLA:We dont know that.
Thats the honest answer.
Are we interested in having movies?
Do we want to have more recent movies or movies on a first window premiere basis?
Exactly which movies, how frequently that remains to be seen.
There are a lot of considerations there.
What else should we expect from AMC+ in 2022?
Next year we think that the programming on AMC+ is going to be quite something.
More people are watching it than schedule stalwarts such as ABCsGreys Anatomyor NBCsLaw & Order: SVU.
Its still early in the season and its quite possibleGhostswill fade as the year grinds on.
But all indications are that theres still quite a bit of upside for the series.
That tells me folks are makingGhostsa habit even as new viewers start tuning in based on positive buzz.
(Amazing what a good user interface can accomplish.)
