The subscription advantage
Whether you run a cable channel, a playout center satellite or web TV, you need some kind of automation software.
Traditionally, we consider a software as something to buy, i.e. buying a license as the only available option. But you might have noticed that nowadays many companies such as Adobe are offering rental plans for their products.
A one-time-buy license means you purchase the right to use an application, forever. It sounds great because it’s yours and you can use whenever you require. Everything sounds perfect at purchase time but what if you update your hardware and the application is not compatible anymore ? What if you require any new feature ? You have to purchase a new license of the latest version. That’s how it used to work, and we were okay with it.
A monthly subscription, on the other hand, offers a different way to get the tools you need: you “buy” the right to use that application just for the corresponding period. From a customer’s perspective used to “own” a license it may seem like a weird idea to keep paying in order to continue using an application. And speaking of the past that may be correct but in this article, we discuss four reasons why nowadays purchasing a subscription to a software instead of buying may end up as the best solution for your requirements.
4 reasons why
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No upfront cost. Are you just starting a channel on limited budget ? A one-time-buy means affording a consistent upfront cost. Going for a monthly subscription means removing that sizable upfront cost. You now have smaller, more manageable payments on a regular schedule.
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Flexible-Use Cases. The nature of subscriptions plans provides added flexibility in how you can use them. Are you starting as a basic web TV but planning 4K cable broadcasting ? The one-time-buy approach forces to buy the most expensive license from the beginning. Instead, monthly subscription enables you to scale up or down and get the exact features you require as your business grows.
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Added benefits. A monthly subscription package not only offers the right to use the software but includes as well technical support and regular upgrades, so you will always be up to date with no extra costs. A one-time-buy usually includes startup support and update service, but nowadays that operating systems are automatically updated on daily bases to fix security issues, once the free period expires you will need to pay some fee to extend such service.
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Simplify ROI determination. ROI stands for Return On Investment. When purchasing a one-time-buy license, you know the price you paid for the software, but you don’t know how long you will be able to use it until you require an update. It could be one year, or it could be five. The longer you wait, the less it costs. But the longer you wait to update, the more issues you will be facing with outdated software. Finally, imagine you’re just trying to start a channel, still with unknown perspectives. Then, a monthly subscription will indeed be the best choice.
In the fast-paced world of radio and television, the dynamics of the industry are ever-evolving. As we witness a surge in content volume and diverse ways of media consumption across various platforms and devices, your business is facing the challenge of keeping up with the changing behaviors of your audience.
At WINJAY, we understand that each business is unique and we’ve helped the media industry navigate more than two decades of changes. Thanks to our unparalleled expertise we assist businesses in growing their audience and maximizing revenue. Do you have the strategies and tools to keep up with this dynamic landscape? Discover how staying ahead in technology can give your business a competitive edge.
