Will Quibi be the Next Big Thing in Streaming?

It looks like Quibi is the new streaming service on the block. It’s pronounced kwih-bee, which is short for “quick bites.” Shouldn’t it be pronounced kwih-bye then? Oh, forget it. I don’t want to start another giff/jiff argument. Anyway, Quibi is a platform for videos that are only a few minutes long. It’s the vision of former Disney and DreamWorks head Jeffrey Katzenberg. It already features celebrities such as Chrissy Teigen, Idris Elba and Jennifer Lopez in recurring shows. This service is reported to charge $4.99/month with ads, and $7.99/month for the ad-free version.

Okay, that’s a decent overview of what Quibi is and what viewers can expect of it. But is it worth it? Do we really need another video streaming service, especially one that’s so short? After researching what there is to know about Quibi, I’m left with a few questions, which I’ll ask and answer here. So, let’s jump right into it…

1. Why Quibi When We Have YouTube and Tiktok?

In no uncertain terms, YouTube is huge. It’s so big that the only way it could crash and burn would be through any bad decisions by those who operate it. At least that’s how it looks to me. Tiktok isn’t really my thing, admittedly. I know it’s a video-sharing social networking app that people use to make short, lip-sync, comedy, and talent videos. At the risk of sounding like Stuart Sweet, Tiktok just sounds like some Millennial thing, but I could be wrong.

So, am I saying that Quibi will fail because we already have YouTube and TikTok? No. Just because there are established services in the market doesn’t mean that another won’t be successful. The market proves this all the time. The key is that Quibi has to deliver something that people want to see. If its content strikes a chord, then people will like using it. If people keep using it, Quibi might be around for a while.

2. Does Anyone Really Want This?

Well, that’s a good question. And the only answer I can come up with is just for myself. Do I want it? Not really. To me, Quibi’s content sounds like the equivalent of a video meme: Short and the point, but not enough to satisfy someone’s content needs. (To be fair, I have yet to see any Quibi content, but that’s the impression I get from my research.) Besides, celebrities like Chrissy Teigen and Jennifer Lopez are big draws for me. Idris Elba was good in HBO’s The Wire, but he’s not $4.99/month good.

While some of Quibi’s original content looks intriguing of its original content. Look, I stream a lot and don’t come close to watching half of the content that’s available to me. Do I really want to add another monthly payment onto my already-strapped budget to watch one or two shows on my phone? But hey, that’s just me.

3. Will Anyone Even Remember it in a Year?

Well, I guess that depends on what kind of impact Quibi makes. Like I said up above, it really depends on whether or not this new service will meet an existing need in the marketplace. Now, as I’ve made clear above, I don’t think it’s really going to fit any of my needs but that means absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things. I’m just one old dude who likes to stream a few shows and listen to classic rock bands on YouTube. Something tells me that Quibi’s content will likely appeal people who are NOT that, and there are literally millions of them.

So, Will Quibi be the Next Big Thing in Streaming?…

I honestly can’t say or, more to the point, I won’t. If I panned this service, it could become the hottest new thing. I’d really look like a fool with egg on my face if that happened because I know Stuart Sweet wouldn’t show me the kindness of subtly deleting this blog post. Because I don’t want my words that bite my backside to live on in eternity on the internet, I’m a bit more cautious. I’ll say that it doesn’t sound like anything I need but I can’t speak for anyone else.

About the Author

Jake Buckler
Jake Buckler is a cord-cutter, consumer electronics geek, and Celtic folk music fan. Those qualities, and his writing experience, helped him land a copywriting gig at Signal Group, LLC. He also contributes to The Solid Signal Blog.