Up until about 9 months ago, I used to work for TEN. Just after I left, the Discovery deal was announced. I can tell you there's a large profit motivation, and I can't say I'm too surprised at this development. They've been pumping up Motor Trend on Demand for a long time. Honestly, in the employees-only quarterly meetings, the results in terms of paid subscribers and viewership, I always thought the results were kinda weak.
I don't regret leaving. In the 13 years I was there, I went through three corporate changes, one bankruptcy, and multiple reorganizations and re-assignments. I had been given multiple empty promises of "big things are coming" and "you're a valuable team member." Well, I'd heard it all before, and each time, the boss' buddies were the ones promoted. My new job is in some ways less outwardly glamorous and "fun" but I have a great boss that truly appreciates my work, and makes it a point to express his gratitude for my contributions to the team.
I'm not sure what the long-term strategy is, but I can tell you if you read between the lines of the official TEN/Discovery release, it's pretty clear the new management is intent on winding down the print magazine side, and ultimately going all-digital, and all that entails. I feel the same way. I already pay plenty for cable and internet, so having to pay extra for a subscription app is a little annoying. The content on Velocity seems a little thin, as there are a lot of re-runs. Constantly producing new episodes as expensive, so in terms of the suits, if they think they can just milk re-runs for all they're worth without having to step up production of new content, they'll continue to do that. But with the Discovery/Scripps merger, Discovery essentially has a monopoly on special-interest cable programming. I really hope they don't start putting a lot of the new content behind a paywall. Guess we'll have to wait & see.
