Declan Toman

https://lnkd.in/dtJPaEb2 With network upfronts coming next week I thought I would share a post from my blog “Revenge of the Masked Scheduler” which takes you behind the scenes to the room where it happens….the scheduling room. Different world now. maskedscheduler.com

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Every company founder has a story to tell, and in the case of the Connected TV Marketing Association, there’s quite a tale to tell. In ‘Beam Me Up, The Future of Smart TV - Battle for Control' (Ch 7), I share with readers the 7 year legal battle and fight to control the CTVMA during the global streaming wars. For those of you who don’t know, there were over a hundred people involved in our foundation, and many of whom are prominent, well known, leading industry figures in entertainment, business, broadcasting, advertising and finance, who will all receive special mentions in my upcoming book #StreamingWars 💣

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I want to help streaming and broadcast companies make the best products they can Most companies in the space are SME companies. Smaller organisations of 200 people or less trying to utilise the expertise of their team and vision to make the best product possible But in such a competitive marketplace, is that enough? Is that ALL you have at your disposal to craft the best product you can? What if there was one more consideration, or piece of input, that could make the difference that makes the difference to the success of the product The functionality The UX The price point The right target geography The launch date The list  Goes On What if OTTRED could offer you the virtual team you could never afford, to review and provide advice before you go to market? The experience The external view The local knowledge of every region Commercial insight Well, now we can help you with this service from OTTRED with our Product Review Board We have product experts from around the world to be your Product Review Board (PRB) You might be small. Or you might be well established. Or you might be geographically specific and want to be more global Book a sitting with The PRB to benefit from insight and advice to help you maximise the market impact you want to make with the launch or re-launch of your product Click here for more information - https://lnkd.in/dBvqcbZn

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As our smart TV home screens gravitate to global viewing, it stands to reason that expanding the Geo-Block ban on the audio-visual sector must include expiration of regional licences and introduce one single content licence. Not just for Europe, but for every streaming territory as a whole. Although much can be said about content quotas, they are in fact near-sighted to the fact that technology and consumers are driving this demand because of the content choices audiences are making. Netflix features content in over 60 languages, with 80% of the platform’s users claiming to use subtitles at least once a week. This implies that content providers would be compelled to make movies and TV shows unlicensed in one country but sold in a neighbour available on the same streaming service on the same device in Amsterdam or Sydney. For those interested, 'Streaming Without Borders' is a panel topic at this year's Ad Forum event in Sydney. #CTV 🌏

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Channel 4 is the only major UK broadcaster to have grown TOTAL minutes of viewing across streaming and linear in 2024. This year our streaming audience has grown faster than any of the major streaming-only platforms, with a 32% year on year rise in viewer minutes. You might find that hard to believe as it is not always what we think from the media but it is true. Our long-term strategy of prioritising digital viewing and investing in distinctive, British streaming-first content is bearing fruit. This data shows that we can successfully grow our overall audience by attracting new digital natives and migrating existing viewers to digital platforms. https://lnkd.in/e45vKCPT

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From briefing to live event in under a month When the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) & Little Dot Studios approached us at Dizplai to help with The Hundred draft, it was an opportunity to which we couldn't say no. Our mission? Deliver a digital-first broadcast that not only looked stunning but also fostered a two-way conversation with new and existing fans. The goal was clear: engagement drives the narrative. And no biggy, but there were a few variables involved: 75 picks 885 players 8 teams 16 squads Here's what we did: - Custom graphics:  Bold, responsive, easily digestible on any device whilst capturing the vibrant essence of The Hundred. - ⁠Interactive Elements: Creating an inclusive, interactive space for fans, with real-time updates from YouTube live chat and social media platforms integrated directly into the broadcast. - Customised Dizplai Platform: We adapted our platform to handle real-time bespoke data from the draft efficiently. This meant rapid updates for "pick alerts," "team snapshots," and "full squad overviews" could be executed with minimal input from the production team. - ⁠Automation and Ease of Use: We build simple, one-click actions for updates during the live draft, significantly reducing the risk of errors and delays. - ⁠Leveraging Existing Infrastructure: By integrating with the existing digital infrastructure of The Hundred and ECB, we maximised resources without the need for extensive new hardware investments. - ⁠Sponsor Integration: We smartly wove sponsor branding (Sage) and ticket promotions into the graphics, adding commercial value without compromising the user experience. The result was a sleek, engaging live show that not only met the tight deadline but also provided a platform for dynamic fan interaction with over 100,000 tuning in. Not bad for just over 3 weeks! #sportsbiz #sportsindustry #broadcast

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I hope the media bill passed yesterday in the UK government will create the 1m jobs it had the original ambition to create The bill proves that we are well and truely now in the age where streaming isn’t the alternative, it is the main stay of the sector where public service broadcasters and streaming services co-exist If my interpretation is right, then it maybe even legislates for preference to be given on the discovery pages of smart TVs to the PSBs. A bit of a technical challenge on the compliance front for the connected TV manufacturers? I’d be interested to know what Oliver Davies and Timothy Edwards say about that The main thrust of the bill is to remove the threat of state-backed press regulation to support modernising broadcasting regulations for the streaming age The Media Bill, like the Digital Markets, was rushed through following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to call a general election on 4 July In summary the Media Bill’s provisions include: 📺 Ensuring that the apps of public service broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5) are easy to find on smart TVs and other devices 📺 Requiring video-on-demand services such as Netflix to be covered by the Ofcom content code 📺 The repeal of Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act, removing what many see as the threat of Government-backed press regulation 📺 The listed events regime is updated to ensure major sporting events such as the Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup and Wimbledon remain free to air via a public service broadcaster 📺 New rules to ensure the BBC, commercial and community radio stations are available via smart speakers Above all of that for me I hope that the original sentiment of investment and job creation remains.

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#ITVX record month - the value of localisation "ITV’s Euro 2024 coverage, along with a new season of Love Island and a selection of new dramas drove record streaming numbers in June for ITVX, with 375.8 million streams across the month, making it ITVX’s best ever month in streaming, up 54 per cent year on year." It's hard to remember almost 2 years when ITVX was about to launch, there were big questions about its viability in an increasing competitive space, dominated by #global #svods #avods However, ITV has taken the #streaming world in the #UK by storm, and keeps going from strength to strength. It had huge success with the Post Office drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office. Now, with the #euro2024 tournament, viewing was always likely to go up, but it's hardly an anomaly, its on the back of consistent strong performance for ITV. "The 19 Euro 2024 matches on ITV in June were streamed just under 84 million times, with the current season of Love Island up to 76 million streams after 28 episodes, which is up 10 million on the comparable point in the season last year. Including streams to previous seasons which are also available on ITVX, Love Island has delivered over 80 million streams across June. New dramas pulled strong audiences in June including The Flash, the DC superhero series and Arrow spinoff, darkly comedic crime thriller Bay of Fires, and the UK premiere of Orphan Black: Echoes starring Krysten Ritter and Keeley Hawes. Commissioned dramas including Red Eye and Douglas Is Cancelled continue to grow and were also top performers in the period." Yesterday, I posted about Tubi's entrance into the UK, and the huge name they bring. However, ITV has a real mix for UK audiences. They have the big films from Hollywood that will always have an audience. They also have UK commissioned series, reality TV, as well as benefitting from years of presence in the market, with its series and shows having ingrained following in the UK, as any local service would. While the #streamingmedia space seems to get crowded, and competition is intense, its easy to think those with the deepest pockets will eventually triumph. That's not the case. Apple TV is maybe the best example, with cash to burn, but has not threatened #Netflix's domination of the SVOD market. Just because big US global streamers set their eyes on the UK, it doesn't mean that they will be successful. #Localisation is the key driver of growth and success across the world, Netflix has invested heavily in local production, and this has helped them maintain their top spot around the world. I predict there will be no global model, Netflix may lead worldwide, but after that, local players will dominate in their markets, beating out some of the global streamers, because they have their ear to the ground, and target their audience, rather than relying solely on mass appeal. https://lnkd.in/efSc6rqh #tvindustry #mediaindustry #creativeindustries #streamingplaforms

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Security is always a journey and I know some in our industry hate the term 'whack-a-mole', but each time you solve a problem there's someone out there looking for ways to exploit you. The work I've been leading on content security within DAZN for the past few years has been slowly chipping away at the problem of piracy and it's really reflecting when we can talk to rights holders about our successes in concrete terms. What we and our partners have delivered is having real impact. In the spirit of the on-going challenge, we will always have a backlog of work but it feels right to recognise progress. I wish I could be more open about what we've done and perhaps in less public industry events I'll be able to reveal some of the innovations we've worked on. But it's also worth acknowledging that the challenge of reaching the largest audience with the greatest quality, means sometimes you have to think about your priorities differently. I certainly don't like penalising paying customers because of the minority of bad actors.

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Technology can and will fail... I've been working as the TD for the Phillies broadcasts at the Giants this week. For those that don't know, many visiting sports broadcasts now run multiple positions remotely. They differ from show to show but in this case the Producer, Director, Graphics and lead replay were in Philadelphia. In a tie game at the bottom of the 9th, our connection and backup connection to their remote control room failed. The on-site crew immediately took over without hesitation. I began directing, our stage manager helped guide talent through breaks, our secondary replay op took the lead and our A1 worked to regain coms while continuing to mix. The game went to extra innings, eventually ended in a walkoff and the broadcast went off air without a restored connection. The audience never was the wiser. The live production industry, for good reason, will continue to utilize remote and cloud production. But as we geographically spread out the production footprint the need for technical backup solutions and high-quality, versatile labor becomes even more critical for production success. Technology will fail but that doesn't mean the production has to fail with it. #remoteproduction #cloudproduction #technicaldifficulties

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When broadcasting in a failure mode, a station is only as good the redundancy that is in place. Here is a link to my latest article in RadioWorld. https://lnkd.in/eq8-dG8Z

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It's not just us at The Channel Store who think that the TV 📺 business as we know it is under a disruption moment in many aspects. About #DTT, now also Ofcom, UK independent communications regulator also confirms the obvious. The solution is to embrace 🙌 the FAST model = IP streaming + digital advertising. IMHO this is what #FAST truly stands out for... FAST is much more than "nostalgic 🤠🕵‍♂️🧙‍♂️ TV channels" as it was born, it's in fact, the way the linear and AVOD business will be offered in less than 5 years to most of the population in US and Europe (other regions to follow that 👣 too).

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I have good news.. It has been a very rough time for TV production in the UK and across Europe these past few months. I have witnessed first-hand the struggles of production companies, with the lack of commissions, uncertainty in the industry and cost-cutting across the board. This isn’t just about programmes not coming back - it's about the talented and hard-working freelancers and production staff at the heart of TV production not being re-engaged through no fault of their own. But back to that good news. In discussions with production company and studio clients in the last few weeks, I’m seeing definite signs of positivity and optimism, as more commissions start to come through and the networks find new innovative ways to fund programmes. I am not saying we’re fully on the road to recovery, but there are definite green shoots there. I am proud to work on a casting product that helps productions save money, meaning more of the budget can be spent on other parts of the show. Those clients who have worked with Cast It Reach, and dealt with me over the last two years will hopefully agree that we aim to be as flexible on price as possible, and always look to provide a cost-effective solution. We can’t commission shows, but we can help productions get more out of their budgets. Let us help you make great TV. Let's give my dog something to watch.

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Everywhere the broadcast landscape is shifting inexorably from linear to digital and with it the nature of the distribution infrastructure from over the air to internet. But the UK is a beacon in continuing to want to enshrine universal access to public broadcast channels from the BBC, ITV and others. The report points out that even though Digital Terrestrial and satellite delivered households are declining, the resilience of live TV as a shared cultural experience for key moments such as cultural and sporting events has not gone away. While every household in the UK has the right to ‘decent affordable’ internet connection of at least 10 Mbit/s this would be put under strain if there were a sudden switchover to IP. Without greater advances in compression, superfast broadband speed (30 Mbit/s) is more likely to provide a reliable viewing experience but that will cost capital investment. Ofcom point out that if investment or technology advance is not forthcoming then broadband speeds would not be sufficient for a reliable IPTV viewing experience making any imminent abandonment of DTT unlikely. So how the country transitions to a future of increased reliance on broadband networks for video streaming while ensuring availability for all will be a complex decision – and one where technical considerations will likely not be the only factors at play. #DTT #NextGenTV #IPStreaming #Freeview #Freesat https://lnkd.in/e3Gr4swP

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A great piece over on the Audio Network blog about why music is so important in advertising, and why “good enough music”, especially across socials, is a false economy for your brand. If you want to speak about how great music on your content can impact ROI, get in touch!

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Formula 1, Wimbledon & the UEFA EURO 2024 were on this weekend just gone, which naturally leads to a rise in data demands. EE, BT Group & Silverstone had viewers 5G needs covered At Silverstone, the 2024 Formula One® British Grand Prix returned for the 12th race weekend of the season. Meanwhile, tennis tournament Wimbledon is embracing AI to transform the digital fan experience with IBM, having unveiled new AI-powered features for the 2024 tournament that will provide real-time analysis, personalised content and expanded coverage, like never before. #5g #connectivity #userexperience #ai

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Everyone TV partners with TV sets - but government could help more "Everyone TV – the organisation leading the evolution of free TV in the UK – has revealed multiple new #smartTV brands are joining the Freely line-up with Toshiba, Sharp, Panasonic and Metz all confirmed to offer the new streaming service backed by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. The addition of these four new brands means Freely has confirmed six smart TV partners in total. Existing partners include Bush and Hisense, with Freely currently accessible on their 2024 4K smart TV models." Freely is the amalgamation of the UK #publicservice #broadcasters content, although its not clear whether there's only a selection of content found on the #psbs or whether everything you can find on their own #streamingplatforms you can find on Freely too. However, it's already making a mark that they've got agreements with big Smart TV manufacturers. It doesn't seem though that there will yet be an Freely button, rather just an app built into the home screen. However, amongst the brands that have made an agreement with Everyone TV, there are some big omissions, Samsung TV, LG, Roku, Amazon, Google etc. What share of the market do these companies have vs the one that have taken on Freely? It's clear that a majority of smart TV's won't have Freely. Here's where the government in the UK, or a future government via the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, could step in. It could mandate that public service media has prominence on the home screens. It could even mandate a button on controls that would massively increase recognition of Freely and UK public service media, giving them a much needed boost in the fight for relevance against the global streamers. While traditional #lineartv remains relevant, the traditional advantage that psbs had was the primacy on the EPG to always appear at the top. No matter what TV or set-top box, unencrypted or #paytv you would always see BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5. In the world of #streamingmedia, there is no such requirement or equivalent. The government is playing catchup in many areas, and to support the burgeoning UK creative sector, they need prominence as they have on linear. Government has not supported the psbs enough on this, and it should be top of the list of the DCMS to help psbs. It's not just the PSBs that will benefit, it will be the wider UK media industry. #tvindustry #mediaindustry #television #uk #creativeindustries #freelytv #epg #streaming

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Great article by Jan Ozer on what the video codec landscape looks like in 2024. Overview on video codec efficiency, cost, usage and more. #videocodecs #streamingvideo #streamingmedia #broadcast

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