Jon Watts

Transparency is a concern for buyers of streaming ad inventory. The challenge often begins with buyers dedicating substantial budgets directly to streaming platforms, marking a departure from the conventional TV landscape where advertisers typically concentrate their buying efforts directly with networks and channels. #FAST #CTVAdvertising https://lnkd.in/g4SPkYW5

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Quality Over Quantity in FAST Channels Users may have been initially drawn to free streaming services, but they're staying for the high-quality content. Analyst Gavin Bridge notes a slight slowdown in new FAST channel creation, yet growth continues with over 5,000 channels across 18 platforms in the U.S., up by 1,129 from last year. This shift towards prioritizing quality ensures ongoing user engagement and satisfaction. #Streaming #ContentQuality #FASTChannels #MediaTrends #DigitalGrowth

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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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The stage was set at the NAB Show 2024. Hundreds of products battled for supremacy in the ever-evolving streaming video arena. Tensions were high as the industry's elite judging panel meticulously evaluated each offering. Then, a true champion emerged from the fray. Vimond's VIA App Builder captivated the experts with a perfect fusion of power and elegance. Features that dazzled: - Lightning-fast development capabilities that make deploying streaming services across devices a mere formality. - An interface so intuitive even a novice could wield its might. - Unparalleled content management that monetises like never before. In an epic clash of innovation, the VIA App Builder reigned supreme – conquering the "Next TV" category to seize the coveted Best of Show honour. A thousand competitors stood in awe. This was more than just an award. It was a statement of Vimond's unwavering commitment to streamlining video streaming for the modern era. An undisputed mark of quality that will shatter industry conventions. The victory horn has sounded. All others have been put on notice. Brace yourselves for the VIA App Builder's continued dominance, as it leads content creators to a new era of broadcast supremacy. https://lnkd.in/gssvefKG

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ICYMI - The Week In Review looks at why most of The Trade Desk's "Top 100 Publishers on the Open Internet" list consists of streaming TV services and networks with URLs and why the list resembles a big consumer brands' media plan circa 1987. We also look at Nielsen's plans to measure Lionsgate's FAST channel and wonder why we're the only ones asking "Okay, but how?" https://lnkd.in/e8kpPVBE

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📺 The Battle for Your TV Screen: The OS Wars! TVREV's latest report dives deep into the high-stakes world of smart TV operating systems. As streaming becomes dominant, control over the TV's interface is the next frontier. The stakes are HIGH – controlling the OS means dictating viewer interaction, gatekeeping content, reaping variable kinds of ad revenues, and harnessing viewer data. The OS Wars are being fought globally by three main groups: 1. Home Electronics Manufacturers (Samsung, LG, VIZIO) 2. Internet Giants (Google, Amazon, Apple) 3. Independent & local TV OS Makers (ZEASN's whaleOS, Xperi's TiVO) According to the report, what makes a great TV OS? Some 🔑 factors: 🔹 Responsiveness & speed 🔹 Natural language voice search 🔹 Personalized content discovery 🔹 Integration with smart home features 🔹 Innovative ad formats 👑 One thing is for sure: the company that can best navigate the complex landscape of content, data, and user experience will have a major advantage in the living room of the future. Download The Report 👉🏻 https://lnkd.in/ek8yTYAT #TVOSWars #StreamingWars #ConnectedTV #SmartTV #IPTV #Broadcast #Television

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The Meaning of vinyl outselling CDs • Physical sales keep growing but there is a hidden problem about streaming music that labels are about to address. • 3 strategic ideas music radio stations can employ to get in on the trend. • How young consumers are in the midst of changing the way they enjoy music (again). • The user-generated tools that will soon become available to allow music fans to control the speed of the music they hear and these other factors. • TikTok and Instagram Reels have forced a new approach that will make sure labels get paid. https://lnkd.in/eX4aKwQc

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Whether to merge or bundle with each other, or to bend the knee to #Google, #Apple and #Amazon, a good article about the decisions that await the media industry and their streaming businesses. I tend to believe old will be new again with bundling and a return to the wholesale model. #bundling #streaming #media

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"Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success." - Henry Ford In my recent interview, I highlighted the game-changing potential of our new CTV traffic direction. This innovation stems from long-standing partnerships, emphasizing how collaboration fosters breakthroughs. Partnerships are the bedrock of innovation, enabling us to pioneer unique offerings that drive performance and reshape the industry landscape. #PartnershipPower #InnovationLeadership

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Here at #TheBridge we consult with content creators and leading broadcasters/ streamers on new and innovative commercial routes to funding for TV, film and programming budgets. Where once long form, linear TV led the way, now gaming first-models are leading IP development and funding can be found in brand partners and VC investment before some commissioning editors come on board a project. As the television industry shifts from B2B to D2C there are multiple routes to audiences for content creators. If you are wondering how to bridge this new world, enter The Bridge Report. 🌉 This resource will serve as a compass for navigating the current turbulent waters of commercial growth for TV producers. It's not just data – it's a narrative of proven models working with producers and funding, programmes and commissions and eastern and western content markets. The report will delve into topics such as where and how to find funding for production budgets and how to work in increasingly global markets. The Bridge Report will provide actionable insights that can help you steer your own success through these choppy changes! Please get in touch if you'd like to know more. 💻🤝 Remember, knowledge isn't power until it's applied. #co-development #co-production #co-operation #content #tvproduction #productionindustry #finance #tv

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I couldn't agree more with Jason Kilar, CEO of WarnerMedia prior to the Discovery takeover: the #streaming business can be incredibly attractive for media companies and investors. Kilar recently quoted Charles Darwin, stating, “It’s not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." We see this natural selection playing out in the #Media industry today. Some companies are adapting, while others are leaning back. To be clear: there is a path to growth, scale, and attractive margins for legacy media companies in streaming. But it requires leaving behind many old management practices and thinking and embracing change and innovation. #Strategy #BusinessGrowth #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #MediaEconomics #Netflix #Leadership #Investing

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“We need to rediscover the origins of journalism which was based on news, to find out something that was not supposed to be found out. Every real journalist is driven by that, not wanting to aggregate information that is out there anyway. Reporting, coming up with something new, unknown, is the essence of the business.” Yeah, ok great. But then, what happens once you've succeeded at that mission and published something new? Thanks to your open funnel sending that info to OpenAI, they can now regurgitate it on their own platform(s). I would love to know if these deals include mandates for a link back to the actual source and limitations around how the content can be reshaped, retold and reshared. Are there any protection preventing your data from third parties who use OpenAI technology to create junk AI sites that create pink slime copies of a copy of a copy. I get publishers may look at the "pact with the devil" as a better alternative to the devil just taking what he wants with no pact. But, we need to be smart here. Our future depends on it. #ai #media #journalism #artificialintelligence #openai #genai

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Over the weekend, James Cridland posted an article highlighting the recent data showing that #streaming of AM/FM (not #radio writ large) has overtaken OTA in the UK. It's an interesting read that sheds light on the nuances of the situation given the deployment of DAB (a technology we do not rely on here in the US.) What does this mean for #stations here in the US? We've seen a steady increase in the share of the audience consuming their favorite stations via the #digital stream over the last 5 years. In fact, some demographics now register over 25% of their listening of #AM/FM radio through digital streaming platforms. As mentioned in James' piece, multi-platform #distribution and a dedicated strategy around your digital footprint will be critical to your stations success in navigating these changes. If you're a station or #broadcaster needing guidance on your digital strategy, let Maz Man Media, LLC be your guiding hand. We're here to help!

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https://lnkd.in/gEAqnvC7 As #radio sharpens its pitch for prospects in today’s competitive, fragmented #media world, it would do well to talk up the value of its #crossplatform listeners. This is the subset of your audience that consumes content over the air, online and via podcasting. These audio superfans are twice as likely than average to make a purchase after hearing #audio ads, according to an Audacy X-Platform Audio Survey, conducted by Suzy Insights in June 2023. “The universe of people who flow between linear radio, streaming content and #podcasts all day long is growing by leaps and bounds,” Audacy CMO Paul Suchman writes. Referencing The Infinite Dial 2023 from Edison Research, he says these super listeners have grown by 66%. Tech-savvy multitaskers and digital natives, they’re an attractive group for advertisers. They skew younger (60% are GenZ and Millennials), are financially comfortable (67% more likely to have household incomes over $110K), and highly educated (52% more likely to have a college degree). Importantly for advertisers, cross-platform listeners are highly trusting and engaging. “Brands that utilize cross-platform audio—over-the-air (OTA) radio, streaming and podcasts, together as part of their media strategies—are realizing better campaign performance, better full-marketing funnel metrics and most importantly, better outcomes for their businesses,” Suchman writes in “How Cross-Platform Audio Delivers For Advertisers.” To back up those claims, he offers a case study of a Hyundai campaign that ran consistently for a year across radio, podcasts and streaming. It included host-read ads targeting auto intenders in key lifestyle groups. Using creative testing from Veritonic, Hyundai evaluated sonic branding, voices and messages. The results: a 7.4 point lift in purchase intent and a 10.4 point jump in favorability among female listeners. In another example, a campaign for a major sportsbook ran radio and podcast ads, allowing the client to test single channel and cross-channel audiences to compare the performance of their cross-platform strategy. The unnamed brand saw a 7% lift in awareness, a “significant increase” in favorable attitudes, and a 24% lift in intent among existing consumers and 14% lift for prospective audiences.  Most significantly, cross-platform listeners outperformed their single-channel counterparts by a landslide, which Suchman said proves “the undeniable power” of cross-platform audio advertising. “While incorporating one audio channel will bolster every media plan, those that include radio, streaming and podcasts are real game-changers for return on spend and for creating exceptional outcomes for your business,” he concludes.

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News is out that Beachfront is now part of Seedtag - but what does it mean? Seedtag is enhancing its contextual solutions to provide highly relevant and engaging content across all screens with: 🤝 Contextual Targeting + Premium CTV to reach highly relevant audiences with laser precision. 🍿 Expanded CTV inventory providing a broader range of premium CTV placements. 🔒 Privacy-first advertising that delivers putting user privacy regulations first. 💡 Deeper audience insights with more effective campaign planning and optimization. Ready to push the boundaries of #CTV advertising? Discover more: https://lnkd.in/eXsKpwBf #BeachfrontxSeedtag #ConnectedTV #ContextualAdvertising

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Folks, If you wondering how to get your CI program started, then join Fouad Benyoub - his session will start shortly! You can also catch it later on via simulcast. join us free - https://vcapax.vfairs.com #competitiveintelligence

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