Andrew Wallenstein

STREAMING BUNDLES: Is the cable box making a comeback!? Subscriber churn remains an issue for SVOD services – 42% of US streaming subscribers report that they “'regularly subscribe, cancel and resubscribe,” according to Ampere’s Media Consumer survey covering 1Q24. But bundling streaming services can have a significant impact on mitigating the issue. Ampere cites Disney subscribers as an example: Consumers who had previously churned and then returned to take the Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ bundle are 59% less likely to churn within 12 months than those who take Disney+ alone, based on 1Q23 sign-ups. Ampere also found that US resubscribers skew younger (aged 18-44), are more likely to be in family households, and are typically avid media consumers. And with that wide media diet, the cohort is 40% more likely than average to exhibit signs of subscription fatigue and 21% more likely to desire unified access to content across different services. Which makes bundles, Ampere concludes, a key strategy in subscriber retention. The cable box is making a comeback! This time, it's on your mobile device$!

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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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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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Mobile Wireless Data using TV Signals: A few asked for the link to the calculator demonstrated @ ATSC. https://lnkd.in/eFeWtJ6U

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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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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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Broadcast codecs in dog years: *MP2: 217, MP4: 161, HEVC: 77, VVC: 28

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Reclaiming FAST Channel Revenues – The future of television is bright and brimming with potential, thanks to the innovative model of ad-funded streaming TV. This modern approach to broadcasting, known as Free Ad-Supported Television (FAST), is revolutionizing the industry by offering viewers high-quality content at no cost. The key to the success of FAST lies in its ability to bypass the traditional, often inefficient, programmatic ad-trading systems. #broadcasting #broadcast #fastchannels #ott #streaming https://lnkd.in/eT7-2b5u

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📺 **Battle for the Living Room**   The race to dominate the smart TV operating system (TV OS) market is heating up, with major players like Roku, Google, Amazon, Samsung, and LG vying to enhance user experience and capitalize on new business opportunities through data and advertising. Despite this fierce competition, a key question emerges: do consumers actually care about which OS their TV uses? 📊 **Market Potential**   At the StreamTV Show in Denver, experts discussed the benefits of owning a TV OS, such as controlling user data and enhancing ad revenue. Analyst Alan Wolk noted that around 40% of smart TVs globally lack a dedicated TV OS, presenting a significant market opportunity. Even small gains in market share can translate to substantial financial rewards, making the competition highly lucrative. 💡 **Consumer Preferences**   Panelists at the event debated whether consumers prioritize the TV OS in their purchasing decisions. Google’s Rob Caruso argued that factors like size and price still dominate, with the OS being a secondary consideration. However, Vizio's Katherine Pond and LG's Matt Durgin highlighted that content availability and user experience offered by the TV OS could influence consumer choices, particularly for those seeking quality and value. 🎬 **Content and User Experience**   Ultimately, while the current focus for consumers might not be on the specific TV OS, the content and seamless user experience provided by these systems are crucial. Companies like Vizio and Samsung emphasize the importance of offering desired content and a smooth interface, hoping that improvements in these areas will eventually drive consumer preferences toward specific TV OS platforms. #TV #TVOS #Streaming #SmartTV

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💲 Media giants made more headway on the path to streaming profitability this earnings season. 🤑 Over the past two years, price hikes and password-sharing crackdowns, ad-supported tiers, and mass layoffs have all shaken up the industry and brought companies closer to streaming profits. ❌ But the majority of companies still don't make money in those divisions, and investors remain skeptical that profit can be sustained. Here's what we learned after this latest earnings season... Yahoo Finance #streamingwars #money #profits #business #news #finance

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Very good insight! I agree, the landscape is shifting. Adapt or die. As a TV and movie production company we can align with the streaming platforms, and with half a dozen companies reach HALF of the entire world's population. By doing so we can also control our own destiny and costs. That is alluring. The media distribution marketplace will dramatically change in the next 36 months. Is there a place for cinema, theatres, streaming, and other alternative delivery methods to co-exist? Time will tell, we all adapt, we all evolve, that is the nature of business. Here is a prelude of things to come...

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The streaming landscape is evolving at a breakneck pace, and it's interesting to see how industry leaders envision its future. The recent NY Times article, "The Future of Streaming (According to the Moguls Figuring It Out)," https://lnkd.in/gTRq3eZ2, dives into the minds of top media executives to predict who will survive, die, thrive, and how they'll do it. As we all know, for those of us in the media and entertainment sectors, staying abreast of these trends is crucial for shaping our strategies and ensuring long-term success. Is Peak TV over? Are we past the second golden age of content? And how does sports fit into all of this?

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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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Cumulus Expense Cuts Coming • What cuts Cumulus had to promise to re-fi their debt. • What about selling existing assets? • The Cumulus employees most directly caught in the crosshairs of this deal. • How it affects executive pay. • The unusual timeframe of these promised cutbacks.

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