Ethan Sacré

📺 Apple will introduce a new version of its streaming television operating system, tvOS 18, later this year, featuring character-driven data and a dialogue enhancer. 🎬 The new feature, InSight, allows streamers to see timely updates about actors, characters, and music offered through Apple TV Plus content, integrating directly with other Apple services like Apple Music. 🗣️ Enhanced Dialogue will utilize machine learning and computational audio to deliver greater vocal clarity over music, action, and background noise on various devices including Apple TV 4K, HomePod, iPhones, and iPads. 🌍 Other features in tvOS 18 include smarter subtitles, updated screen savers, a revamped Apple Fitness Plus app, better integration with smart home devices, support for 21:9 aspect ratio videos on projectors, and improvements to FaceTime and Continuity Camera for video conferencing. #svod #ai #apple #tv https://lnkd.in/eAgubRGC

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Sometime the losses are justified. Reporting losses for tax benefits or cancelation of productions in an effort to save money on new union laws. Increasing wages always reduces total jobs available. It's an economic impossibility to do other wise. (We did a live stream on that). Disney reported a loss last year but also spent nearly 10 billion buying majority share of Hulu. Their loss was almost the same as the purchase. All that to say it's not entirely corporate greed that got him a raise but his ability to cut and save the company money in the future at the expense of a temporary loss. The one thing we have to stop is the sin of envy and this idea that some people don't deserve what they are paid. Some do. John Williams SHOULD be paid more than a composer right out of film school and it's ridiculous to believe otherwise. The same is true for CEOs.

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The UPROXX newco is a smart media M&A rollup. Music and culture focus + a strong leadership team. I'm bullish on them doing well by *brands and fans*, and getting immediate revenue traction based on their WMG YouTube media sales partnership. In my newsletter tomorrow, I explain my insights on the deal, key questions I'm asking, why I think UPROXX STUDIOS is setup for success. For now, let's review the key deal details... UPROXX STUDIOS OVERVIEW • A new “brand solutions studio” that “connects brands with talent, cultural arenas, and audiences”  • Founded by media veterans Jarret Myer (CEO), Rich Antoniello (Exec Chairman), and will.i.am (Chief Visionary Officer) • Result of acquisitions of Uproxx, HipHopDX, Dime Magazine, and other Warner Music Group media assets • Reaches 170M+ monthly US visitors and generates 12B+ monthly US video views POST DEAL OPS • “Expect significant investments in our brands, team, and the experiences we offer” • Includes the excl license to represent WMG’s YouTube inventory for all US media sales  • Will integrate will.i.am’s FYI AI tech and FYI radio into ops UPROXX DIVISIONS • Uproxx – Millennial-focused culture media brand and production co (acquired by WMG in 2018) • HipHopDX – Digital mag of hip hop music criticism and news (acquired by WMG in 2020) • Dime Magazine – Digital mag of American basketball lifestyle (acquired by Uproxx in 2015) • FYI – productivity tool designed to serve Creatives. Combines messaging and collab tools with file mgmt and content pub features NEWCO VALUE PROP  • Access to A-list stars via WMG YouTube inventory + UPROXX superfan communities gives brands and advertisers new ways to participate in music culture • FYI AI tech will enable creation of AI StoryLabs, a new branded content and social media mgmt unit within UPROXX Studios  • "Merging the agility and freedom of an independent entity with the reach and resources of a major music label.” UPROXX HISTORY • f/k/a as Uproxx • Founded 2008 by Jarrett Meyer and Brian Bater (also co-founded Rawkus Records in 1996) • Acquired by male-focused media ad network Woven Digital in 2015 • Rebranded to Uproxx Media, Jarrett became GM • Bought by WMG in 2018 • Price undisclosed, but previous Uproxx Media investment was ~$43M • Value prop of acquisition was to “create engaging new experiences for young consumers, global promotional possibilities for brands, and innovative marketing opportunities for artists” • WMG exec Max Lousada and Uproxx co-founder Jarrett Myer used to work together at Rawkus Records WMG RELATED HISTORY • Announced 600 layoffs in Feb 2024, incl potential sale of Uproxx and HipHopDX • Also wound down its podcasting brand Interval Presents and social media publisher IMGN • Overall faced challenges in its O&O and digital brand sales biz -- I'm the founder of RockWater Industries. We do M&A and strategy advisory for media, agencies, and creator economy. My DMs are open.

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Content is still 👑 king 👑 in the streaming wars! Netflix commissioned its highest number of new global originals since Q3 2021, reaffirming its commitment to original content. According to Ampere Analysis, Netflix and Amazon dominated global commissions in Q1 2024, accounting for 53% of all new titles. Their strategy? Focusing on local content from regions like Germany, India, Korea, Spain, and Thailand to meet diverse audience demands and drive growth. 🌍📈 Netflix's surge in global originals highlights the ongoing power of unique, localized content in capturing viewers' hearts worldwide. https://lnkd.in/eC8M2xYK #StreamingWars #ContentIsKing #Netflix #Amazon #GlobalOriginals #AmpereAnalysis #MediaInnovation #Streaming

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Is this our opportunity to work together? I am officially on the market and looking for a new full-time role in the direct-to-consumer space. * My primary focus is to leverage my 8+ years of SVOD, AVOD, and FAST streaming experience in a new senior level Marketing, Strategy, or Operations role in Entertainment. Given my past success in multiple other consumer and technology sectors, this transition may also be an opportunity to leverage my expertise in a broad range of consumer categories that I am passionate about beyond Entertainment – including Music, Podcasts, Gaming, Consumer Electronics, Software SaaS, Fitness, Food, Nutrition, Health and Mental Health. I am fortunate that every new role I have landed in the past 17 years has been a direct result of my amazing network of colleagues. I look forward to networking & reconnecting. Thanks in advance for your support! HOW CAN YOU HELP? 1.   Please Comment, Share, or Repost to amplify this announcement 2.   Keep me top of mind as you see or hear of new opportunities 3.   Message me here with links to roles, referrals, or introductions to hiring managers that you think are a fit ABOUT ME: 💼 Seeking VP, SVP, or C-level roles in Marketing, Strategy, Operations. 🌎 Located in Los Angeles. Open to roles in California, New York, Colorado, Texas, Mexico, and EMEA. ⭐ I’ve previously worked at Screambox, Crackle, TV4 Entertainment, Inc, NortonLifeLock, United Online, Inc. and HP. * For those who missed it, unfortunately CSSE filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on July 10. CSSE was the parent company of Crackle, Redbox, Screen Media, and Halcyon. This abrupt ending has put approximately 1000+ great people on the job market – including me. #OpenToWork #Streaming #D2C #DigitalMarketing #PerformanceMarketing #Retention #MyTrueLALife

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It's NOT. But what this really is about is a call-to-action and reaction to the industry earthquakes of the past year or so. One thing's clear: It's never going to be same again. And to be honest, things will probably be worse for a while longer before they get better - if they even do get better. But we have to change. We have to adapt. That's just the way it is, folks. #animation #cartoons #cartoonnetwork https://lnkd.in/gn3T-9fP

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Global on-demand audio streams surged by 15.1% to a staggering 2.3 trillion in the first half of 2024, marking a significant uptick in the music streaming industry. Within this total, U.S. streams accounted for 665.8 billion, showcasing an 8% year-over-year increase. Interestingly, the U.S. streams represent less than 30% of the worldwide total, signaling accelerated growth in international markets. This rapid expansion is not only reshaping the industry but also driving music content IP revenue upwards. #MusicStreaming #MusicIndustryGrowth

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Do not miss my latest article in OTTVerse on the the global growth of sports viewing on FAST/AVOD and how the consumption of sports content has undergone significant transformation!

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Some interesting reading in the new BPI All About the Music 2024 report that came out today. Most notably, independent record labels in 2023 increased for a sixth consecutive year. This can only be good news. Also its a nice breath of fresh air as the TikTok/UMG saga continues to roll on, that has been the most damaging to the actual up and coming artists. Check out some of the facts and figures from the report through the link in the comments. #music #musicreport #musicindustry

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Netflix had another impressive earnings call yesterday, adding another 8M global subscribers in Q2 (total now 277M) and further cementing its spot as the #1 streaming service in the world. Other key takeaways: 1. Revenue of $9.56B and operating income of $2.6B 2. Coming Q3: New TV homepage ("biggest update in a decade") 3. Quote on streaming competition: “The challenge for so many of our competitors is that while they are investing heavily in premium content, it’s generating relatively small viewing on their streaming services and linear continues to decline,” the company notes. So going forward, “we believe our biggest opportunity is winning a larger share of the 80%+ of TV time (primarily linear and streaming) that neither Netflix nor YouTube has today.” 4. Bundles: 'Yes' with Mobile providers, pay TV providers & device manufacturers, but 'No' when it comes to other SVODs.

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I have mentioned #moreivn several times. I want to clarify what exactly morei-vn is and why it needs to exist. If you are a talent in the Media & Entertainment industry, the issues we are trying to address are: • A CompCard alone barely describes your entire work experience. • Organizing your work portfolio on Drive is troublesome. Even with a good folder structure, there will always be cases where it doesn't serve you well (I've tried for over 3 years and have seen multiple talents' portfolios over 3 years). • Most file management systems (Drive, Dropbox, etc.) are just "storage." They do not describe or structure your work to serve the purpose of "promoting" you. • Due to the nature of entertainment work, you often need to update your work portfolio. Some talents update their portfolios weekly. Systems like LinkedIn or similar platforms are not designed for this type of use case. • Social media is a good place to showcase your work, but it lacks searchability. Unless people have time to browse your posts and images, the chances of losing their interest and them dropping off are high. --- What I want to do is create a space where you can centralize all your works in one place with a simple and beautiful user interface that allows you to present your entire portfolio at any time, any place, to anyone. Additionally, I will provide my assistance in guiding you on how to structure your portfolio and profile to make it compelling and captivating. and that is what got morei.vn to start its path. The portfolio of these careers are what morei-vn is going to support: ○　Acting profile (film, VOA, TVC, any kind), ○　Modeling profile (fashion, commercial, any type), ○　Hosting profile (MC, Gameshow hosting, etc), ○　Media profile (Podcast guest, Gameshow guest, etc) ○　Influencer profile (KOL/KOC, etc.) ○　Idol profile ○　Singer, Dancer profile ○　Cosplayer profile morei-vn is still in its close-beta period so you can create a new account by contacting me or the Page (well, it is still me there). It is a startup product that I combine all of my coding experiences, agency experiences, graphic design experiences, BizDev experiences into one, and this product. Let's show out your talents through well-designed Portfolio!

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Deepna Devkar, Ph.D. what a treat having you on the podcast! If you’ve ever wondered what goes into building your personalised experience on Max, this is the episode for you. Tune in to hear from one of the minds leading the build of the platform experience!

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Had a great time speaking on the “How Gaming is Revolutionizing Entertainment” panel!  I shared a few proof points (see below) – especially interesting given the uncertainty surrounding theatrical releases, streaming subscriber growth and superhero premieres.  Bottom line:  Players want more of the characters, stories and worlds they love! 🎮 ARCANE / LEAGUE OF LEGENDS – The first entertainment move from Riot Games gave players what they’d been asking for – stories that bring the world to life in ways as compelling and dramatic as the gameplay itself.  Created by two OG Rioters as a love letter to fans, Arcane premiered in 2021 as a Top 10 Netflix series in 87 markets, won Netflix and Riot their 1st animated series Emmy🏆 – and blew away everyone’s expectations. 🎮 THE LAST OF US – The 2023 premiere of this close adaptation of the 2013 narrative game was HBO’s 2nd largest series premiere since 2010, pulling in 4.7 million viewers Day 1 and 40 million viewers in 2 months – and bringing home 8 Emmy wins🏆. 🎮 FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S – The 2023 day-and-date PG-13 movie release based on the 2014 game brought tweens and tweens to theaters on opening weekend – 81% of the audience was 25 years old or younger, 58% male and 42% female – for a shared fright-night experience that ultimately earned $296 million at the global box office and ranked as the #1 horror movie of the year and #1 Blumhouse release ever🤯.  The over 25 year old crowd opted to stream at home, giving Peacock its #1 viewership and subscriber release to date in the US. 🎮 THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE – This 2023 theatrical release based on the 1985(!) game drew in a 4-quad audience and grossed $1.3 BILLION at the global box office – the 1st gaming adaption to break $1B at the box office – and ranked as the #1 Illumination movie ever (bigger than Minions and Despicable Me, and erasing the the disappointment of the 1993 Super Mario movie)🤯. 💡My recommendation to entertainment development execs for opportunities beyond console gaming?  Look to Roblox for original IP hits with built-in audiences (and give me a call to help build out a robust 360 global franchise😉). Shoutout to fellow speakers Derick Tsai , Darion Lowenstein and Jasper Brand who offered amazing insights and recommendations for IP developers looking to expand their footprint and raise funds.  And thanks to moderator Justin Shenkarow for posing great questions and Alfie Rustom for organizing the event!

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Top 5 Takeaways from Sony's Potential Acquisition of Paramount for Digital Marketers in Entertainment • Enhanced Cross-Entertainment Strategy: Sony's acquisition of Paramount would bolster its content IP across gaming, movies, TV, and music. Paramount's iconic franchises could drive new cross-media opportunities. • Expanded Content Supply Deals: By adding Paramount's extensive catalog, Sony could strengthen its content supply deals with major streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney, offering a more diverse array of movies and TV shows. • Gaming and Media Synergies: Paramount's IP could be seamlessly integrated into PlayStation games, resulting in new game adaptations and attracting a broader audience. Imagine playing games featuring iconic characters from Paramount's franchises! • Comprehensive Subscription Services: Sony could introduce a bundled subscription that includes games, TV shows, movies, and music. This all-in-one entertainment package would appeal to a wide range of demographics and boost Sony's subscriber base. • Ad-Supported Tiers and Monetization: Integrating Paramount's ad-supported streaming services with PlayStation Plus could introduce a new ad-supported tier. This approach would attract users who prefer free content supported by ads, opening new revenue streams for Sony. How do you think Sony’s strategy of integrating Paramount’s IP and content into its existing services could reshape the competitive landscape in the entertainment industry? Share your thoughts! #DigitalMarketing #EntertainmentIndustry #Sony #Paramount #ContentStrategy

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Spotify is evolving into a social network for audio, beyond just music streaming. 🎶 Podcasters can now engage with listeners directly through comments, alongside interactive features like Polls and Q&As. 📊 This follows the app’s 2023 revamp, which added a TikTok-like discovery feed, artist profiles for merchandise and concert tickets, and story posts. 📸 Apple tried a similar approach with Ping in 2010, a social network for music that failed, and later with Connect, which also didn’t last. ❌ Unlike Apple, Spotify hasn’t made bold declarations about building a social network but has gradually introduced features to make the app more social for creators and fans. 👥 #socialmedia #musicstreaming #spotify #productinnovations #userengagement

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Great article from Rob Wile at NBC News on why FAST services like Pluto TV or Tubi are already incredibly successful and why we are still scratching the surface of something way bigger🚀 💵 .Ross Compton, CFA provides a spot-on analysis that resonates with our vision a decade ago when we spearheaded the FAST market with Pluto TV. "It’s a repackaged version of the old method of distribution, noting that the original broadcast networks were all supported by advertising and the only investment a viewer had to make was in a TV set and an antenna. Now, it’s the same thing, just over the internet. The demand for FAST channels is sustainable — for one simple reason. You really can’t beat free." (Ross Compton, CFA) Free and easy access combined with high-quality content shaped the golden age of TV. The same ingredients are needed for FAST, even if we needed to rethink channel programming and curation in the new era of internet, social networks and the overabundance of video content. Same is true for advertising, it has funded so much of the best TV content over the decades. FAST advertising is like TV advertising but with more data, targeting and measurement! So YES, there is such a brillant future in front of the FAST business! 📺 #FAST #PlutoTV #Tubi #NBCnews #fastchannel #Avod #streaming

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Ad-free streaming is getting more expensive! Earlier this month, HBO Max increased its ad-free tier prior to the House of Dragon premiere. And, Peacock's ad-free tier is expected to see an increase ahead of the Olympics. It's no secret that these price hikes are strategically timed and meant to push more people to ad-supported viewing. Why? Because they can make SO MUCH MORE money by selling advertising vs selling subscriptions. Tell us, have you opted for less expensive ad-supported streaming options, or are you still paying a premium to avoid ads? Check out Marketing Brew's article about these price hikes: https://lnkd.in/gCyG9ev3 #steaming #streamingadvertising #mediatrend #streamingtrend

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