Instant Replay: Streaming Media Connect 2024

Streaming Media presented its 13th Connect virtual conference February 19 - 22, 2024, with media industry cartographer Evan Shapiro as host and MC. Shapiro kicked off the event with a dynamic keynote, digging deep into the Q4 earnings call data to hold the spin doctors accountable and giving an unvarnished view of the industry. Other highlights included a keynote by Dana McGraw of Disney, titled Disney Advertising, Understanding Audiences: How Disney Advertising Leverages Data Science and Insights to Empower Advertisers, plus several panels covering topics such as app streaming UX design, scaling CTV advertising, measuring FAST success, and AI.

Ad Tiering Pays Off as 36% of Subscribers Level Up to Avoid Ads

Landmark study of 5,000 American subscribers shows the impact of ads, bundling, and password-sharing crackdowns on the US subscription economy

Fubo Sues The Walt Disney Company, Fox Corp., Warner Bros. Discovery, and Affiliates for Antitrust Practices

Fubo filed an antitrust lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company, FOX Corp., Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. and their affiliates today, alleging that the vertically-integrated media companies have engaged in a years-long campaign to block Fubo's innovative sports-first streaming business resulting in significant harm to both Fubo and consumers. The complaint alleges that the forthcoming launch of a sports-streaming joint venture steals Fubo's playbook and is the latest example of this campaign.

New Report Shows Only 13% of Consumers are Opposed to Ad Tiers in Streaming

A new report from CX platform DISQO examines in detail how consumers are currently feeling about ad-supported streaming tiers. Their findings offer an insightful backdrop for the unexpected growth of Netflix subscriptions in tandem with Amazon Prime's limited advertising launch. David Grabert, DISQO's VP of Brand and Communications, answers questions by Streaming Media's Tyler Nesler about the specifics of the report and what it says about today's competitive CTV advertising market.

How to Optimize Family Co-Viewing, Create Dynamic Partnerships, & Know When to go IO or Programmatic

What are some of the best approaches for advertising strategies that incorporate both direct and programmatic partnerships, and how can advertisers looking to expand their reach best optimize the rising trend of co-viewing experiences? Jennifer D'Alessandro, Head of Ad Sales and Marketing at Future Today, a leading CTV monetization solutions provider, provided some key insights into these current trends in the streaming marketplace.

Entertainment Industry Enters Age of Austerity

More than 260,000 global technology-sector employees were laid off in 2023 from 1186 companies, some 100,000 more than in 2022. The most recent is Amazon, which has announced job cuts in Prime Video and MGM Studios divisions together with 500 staff, a third of the total, from gaming platform Twitch. 

Fubo Launches Fubo Radio, a FAST Channel Radio Experience Powered by Super Hi-Fi

Fubo has partnered with Super Hi-fi to launch Fubo Radio, a suite of 10 custom audio FAST channels. Launched as part of Fubo's base channel plan, Fubo Pro, Fubo Radio is the first radio experience created from the ground up for an OTT service, with a TV-first interface and music programming specifically created for Fubo's U.S. audience. But will this new service stand out from other streaming radio platforms and build its own unique audience? FAST industry experts Chris Pfaff and Jonathon Barbato provide some insights.

State of Streaming Autumn 2023 Survey Report Launches

Newest version of twice-annual report expands on "pain points" and growth patterns, available for download now.

Evan Shapiro Holds the Spin Doctors Accountable in the M&E Third Quarter Earnings Reports

Evan Shapiro pulled no punches in his opening keynote for Streaming Media Connect 2023, digging deep into the Q3 earnings call data to hold the spin doctors accountable and providing an unvarnished view of the industry you won't see anywhere else. Read Part Two of our highlights from his presentation.

Evan Shapiro Separates Fact From Fiction in the M&E Third Quarter Earnings Reports

Major media and entertainment companies' quarterly earnings calls ought to pull back the curtain on what's really happening in the industry, but they routinely bury unflattering numbers in expert spin, and the press on hand rarely ask questions tough enough to draw out the real story. M&E industry cartographer Evan Shapiro pulled no punches in his keynote for Streaming Media Connect 2023, digging deep into the Q3 earnings call data to hold the spin doctors accountable and providing an unvarnished view of the industry you won't see anywhere else.

Next is NOW - Part Two of Evan Shapiro's NAB NY Keynote Address

Read Part Two of our breakdown of media cartographer Evan Shapiro's in-depth NAB NY analysis of the existential threats that the M&E industry is facing. Evan used his unique way of viewing the data flowing through the media and entertainment industry's ecosystem to present a distinctive understanding of what's occurring and where things are headed.

From NAB NY - The Business of FAST: Monetization, Market Saturation and Viewer Engagement

FAST services have many options for monetization and viewer engagement strategies, such as audience targeting through curated channels and managing third-party platforms. In a recent panel discussion from NAB NY 2023, executives from AMC, Cox, Vevo, and Moloco weighed in on the current state of FAST and how their organizations are working to improve viewer engagement and monetization.

Dispatches from Demuxed 2023, Part 2: Low-Latency Ad Insertion

Demuxed 2023 (Oct. 24-25, San Francisco), is the premier peer-organized and peer-approved video developer conference. This two-day conference covered a lot of topics. Here's my summary of a presentation on dynamic, low-latency ad insertion.

Dispatches from Demuxed 2023, Part 1: Updating Ad Delivery

Demuxed 2023, which took place Oct. 24-25 in San Francisco, is the premier peer-organized and peer-approved video developer conference. There's supposed to be no marketing at the event. Although the first person I ran into was a sales rep, much of the time I spent there was listening or talking with technical contacts. The most interesting presentation for me was from Pluto.

Evan Shapiro Says “What’s Next” for the M&E Industry Is Already Here at NAB New York 2023

In his keynote address at NAB New York, media cartographer Evan Shapiro emphasized the existential threat that the M&E industry is facing. Audience consumption behaviors and business models are being disrupted. Evan used his unique way of viewing the data flowing through the media and entertainment industry's ecosystem to present a distinctive understanding of what's occurring and where things are headed.

At Home with Family Handyman Now Streaming on Samsung TV Plus

The community-driven entertainment company Trusted Media Brands (TMB) recently made its popular FAST channel, "At Home with Family Handyman," available on Samsung TV Plus. Jill Goldfarb, SVP of streaming at TMB, discusses the strategic gains of adding the channel to Samsung TV Plus, how they view possible competitors such as YouTube more as partners, and how they best optimize user data for personalized viewing experiences.

Wall Street Declares Netflix is Back - How the Streamer is Thriving Through Diversification, Personalization, and Optimization

With Netflix's surprisingly positive Q3 reportings, Wall Street has declared that "Netflix is back." Despite rapidly rising living costs, the streamer has managed to reduce churn and gain new subscribers by cracking down on password sharing, recently launching an advertising tier, making it easy for users to pause their subscriptions rather than cancel, and adding more diversified and personalized programming options.

The 2023 Streaming Media Readers' Choice Awards Finalists

More than 1,200 readers voted in 18 categories. We'll announce the winners in the November/December issue of Streaming Media, but here's a tease—the top three vote-getters in each category. And you just might be surprised at the names you see.

Samsung Art Store Brings Salvador Dalí Masterpieces Into Homes Worldwide via the Samsung Frame TV

Daria Greene, Curator for Samsung Art Store, discusses The Special Collection - curated by Samsung and sourced by Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí, which brings 12 iconic, surrealist paintings to The Frame TV by Samsung.

Spotify Remains Number 1 Music Streamer

Launches CTV ad business with Roku, expands audiobook inventory and doubles down on AI with huge room for growth identified by researchers Kantar