IABM Buying Trends Report

This report biannually tracks financial performance and trends in the media sector to enable companies to track their customers’ performance and keep up with emerging trends in media technology demand.

Report Methodology
The information analyzed in this report is derived from both quantitative and qualitative research carried out by the IABM Insight & Analysis team. The primary evidence used in this report is:

  • Quantitative Evidence: Public and private financial data of media companies gathered and analyzed by IABM
  • Qualitative Evidence: Survey evidence on technology buying trends and issues gathered and analyzed by IABM

IABM Gold and Platinum members have access to the fully interactive version of the report with engaging charts enabling you to drill deeper into the data. (To download a PDF of the report, please click the Standard Member Access button below).

Silver, Silver100+ and Start Up members have access to the PDF version of the report.

Report Contents

Executive Summary

Financial Performance

Business Sentiment

Revenue Sources

Media Tech Investment

IT Technology

Media Tech Adoption

Collaboration

Industry Outlook

Appendix

Report Contents

Executive Summary

Business Sentiment

Media Tech Investment

Media Tech Adoption

Industry Outlook

Financial Performance

Revenue Sources

IT Technology

Collaboration

Appendix

LATEST REPORTS

June 2020

Key Highlights

  • Confidence remains at a high level throughout the industry despite all the change affecting the media technology sector, including the implications of the COVID-19 outbreak

  • While media companies' revenues from traditional broadcast operations continue to decline among all end-users, OTT and streaming services are becoming increasingly important new sources of revenue for more traditional media companies. During the COVID-19 outbreak, streaming consumption has skyrocketed globally, which has led several OTT providers to even cut the quality of their streaming

  • Advertising and licence fees/government funding remained the biggest primary revenue sources for most technology buyers, followed by subscriptions. The general sentiment about advertising is still relatively optimistic, but an increasing number of end-users relying on traditional TV advertising-based business models are feeling financial pressure, as advertisers shift toward digital advertising on OTT platforms. During the COVID-19 pandemic, advertising revenues have dropped significantly, according to several commercial broadcasters

  • As media companies move toward direct to consumer business models, spending on an operational basis enables them to better respond to the changing market conditions and competition. During the COVID-19 outbreak, cancellations of live events and scripted productions have caused a negative shock in hardware revenues. The crisis has also had a negative impact on permanent licences, whereas the demand for software subscriptions has increased

Executive Summary

  • Sales growth decreases from 9.3% to 3.1% while profit growth remains negative at -3.1% - slightly down from -2.4% reported in H2 2018

  • Confidence remains high with 74% of respondents saying that they are positive about the business environment, down by four percentage points compared to six months ago

  • 21% of technology users derive the vast majority of their revenue (more than 80%) from traditional broadcast operations although most expect this to change

  • Efficiency remains the most important driver of product purchase, followed by total cost of ownership and agility
     
  • Multi-platform content delivery is the most important priority for technology users followed by 4K/UHD
     
  • Investment in building internal capabilities for technology development continues to increase

  • Cloud, UHD, and AI rise while Blockchain is still at an early stage of adoption at 2%

  • 92% of end-users say that interoperability is important

Executive Summary

  • Sales growth improves from 5.3% to 9.3%
     
  • Profit growth remains negative at -2.4%
     
  • Confidence remains high with 78% of respondents saying that they are positive about the business environment

  • Efficiency remains the most important driver of product purchase, followed by interoperability and agility

  • Multi-platform content delivery is the most important priority for technology users followed by 4K/UHD

  • Cloud, UHD, and AI rise while Blockchain is still at an early stage of adoption at 3%

  • 98% of end-users say that interoperability is important

Executive Summary

  • Sales improve from 2.8% to 5.3% while profit growth deteriorates from -0.3% to -2.6%
     
  • Confidence remains at a record-high with 83% of respondents saying that they are positive about the business environment

  • 51% of technology users derive at least 61% of their revenues from traditional broadcast operations although most expect this to change

  • Efficiency remains the most important driver of product purchase. 4K/UHD is the most important priority for technology users although multi-platform delivery remains the top priority for broadcasters

  • Investment in building internal capabilities for technology development continues to increase

  • Cloud, UHD, and AI rise while Blockchain is still at an early stage of adoption at 2%

  • 97% of end-users said that interoperability is important

Executive Summary

  • Sales growth declined from the 9% reported last year to 3%

  • Confidence is at a record-high despite increased competitive pressures

  • 44% of end-users derive at least 61% of their revenues from traditional broadcast operations

  • Efficiency remains the most important driver of product purchase

  • The majority of end-user media technology Capex budgets is being spent with IT companies

  • The outlook for UHD spending significantly improved – 14% have launched UHD offerings

  • 98% of end-users said that interoperability is important

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HISTORICAL REPORTS

Executive Summary

  • Sales improves from 2.8% to 5.3% while profit growth deteriorates from -0.3% to -2.6%
     
  • Confidence remains at a record-high with 83% of respondents saying that they are positive about the business environment

  • 51% of technology users derive at least 61% of their revenues from traditional broadcast operations although most expect this to change

  • Efficiency remains the most important driver of product purchase. 4K/UHD is the most important priority for technology users although multi-platform delivery remains the top priority for broadcasters

  • Investment in building internal capabilities for technology development continues to increase

  • Cloud, UHD, and AI rise while Blockchain is still at an early stage of adoption at 2%

  • 97% of end-users said that interoperability is important