In the pre-streaming age, video delivery and consumption were simpler. Feeds consisted of fixed content transmitted from a single source to a broad audience via cable or broadcast networks, and there was little room for targeted segmentation. Fast forward to today, and audiences are scattered across multiple streaming platforms, channels, and devices. This has meant that media companies face the challenge of creating diverse experiences that capture their attention while also tailoring content to deepen engagement — all while maximizing profitability.
Ateme – Reducing streaming’s carbon footprint through innovation
The video streaming industry, which now accounts for 60-80% of global internet traffic, is facing increasing scrutiny due to its significant contribution to carbon emissions. According to a report from The Shift Project, internet activity is responsible for approximately 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, a figure that is expected to rise as demand for streaming services grows. This surge in video consumption has driven the expansion of data centers, network infrastructure, and consumer devices, all of which add to the industry’s environmental impact. In response, companies like Ateme and other video processing vendors are focusing on innovations such as advanced video codecs, efficient compute platforms, and AI-driven optimizations to reduce data size, energy consumption, and overall carbon footprint in the streaming ecosystem.
Agile Content – How TVaaS empowers telcos and ISPs to seamlessly enter the TV market
In the ever-evolving and highly competitive telecommunications landscape, delivering high-quality TV services has become a critical factor for success. However, for Tier 2 and Tier 3 telcos and Internet Service Providers (ISPs), entering the TV service market presents a daunting challenge. The obstacles are numerous, ranging from limited infrastructure and technical expertise to significant capital investment requirements. Building and maintaining a robust TV platform demands not only substantial financial resources but also continuous content management and the agility to respond to rapidly changing consumer preferences. For many smaller telcos and ISPs, these challenges result in either subpar TV services or an inability to offer these services at all. Studies have consistently shown that households with bundled TV and internet services exhibit significantly higher retention rates compared to those with standalone services. For instance, a recent report by Deloitte revealed that 40% of consumers are more likely to stay with their current provider if they are satisfied with their TV service. This customer retention is crucial for smaller telcos and ISPs operating in a saturated market, where competition is fierce and customer loyalty can be hard to secure. Offering a compelling service can act as a significant differentiator, helping these companies retain customers who might otherwise switch to competitors offering more comprehensive service packages.
Accedo – Is AVOD really all the rage?
AVOD has garnered a lot of attention over the past few years, with some sources forecasting that its global market will reach over 71 billion USD by 2030; a significant increase compared to the 28 billion USD reported in 2023. Changes in user spending habits and a challenged microeconomic climate have certainly played a role in accelerating adoption but do ad-funded business models really deserve all the hype? Keen to understand the latest consumer trends and preferences, Accedo recently carried out a survey of 2,000 global consumers to assess the appetite for ad-funded versus subscription-based video streaming services, also examining what constitutes a good ad experience. The findings were somewhat surprising.
Zixi – Factors contributing to the TCO of streaming at scale
In the dynamic world of video streaming, media organizations are constantly seeking efficient and cost-effective solutions to manage their large-scale implementations. One of the key metrics that has to be met to validate any purchase decisions is Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). And, like Maslov’s famous Hierarchy of Needs, TCO analysis must start with foundational requirements.
MISTV – The latest developments in managing rights and royalties
As the broadcasting business becomes more and more focused on efficiency – as is the case in all industries – changes in the administration of rights and royalties are not fundamental in their nature but are generally motivated by economic effectiveness. For a number of years, broadcasters have focused on maintaining as small an inventory of purchased rights as possible; currently there is increasing focus on this to further drive economic efficiency. However, this minimalization still has to provide the necessary flexibility to enable changes in broadcast planning so that broadcasters can react to competitors in order to achieve the best, or desired, position in the market by using the inventory in the most effective way. In the case of commercial broadcasters, they also have to secure the flexibility to respond to the market situation with the aim of maximizing their revenue.
MediaKind – Is the cloud a no-brainer for broadcasters today? It’s not as simple as that…
Broadcasters and telecommunications companies are facing a seismic shift. The traditional powerhouses of Pay-TV services and over-the-air broadcast television are witnessing a change in viewing as consumers increasingly gravitate towards subscription and ad-supported streaming video. This progressively changes the balance of the importance between traditional and streaming services, even from the same provider. The shift demands a re-evaluation of media supply chains and infrastructures, leading many broadcasters to contemplate a move to the cloud.
MainConcept – Can ad-funded services reinstate the golden age of streaming?
In the early days of streaming, subscription costs were low, and viewers were spoilt for choice by series after endless series of top-quality content – think House of Cards, Orange is the New Black and Stranger Things to name just a few. It was this promise of low costs and a seemingly never-ending stream of top-quality content that helped to entice consumers away from cable TV. The steady growth in subscriber numbers allowed for an unprecedented number of new shows to be ordered, which in turn helped to bolster growth. Many dubbed this the era of Peak TV. Streaming services reached record breaking subscriber numbers in 2020 as a result of the pandemic. Netflix reportedly added an extraordinary 36 million subscribers in that period which led it to pass the 200 million mark for the first time.
Edgio – Driving media experimentation with flexible streaming technology
The media and entertainment landscape is changing rapidly, driven by increased fragmentation and growing competition. On top of constant pressure to report positive revenue growth with limited staffing and resources amid macro-economic challenges, streaming services need to be more flexible than ever to drive business success. Today, experimenting with multiple cost points, service tiers, and viewing models like SVOD, AVOD, and FAST is paramount to attracting and growing the widest audience possible.
Chyron – The streaming shake-up: what’s next for media companies and tech vendors
The rise of the mega streamer has brought the broadcast media industry into a period of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. The acronym VUCA first described the complex and challenging geopolitical situation in 1987 following the Cold War, and now aptly defines the current media landscape. It’s an environment characterized by volatility in that challenges are unexpected and sometimes incomprehensible; by uncertainty in that change may happen, or not; by complexity in that it is influenced by numerous variables; and by ambiguity in that causal relationships can be difficult or impossible to define.