Will Page

As our smart TV home screens gravitate to global viewing, it stands to reason that expanding the Geo-Block ban on the audio-visual sector must include expiration of regional licences and introduce one single content licence. Not just for Europe, but for every streaming territory as a whole. Although much can be said about content quotas, they are in fact near-sighted to the fact that technology and consumers are driving this demand because of the content choices audiences are making. Netflix features content in over 60 languages, with 80% of the platform’s users claiming to use subtitles at least once a week. This implies that content providers would be compelled to make movies and TV shows unlicensed in one country but sold in a neighbour available on the same streaming service on the same device in Amsterdam or Sydney. For those interested, 'Streaming Without Borders' is a panel topic at this year's Ad Forum event in Sydney. #CTV 🌏

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Digital Games Radio Stations Are Playing • One group is so desperate, it is investing in this thinly disguised digital venture – with no evidence it will work. • What any honest market manager will reveal (off the record) about their radio group’s latest digital incentives. • The games stations are playing with digital revenue numbers (don’t get any ideas). • Market managers beware – high pressure corporate tactics are coming. https://lnkd.in/eMyWDi5j

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UK #tvindustry - Lulled into a sense of security? "According to Evan Shapīro older viewers are likely to stream less and use less social video, but they’re watching “substantially more” broadcaster than younger audiences. “They also make up a greater percentage of the population and viewing audience in the UK than they do in the US, and so, their habits influence total viewing in a disproportionate manner. But this will not last forever.” Shapiro’s theme is the pressure awaiting broadcasters as demographics change. There is a sizable gap in viewing habits for the populations over and under 35. Streaming is growing at its fastest among eldest UK viewers; and a simultaneous drop in #Broadcast and #paytv, even with viewers older than 35." The UK TV market is moving towards #digitalisation, with BBC talking about going 100% digital within 10 years. In a recent Omdia survey, BBC iPlayer ranked 2nd in the UK to Youtube, and ITV registered more views than Disney. So digitally, the UK market is making moves towards streaming. And yet, I think in a few years with the demographic shifts, #publicservicebroadcasters will see less viewing, and the sentimental feelings that older generations and millennials like myself feel for the wide variety of content probably will be diluted. We grew our attachment to BBC and other channels through watching them through #lineartv it doesn't feel the same to younger generations. How to make the switch to digital is one thing. How to keep that emotional connection is another. It's not even traditional global #svods that are the rivals anymore as the research points out "With Millennials and Gen Z, YouTube and TikTok now rank first and third, bookending Netflix, and ahead of all broadcasters and pay-TV providers. In the first half of 2024, for all audiences under 35, YouTube pulled in more viewing time than all the Broadcasters – combined." Now, it would be great to see how much TikTok and YouTube data was from the #psbs that would really give insight into the state of consumption. On guess though, I'd say it would be negligible. So, the strategy can't just be focused on competing with Netflix, Disney etc. but the giant #socialmedia and #videoplatforms This message isn't just for #broadcastmedia but one for the government, regulators and the #mediaindustry as a whole to see the new reality. I was also interested to see Shapiro describe the BBC as "the only reliable, global, independent English-language video news organisation on the planet" I actually believe that there other independent media organisations that are also as reliable. It doesn't take away from the fact that from an American point of view, it shows the value and impact the British public service broadcast news to provide impartial, factual news, rather than the hyper partisan echo-chambers the US is all to used to. #newsmedia #news #tv #television #mediaindustry https://lnkd.in/eqQV6P3P

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Welcome to the great Media collapse.  We have now left the time of Peak TV, expansion in China, massive budgets for serial comic book movies and the growth in streaming. Hollywood is not seen as a growth industry, and as the streaming wars shake out, media is heading into a new era of contraction.  For the past twenty years I have made a great living as a freelance editor. Looking ahead to the next ten years, I see too many people chasing a much smaller pie, and I’ve decided to go in a different direction. During a family discussion my son said “but wait, don’t you LOVE your job.”  Its true, I do love my job, but a job is different than a career and with the way the industry is going, I don’t see the same career in the future that I have had till this year. Which brings me to a big announcement.  I have been a real estate investor for years, and have decided to share all the knowledge I have sponged up to help people.  Buying real estate can be the doorway to creating generational wealth. Buying your house is the biggest purchase you will make in your lifetime.    But buying real estate means getting loans, and banks tend to be enormous institutions who use every bit of leverage they have over you to increase their profits.  You might have a good relationship with people at your bank, but they have no competition if you are an unknown to all the other banks. That’s why I have chosen to become a Mortgage Agent, working for an independent Brokerage.  By using a Mortgage Agent suddenly you have access to dozens  of lenders, all of whom are competing for your business. As a homeowner I’ve had to learn though making mistakes and having near misses on catastrophes, luckily you don’t have to, I’ll share every bit of knowledge I’ve acquired over the years with you, and its all for free.  https://www.joelroff.com https://lnkd.in/eRu_EYwc

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📢 🇬🇧 Ofcom Report on the future of DTT & Universal TV 📜 On 9 May, UK regulator Ofcom published a report on the future of TV distribution, looking into market changes that may affect Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT). ✅ Key findings: ✔ people are spending less & less time watching TV broadcast over DTT ✔ Distribution costs over broadband & DTT are rising, at some point it might no longer be economically viable to support DTT ✔ Ultimately this is a threat a to the universality of public service TV ✅ Ofcom sets out 3 broad approaches to delivering universal TV in future: ✔ Investment in a more efficient DTT service ✔ Reduce DTT down to a core service (e.g. main PSM) ✔ Move towards DTT switch-off over in the longer term (2030s) 💡 What is needed? 📅 A clear & careful planning to ensure that no audiences are left behind.  🤝Cross sectoral collaboration. 🆘 Significant consumer support. 👉 A must read report for EPRA members, particularly those who also, like the UK, have major DTT infrastructure underpinning their broadcasting ecosystems

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#TheFutureOfTV remains TV, but with innovative delivery and monetization methods. It's not about cheapening the experience or earning less due to poor technology. #FAST and #FASTChannels need a new format to manage losses, but audiences demand quality. The future lies in maintaining traditional TV routes while leveraging PMP #AdTech to boost advertising and revenue, reaching 10x more devices. Let's stop reinventing TV to fix programmatic issues that harm content studios and broadcasters. Instead, let's uphold the #GoldStandard and keep it simple. #futureoftv #contentisking #broadcasting #streamingmedia #streamingtv #ctv

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This Substack post on offers a very perceptive but depressing analysis of the economic challenges facing those trying to do good reporting. It is US focused but pretty much all the same issues apply here too: “New technology — AI, social media, smartphones, etc — keeps driving down the cost of producing BS while the cost of obtaining quality information only goes up.” https://lnkd.in/e4cZZM62

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For me, the semantics here say everything. First up, the word 'newsroom' is an anachronism. The term is legacy and the entity unscalable — and anything that can’t scale is in trouble. The use of the word 'versus' is also revealing. If the MSM retain this bunker mentality, there is only one winner. Clue: he builds electric cars on the side. To truly transform, the newsroom has to morph into a newsplane, which is decentralised and co-powered by citizen journalists from the bottom-up. The newsroom of the future is everyone and everywhere. Journalists work alongside citizen journalists and vice versa. That collaboration results in faster news, truly impartial news and more democratic and shareable news. To remain relevant, news publishers have to decentralise. If they don't, if they try to fight the platforms and remain centralised, they're going the same way as the dinosaurs. cc: Jukka Väänänen

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Want to learn how to get up to 100% of your film budget covered through combined rebates and credits? 🎥💡 I break down the strategies for combining different state aids and credits across Europe to maximize your film financing. Whether you’re looking to reduce costs or secure funding for your next project, this is a game-changer! 📽️ #FilmFinancing #BudgetOptimization #EuropeanCinema #FilmProduction

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I read an article stating that "the association has brought together various individuals and companies in the music industry to form what it says will be 'a discussion network and the testing panels for some of the newest progressive technology ideas orbiting the music space.'" The traditional music industry is struggling to remain relevant, attempting to maintain a sense of importance and control over jobs and titles by forming alliances with other industry groups that clearly lack understanding of the Web3 music space. The facade is clear now. Throughout my life, I've been misled by the notion that these so-called "Respected Industry Executives" possess some superior knowledge. As I've matured, I've come to realize that this was never true. In the context of Web3 music, this reality is even more apparent. Web3 is an entirely new frontier, and the critical components of Web3 music are notably absent from this article. Prominent names and groups in the industry are quick to claim expertise, but their past and titles do not make them "EXPERTS" in Web3; they are simply misleading others down a future path of uncertainty. This is not the future of Web3 music. There is so much to learn. It's time to believe in yourself and stop believing everything you read and hear without critical examination. STAY POSITIVE!

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The brilliant Ben Keen recently published a report about the state of UK film financing for the British Screen Forum in which he outlined some of the trends he’d spotted over the past 10 years including total spending across all film and High-End Television (HETV) production, the average budget of inward investment vs. domestic (British) films, the number of films funded by public service broadcasters and the key role they play in talent incubation. Germane to OTT, Ben also talked about films backed by legacy Hollywood majors vs. those part, or fully, financed by the global streamers. For example, over the four years to 2022, Netflix was involved in the financing of more UK films than Warner Bros, Disney and Universal combined. We’re going to discuss some of some of these findings at this Thursday's OTT Question Time Online (24 October, 4pm UK / 5pm CET). Together with Ben, Anwen Griffiths, Head of Legal & Business Affairs at BBC Films, and Amanda Groom, founder of The Bridge, we’ll also explore: - Some of the acronyms, terminology and financial incentives involved in content production (especially useful, perhaps, for those of us from a pure OTT background!) - Applying a wider lens, the film & HETV markets in South Korea, the US, Asia and LATAM - Content production business models - The impact on investment of the streamers now increasingly focusing on profits rather than growth - And the outlook for content producers worldwide over the next five years Season 5, Episode 6 of OTT Question Time Online will be streamed live at 16:00 UK / 17:00 CET on Thurs 24 October. Register to watch live and engage in the conversation! https://lnkd.in/e2Qch-9u

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Here at #TheBridge we consult with content creators and leading broadcasters/ streamers on new and innovative commercial routes to funding for TV, film and programming budgets. Where once long form, linear TV led the way, now gaming first-models are leading IP development and funding can be found in brand partners and VC investment before some commissioning editors come on board a project. As the television industry shifts from B2B to D2C there are multiple routes to audiences for content creators. If you are wondering how to bridge this new world, enter The Bridge Report. 🌉 This resource will serve as a compass for navigating the current turbulent waters of commercial growth for TV producers. It's not just data – it's a narrative of proven models working with producers and funding, programmes and commissions and eastern and western content markets. The report will delve into topics such as where and how to find funding for production budgets and how to work in increasingly global markets. The Bridge Report will provide actionable insights that can help you steer your own success through these choppy changes! Please get in touch if you'd like to know more. 💻🤝 Remember, knowledge isn't power until it's applied. #co-development #co-production #co-operation #content #tvproduction #productionindustry #finance #tv

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Everyone TV partners with TV sets - but government could help more "Everyone TV – the organisation leading the evolution of free TV in the UK – has revealed multiple new #smartTV brands are joining the Freely line-up with Toshiba, Sharp, Panasonic and Metz all confirmed to offer the new streaming service backed by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. The addition of these four new brands means Freely has confirmed six smart TV partners in total. Existing partners include Bush and Hisense, with Freely currently accessible on their 2024 4K smart TV models." Freely is the amalgamation of the UK #publicservice #broadcasters content, although its not clear whether there's only a selection of content found on the #psbs or whether everything you can find on their own #streamingplatforms you can find on Freely too. However, it's already making a mark that they've got agreements with big Smart TV manufacturers. It doesn't seem though that there will yet be an Freely button, rather just an app built into the home screen. However, amongst the brands that have made an agreement with Everyone TV, there are some big omissions, Samsung TV, LG, Roku, Amazon, Google etc. What share of the market do these companies have vs the one that have taken on Freely? It's clear that a majority of smart TV's won't have Freely. Here's where the government in the UK, or a future government via the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, could step in. It could mandate that public service media has prominence on the home screens. It could even mandate a button on controls that would massively increase recognition of Freely and UK public service media, giving them a much needed boost in the fight for relevance against the global streamers. While traditional #lineartv remains relevant, the traditional advantage that psbs had was the primacy on the EPG to always appear at the top. No matter what TV or set-top box, unencrypted or #paytv you would always see BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5. In the world of #streamingmedia, there is no such requirement or equivalent. The government is playing catchup in many areas, and to support the burgeoning UK creative sector, they need prominence as they have on linear. Government has not supported the psbs enough on this, and it should be top of the list of the DCMS to help psbs. It's not just the PSBs that will benefit, it will be the wider UK media industry. #tvindustry #mediaindustry #television #uk #creativeindustries #freelytv #epg #streaming

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The headlines on Ofcom's latest consumer research have focused on the demise of linear broadcast viewing by younger demographics, but another interesting finding is the strong growth in viewing of those same broadcasters' video-on-demand platforms (so-called BVoD). According to Barb Audiences data, overall viewing of BVoD services grew an impressive 29% in 2023 to 20 mins per person per day, raising the proportion of total broadcaster viewing coming from BVoD services to 13%, up from 10% in 2022. The BBC leads the way with 18% of its content now being viewed on iPlayer. And there was even a positive trend amongst the 16-24 yr age group who increased their viewing of BVoD services in 2023 by 9% to 12 mins per day. Overall, however, this positive streaming story does not compensate for the decline in linear broadcast viewing for BBC, ITV, Channel 4, or Channel 5; Sky bucked the trend with increased linear & streamed viewing.

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The Cumulus compensation ploy • May 2nd Cumulus had their annual shareholders meeting and they were not talking about what their angry investors did. • They approved one thing – their account firm. • When asked to re-elect their board of directors, a surprising and resounding outcome. • The company is still laying employees off and shrinking operations so when they asked shareholders to show a financial vote of confidence in them, an even greater surprise. • What’s really going on here – a questionable debt exchange deal, a second bankruptcy and a growing rift between investors and their top management. https://lnkd.in/gQRZYCWq

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