Manik Bambha

News is out that Beachfront is now part of Seedtag - but what does it mean? Seedtag is enhancing its contextual solutions to provide highly relevant and engaging content across all screens with: 🤝 Contextual Targeting + Premium CTV to reach highly relevant audiences with laser precision. 🍿 Expanded CTV inventory providing a broader range of premium CTV placements. 🔒 Privacy-first advertising that delivers putting user privacy regulations first. 💡 Deeper audience insights with more effective campaign planning and optimization. Ready to push the boundaries of #CTV advertising? Discover more: https://lnkd.in/eXsKpwBf #BeachfrontxSeedtag #ConnectedTV #ContextualAdvertising

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As Paramount Global evaluates its strategy for all of its linear and streaming assets, multiple sources tell me that Pluto TV’s co-founder and current CEO of Paramount Streaming has been in discussions with the company about repurchasing it. These discussions started before the Skydance deal was announced, but I’m told no valuation has been placed on Pluto TV, and no official offer numbers have been exchanged. Interestingly, during the Paramount Global all-hands meeting on June 25th, employees say the company didn’t mention or include any reference to Pluto TV during the newly announced go-forward plan. Those who sat in smaller internal meetings also say the brand was absent from the discussions. Since the Skydance deal was announced, Skydance has featured Pluto TV as one of the six core pillars of the company on slide ten of its presentation. However, that doesn’t guarantee that Pluto TV, or any other content brand, will be part of the company going forward. During a call with investors after the Skydance deal was announced, Jeff Shell stated, “Current management is also talking about a couple of transactions that, if they get the right price, we’ll be supportive of.” So Paramount Global’s current management team can sell off assets and make deals they think will help the new management team as long as the new management team is consulted. Full story: https://lnkd.in/eNuRDyxi

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Chaupal OTT, a rapidly growing platform in the digital streaming industry, has announced the elevation of Mahesh Sharma to the position of President – Revenue Strategy, Strategic Partnerships & Alliances. This marks a significant step in Chaupal OTT’s strategic growth and expansion plans.... Read More At:- https://lnkd.in/giAJAAUa Chaupal OTT Maheshh K Sharma #chaupalott #streamingindustry #MaheshSharma #revenuestrategy #OTT #news #NewsUpdate #newsfeed #dailynews #IBWNews

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“Warner Music CEO Robert Kyncl says metadata issues make the industry more susceptible to AI in his NMPA meeting keynote: “It takes the teeth out of things.” Metadata problems have been a continual thorn in the side of music rights holders for the last two decades. When performing rights organizations (PROs) can’t accurately match a track’s metadata to its use, artists and their contributors miss out on hard-earned revenue. Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl wants to bring those issues to light for the industry to solve, and he’s got some suggestions for going about it. At the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA)’s Annual Meeting in New York on Wednesday (June 12), Kyncl was interviewed by NMPA President and CEO David Israelite, during which the Warner exec was asked for his views on positive reform in collection societies. “One of the things that troubles me personally is that we’re basically collecting digital revenue the way we’ve collected analog revenue for decades. The speed of it; everything is the same,” said Kyncl. “That’s something we all collectively can do better and I think that will help songwriters tremendously.” “There’s a wealth of repertoire ownership information that sits with the collection societies, PROs, the [Mechanical Licensing Collective] and not everything matches perfectly,” he explained, calling for the industry to enable collection societies worldwide to collaborate in order to solve the continued issue of unmatched data. Kyncl stressed that reducing the amount of mismatched data is “incredibly important, not only for a faster flow of money today,” but for the music industry down the road as AI technology continues to grow. “If we set the rules of the road correctly with the platforms, it will have to depend on ownership information,” he added. “It’s one of the things that we really need to focus on.” Read the full article for more: #Metadata #PROs #CMOs #MLC #WarnerMusicGroup #WMG #NMPA #MusicRights #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Music #MusicBusiness #Musica #MusicIndustry #Musique #Musik #MusicBiz

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I just published two podcast episodes (🎙103: https://lnkd.in/gKh5FDjP -- 🎙104: https://lnkd.in/gqqhbA72) that cover all the data from a long list of Q2 earnings from media companies and vendors, as well as highlights of the massive amount of content and sports news over the past two weeks. For Episode 103, Mark Donnigan and I detail the key data and numbers from Roku, Comcast, Charter, Fubo, Vimeo, Harmonic, and Alphabet's Q2 earnings. We also discuss the most recent developments in content news, including Venu's pricing, the NBA agreement that permits Disney to air alternate broadcasts, the $4.7 billion antitrust conviction against the NFL that was overturned, and Diamond Sports' agreement to bring its RSNs back to Comcast's cable TV subscribers. We also detail Netflix’s news that it is seeking to raise $1.8 billion in a new debt offering, Disney’s price increases, Dolby suing Roku, Amazon suing Nokia, Gcore raising $60 million in series A funding, and Dolby Laboratories acquiring THEO Technologies. Listen here: 🎙 https://lnkd.in/gKh5FDjP In Episode 104, we recap Q2 Earnings Numbers From WBD, Paramount, Disney, EcoStar, Vizio, Akamai, Fastly, Brightcove and Lionsgate. We discuss the key points from Q2 earnings involving media companies and vendors, highlighting DTC subscriber additions and losses, profit and loss, cord-cutting, WBD and Paramount writing down the value of their TV businesses, and highlight how media stocks have performed over the past 12 months. We also explain crucial financial terms like GAAP, non-GAAP, EBITDA, OIBDA, and EPS, making it easier to understand how these companies report their finances to Wall Street. On the vendor side, we detail how security and compute revenue now represent 66% of Akamai Technologies' total revenue, Fastly cutting full-year guidance and laying off 11% of the company, Brightcove and Kaltura’s revenue growth being flat and the challenges some vendors are having in growing their media businesses while continuing their efforts to keep costs down. Listen here: 🎙 https://lnkd.in/gqqhbA72

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The #OlympicGames stand out as a truly unique #streaming event, unparalleled in both the volume of content and the vast global audience it attracts. Streaming providers understand that delivering an outstanding user experience is crucial to meet the expectations of their viewers. To achieve this, they must effectively manage various workflows and processes throughout the entire content lifecycle. Successfully navigating these challenges requires a comprehensive and adaptable infrastructure solution that integrates scalable networking, computing, and storage capabilities. Check out this blog from industry experts Matthew George and Marco Zacchello, discussing discuss how #DigitalInfrastructure services can help streamers scale capacity quickly and cost-effectively to support major events.  

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If the FAST space was the Garden of Eden, Pluto TV is Adam. Thanks to major media companies like Paramount, FAST has the programming depth of cable for the monthly cost of Broadcast. With the variety of ways to access programming; from Streaming to Cable/Satellite, Main Street has a ton of choices and Madison Ave has a ton of questions. Hot take inspired by the article... Vanity v Sanity: - Vanity: Subs and MAUs, great that folks open the service, but in an ad supported industry, time spent creates supply. - Sanity: Who's the audience, how much inventory are they are generating, what are they actually watching (transparency) and how is it packaged? While we work in a business that trades time for treasure, there are nuances to how supply is bundled and sold.... vanity numbers allow us to rank and provide some type of order, but it's the sanity metrics that keep our marketplace healthy. Thanks to our company's mission of entertaining and informing the masses since 1912 we have: pioneered the motion picture, was 1 of 3 networks that brought sight, sound and motion into homes, personalized TV at the advent of Cable and entered the streaming battlefield in 2014 with Pluto and then CBS All Access, now Paramount+ ... so when I see the word "originals" as a reference point of quality and advantage I wonder beyond the "vanity" of it and think - Can we put our brand partners in the path of loyal fans, consuming long form content, across the entire pay model from Free to Paid, while making it easy and most importantly, successful? The answer is Yes, in part thx to our commitment to bulking up and marketing PlutoTV, but mostly b/c we have the endurance to produce popular content in volume and we know how to program in order to attract, retain and engage our audience 24/7/365... ultimately resulting in the "Sanity" of it all.. an enormous amount high thread count supply in well lit environments. cc: Paramount Advertising

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Vizio Q2 2024 Earnings: Growth of streaming users slowly. Added only 200,000 SmartCast Active Accounts, down from 800,000 in Q1, to end Q2 with 18.8M. Platform+ net revenue of $169.4M, up 19% y/o/y. SmartCast ARPU of $35.39 (trailing 12 months), up 16% y/o/y. The number of hours streamed per average SmartCast Active Account was flat in Q2 from Q1. VIZIO shipped 1.2M TVs in the quarter, up 15% y/o/y. Earnings release: https://lnkd.in/ecmBzwWh

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The latest report from 2024-2031 Global Subscription Video Forecasts has just dropped some insights that will reshape the SVOD landscape as we know it. Here’s the inside scoop: 📈 The numbers don't lie: SVOD revenue is set to skyrocket by a staggering $117 billion over the next 8 years, marking a monumental shift in the industry's financial trajectory. 💰 From $109.6 billion in 2024 to a jaw-dropping $226.2 billion by 2031, the forecasted cumulative revenue growth paints a picture of unprecedented expansion and opportunity in the SVOD market. 🔍 Dive deep into the report, and you'll uncover a treasure trove of strategic foresight, illuminating key trends and growth patterns that will shape the industry's evolution in the coming years. 👴🏼 The secret sauce behind this revenue surge? It's all about those silver streamer (consumers aged 55+) adoption rates driving price increases that cater to their needs. It's time for the industry to tap into the potential of this demographic and watch the revenue soar. 🔥 But that's not all – the report highlights the crucial role of engaging and retaining younger consumers through innovative ad-supported models. This isn't just about today; it's about cultivating tomorrow's loyal subscribers. 💡 As the SVOD market matures, revenue growth is evident, surpassing the increase in subscriber accounts. The future lies in a sustainable market model that leverages efficient monetization strategies. 🌟 Tim Mulligan, lead video analyst at MIDiA Research, boldly declares that the unsung heroes of streaming TV – Apple, Comcast, and Paramount – are destined to outshine the rest. Paramount, in particular, is poised to beat the revenue growth rate by leaps and bounds, showcasing the power of premium IP and engagement tools in the quest for subscriber retention. 🔮 Looking ahead, Ben Woods, video analyst at MIDiA Research, foresees a pivotal shift towards profitability as TV streaming services explore ad-supported tiers to widen their revenue mix. The challenge? Captivate the entertainment spenders of the future and transform casual viewers into dedicated subscribers. In a world where content is king and streaming reign supreme, the SVOD realm is on the verge of an exhilarating transformation. Are you ready to ride this wave of innovation and disruption? 🌟📺🚀 ttps://https://lnkd.in/gfQGiztB

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Ever feel like you need a decoder ring just to understand the streaming industry? With all the acronyms flying around like SVOD, AVOD, OTT, FAST, and TVOD, it can feel like you're drowning in alphabet soup! 🍜🤔 #AcronymOverload

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Scoop: The owner of video games franchises like "Red Dead Redemption" and "Grand Theft Auto" is looking to offload its mobile app-focused adtech asset Chartboost. Take-Two Interactive wants to sharpen its focus on premium, or AAA, games -- including on mobile. Read Business Insider for more details on the potential suitors for Chartboost's assets and why they want to pick them up. #adtech #taketwo #gaming #chartboost #zynga https://lnkd.in/eRJC8X3r

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📈 Streamflation Alert: Subscription prices are rising again! In 2024, platforms are boosting prices for the second time in two years. Streaming services like Peacock, Max, and Spotify are increasing costs, often coinciding with major events or new content launches. 💡 Why the price hikes? Streaming platforms are adding more content and employing strategic moves to drive users towards ad-supported tiers, which generate higher revenue. For example, Peacock raised prices right before the Paris Olympics, and Max did so ahead of the new season of House of the Dragon. Bundling services are also on the rise, with companies like Disney and Verizon offering attractive package deals to reduce subscriber churn and enhance value. 📊 What's next? Analysts believe these price hikes are just the beginning, expecting more increases by the end of the year. The goal is to boost margins and gently push consumers towards ads and bundles, supporting the company's larger financial objectives. #TV #svod #streaming #bundle https://lnkd.in/e8-uYitV

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Roku Q3 2024 Earnings (Stock down 6% after hours): Added 2M million active accounts to end the quarter with 85.5M. Total revenue of $1.06B, up 16% YoY. Streaming Hours were 32B, up 5.3B hours YoY. Streaming Hours per household per day was 4.1, up from 3.9 hours YoY. ARPU of $41.10 on a trailing 12-month basis was flat YoY due to the increasing share of streaming households in international markets, where Roku is focused on scale and engagement. Roku generated $157.3M of free cash flow in the quarter with a net loss of $9.03M. Beginning with Roku's Q1 2025 earnings results, the company will no longer report quarterly updates on streaming households and, by extension, ARPU. Roku's KPMs will be Streaming Hours, Platform revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, and Free Cash Flow. Shareholder letter: https://lnkd.in/ega6JyHj - #streamingmedia #roku #avod #svod

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As a professional in the digital media sector, I strongly advise qualified content creators to investigate this opportunity promptly. The digital landscape is competitive, and such direct routes to prominent platforms are invaluable. This strategic partnership with a leading CTV AVOD platform represents a pivotal opportunity for distribution across major streaming services. The potential for increased visibility and revenue cannot be overstated.

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Disney Calendar Q1 2024 Earnings (FY Q2): DTC streaming business of Disney+ and Hulu had an operating income profit of $47M, ESPN+ lost $65 million. Added 6.3M Disney+ Core subs (117.6M total), excluding Disney+ Hotstar, which lost 2.3M subs. Hulu SVOD gained 700,000 subs (45.8M total), Hulu + Live TV lost 100,000 subs (4.5M total). ESPN+ lost 400,000 subs (24.8M total). Will add an ESPN Plus tile to Disney+ this fall, giving subscribers access to "select live games and studio programming" within the Disney+ app. Disney will begin cracking down on password sharing starting in some markets in June, followed by a wide rollout in September. UPDATED 11:28am EST - Stock is down almost 10%. Earnings release: https://lnkd.in/ea58MB2n -- #hulu #streamingmedia #disneyplus #espnplus #SVOD #AVOD

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A third of US TV ad spending goes to connected TV (CTV) services. Streaming TV reach and time spent viewing data is much higher, suggesting CTV share should be higher, too. But maybe not! https://lnkd.in/gtkJa3Re

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State of the independent music economy: Fragmentation AND consolidation MIDiA is excited to announce our latest report “State of the independent music economy: Fragmentation AND consolidation”. It represents the most exhaustive (and exhausting!) piece of research we have ever done. We collected $10.6 billion of recorded music revenue at company level. When combined with major label financials and data collected from artist distribution platforms, this means that MIDiA’s total recorded music market dataset has 93% of ALL global revenues accounted for, at company level! The full report is immediately available to MIDiA clients and has also been sent to all labels and distributors that took part in our survey. Here are some highlights: 🎧 Spotify accounts for the majority of non-major label streaming revenue 🌥️ 87% of non-major labels* feel it is becoming more difficult to get artists to cut through and 78% find it difficult to retain fan interest 💵 Non-major labels spent $1.5 billion on marketing in 2023, with smaller labels (<1m revenue) generating the largest share of the spending 📈 The majority of non-major labels and distributors are spending more on marketing than they were two years prior 📊 Non-majors (labels and artists direct) are growing their share of the total market, on both an ownership and a distribution basis** 🌏 Non-majors (distribution basis) were 34.2% of the 2023 recorded music market, but on an ownership basis this jumped to 46.7%, with revenues of $14.3 billion 💰Non-major revenue distributed by the majors was $3.8 billion in 2023. The majors have successfully learned how to turn growing non-major share to their advantage 🌍 Non-major share is by far highest in the Global South, especially Asia Pacific and Rest of World (MENA, sub-Saharan Africa, etc) led by the likes of HYBE, Avex, EE-Media, Star Music, GMM Grammy, Mavin, Star Music, SM Entertainment etc ➗<0.5% of the nearly 13,000 labels globally represent 1/3 of revenues but labels with <$1 million revenue account for similar revenue share as the biggest labels 🧩 The market is, and will be, shaped by both fragmentation AND consolidation. Streaming + internationalisation fragments audiences while bigger labels buy up smaller ones to gain share 📘For more detail read the post below👇 *We call them ‘non-majors’ because many of the bigger ‘indies’, especially in Asia, are more like majors than indies. **Distribution basis: this measures the market based upon which label group distributes the music, with portions of independent music appearing within major label market shares. This is the most common method of measuring recorded music market share. Ownership basis: this measure is based upon the label that owns or controls the music, with independent music distributed by majors appearing within non-major market share. https://lnkd.in/eepHt4e6

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Some additional information on how CKE Restaurants, Inc. and PMG are leveraging video-level contextual data via the IRIS_ID to target their CTV campaigns and drive actual bottom funnel conversion results! 📈 35% increase in incremental foot traffic 📈 152% increase in incremental sales lift Reach out to us if your a brand looking to increase the performance of your CTV campaigns or if you’re a publisher looking to increase your yield. IRIS.TV #ctv #data #performanceadvertising #contextual Digiday

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With all the recent sports streaming news, Mark Donnigan and I recorded a special 🎙 “Sports Streaming Podcast Episode": https://lnkd.in/eSkUmKBv We discuss the upcoming Venu Sports offering (Disney/WBD/FOX JV) and the limitations we expect the service to have when it launches. We weigh in on some of the tech behind the scenes and consider whether a 'beta' label could soften the blow for fans expecting a fully polished service from day one. We also cover Netflix’s deal with the NFL, including its importance as the first global licensing deal with no blackout restrictions and how the agreement is structured. Finally, we highlight the NFL's 2024 fragmented distribution strategy across broadcast and streaming, which is great for the NFL's revenue but terrible for fans. (Correction: I say on the podcast the games will be on seven broadcast networks and platforms, but it's ten or eleven, depending on if you separate ESPN from ABC and add in YouTube TV. See this post for details: https://lnkd.in/eJN8u_Bh) Also briefly discussed are Roku's deal with MLB for Sunday morning baseball games, Sky Sports+ launching this August, and how, months later, Max's Bleacher Report (B/R) Sports Add package is still free for users. 🎙 https://lnkd.in/eSkUmKBv

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