Mark Lipsky

2024 was a tough year by anyone’s measure that included a challenging publishing landscape in the aftermath of iOS17, an industry reckoning with how to measure its audience, beloved podcast companies sunsetting, and massive layoffs from seemingly every company in podcasting. Even a bankruptcy for good measure. And yet… We’re still seeing a vibrant community that’s seeing more growth than most other mediums. There are still blockbuster deals seemingly every other month, we’re still seeing podcast adaptations to other mediums, and we’re still exploring all new kinds of business models – for better and worse (plus whatever your views on AI in podcasting are). And true or not – there are a LOT of people who think our industry was THE story in the 2024 US elections. Brought to you by The Podglomerate, Podcast Perspectives is the Signal Award-winning show about the latest news in the podcast industry, and the people behind it. So far, we’ve had 46 industry leaders on the show to discuss the trends they’re seeing in podcasting. In this special episode, we tapped 18 of them to reflect on this past year and share how they’re feeling about the industry right now — how they feel about 2024 in hindsight, what innovations they’re excited about, and what makes them optimistic about 2025. We’re also sharing plenty of advice for creators and new podcasters. You can read, watch, or listen to these thoughts here: https://lnkd.in/eu3Fd2f7 Thank you to all of the guests in this episode who took the time to contribute. What do you think of podcasting's past year and next? Share your thoughts in the comments. Guests include: – Chris Peterson of DWNLOAD Media – Fatima Zaidi of Quill Inc and CoHost – Bradley Davis of Podchaser – Amber Smith of iHeartMedia – Eric Barnett of Supporting Cast – Brady Sadler of Double Elvis Productions – Michele C. of The Podcast Academy – Jessica Cordova Kramer (she/her) of Lemonada Media – Matt Shapo of the IAB – Ross Adams of Acast – Will Pearson of iHeartMedia – Dusty Weis of Podcamp Media – Lisa Laporte of TWiT.tv – Odile Beniflah of Ausha 🚀 – Chris Colbert of DCP Entertainment – Harry Morton of Lower Street – Bryan Barletta of Sounds Profitable – Molly Barton of Realm – Sharon Taylor of Triton Digital

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📣 Scoop by Sara Fischer at Axios📣 📺Maybe I am dense and maybe I am talking to the wrong people, but I have yet to hear from anyone who thinks this is a good idea. The article notes that they will "partner with other hardware companies, such as smart TV manufacturers, as well as various television distributors, such as airlines, hotel chains, and gaming companies." I mean, great, but who? In the US, all of the. major OEMs already have their own proprietary OS: Samsung, LG, VIZIO, Roku, Hisense, Amazon. How many people actually watch TV on an airplane (versus watching movies or their own media.) Gaming companies? Decent sized market, but it would require people not sure the OS already on their TV. And the truth is most people are pretty happy with their OS. The promise of a better ecosystem for *advertisers* does not seem to be something consumers would particularly care about. Are they thinking they will compete with white-label TV OS companies like Titan OS and Whale TV? Because those companies have also been looking out for advertisers... and, more importantly, consumers. Am I missing something? Anyone? Bueller? https://lnkd.in/eWm8YaXi

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A cable TV executive warned peers not to say cable anymore. Cable TV programmers are listening and switching brands to streaming. It looks like cable is at a tipping point. https://lnkd.in/gxMicNY6

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KO: a micro-step away from connecting the dots between between OTA broadcast (zero latency, bandwidth offload, free premium TV) and CTV.

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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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Post-podcast bubble it looks like deals are being made again for real businesses. The PodX model is to roll up profitable audio businesses with real revenue. Given that greed and fantasy led everyone to imagine their loss-making audio division was the next Tesla, or that their revenue alone was worth multiples of total valuation, it’s good for the industry that sanity and hard cash is returning. After pets dot com and the yo app there came Amazon and Tik Tok. From what I know of the podx people they are savvy, and the Swedes know a thing or two about audio. #podcast #business #uk https://lnkd.in/gU-MCkVT

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In the rapidly evolving world of Connected TV (CTV) and Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) Channels, one thing has become abundantly clear: the ad-tech landscape is fraught with challenges. Content owners and broadcasters are finding themselves at the mercy of exorbitant ad-tech fees and monthly commitments that drive exclusivity but deliver subpar performance. The question on everyone’s mind is: are they being held to ransom? The answer, unfortunately, is a resounding yes. https://lnkd.in/eJF2H9JK #adtech #adfraud #ads #programmatic #ctv #ott #ottx #streamingmedia #broadcastmedia

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If you are a CTV Channel ( Legacy #FASTCHANNEL) or a CTV Platform then why are you paying high fees for ad-tech? If the tech worked it should be adbosrbed in the upside, #FAST and #CTV #adtech fraud is alive in both the SaaS side and the ad-trading side. Stop paying for tech we will add platforms and channels on to our Network without any Ad-tech fees for eiether party as we know we can deliver 100% fill. Stop playing with the kids and work with the best - https://lnkd.in/e7W8gjMS #broadcastmedia #streamingmedia #programmatic #dsp #ssp #contentstrategy

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In the dynamic realm of media consumption, the shift from free-to-air (FTA) television to advertiser-funded streaming television (FAST) signifies a remarkable milestone. The emergence of FAST, championed by industry giants like Amazon and Tubi, is reshaping content delivery with a focus on global reach and precise audience targeting. This evolution paves the way for broadcasters to harness streaming technology and data analytics, enabling real-time measurement of revenue streams. Explore more about this transformative era in television broadcasting: https://lnkd.in/eGx8zk8X

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New 'Top Publishers on Social Media' report from NewsWhip out today. "ABC News is perhaps the most successful of the big US cable publishers on TikTok in H1 2024." Especially love this part: "Its success wasn’t limited to viral soft news clips..." Congrats to the best social team in the biz! #news #digital #social #tiktok #digitalmedia #streaming #socialmedia

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SiriusXM shared their Q2 earnings earlier today... Let's dive in! First, the company continued to lose subscribers, but the loss of 173k was nothing compared to the Q1 loss of 500k... so that's good. They barely missed revenue projections ($2.18b vs. $2.19b), which is still down 3% YoY. Now, SXM doesn't break out podcast revenue; they bundle it with "off-platform," which includes Pandora and podcasting, which generated $528m, up 2% YoY. But how much of that is podcasting? First, let's take a look at Pandora. In Q2, they lost 41,000 paying subscribers (64k last quarter) and now report 6 million paying subscribers (compared to Spotify's 246 million). I have to ask: What the hell is Pandora, anyway? There was a time when Pandora could have owned the podcast space. In 2015, Pandora was the biggest music app & did a huge deal with Serial. Had they had any strategy for podcasts other than waste money on Serial, the landscape would look entirely different today. I digress. Back to pod revenue: iHeartMedia reported nearly $100m of podcast revenue in Q1. If you look at weekly downloads on the Triton Digital ranker, iHeart has about 34% more weekly downloads than SXM. So, we can estimate that SXM is seeing $65-75m of ad revenue on podcasts per quarter, but it's a total guess. Another interesting bit: SXM is launching SiriusXM Podcasts+, a subscription offering on Apple Podcasts that will include ad-free and exclusive content from its top shows like SmartLess. This is a total departure from the walled garden of SXM's past, but it's a smart play. I wonder if any Howard Stern content will also be included on Apple...? Finally, when asked about the most significant growth areas, CCO Scott Greenstein said, “Obviously, it's in podcasting." SXM knows the sub business for satellite, and Pandora is declining, and their push into podcasting is an effort to replace those offerings - no longer just as a companion offering. And while ad revenue is growing, they want to stay in the subscriber business, so I expect to see a big push with subscriber-only content, live events, etc. In January, I predicted the podcast industry would 1) do more big licensing deals and 2) make a major push into subscriptions. SXM is going all-in on these. The good news for SXM is that their subscription business is still a cash cow despite declining revenue, so they have the time to figure it out. -- I'm the founder of DWNLOAD Media, a fund that invests in the audio space. If you'd like to learn why now is the time to invest in podcasting, DM me! I'll also recap all of the Q2 earnings via email. Sign up: https://lnkd.in/eysH5x5C Read the Q1 Recap: https://lnkd.in/etkGMXa7 Read the 2022 Outlook: https://lnkd.in/eW9nPCZQ #podcasting #audio #sxm #siriusxm #investing

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From Telecom IVR and WAP Portals to FAST: The Glow-Up of #Content and Distribution ⏩ Over the past decade, I’ve seen how content distribution has dramatically transformed, starting from the early days of Telecom IVR and WAP portals to the rise of OTT and now, the #BIGFAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) platforms. What began as simple content on mobile phones has evolved into a world where viewers have smart choices at their fingertips, accessing a vast array of channels and genres on connected TVs. FAST platforms are truly changing the game, offering free, ad-supported content that’s accessible to everyone. It’s no longer just about watching TV—it’s about choosing what, when, and how to watch. This shift is paving the way for #GenAlpha, who is already ready for a world where FAST is the norm :D For content creators and platforms, the potential is huge. But with great potential comes the need for seamless content distribution. That’s where Amagi Corporation steps in. We’ve already launched the first-ever marketplace(#AmagiConnect) designed specifically for FAST, making it easier than ever to launch and scale content on OTT, Telco, and Smart TV platforms. 🚀 But that’s not all—we’re just getting started. Stay tuned as we roll out even more initiatives aimed at simplifying the FAST experience for content owners and platform partners. Exciting things are on the horizon! #ContentDistribution #FASTPlatforms #StreamingEvolution #DigitalTransformation #AmagiConnect #MediaInnovation #TVRevolution

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Why Can't Anyone Make Money in Radio • The self-inflicted wounds that go deeper than constant layoffs. • 7 things that – if fixed – would guarantee revenue growth, no question. • How the pressure to generate digital over on-air sales is tracking. • The radio groups that cannot be fixed. • What to do with digital and podcasting. https://lnkd.in/equq7q9p

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After nearly 20 years of building TV apps, here are the hidden costs your vendors aren't talking about ↴ Media brands consistently focus on upfront development costs while overlooking the strategic implications of maintenance. Here's what REALLY drives cost: • Platform SDK updates (2-3x annually) • Security compliance requirements • Cross-platform feature parity • Performance optimization • Fragmented codebases • UI/UX consistency Each requirement compounds across every platform in your ecosystem. Multiply that by EVERY platform you're on. And in some cases, multiple devices per platform. Maintainable by design means building on a unified framework with shared components, consistent naming conventions, and centralized API handling. It's about writing code once and deploying everywhere - while still maintaining SDK integrity on each platform. When evaluating vendors, be sure to ask these critical questions: 1. How are platform updates handled across devices? 2. What's the process for rolling out new features? 3. Can you show me your maintenance workflow? 4. How much of the codebase is shared vs platform-specific? The right answers will save you millions in long-term maintenance costs. What's your experience? Has maintenance become your hidden cost center? ------------------------------ 𝗽.𝘀. We're helping brands launch on Comcast X1 in 30 days with Vahalla, our TV app framework. Interested in a demo? DM me or drop 'DEMO' in the comments. #StreamingTV #AppDevelopment #MediaTech

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If you are a podcast producer have you heard about Publisher Feeds? As we all know RSS feeds or Podcast Feeds are how single podcasts are delivered from a host to multiple listening apps. Recently the Podcasting 2.0 community developed a new tag called the Publisher Feed which is added to any RSS feed. Tech Link: https://lnkd.in/eqXdCUwY A Publisher Feed is just a list of podcasts from a single Publisher embedded into any RSS feed. For example if you are a fan of Smartless from Wondery you might be interested in other podcasts from that same publisher. So Wondery could add a list of all their other podcasts into the Smartless RSS feed. Then Podcasting 2.0 apps like TrueFans can read the Smartless RSS feed and grab the list of other podcasts and display them on a separate linked publisher page. This is a great form of discovery for fans. e.g https://lnkd.in/eR6SGM6M You can view all 145 publisher feeds TrueFans has currently ingested via RSS. https://lnkd.in/efSyP8BG The first podcast host to support this new Publisher Feed is RSS Blue or you can create publisher feeds directly in your TrueFans Admin Dashboard. TrueFans also support music artists who deliver their music via RSS feeds. We also support Artist Feeds e.g https://lnkd.in/eE-zB2XG I really hope more publishers pick up on this new publisher tag. For example the Sport Social Podcast Network has over 500 podcasts but they don't have a publisher feed. Imagine if they added a publisher feed link in every one of those 500 podcasts. Then apps like TrueFans would automatically create a single page of those 500 podcasts. #podcasting #TrueFans

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We just finished crunching the numbers on our latest survey at The Streamable, and I have to say, it’s fascinating to see how the streaming landscape is shaping up in November 2024. We surveyed nearly 1,500 people, and their answers give us a really clear picture of what viewers are looking for and how satisfied they are with their current streaming services. It’s encouraging to see that a majority of users are satisfied with their streaming experience. However, the fact that almost half of them have canceled a service in the past year is a wake-up call for the industry. - Satisfaction: 58.2% of users are satisfied with their streaming services, but 50% have canceled at least one. - Spending: The average monthly streaming budget is $25-$50, but almost 30% spend over $100. - Live TV: YouTube TV is the top live TV service, with 30% of users opting for it. - On-Demand: Netflix leads the on-demand streaming race with a 77% share. - Features: Viewers value compatible devices, DVR pricing, 4K live TV, and Dolby Digital Surround Sound.  It will be interesting to see how things change in 2025. Have your streaming behaviors changed this year? 

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As a former Canwest/Shaw Media executive who oversaw Content Acquisition, Partnerships, and Content strategy for many years before it was merged into Corus Entertainment it's tough to watch the organization, and more importantly, the people, go through this again. There are plenty of places to lay blame, starting with the CRTC, which failed the Canadian media industry by not recognizing the need to modify the restrictive regulatory constraints placed on the industry as the industry rapidly changed in the digital age and the American Media groups made their move north bypassing the Canadain platforms and going direct to consumers. There are plenty of other missteps, too many to list, by our government organization meant to help and protect the industry, but its inability to understand the changing landscape and react over the years has been shameful, and Corus is not alone in requiring regulatory changes to survive. Having said that, there are plenty of success stories, with many Canadian media companies, content creators, and producers that have thrived in the system (in spite of the CRTC) and should be applauded, which brings me to the other reasons Corus is in this position. Mismanagement: from the day Shaw Media was spun into Corus, it was put in the hands of an executive who didn't have the right credentials or media background/savvy to lead the organization through tough headwinds of regulatory instability and the oncoming digital change to makeover the organization to withstand the challenges that required attention. Shaw family: In their desire to sell the Shaw Cable empire to Rogers, Shaw had to spin the media assets outside of the cable company and, in doing so, burdened the smaller company (Corus) with debt it simply hasn't recovered from, and here we are today. The ones that have suffered the most are all the talented employees who have been laid off over the years and those still employed trying to pick up the pieces. It's those people I feel for most... Hopefully, there is a white knight that can come to the rescue, but is it too late...

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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗢𝗳 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗩 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 In the ever-evolving landscape of television, the traditional boundaries between linear and streaming TV are becoming increasingly blurred. Yet, the industry continues to treat them as distinct entities, selling ad inventory separately for each platform. Some brands and agencies even lump streaming in with digital video and buy them that way.  This approach is not only inefficient but also fails to align with the way consumers actually view content. A Unified Approach: Premium vs. Non-Premium Inventory Consumers don’t differentiate between “linear” and “streaming” or “TV” and “digital.” To them, it’s all just “TV.” Given this, it’s time to rethink how we sell advertising inventory so that it aligns with the way viewers see it. Instead of the outdated dichotomy of linear versus streaming, we need to categorize inventory into “premium” and “non-premium” across both platforms. This is not as crazy as it sounds—it has been proven to increase CPMs and thus profitability. But first, a little on how it would work. “Premium inventory” e.g., top-rated originals, library hits and prime-time slots, would continue to be sold via direct sales. This method ensures publishers will continue to get top dollar for their best content, maintaining the profitability of their premium offerings. Direct sales offer a level of control and personalization that is crucial for high-profile offerings, whether those offerings are on linear or on streaming. The latter is key for two reasons: more and more viewers are becoming “streaming first” viewers, even if they still do keep a linear subscription, and more and more streaming services are rolling out originals and picking up sports rights. The combination means there is more premium content on streaming and that more people are watching it. All the more reason to sell it directly. Non-premium inventory, OTOH, is better suited for programmatic – or at least automated - sales. Automated buying excels at targeting specific audiences, making it an ideal solution for monetizing non-premium content. By leveraging data and automation, programmatic sales can connect niche audiences with the advertisers who are looking for them, thus maximizing value, fill rates, and utilization. Automated audience-based trading has long been the go-to for streaming inventory, but it’s time for linear services to adopt it too, at least for their non-premium inventory. This is not as painful as it sounds. Spot buying is notoriously inefficient for low-value inventory and uses up needless resources. Automating it has been proven to drive up profitability while also lowering trading costs. And by “proven” I mean “proven with real-world examples in markets outside the US.” READ THE REST ON TVREV https://lnkd.in/erJDT_3n

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To my friends and colleagues affected by the recent layoffs at A+E Networks and across our industry: First and foremost, I need you to hear this loud and clear: This is not about you. It has nothing to do with your talent, your dedication, or your worth. What's happening is bigger than any individual, and it's okay to not be okay right now. Take a breath. Take your time. Feel what you need to feel. Now, let's talk about what's next, because even though it's scary - really scary - there's a bright light ahead for each of you. Your skills are invaluable: - Storytelling that captivates millions - Project management in high-stakes environments - Creative problem-solving under pressure - Adapting to an ever-changing landscape These abilities translate to countless industries, and I'm excited to help you discover where they can take you next. In fact, I'm actively working on creating opportunities that align perfectly with your expertise: - I'm developing a framework for creating content that helps individuals and corporations better connect their story with their customers. This is ideal for creative executives who understand the power of narrative in engaging audiences. - Simultaneously, I'm assisting people in finding their "$2 bill idea" - that unique, standout concept that applies to their product, content, and brand. Your experience in crafting compelling stories and managing creative projects makes you perfect for this kind of work. - Real estate continues to be a passion of mine. It's an industry full of incredible humans that desperately needs our mindset, our ability to connect, and our storytelling skills. For those of you who lead with heart and have a giving attitude (which is pretty much everyone I know from TV), there's massive potential here. Now is the time to evolve. It's terrifying, I know. But I can assure you, there's a bright future ahead for every single one of you. Your story isn't over; it's just taking an unexpected turn. When you're ready - whether that's tomorrow or weeks from now - talk to me. I'm here to help in every way I can. Let's brainstorm. Let's explore. Let's turn this challenging time into the plot twist that leads to your next big break. To my network: These professionals are some of the most talented, adaptable, and creative individuals I know. As they embark on new chapters, they'll be invaluable assets to any team or industry fortunate enough to have them. Remember, we're a community. We rise by lifting each other. Let's face this evolution together. #MediaTalent #CareerEvolution #NewBeginnings #CommunitySupport #StorytellingInBusiness

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