Ben Keen’s Post

Lots going on in the streaming world. Streamers seeking to reinvent the wheel as we edge closer towards the successful traditional pay-TV model with channels bundled into one subscription delivered via the Internet. Comcast CEO, Brian Roberts, announced a new bundle called Streamsaver at an investment conference. This bundles Netflix and Apple TV+ together with its own Peacock streaming service in the US. Pricing is TBA, but is promised by Roberts to “come at a vastly reduced price to anything in the market today and will be available to all our customers.” This followed The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros. Discovery announcement of an as yet unnamed new super bundle which reflects the industry’s need to concentrate on revenue and not just subscriber growth. Hollywood is going through major disruption. These traditional media giants have really struggled to pivot and make a successful move to the streaming-driven future. Initial forays were largely focused on the hope of copying Netflix’s successful and proven strategy of subscription growth. However, the one-size-fits-all approach hasn’t materialised the way they had hoped due to numerous and very good reasons. These include a lack of a broad content catalogue, a lack of distribution and billing relationships, the cost of living crisis, and, of course, more recently the actors and writers strike. All should be looking at Sky who has shown the way for streamers and others. More here on the chances of success and implications moving forward 👇 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e7ew_k_f #media #broadcast #broadcasters #video #streaming #streamers #disneyplus #paramountplus #discoveryplus #netflix #peacock #max #PrimeVideo #espnplus #Sports #SportsBusiness #AppleTVPlus #HBO #Max #Hulu

Here are the latest AD-SUPPORTED streaming figures to know: - 80% of Amazon Prime Video users will use it's ad option in 2024. - 78% of Peacock users will use it's ad-supported option. - 73% of Paramount+ users will use it's ad-version. - Netflix & Disney+ have fewer ad-tier users today, but Netflix's will increase 75% (23MM base) while Disney+ grows 45% in 2024 (22.5MM base) - YouTube, Hulu & Free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) services, like Pluto TV, Tubi, & The Roku Channel are among the top ad-supported users. - Source: EMARKETER For a long time, streaming was seen as a high potential, but largely unreachable place to message audiences due to subscription based models. However, with the emergence of new ad-tiers & password crackdowns, this has changed which is showing up in the #'s and now represents, in my opinion, the best premium place for advertisers to reach target audiences. Shout out to Maggie Nemoy & the amazing research team at Basis Technologies for always keeping us up to date with CTV/OTT stats! Please reach out if you'd like a custom report! #CTV #OTT #VideoStreaming #AVOD #SVOD #FAST #DSP #Programmatic #OLV #ConnectedTV #MediaPlanning #MediaBuying #CordCutting #Cordless #DemandSidePlatform #BasisTechnologies #MediaAgency #NewFronts #Upfronts

Are Buzzy Shows Enough to Keep Subscribers Hooked? 😯 Streaming services are thriving, but subscriber loyalty is a different story. Despite a 40% increase in streaming content viewership this year, nearly half of subscribers rotate between platforms every six months, chasing the next big hit. Even blockbuster shows can’t stop the churn—viewers often leave once their favourite series ends. 🔄 Interestingly, Netflix bucks this trend, with its algorithm keeping subscribers engaged and reducing churn. Bundling services, like the Disney Bundle and Apple One, also show promise in retaining users. As competition intensifies, will bundling be the key to reducing churn, or is a robust content strategy the ultimate solution? 🎥📉 #StreamingWars #StreamingMedia #ContentStrategy #DigitalMedia #SVOD #Netflix #Retention #MediaTrends

Streaming Services Increasingly Costly for Consumers - The cost of streaming services is on the rise, with major platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu implementing price hikes, impacting consumer budgets. - These increases are attributed to rising content production costs, investment in original programming, and the need to improve platform infrastructure. - As competition intensifies among streaming giants, consumers face difficult choices about which services to retain or drop. - Industry experts suggest that this trend could lead to subscription fatigue, prompting some users to seek alternative, more affordable entertainment options. #StreamingCosts #ConsumerTrends #DigitalMedia Read more: [https://buff.ly/3MtGk5v]

Despite investing billions in original content and strategic partnerships, Apple TV + is finding it tough to compete in the U.S. streaming landscape. Recent data shows that the platform accounts for only 0.2% of total TV viewing time in the country. This small share underscores the fierce competition from established giants like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. While Apple has launched several critically acclaimed shows and movies, its limited library compared to its rivals may be hindering its ability to attract a larger audience. As Apple continues to focus on high-quality content and expand its offerings, it faces significant challenges in increasing its market share. With such a minor presence in the streaming sector, Apple TV+ has an uphill battle ahead if it hopes to establish itself as a major player in the industry. The coming months will be crucial for the platform as it seeks to enhance its appeal to viewers. #digibble #AppleTV #Streaming #Entertainment #MarketShare #Content #TVViewing

More interesting than the business model behind these streaming service combinations (effectively a return to the bundle that was so despised by customers that it led to the proliferation of standalone streaming services in the first place) is whether it leads to actual consolidation at the corporate level. After all, if Disney and Warner Bros Discovery see success selling their content together, wouldn't it just make sense to get married? And while no self-respecting regulator is going to allow a marriage between NBC, Netflix and Apple, a more formal content creation partnership wouldn't be a terrible notion. Scream if you want to go faster, the media M&A tilt-a-whirl may slowly be building up speed.

Is There Room for New Players in Streaming? 📺 As ad dollars pour into connected TV (CTV) 💸, YouTube, Amazon, and Hulu are cementing their dominance. In fact, YouTube now captures more than 20% of both US CTV ad revenues and time spent—an impressive feat in such a crowded market. 🎯 What’s striking is that few platforms even crack 5% of ad revenues, with only YouTube and Hulu surpassing this threshold in both key metrics. 📊 Despite Netflix’s strong user base, its ad business is still catching up, while Amazon’s recent ad tier is already shaking things up. 📈 With the market so concentrated, can new players really break through? Marketers, how are you adapting to this? 🤔 YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios #CTV #DigitalAdvertising #StreamingWars #StreamingMedia #MarketingInsights #AdRevenue #Media #Television

Data from Ampere's Q1 2024 Media Consumer data takes a look at streaming bundles and its potential impact on subscriber churn. Ampere's data shows more than four in ten streaming subscribers report regularly subscribing, canceling and resubscribing. The chart below shows that 15% of either Disney+, Hulu or Max subscribers subscribe to all three and only 10% of Comcast mobile, broadband and TV customers subscribe to Peacock, Netflix and Apple TV+. Bundling provides expanded content opportunities at discounted rates which allows for upselling, ultimately helping mitigate churn. #streaming #streamingvideo #streamingbundles #bundling #netflix #peacock #appletvplus #disneyplus #hulu #max #comcast

Comcast is hoping its StreamSaver bundle can be a lifesaver in a highly competitive, cutthroat streaming industry. Offering a combo of Peacock, Netflix and Apple TV+, the cable provider is hoping to reduce churn and avoid the fate of other media companies stuck in a sea of financial red. We're aiming to be the low-price loss leader. As funny as that may sound, that's the strategy the services are using to address their ongoing financial and subscriber retention challenges. Outside of Netflix, just about every streaming service provider is struggling to keep up, while dealing with double-digit monthly churn rates and increasingly expensive content development and licensing agreements. Bundles are us. To differentiate and add value, the streaming services are taking a page out of the cable TV playbook. Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery already have their own streaming bundle that will combine Disney+, Hulu and Max. And the sports arena isn't exactly immune with ESPN, Fox and Warner Sports forming their own bundle-a-rama that aims to bring most of the major professional and college sports under one umbrella. Cannibalizing is the new spectator sport. Bundling may be the tactic, but pricing strategy may ultimately decide who makes it out of the lion's den. The monthly pricing will need to be attractive enough to lure cord-nevers and cord-cutters while also ensuring that each of media partners avoid cannibalizing their own streaming services or linear networks. What matters to consumers has never really changed - value. That applies to the fast food combo at the nearest burger joint, and it certainly applies to streaming services. They're hoping that bundles and a strong pricing strategy provide the value proposition that will attract new customers, while minimizing the damage from churn. Perhaps, a future documentary will tell us if any of them succeed https://lnkd.in/gfucysWD #comcast #streaming #entertainment #peacock #netflix #appletv #bundle #subscription

Companies are adjusting the pricing structures of their streaming services to incentivize consumers to choose ad-supported tiers. Recent changes include Amazon Prime Video's introduction of ads, Disney+ increasing its ad-free tier by 27%, and Netflix removing its "Basic" plan altogether. This signals a critical need to adapt strategies, recognizing that the future of content consumption will increasingly blend affordability with ad-driven revenue models. Explore more in our latest 2024 Outlook: www.activate.com/insights #ActivateConsulting #StreamingServices #MediaTrends #ActivateInsights