Craig Steele’s Post

Are you pondering the shift from cable to streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime? The debate over commercials and ads may come to mind. As media companies embrace the streaming era, the landscape evolves. Legacy players like Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery are chasing profitability in the streaming domain, amid rising subscription costs and frequent price hikes. The quest for streaming success continues as traditional TV models adapt to changing consumer preferences. #Streaming #MediaIndustry #Netflix #AmazonPrime

"No surprise that Hollywood CEOs have been looking to tout their #streaming progress and successes. An analysis must keep in mind that the divisions that contain Hollywood companies’ streaming businesses are not directly comparable. After all, some of them don’t include all streaming services of a company or include additional operations. Warner Bros. Discovery’s “Direct-to-Consumer,” or #DTC, unit, for example, consists of its streaming and premium pay-TV services, meaning HBO is part of it. Meanwhile, the Walt Disney Co.’s “Direct-to-Consumer” division does not include ESPN+. And Comcast’s NBUniversal breaks out revenue and profit for its streamer Peacock, which is part of its broader Media unit." #ott https://lnkd.in/dEsyaXuk

Ad-supported streaming is becoming the new norm. It's almost like it's... cable 2.0! https://hubs.ly/Q02S3c5p0 How do you feel about ads entering your streaming experience? Are the ads you're seeing regularly aligned with your needs, or do they seem random? #Streaming #Amazon #Advertising #Ads

To keep down the churn, there has to be choices that the consumer makes that fits their tastes at a price point and content they expect. If they don’t, streaming platforms will continue to churn and get the same perceptions as cable….and the churn will continue.

The streaming video/CTV doom loop continues. No profitability - higher prices - more advertising - less spending on original production/less new quality content - fewer viewers - go back to start. From the advertiser's point of view this will lead to consolidation, less choice, less competition, lacking innovation in advertiser-facing products, higher ad prices.

New developments in the streaming wars... interesting article by The Independent definitely worth a quick read... For me, the key here is how each brand is starting to expand beyond offering their own single service to their customer (albeit very limited to start). They are starting to super-bundle additional services to provide choice, add value and grow retention. It's all about owning the primary customer relationship. #streaming #subscriptions #media https://lnkd.in/e4Vc2jQN

Niche Streaming Services on the Rise! Insightful comment from John Matts, Chief Operating Officer at Hallmark Media: “I don’t need 70 million subscribers to make this thing work… I can do it with single-digit millions. This can be a very attractive business…” + With marketplaces like Amazon Prime and Apple TV Channels, niche streaming services now have powerful ways to connect with their audiences. + As streaming giants continue raising prices, these specialized services are becoming an increasingly appealing choice for viewers. - Of course, churn remains a significant risk and one of the industry’s biggest challenges. For niche streamers to succeed, staying focused on distribution and operational efficiency is essential. Fortunately, the market is maturing, with highly effective and affordable solutions helping these players compete. #StreamingIndustry #Niche #Streaming #Content #Distribution #streaming #Innovation #BritBox #Hallmark

Is the streaming business model starting to work?

Reiterating the value of sports content for streaming services (and all broadcasters). #sportsbiz #sportsbroadcasting #disney #streaming https://lnkd.in/eNSvZaXH