Tom said "Viewing is narrowing around bigger shows and fewer hits."
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Tom Harrington was quoted in Broadcast on "Audiences flocking to fewer, bigger shows"
17 January 2023Tom said that the shift is being driven by the increasingly sophisticated way in which SVoD services are promoting their programmes, as well as the fact that their content remains permanently available. “The viewing of less relevant content is sometimes inescapable on linear TV,” he added.
He concluded that consumers are paying less for a greater volume of choice, but watching fewer shows.
“It is a scenario that has clear winners—playing to the advantage of those with ‘bigger’ IP and programming that is able to cut through with little marketing as it is already part of the public consciousness—and those that will be challenged: spending increasing amounts on programming that has a declining chance of finding a sustainable audience.”
Viewing is narrowing: Bigger shows, fewer hits
16 January 2023Structural shifts in the delivery of video are causing long-form viewing to coalesce around fewer programmes—this comes despite an explosion in the volume, spend and perceptual accessibility of content
For the time being this theoretically favours the largest of shows, along with the declining number of content providers that are able to create and distribute them at scale, forming critical masses of interest
Incoming technologies leveraging AI and virtual production will have the ability to drastically lower production costs. But until that happens the spend on most programming will become increasingly less efficient
Gareth Sutcliffe was quoted in The Times on "Disney’s latest hero: Why Bob Iger is company’s leading man once more"
16 January 2023“This is more than putting the mouse on the treadmill,” Gareth Sutcliffe, of Enders Analysis, amedia research group, said. “It can’t just be window dressing, it needs to be really material and impactful change.”
It is unlikely to be easy for Iger. “This is a CEO who likes to be liked,” Sutcliffe said. “When you’re under a significant amount of pressure, it’s going to be difficult to maintain that level of popularity.”
DAZN: Uphill climb to achieve profitability
13 January 2023DAZN has published its 2021 results, with losses extending to $1.4 billion, a situation that will likely have ameliorated in 2022, as the company looks to breakeven in 2023.
With the Champions League rights renewed in Germany, and crucial distribution deals secured in Italy and Spain, DAZN has a firmer foothold in its three major European markets.
Price increases in major markets and ancillary revenue streams will help stem losses, but achieving break-even by 2023 is still a challenge.
Online Safety Bill: Scaled back for an Act in 2023
13 January 2023The amended Online Safety Bill contains sensibly scaled back provisions for “legal but harmful” content for adults, retaining the objectives of removing harms to children and giving users more choice. However, this comes at the expense of enhanced transparency from platforms.
News publishers have won further protections: their content will have a temporary ‘must-carry’ requirement pending review when flagged under the Bill’s content rules. Ofcom must keep track of how regulation affects the distribution of news.
The Bill could be further strengthened: private communications should be protected. Regulators will need to keep up with children’s changing habits, as they are spending more time on live, interactive social gaming.
Apple TV+ ramps up spending: Video gatekeeper role a long shot
10 January 2023Three-year-old Apple TV+ is part of a broader pivot to subscription, which seeks to leverage the billion iPhone users.
Little impacted by the tech crash, Apple is increasing content spending as most of its rivals cut it.
Apple’s scripted content pitches quality over quantity, stardom over creativity. But the consumer reception has been cool.
Claire Enders was quoted in the Financial Times on "The Murdoch family trust: how the scions could battle for control"
9 January 2023“They will hang together, those four kids,” says Claire Enders, a media analyst who has tracked the Murdoch empire for decades. “They don’t need the money.”
She expects the future of weak legacy assets, including the newspapers in the UK and Australia, will be the real question for the next generation. “Everyone understands how Rupert feels, but no one else is going to pay for that,” she says.