Launched by the IAB Tech Lab's Advanced Television Systems Committee and designed to "provide standardized identity management for ad creatives" through metadata, Ad-ID is designed to bring streaming ad insertion—particularly for live events—out of "the Wild West," according to Paramount's Jarred Wilichinsky, and to stop, among other things, the mindless repetition of ads that drags down so many streaming experiences. Wilichinsky, Roku's Charlie Goodman, JWP's David Palomento, Akamai's Peter Chave, and Infinitive's C.J. Leonard weigh in on Ad-ID's progress and its potential impact on the streaming ecosystem in this clip from Streaming Media NYC.
07 Aug 2024
When it comes to bundling streaming services, there are other factors to consider beyond the price point, product differentiation, and the content offering the bundle will deliver. According to Roku's Anastasia Pronin, Philo's Adam Salmons, and Bango's Giles Tongue, the key to an effective and profitable streaming bundle is identifying consumer needs and pain points and delivering a bundle that addresses those needs, and they explain how to do it in this clip from Streaming Media NYC.
05 Aug 2024
As more premium content studios start taking FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) seriously, and the number of channels continues to grow, how can independent streamers compete with their more limited budgets and content offerings? Is it more than finding and focusing on a niche? Independent Streaming Alliance co-founders Floris Bauer from Gunpowder & Sky and Tim Ware from Crackle Connex discuss both their individual and collective strategies for surviving, thriving, and monetizing with Streaming Made Easy's Marion Ranchet in this clip from Streaming Media NYC.
29 Jul 2024
Praised at the time for focusing on "values and performance over rules and controls," Netflix's initial 2009 "Culture Memo" had a sizeable impact on the streaming behemoth's internal culture and across the industry as well, but it had some significant blind spots, virtually ignoring diversity and inclusion through multiple iterations over its first decade, as former Netflix Global Education Manager Lori Greene recounts in this clip from Streaming Media NYC. Weber Shandwick Chief DEI Officer Judith Harrison affirms that the Netflix Culture Memo's glaring omissions reflect a broader myopia across the media and entertainment industry, where notions of "cultural fit" that drive employment decisions rarely account for what a candidate might add to the culture of an organization. Greene, Harrison, and McCann DEI Chief Singleton Beato discuss these and other issues surrounding what the FCC defined in 2004 as "Diversity and Communications in the Digital Age" and our progress toward equity or lack thereof.
26 Jul 2024
Though Emily Nussbaum's Cue the Sun: The Invention of Reality TV reads more like a biography than like an obituary, the book lands as reality TV appears to be shrinking along with the scripted side of the business. More than one pundit has proclaimed its demise at the hands of TikTok, the "now everyone grows up on video" platform that reality TV prefigured.
30 Jul 2024
When it comes to electronics, it's easy to look at advertised features and believe that tech will provide everything you need. But no matter how powerful and integrated it is—perhaps even because of how integrated and powerful it is—you need professionals to run it to ensure you look your best. Streaming may seem easy, but as with any business role, only expertise will make it look easy, even when it's not.
29 Jul 2024
For the longest time, people I've interviewed have complained about how much of the video advertising budget went to social. Now the tide is turning.
21 Jun 2024
At Streaming Media NYC, I had the opportunity to moderate a panel around stream security. It's probably the fifth or sixth time that I've done so in the last decade, but an interesting dichotomy popped up during the prep meeting with panelists, and again while we were on stage during the live session. The concept was "casual piracy" and how it differed from "professional piracy" in both intent and scale.
21 Jun 2024