Tag: over-the-top

EMA Announces Details for Concurrent LAES and OTT_X Conferences

The Entertainment Merchants Association will present two conferences — the Los Angeles Entertainment Summit (LAES) and the OTT_X conference — on July 16 at the Universal Hilton in Universal City, Calif.

The two conferences will address different aspects of the entertainment industry, according to the EMA. The LAES will examine the overall digital home entertainment marketplace, while the OTT_X conference, chaired by Erick Opeka, president of Cinedigm Digital Networks, will look at the over-the-top sector, including subscription and ad-supported VOD.

On July 17 conference attendees can participate in industry roundtables and discussions.

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Registrants for one conference can attend the other at no additional cost, and all attendees will be admitted to the opening night cocktail party from 6:30-8:30 p.m. July 16.

Registration begins at 7 a.m. July 16.

Opening remarks for the OTT_X conference begin at 9 a.m. followed by a research presentation at 9:15 a.m.; panels on monetization of OTT and windowing to enhance value and revenue; and a “Fireside Keynote” on AVOD.

Opening remarks for the LAES begin at 2 p.m., followed by a consumer panel, research presentation and keynote speaker to be determined.

Roundtables and workshops on July 17 include deep dives on conference research presentations, the EMA Retailing Council (EMA members only), supply chain, and OTT.

To register for the LAES, click here.

To register for the OTT_X conference, click here.

Research: U.S. Broadband-Only Households to Grow to 40.8 Million by 2023

Broadband-only U.S. households are set to grow from 23.3 million in 2018 to 40.8 million by 2023, according to estimates from Kagan, a media research group within S&P Global Market Intelligence.

“The steep upward trend of due to ‘cord-cutting’ is not surprising given the abundance of online video services on the market, although this could be a circular argument, with more companies jumping on the streaming video bandwagon in response to the growing broadband-only market,” said Tony Lenoir, senior Kagan research analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence, in a statement.

Kagan expects the segment of broadband homes without a traditional multichannel subscription to account for nearly one-third of U.S. households in the next five years.

Kagan findings show that over-the-top (OTT) products, whether subscription video on demand, direct-to-consumer or virtual multichannel, are offered at competitive prices which is a major factor fueling cord-cutting. Other reasons for the strong projection of broadband-only growth include the ease of joining and cancelling online streaming services, Kagan found. They typically do not require contracts.

“The value proposition of streaming video services touches a chord with the average consumer,” Lenoir said in a statement. “The vast majority of streaming services offer free trial periods, effectively allowing consumers to shop around while bypassing hardware hassles associated with legacy video distribution. This coupled with the fact that streaming services are typically screen-agnostic and seamlessly portable, offer individual, customized consumption for customers.”

Additional findings include:

  • Kagan expects broadband-only homes, or households without a traditional multichannel video package, but a subscription to wireline broadband, to rise at an 11.9% compound annual growth rate from 2018 to 2023.
  • Broadband-only homes are set to account for 41.7% of wireline broadband households by 2023. Kagan expects cable and telco broadband to serve nearly 75% of U.S. households by that time.

LAES: OTT About Change, Speakers Say

While there are many forms of over the top, or OTT, distribution, the term OTT is ultimately a “signifier for change” in the entertainment marketplace, said Erick Opeka, EVP of digital networks at Cinedigm July 17 at the OTT Channels Conference. The conference, which Opeka chaired, took place during the Los Angeles Entertainment Summit, produced by the Entertainment Merchants Association.

Speakers on the panel, “OTT 2022: Prognosticating the Future,” discussed the varied landscape for OTT players, from paid subscription to free ad-supported distribution, and the dominance of goliaths such as Netflix.

Panelists speculated about where Netflix would be in the next five years.

“They will look much bigger,” said Pluto TV’s Jeff Shultz. “It will be much harder for anyone to catch them given the lead they have created.”

Neil Davis of Ucast TV speculated that Netflix would be acquired by Apple, and Roku’s Randy Ahn quipped that it would be owned by Roku.

Meanwhile, National Research Group’s Jeff Hall said it would be continuing to expand internationally.

Many panelists noted the many opportunities for international growth of OTT.

Content on Indian knitting patterns can find an audience in India, Hall noted.

“Listen to the consumer,” he said.

Panelists also discussed ways to compete in a market dominated by the likes of Netflix, Amazon and other giants.

“It’s really challenging for an independent to find a place,” Davis said.

Content discovery is key, noted Ahn.

“We make it easy for publishers to build channels,” he said, noting that the Roku Channel is “essentially like a supermarket endcap” for OTT distribution, making it easier for consumers to use and discover OTT content.

Having a strong brand can also be a help “if the brand is important enough,” Shultz said.

HBO’s online service “has a chance to be a Netflix-like brand,” Hall said.

Panelists also addressed the impending Walt Disney Co. streaming service.

“I think they are going to have a harder time than I would like them to have,” Hall said, noting the service would have to expand beyond family programming.

Meanwhile, Ahn said Disney could “potentially redefine entertainment,” and Shultz, noting Disney’s valuable IP, wondered “at what expense it will come to Netflix.”

In another presentation, Tubi’s Adam Lewinson called his AVOD service “free Netflix” and noted it had accumulated 8,000 movies and series, using machine learning to help each piece of content find its audience.

Targeting a niche is also a way to find an OTT audience, noted Here Media’s Paul Colichman on another panel.

“Anyone who’s trying to compete with Netflix [with its wide appeal] should go home now,” he said.

Speakers agreed that OTT has put traditional TV on a path of decline.

IHS Markit research analyst Dan Cryan told the audience that 2016 was the peak of traditional TV.

“In five years, we won’t be talking over the top because it will all be over the top,” said Pluto TV’s Shultz.

Lionsgate Inks Deal with ‘Overboard’ Star’s Production Company

Lionsgate’s television group has signed a deal with 3Pas Studios, a production company helmed by Latino star Eugenio Derbez and producing partner Benjamin Odell.

Derbez stars in Overboard from Lionsgate Films and MGM.

Under the agreement, 3Pas will produce English- and Spanish-language series for the TV group, as well as Lionsgate streaming platforms such as the recently-launched OTT service PANTAYA.

The partnership expands Lionsgate’s longstanding relationship with 3Pas, which already includes a first-look feature film deal with the company’s Pantelion Films label.  In addition to Overboard, Derbez has starred in and produced Pantelion’s Instructions Not Included, the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the United States, and last year’s hit How to Be a Latin Lover.

“We’re thrilled to expand our relationship with the incomparable comedic genius Eugenio Derbez and his 3Pas Studios into the television business,” said Lionsgate EVP and head of worldwide scripted television Chris Selak in a statement. “This multifaceted partnership is another example of working collaboratively across our divisions to identify premier brand name talent like Eugenio and Ben. We can’t wait to see the exciting new projects they’ll bring to our television slate.”

“We’re delighted to launch this new phase of our relationship with Lionsgate, a major Hollywood studio that embraces the creative vision of its artists and is committed to super-serve underserved audiences, including the growing acculturated Latinx market,” said Derbez and Odell in a statement. “It’s great working with Paul and his team at Pantelion, and we look forward to expanding that collaboration in order to supply Lionsgate’s television business and streaming services with exciting, premium quality content for a diverse spectrum of audiences.”

In addition to Instructions Not Included and How to Be a Latin Lover, Derbez is known for the Mexican comedy “La Familia Peluche,” which is being adapted into an animated feature by 3Pas. He also starred in such movies as Under the Same Moon, Jack and Jill and Miracles from Heaven and will appear in Disney’s upcoming The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. Odell has produced or executive produced more than 20 feature films, including many for Pantelion as former head of production. Prior to that, he was an award-winning TV writer and screenwriter in Latin America.