Digital Media and Content Distribution

Competition Increasing Among Top 10 OTT Video Service Providers

New Parks Associates research cited by The Washington Post today reveals the competitive landscape among top OTT video service providers. The IoT research firm recently released an updated Top 10 list of OTT video services, which showed the majority of OTT video consumption is now on Internet-connected TV. The list, which has Netflix maintaining the top spot ahead of Amazon Video, Hulu, MLB.TV, and WWE Network, is ranked by number of paid subscribers, excluding transactional or...

by Parks Associates | Nov. 28, 2016
Tags: cord cutting, digital content, Internet of Things, multiscreen, OTT, pay TV

Echo owners could further strengthen Amazon’s lead in the streaming music market

Today’s launch of Amazon’s standalone streaming music service , Amazon Music Unlimited, will definitely have an impact for the streaming music industry. Amazon announced a standard $9.99 per month price, but a $2 discount for Amazon Prime members and a $3.99 per month rate for Amazon Echo owners. The Amazon Echo offering does not include the ability to listen on alternative devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and computers. Parks Associates research indicates a...

by Glenn Hower | Oct. 12, 2016
Tags: Amazon, digital content, digital media, digital music, smartphone, streaming

Like a Tired Marathoner, NBC Struggles through Olympics Coverage

Long an advertising and ratings powerhouse for the Peacock, one of the hottest stories to come out of Rio is the decline in NBC viewership ratings for the Games of the XXXI Olympiad. There are several reasons the Rio Olympics broadcasts are not resonating quite as highly with viewers: Broadcast Delays – As has been the case in previous years, NBC delays some of its most popular events for primetime broadcast. This leads to the possibility of event results hitting the press...

by Glenn Hower | Aug. 12, 2016
Tags: cord cutting, digital content, digital media, millennials, online video, OTT, pay TV, streaming

UFC Changes Hands for the First Time in 15 Years

William Morris Endeavor - International Marketing Group (WME-IMG) bought the UFC earlier this month for $4 billion. WME-IMG is a conglomerate of two accomplished agencies: talent agency WME specializing primarily in movies, television, and music, and IMG’ focusing on management for international sports and events. Brothers and co-owners of the UFC, Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, are stepping down after the sale is finalized, but Dana White will remain on in his current role as...

by Parks Associates | Aug. 1, 2016
Tags: digital content, digital media, online video, operator

How Operators Secure the Integrity of Video Analytics Data – Industry Webinar

Protecting customer information is not just about protecting the customer but also protecting the operators’ investments in video analytics data. Any security breach reduces customer trust in their video service provider and reduces the trust of vendors, partners, and advertisers in the ability of an operator to provide valuable analytics information and insight. Join Parks Associates and Verimatrix on Tuesday, July 19 for a complimentary one-hour industry webinar examining...

by Parks Associates | Jul. 15, 2016
Tags: digital media, industry event, operator, OTT, security, tech support, Webcast

VidCon Wrap Up, Blog in the Dooblydoo

VidCon, online video's takeover of the Anaheim Convention Center, was interesting, thought provoking, educational, and honestly a lot of fun. Between keynotes and discussions on the future of online video, I witnessed mass gatherings of fan communities and enjoyed unexpected brief meetups with Dr. Lindsey Doe of sex ed channel Sexplanations, and Michael Stevens, creator and longtime host of the channel Vsauce. Amidst the controlled chaos of online video's biggest gathering, a few key...

by Glenn Hower | Jun. 30, 2016
Tags: digital content, digital media, millennials, online video, OTT, streaming

Comcast to Grow its Own Media Kingdom

It appears that Comcast and its film and television subsidiary NBCUniversal will rule the Kingdom of Far Far Away after the media giant purchased Shrek franchise parent company DreamWorks Animation in a $3.8 billion acquisition announced earlier today . While the price is hefty, Comcast may not suffer from sticker shock when considering the advantages DreamWorks Animation’s assets provide Comcast’s already vast portfolio. The deal positions NBCUniversal to compete...

by Glenn Hower | Apr. 28, 2016
Tags: digital content, digital media, online video, OTT

OTT Video Services Gaining Popularity in Europe

According to Parks Associates research, 33% of U.K. broadband households subscribed to an OTT video service as of 3Q 2015. New OTT video market entrants, especially those with paid services, will have to provide unique value in order to make substantial gains. However, the demand for interesting content is strong enough that there are market opportunities for new OTT video players. Nearly 20% of U.K. broadband households have recently used a Netflix service, despite the free OTT catch-up...

by Parks Associates | Mar. 3, 2016
Tags: digital media, europe, online video, OTT, pay TV