Rhys Jones

Channel 4 streaming up "Barb data shows Channel 4’s streaming audience in June is up 30 per cent on the same month last year. Meanwhile, the channel continues to grow its overall audience, attracting new digital natives while migrating existing viewers to digital platforms, with 3 per cent year on year growth in viewing across streaming and linear combined in June. Additionally, viewing among ABC1s is up 23 per cent in June." It's strange to remember that Channel 4 was under threat only 2 years ago, threatened with privatisation, and wrongly and ignorantly portrayed as a burden on public finances, when Channel 4 is completely commercially funded. It shows what happens when there is an unbiased review, as which happened when Michelle Donelan came in to the DCMS, and decided to support the public broadcaster instead of attack them. The DCMS allowed Channel 4 to innovate, to take ypressure off justifying their existence, but allow them to see how they can enhance their existance. "The data – published as the channel pursues its Fast Forward strategy to become the first public service streamer – also shows the proportion of total viewing via streaming is up by 29 per cent year on year over the first six months of 2024." #broadcasting #publicservice #media #mediaindustry #tvindustry #channel4 #psb #uk #creativeindustries #television https://lnkd.in/e75xWBeh

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It's so important that media companies and vendors are aligned, especially when it comes to something as important as security. The DPP's State of Media Technology Security report digs into the topic - check it out...

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Really proud to be involved in this important initiative for the Future of UK Television.  On Friday 8th November, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport announced a Forum to advise on the future of UK television. It will be Chaired by Media Minister, Stephanie Peacock MP with three underlying working groups. I will be part of the Infrastructure Group that will be chaired by Richard Lindsay-Davies It was announced that the core aims of the group will be to ensure that no one is left behind amid a shift towards online viewing, and to establish a sustainable television ecosystem that works for both audiences and the industry. Media Minister Stephanie Peacock MP said: "Streaming has revolutionised the television industry. Viewers have never had more choice over what to watch and how to access content. As the shift towards streaming and watching live broadcasting online continues, it is vital that no one is left behind. I want to ensure that as many people as possible can watch TV in a way that suits them." I am looking forward to some lively debates among the stakeholders as, in my opinion, there is a fair amount of misinformation, bias and lack of understanding in many reports that have been written on the topic. This group has wide representation which should get to the heart of the issues clearly and quickly. https://lnkd.in/eCnvycfh #Edgio #DigitalTV #inclusivity #streaming #ott #sustainability

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Freely - broadcaster alliance service launches in the UK Everyone TV has launched a new free TV service for the UK it has "the backing of BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 and is available through the next generation of smart TVs now on sale in stores and online. Live TV channels can be streamed alongside on demand content, offering viewers and broadcasters a pathway to the end of the dish or TV aerial, should they choose to do so." "It’s the first time four of Britain’s public service broadcasters have come together to launch a streaming proposition, signalling the beginning of a journey to secure the future of free TV through collaboration. The partners have previously worked together on the DTT platform Freeview and satellite-delivered Freesat." “The launch of Freely is a historic moment for UK television. Collaboration between the UK PSBs is critical to connecting and protecting all audiences as we transition towards the streaming era – and delivering live TV over broadband for free is a ground-breaking innovation that will futureproof public service broadcasting,” said Kieran Clifton, Director, BBC Distribution & Business Development. Just as posted yesterday with the SES and Intelsat merger/takeover, the future of the #tvindustry lies in alliances. This is especially true when it comes to legacy companies or legacy services. It's no secret that TV operators and channels have been thoroughly disrupted by SVOD platforms. So far, the response by the channels has been divided, ITV launching its own platform, BBC investing in iPlayer etc. Now it seems, they are coming together to move the TV services to streaming, and present a united front of UK PSBs and bring the services together. I'm certainly biased, but between them, I believe the UK PSBs have some of the best content for the UK and the world. It's sad to see that people, especially younger generations turning away from the UK PSBs in favour of the USA global SVOD platforms. Partly its due to the fact that the PSBs didn't have a great position on #streamingplatforms will this change now? Is it just in time or too late? I think depending on how it's marketed, I think it can be a success. It's already gaining tract by partnerships with #connectedtv providers. "Hisense, previously announced as the first Freely smart TV partner, brings Freely TVs to market today. TVs will be available in stores across the UK and online at retailers such as Currys, Argos, AO and Very. It has also been announced today that TiVo will be offering Freely as part of its TiVo OS platform." I also think the Department for Culture, Media and Sport needs to step in and regulate where the PSBs are positioned, a special button on controls for #smarttv sets amongst other measures. The UK has one of the most vibrant #creativeindustries in Europe and the world, and the PSBs are in the centre of that. https://lnkd.in/dG7gncDS

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I was really privileged today to chair a fascinating debate on “Post Transformation”, sharing the stage with Andy B. from Channel 4, Iris Nedio from Accedo.tv, Mark Patrick from the BBC and James Glendinning from Techex to talk about the current state of broadcasting and where we stand on our transformation journey. My key takeaways: 💰📱 Commercial and consumer pressures continue to drive demand for innovation and adaptability. Small screen viewing, on demand requirements and competition from platforms like YouTube are changing the market. Digital first is the way forward. 🏃‍♂️ The speed of change required has continued to accelerate - in the software world, immediate PoCs are required and go live might be within weeks. We have to be able to drive incremental improvements and integrate where required. ☁️ In Core Video and audio technology, the move from SDI to IP and the cloud is the enabler for future flexibility, but not everyone is there yet. It takes time to replace core legacy infrastructure. We are not all “post transformation”. The scale of backbone tech change required is challenging to deliver. 📹 Video and audio in the cloud is complex. Standards can reduce complexity (we all want reduced complexity!), but can standards keep up with the pace of change? How can this work globally? We also don’t have sufficient people with the right skills for cloud. 🤝 Super flexible industry partnerships are key to agility, providing solutions, software and resource augmentation. Requirements can and will change. Thanks so much to our panelists and to Polly Hickling for organising the SMPTE track!

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Everyone TV partners with TV sets - but government could help more "Everyone TV – the organisation leading the evolution of free TV in the UK – has revealed multiple new #smartTV brands are joining the Freely line-up with Toshiba, Sharp, Panasonic and Metz all confirmed to offer the new streaming service backed by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. The addition of these four new brands means Freely has confirmed six smart TV partners in total. Existing partners include Bush and Hisense, with Freely currently accessible on their 2024 4K smart TV models." Freely is the amalgamation of the UK #publicservice #broadcasters content, although its not clear whether there's only a selection of content found on the #psbs or whether everything you can find on their own #streamingplatforms you can find on Freely too. However, it's already making a mark that they've got agreements with big Smart TV manufacturers. It doesn't seem though that there will yet be an Freely button, rather just an app built into the home screen. However, amongst the brands that have made an agreement with Everyone TV, there are some big omissions, Samsung TV, LG, Roku, Amazon, Google etc. What share of the market do these companies have vs the one that have taken on Freely? It's clear that a majority of smart TV's won't have Freely. Here's where the government in the UK, or a future government via the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, could step in. It could mandate that public service media has prominence on the home screens. It could even mandate a button on controls that would massively increase recognition of Freely and UK public service media, giving them a much needed boost in the fight for relevance against the global streamers. While traditional #lineartv remains relevant, the traditional advantage that psbs had was the primacy on the EPG to always appear at the top. No matter what TV or set-top box, unencrypted or #paytv you would always see BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5. In the world of #streamingmedia, there is no such requirement or equivalent. The government is playing catchup in many areas, and to support the burgeoning UK creative sector, they need prominence as they have on linear. Government has not supported the psbs enough on this, and it should be top of the list of the DCMS to help psbs. It's not just the PSBs that will benefit, it will be the wider UK media industry. #tvindustry #mediaindustry #television #uk #creativeindustries #freelytv #epg #streaming

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I hope the media bill passed yesterday in the UK government will create the 1m jobs it had the original ambition to create The bill proves that we are well and truely now in the age where streaming isn’t the alternative, it is the main stay of the sector where public service broadcasters and streaming services co-exist If my interpretation is right, then it maybe even legislates for preference to be given on the discovery pages of smart TVs to the PSBs. A bit of a technical challenge on the compliance front for the connected TV manufacturers? I’d be interested to know what Oliver Davies and Timothy Edwards say about that The main thrust of the bill is to remove the threat of state-backed press regulation to support modernising broadcasting regulations for the streaming age The Media Bill, like the Digital Markets, was rushed through following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to call a general election on 4 July In summary the Media Bill’s provisions include: 📺 Ensuring that the apps of public service broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5) are easy to find on smart TVs and other devices 📺 Requiring video-on-demand services such as Netflix to be covered by the Ofcom content code 📺 The repeal of Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act, removing what many see as the threat of Government-backed press regulation 📺 The listed events regime is updated to ensure major sporting events such as the Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup and Wimbledon remain free to air via a public service broadcaster 📺 New rules to ensure the BBC, commercial and community radio stations are available via smart speakers Above all of that for me I hope that the original sentiment of investment and job creation remains.

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A product I truly believe is ground breaking! When you see it in action every business needs this tool!

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It’s interesting to hear different thoughts about bundling but ideas on paper  need to translate to reality.    Having worked at satellite and IP platforms for many years, this is something we’ve  battled with and the trick is trying to find the right mix for customers, at the right price that technology is able to deliver cost effectively. 1. The customer – selecting components of the bundle depends on the popularity of each service offered, the price and the length of time the customer is locked in.    Ideally customers like to pick and choose their own bundles but there’s a higher cost to securing content and products unless volumes can be guaranteed.   2. Partners may only negotiate better rates if there’s sufficient volume and sometimes a minimum guarantee might be required.  They also want to know what else is in the bundle and what marketing will be used to support and promote it.    3. The technicalities of the platform.   Building plans and technical solutions is not always easy and the first step is to ensure relevant tech teams can build it and to consider any costs involved and ROI.  4. The motivation. Is it to increase customer nos /revenues , add to the product and services offered for retention or a mix of both ? Just like building a house, what looks good on the architects plans can change depending where the services are located , cost of goods and end value for living and long term investment.

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So there you have it. Cookies are both ALIVE and DEAD at the same time. We know that today - thanks to Safari, Firefox etc.. and opt-outs in Chrome - only 30% of users can be targeted in the open web. In the UK, the ICO have previously shared that when customers are given an explicit choice of opting in or out of tracking, 90% opt-out. We know where this is headed. Nothing has changed. Time spent preparing has not been wasted. Cookies may be alive today (in Chrome only), but the direction of travel and destination - for consumers, publishers and brands - remains the same. #Schrodingerscookie.

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Is this the DPP’s most sensational survey ever? We asked both customers and suppliers about media security. The results shocked us: half of customers don’t feel any more secure than five years ago; but most vendors think security is much better. They can’t both be right! The report, by my brilliant colleague Edward Qualtrough, makes great, and important reading. It’s available now to all DPP members. Get yourself a copy to read on the way to IBC!

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Some thoughts on the ITV Q3 trading update, which was published this morning. 1. There will be two areas that may dominate thinking. The first is that ITV Studios revenues is now expected to be down mid-single digits YoY vs previous guidance of a low single digit decline (which, in itself, was a downgrade from the original "broadly flat" language). One point to look out for is whether this has been driven by a change in the status of productions (which washes through on profits), as happened with the 1H downgrade, or weaker demand. 2. The second is on advertising revenues. Q3 Total Advertising Revenues (TAR) was broadly flat as expected. But Q4 is expected to be down 6-7%, meaning TAR at +2.5% for the FY. The Q4 performance is being blamed on (1) tough comps from the Rugby World Cup last year and (2) advertisers pulling spend ahead of the UK budget because of uncertainty. The obvious question is how much teh second factor has contributed and whether, post-budget, certainty returns. 3. Digital advertising revenues rose 15% for the first 9 months, implying a range of around 10-11% for Q3 and a slowdown from 1H's 17%. As TAR was up 6% for the first 9 months, this implies linear was up around low to mid-single digits during this time, probably driven by the Euros. 4. ITV announced an extra £20m of cost cuts for 2024. £10m of this is savings brought forwards but £10m is driven by reduction in content costs. I would have some concerns on the latter. While ITV needs to drive profits and optimise efficiency in its programming, what it must be careful of is not using reductions in the programming budget as an easy way to drive / protect profits in case it impacts the core business. 5. In conclusion, ITV is still an incredibly valuable asset and the growth in digital ad revenues - plus growth in linear for 2024 (with the Euros a big help) - is an undoubted plus. There are some questions over Studios' performance in 2024 though and, as mentioned, hopefully any reduction to content costs are limited in scope. As usual, this is not investment advice,

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Exciting news for today - we've just published first ever Media CTO Survey report available to DPP members to download. Researched and written by the my esteemed colleague Edward Qualtrough, Editorial Director. The report explores what CTO's are really thinking about when it comes to challenges and investment priorities for their businesses - it's great insight if your developing your own strategies. #DPP #mediaindustry #MediaCTOSurvey

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It's great to see frequent news of brands investing in Marketing Mix Modelling (MMM). There's a step beyond ROAS though, and this is where DI systems are key. If you join MMM to the Lifetime Value (LTV) modelling you'll quickly come to appreciate that just working on acquisition efficiency in isolation...well...its kind of like...dumb quite frankly. If we are on the same page so far, then the next question is which DI tool? Personally I would be looking for industry vertical specialisation. For instance in terms of MMM in Telecoms one would want to consider not just typical seasonality, but also industry dimensions such as; manufacturer device launches, buy back schemes and offers, renewable economy and price points, device pricing decay, ecommerce transactional volumes, competitor pricing and offers, competitor marketing spend and more. Taken a step further though you can calculate the CAC ratio to LTV payback, and therefore focus on how you create lasting value by getting off the sugar hit of channels that offer high volume / low retention / lower LTV in $ terms in favour of longer LTV and yield. That brings you back to the front of the equation - i.e. what CAC can I afford relative to the subscriber cohort LTV. Tip - It will be 50% more in one channel and 50% less in another. Sincere congrats to SourseAI & Tanya Hyams-Young & most of all Andrew Branson & team at More Telecom. #marketingmixmodelling #mmm #telecom #mvno

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One of my favourite non-political podcasts leads with a story on X / Twitter being banned in Brazil - interestingly so many fan accounts are run by people based there thus a lot of advertising and pro revenue comes from that market. So a story involving the alleged spreading of #misinformation ties in with the stan movement. Think this will change anything? & the #podcast is about B-list celeb culture - https://lnkd.in/eWHBNrCk

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This is a very interesting diagram, interesting to see it is related to the value of the content......

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What a great week it's been catching up with old and new faces. There's been a lot of familiar chat recently about how conferences and networking events have become a bit stale, predictable and uninspiring... this week felt quite the opposite.   🎄 Kicking off with the fantastic Digital Leading Ladies aka #DLL and a (not premature…) Christmas lunch organised by the fantastic committee. An informal network born out of Whatsapp, keeping it real when it comes to advice, support, rants, ideas and laughs along the way. Good for the soul!   🤖 Into the inaugural FutureWeek AIMM conference talking all things AI. I had the pleasure of being on a panel with the awesome Lara Izlan (contrary to the title we did all think there's been great progress!) and whilst it was great learning more from the OGs in the space, it was insanely valuable having chats about the real projects we're all working on - sharing the oh too common challenges as well as the wins. I'm hugely excited about what we're doing in this space at Channel 4 Sales and the part we're playing to drive real benefits to our Sales teams and Customers.   📈 Lastly Videoweek Roadmap included a great panel of analysts on the future of Broadcast TV. Stats from Ampere Analysis supported the reality that: * there's been a huge increase in investment by UK broadcasters not only in in technology but also content * the high standards we set ourselves to technically deliver ad breaks is not to be underestimated when it comes to viewer experience (something the streamers are working towards in these early days) * the UK is in a unique position to have strong PSBs that play an increasingly important role in representing UK culture through content and creativity.   A lot going on, but also why this is such an interesting time to be working in TV/CTV/Streaming/enter-own-definition-at-your-peril...! Looking forward to FTV next month to do it all again! #DLL #CTV #FutureweekAIMM #AI #VWRoadmap24 #Video #Advertising #FutureofTVAdvertising #FTVAGlobal

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Excellent case study describing how we helped ITV audit, cleanse and consolidate a large internal metadata set. Read the case study to learn how this resulted in a positive outcome for ITV. https://lnkd.in/eVJ9cwTN #metadatatransformation

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