Jason Fiber

SiriusXM reported its Q1 earnings this morning, and the headlines are justifiably focused on its loss of subscribers (nearly 500k). Like all radio, its subscription business is highly vulnerable with the move to digital audio, especially in cars. But a bright spot? If you paid attention to Spotify's earnings, you wouldn't be surprised: "off-platform revenue." For SXM, this includes Pandora and podcast revenue, which saw a 7% revenue increase. During their investor call, they signaled the growth for podcasts, explicitly saying, "Podcasting revenue saw a 22% year-over-year lift in the quarter, while programmatic podcast revenue increased 12% sequentially and 97% year over year." I'd love to see SXM break out the podcast numbers even further, but if you look at what they do provide, it's easy to conclude that podcast revenue is growing much faster than other segments. For example, Pandora continues to bleed users (64k paid subs in Q1 alone), so podcast revenue seems to be the tide lifting all "off-platform" boats. When asked about their podcast initiatives, Scott Greenstein said, "One is, you know, the podcast thing and industry is really still in the second or third inning, so it's evolving." He is 100% right. SXM also signaled that it will continue to license more podcast content and is not closing the book on exclusive content. One more fun nugget: On today's call, podcasts were mentioned 30 times. Pandora was only mentioned ten times, SmartLess nine times, and Howard Stern... zero point zero. Where do you think their priorities are moving forward? Read more: https://lnkd.in/eRQTM2Kq ---- I'm the CEO and founder of DWNLOAD Media, a fund focused on acquiring majority stakes in podcast companies. With continued audience and revenue growth, podcasting continues to be the most under-valued medium, making it time to invest in audio. If you're interested in investing in the podcast space, DM me! #podcasting #audio #siriusxm #sxm #earnings #investor #investing #podcasts

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From programming show control to wiring LED walls and developing interactive content, Bridgewater's Media & Technology team's responsiblities are expansive. But what does Brian Dressel, our VP of Media and Tech consider his #1 job? Making the technology invisible. Because it's not about the tech, it's about the experience. #interactivemedia #experientialmarketing #experiencedesign

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Broadcast networks are estimated to have dropped 6.6% to $3.4 billion, while cable networks are estimated to be down 8.2% to $3.8 billion.

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Check out my latest article in TheWrap on why smartphones are dominating connected TVs in screen time. Dive into the details...#GenZ #streaming #EntertainmentIndustry https://lnkd.in/gRCQ8VtJ

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First of all, how hilarious would it be if the spin-off was named Kable Town?! Second, what Evan Shapīro is saying that logically they would spin-off ALL the TV assets together makes sense on the surface, but not all TV assets are created equal. NBC & Sports are still hugely valuable to them (Olympics is a gold mine), and to Peacock, the other assets are not. They want to be making content for The Cock, not USA and definitely not ScyFy. But if they keep USA 8 ScyFy, they to have to make content for them even if their ratings decline every day. Third, MSNBC is just a pain in the ass. It’s a massive management distraction because every time Joy Reid or Morning Joe say something crazy - which is every time they go on air - Comcast execs get a flurry of phone calls. So it’s a constant distraction. Which was worth putting up with when the ratings were high and they could make a lot of ad dollars off it. But ratings are in the toilet. The other reason to own a news network is political clout but MSNBC does the opposite, it just pisses people off. They will have much more political clout by retaining NBC News alone. And this is to a large degree an effort to save what’s left of the journalistic reputation of NBC News from the dumpster fire that is MSNBC. Fourth, when I was at Comcast even several years ago, the attitude was that the pay TV business was a low margin business and when people cut the cord, they just bought more broadband and Comcast didn’t have to pay Disney and all the rest their random money for cable nets like ESPN. The reason they got into running their own cable nets was as leverage in negotiations with other cable carriers and the ad dollars on cable TV, neither of which are worth near as much now as they were then. It’s just businesses that are no longer strategically valuable and can probably be run more efficiently as a standalone company without consuming management bandwidth anymore.

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For years OTT app development has been plagued by fragmentation. For vendors and publishers it feels like there's a never-ending landscape of devices and device models. That's why at A Different Engine we're proud to be certified development partners for Metrological, a Comcast Company's #LightningFramework ! The Lightning Framework has proven to be a viable solution to the fragmentation problems that have been plaguing the industry for years. It is ideal for building TV apps that run on major smart TV platforms, set top boxes, and other devices with a modern HTML5 browser. Some Key Highlights: - Build once, deploy anywhere (yes, beyond just #X1) - Native-level performance on #WebOS, #Tizen, and Android - Lightning-fast development with #HTML5 & #WebGL Leveraging Lightning reduces development time, is easy to learn, and allows for easy bundling for different platforms. Best of all, it can be used to update specific components for increased performance. When implemented properly, it has the potential to reduce cost and time to market. We recently took a client from ground zero to published on X1 in only 30 days! Interested in a demo? Drop "DEMO" in the comments and I'll reach out with more info. p.s. check out our work on #X1 is unmatched - link is in the comments!

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California Production Coalition: Fighting to Keep Hollywood Filming in California. https://lnkd.in/g-BtDZgq Entertainment Partners is excited to be part of the California Production Coalition to ensure California remains THE place to film! California has phenomenal resources and over 100 years of experience in productions. Excited to see this coalition being launched today! It's very important to note, Productions in California bring high-paying jobs and economic activity to every part of our state. And I'm proud to be part of the fight to protect that. Are you ready to join the fight for film, TV, and streaming production in California?   Along with nearly early three dozen film, television, and streaming production businesses and associations have formed the California Production Coalition to advocate for policies that strengthen California’s film industry. It’s a pleasure to be working alongside other businesses to improve conditions for filming in our home state. The group, including members like the Motion Picture Association (MPA), Television City Studios, and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, aims to address declining production activity, which has been slow to recover after the pandemic and last year’s strikes.   Representing prop houses, equipment leasing firms, payroll companies and other service providers, the coalition is focused on expanding California’s film tax credit program. Their first priority: supporting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to increase the annual program from $330M to $750M. This expansion could boost local jobs and revenue, building on the $961.5M in tax revenue and over 110,000 jobs supported by the credit between 2015 and 2020, per the LAEDC.   The coalition, which began organizing last summer, aims to educate policymakers and the public on the benefits of keeping productions in-state. They also advocate for reducing red tape to make California more competitive with rivals like Georgia, New Mexico, Canada, the UK and Australia.   With production volumes down 17% globally and reality TV shoots in Los Angeles declining by 56%, coalition members warn of the economic ripple effects on businesses that rely on a thriving production ecosystem.   The coalition’s mission: ensure that Hollywood’s legacy and economic contributions remain rooted in California, while creating a stronger, more competitive future for the state’s film and TV industry.   https://lnkd.in/gxXi4BuQ https://lnkd.in/gxXi4BuQ Entertainment Partners #CaliforniaProductionCoalition #CaliforniaFilmIndustry #TaxCredits #Hollywood #jobs

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The stage was set at the NAB Show 2024. Hundreds of products battled for supremacy in the ever-evolving streaming video arena. Tensions were high as the industry's elite judging panel meticulously evaluated each offering. Then, a true champion emerged from the fray. Vimond's VIA App Builder captivated the experts with a perfect fusion of power and elegance. Features that dazzled: - Lightning-fast development capabilities that make deploying streaming services across devices a mere formality. - An interface so intuitive even a novice could wield its might. - Unparalleled content management that monetises like never before. In an epic clash of innovation, the VIA App Builder reigned supreme – conquering the "Next TV" category to seize the coveted Best of Show honour. A thousand competitors stood in awe. This was more than just an award. It was a statement of Vimond's unwavering commitment to streamlining video streaming for the modern era. An undisputed mark of quality that will shatter industry conventions. The victory horn has sounded. All others have been put on notice. Brace yourselves for the VIA App Builder's continued dominance, as it leads content creators to a new era of broadcast supremacy. https://lnkd.in/gssvefKG

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This is an update on how successful #fast and #fastchannels are reporting across the USA ….. #ctv #ottx #ott #dpp #broadcastmedia #streamingmedia #adtech

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STREAMING BUNDLES: Is the cable box making a comeback!? Subscriber churn remains an issue for SVOD services – 42% of US streaming subscribers report that they “'regularly subscribe, cancel and resubscribe,” according to Ampere’s Media Consumer survey covering 1Q24. But bundling streaming services can have a significant impact on mitigating the issue. Ampere cites Disney subscribers as an example: Consumers who had previously churned and then returned to take the Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ bundle are 59% less likely to churn within 12 months than those who take Disney+ alone, based on 1Q23 sign-ups. Ampere also found that US resubscribers skew younger (aged 18-44), are more likely to be in family households, and are typically avid media consumers. And with that wide media diet, the cohort is 40% more likely than average to exhibit signs of subscription fatigue and 21% more likely to desire unified access to content across different services. Which makes bundles, Ampere concludes, a key strategy in subscriber retention. The cable box is making a comeback! This time, it's on your mobile device$!

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As Productions Move Abroad, California Gears Up to Battle Film and TV Exodus – The Gloves Are Coming Off! California’s film and TV production game might be down, but it’s far from out! As productions flirt with international locations, the Golden State is ready to throw some heavyweight punches to keep the magic of Hollywood alive. With a powerful combination of tax credits, infrastructure investment, and a homegrown talent pool that’s second to none, California is suiting up to go toe-to-toe with global competitors. Sure, cheaper locations and irresistible international incentives have been stealing the spotlight. But here’s the plot twist: California isn’t just sitting on the sidelines. We’re rolling up our sleeves, ready to “rumble”. The goal? To remind the world that Hollywood is still the undisputed champion of content creation—no matter how far production tries to wander. The future of film in California? Bright, bold, and absolutely worth watching. https://lnkd.in/grDAwWZ3 Entertainment Partners California Film Commission FilmLA Motion Picture Association

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Content Monetization is the primary revenue generation #contentstrategy for content libraries, #fast and #fastchannels just does not cut it, join the race to prove #streamingmedia and #broadcastmedia is an amazing business model if deployed via the #streamingplaybook. https://viewtvx.com

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A new video today about how even with the so-called "Oligarch Audio" we see today, affordable audio is cheaper and better than ever, something that is important to remind consumers about. https://lnkd.in/dza-Q7Dm

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From the Latest FilmLA Report • Scripted TV production in Los Angeles dropped 99% in Q3 2023 compared to 2022. • FilmLA calls for a significant expansion of California’s $330 million production incentive due to a 20% drop in local filming. • Other jurisdictions like New York, Ontario, Georgia, and the U.K. offer more competitive, uncapped or larger subsidies, putting California at a disadvantage. • Strikes in 2023 and a decline in Peak TV also contributed to a production slowdown. • Global production declines occurred, with Georgia and the U.K. also seeing reduced TV releases. • California temporarily boosted its incentives in 2021, but ongoing state budget deficits limit further expansions. • FilmLA warns California must act to support its entertainment industry or face continued market share losses. FilmLA Seeks 'Vast Expansion' of California Tax Credit (variety.com) https://lnkd.in/gps_6c9A

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