Some quotes are memorable because they’re insightful, others because they come on a tin coffee cup.

Welcome to the season finale of The Media Odyssey Podcast, where hosts Marion Ranchet and Evan Shapiro close out season one by sharing their last favorite clips – and the behind-the-scenes stories that came with them. From public spats with self-aware CEOs to surprising platform performance data and perfectly ripe metaphors, this episode is both a celebration of what they’ve learned and a preview of what’s next.

A sendoff for a season that redefined how we think about creators, broadcasters, platforms, and the future of television.

Key Takeaways:

1. Trade Desk’s OS Play Was the Curveball of the Year

Marion and Evan revisit their early skepticism about The Trade Desk’s Ventura OS – a move that felt like a left-field land grab. But after a live episode at StreamTV with Ventura chief Matthew Henick, Marion admits she’s convinced. The takeaway: even the boldest tech plays can make sense when they challenge broken systems.

2. CBC Proved YouTube and Public Broadcasting Can Coexist

Paul McGrath of CBC shares how prioritizing long-form YouTube content not only grew audience and watch time, but surprisingly lifted engagement on their owned streaming service. His key stat: 20% of their content (20+ mins) now drives nearly half of total usage.

3. Connected TV Is Fueling Long-Form Growth

With up to 50% of CBC’s watch time now coming from connected TVs, the myth that YouTube means short-form is unraveling. Long-form is thriving, especially in living room contexts—and for public broadcasters, it’s creating younger, distinct audiences.

4. The Loch Ness Monster of Cannibalization Isn’t Real

Paul McGrath debunks the long-standing fear that publishing full episodes on YouTube cannibalizes streaming services. The data showed the opposite: cross-platform release boosted both. As Evan puts it, “Everyone talks about it, but no one’s ever seen it.”

5. FAST in Europe Has Hit Peak Ripeness

In a metaphor that instantly stuck, Ryan Afsha of LG Ads likens the European FAST market to an avocado: “Not yet, not yet, not yet... eat me now, too late.” According to him, 2025 is the sweet spot for content owners and advertisers alike. The window is open and the ecosystem is aligned.

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Connect with us on Linkedin:

Evan Shapiro - https://www.linkedin.com/in/eshap-media-cartographer/

Marion Ranchet - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marionranchet/

Newsletters:

Marion Ranchet - https://marionranchet.substack.com/

Evan Shapiro - https://eshap.substack.com/

• (00:00) - Introduction and Welcome