Thinking Out Loud

Stephanie Fried, CMO of Fandom, reveals the behind-the-scenes strategies that have elevated Fandom to a global enthusiast hub. Learn about successful collaborations and how Fandom is reshaping the landscape of interactive fan experiences. This episode delves into cultivating engagement, leveraging fan-driven content for unique marketing opportunities, and exploring the dynamic intersection of community building and marketing. Explore Fandom's impactful partnerships with media and entertainment companies and how they foster a mutually beneficial relationship for fans and the industry.

In this episode, Colin Brady, Chief Creative Officer, AMGI studios, a visionary executive who has not only left his mark at Pixar, working on beloved classics like Toy Story and A Bug's Life, but has now ventured into the realm of gaming, bringing a groundbreaking new style of animation with him. We also explore the exciting frontier of using AI to craft personalized and immersive experiences, where technology becomes a tool to weave intricate and dynamic narratives tailored to each individual. Our conversation delves into strategic partnerships forming between brands and TV shows, unlocking new possibilities to extend and complement their narratives through gaming and other communal experiences. It's a fascinating exploration of how different forms of media can converge to create richer, more interconnected worlds.

Get ready for a fascinating exploration of the intersection between influencers, television, brands, and technology that's shaping the future of entertainment. In this thought-provoking episode, host Vicki Lins and guests Jonathan Chanti and Paul Telner dive into how Viral Nation harnesses the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to protect both content creators and the brands they represent. And discover how influencers lend their unique perspectives, authenticity, and relatability to television content, breathing new life into traditional formats.

What does it take to succeed in an over-saturated streaming world? According to guest Michael Wright, head of MGM+, it’s focusing on quantity, quality, and value. Michael asserts today’s sophisticated audience determines within five minutes whether they will keep a subscription after the free trial by quickly assessing three important things. Host Vicki Lins and guest Michael Wright discuss chasing people over profit, their recent acquisition by Amazon, and how Amazon’s resources and enthusiasm will guide awareness and subscriber growth.

Guest Stacy Jolna has a long career in changing how people watch TV. He was a founding executive for TiVo and most recently, the founder and CMO of Clix, a multi-platform streaming model. Jolna applies the three C’s to create new viewing experiences for the consumer – choice, control, and convenience. In our discussion, he explains how through human editorial curation and AI machine learning, Clix is providing a personal viewing experience for the consumer, exciting new advertising opportunities and partnerships across the streaming ecosystem.   

As the Streaming Wars evolved, we witnessed business models pull apart, sending parties to their respective corners, all trying to figure out what’s next. It became clear global scale is necessary to stay competitive, making co-productions a priority. Host Vicki Lins and guest Rebecca Glashow, CEO of Global Distribution for BBC Studios, discuss several topics including how through co-productions and partnerships, we are witnessing a resurgence of competitors also being colleagues, where working together can benefit individual businesses.

Erin Schmidt, chief product placement officer, BEN, is behind some of the most iconic brand placements, including James Bond switching his favorite drink to a Heineken, Ant-Man working in a Baskin Robbins, and Steve and Nancy from Stranger Things eating KFC’s finger-lickin'-good fried chicken. Erin and host Vicki Lins discuss how entertainment drives cultural conversations and how brand placements are supporting the creator economy. Erin details the value and impact of product partnerships between content development and brands and how the right product placement allows a brand to be an authentic part of the conversation. Join us to explore the dynamics behind several successful integrations, where marrying content and brand ultimately enhanced the viewer experience.

Peak TV has hit a new peak where different points of convergence are driving diverse programming for consumption and streaming platforms have created a space to connect with new audiences. Guest Catherine Tait, the CEO of CBC, provides a glimpse into Canadian viewing habits, examples of how their content has successfully crossed borders, and how collaborations allow them to continue to compete in the content race.