Thinking Out Loud

President & Chief Media Analyst of Variety’s Intelligence Platform, Andrew Wallenstein, recaps the trending topics of 2021 and predictions for 2022. Wallenstein and host Vicki Lins discuss navigating the three-dimensional metaverse experience; and its potential within entertainment, recent pandemic release strategy experimentations, what competing streaming services will have to do to get ahead and recent findings from Variety Intelligence Platform’s market research reports. 

For 20-years, Redbox has built a deep relationship with its 40 million customers. Their unique customer base, known for being late adopters of technology and 71% of them identifying as deal hunters, is devotedly following Redbox into a new world filled with endless entertainment options. In this conversation, host Vicki Lins explores how Redbox is almost effortlessly taking its customer base on a pilgrimage into the digital world. Galen Smith, CEO, Redbox, explains how their simplified, seamless process helps these late adopters shift to new offerings by the latest movies On Demand, free live TV channels, add supported On Demand and subscription channels all in one place.

Struum’s first-of-its-kind credit-based subscription streaming service enables users to sample content from dozens of participating streaming services from around the globe in one centralized platform. Struum, founded by accomplished Disney and Discovery executives, combines their passion for technology, storytelling, and research to create a leading-edge approach to monetizing assets. Struum’s “ClassPass” model serves consumers as the ultimate complimentary subscription with access to interest-based content. 

Peter Csathy, founder and chairman, CREATV Media delivers his performance scorecard of the media landscape with strategic predictions about the top streamers, recent M&A deals, and important trends. Peter defines a “great reopening” by detailing how companies are reimagining their business around IP franchising and applying transformational technology that enables improved content production efficiencies and localization for international markets like never before.

The intersection of technology and entertainment has had a fundamental impact on the evolution of TV, transforming the way audiences consume content and how media companies compete for consumers' time and attention.

Host Vicki Lins sits down with guest Jon Giegengack to discuss Hub Entertainment Research findings on consumer awareness, understanding, and perceptions of the top players across the TV ecosystem—including both TV distribution platforms and TV networks as well as examining the impact of these brand perceptions on which services consumers use and viewing decisions. 

2020 kicked off the streaming decade, but the growth of streaming skyrocketed faster than even those at the front seat initially predicted. Guest Tedd Cittadine, VP, Content Partnerships, Roku Inc. unpacks what this transformational shift in viewing behavior means for content makers looking to connect with engaged audiences on TV streaming. Tedd discussed the growth opportunities that the Roku platform can offer both AVOD and SVOD services from user acquisition, customer retention, brand marketing, advertising, ad technology and more. Tedd also details the marketing strategy behind the success of the free AVOD service The Roku Channel, the acquisition of Quibi’s multimillion-dollar portfolio original programming and what the growth of streaming means for advertisers, content providers, consumers and the television industry at large.

Guest Will Pearson details the evolution of podcasts from a medium bound by Q&A formats, into a safe space for creators to develop uncaged storytelling, and where larger brands can harvest IP and reach diverse, untapped audiences. The television industry has certainly taken notice as evidenced by iHeartRadio's partnerships with talent, creatives and media giants like ViacomCBS and WarnerMedia to develop TV and streaming series into podcast franchises. Host Vicki Lins and Will explore the nuances of podcast content discovery, ad strategy and what’s on the horizon of the podcasting landscape.

Guest Kevin Beggs details an “undefined” television landscape that is creating a new breadth of programming. Known for the production of brand-defining shows such as Mad Men, Orange is the New Black and Weeds, Beggs describes an upside to the industry’s disruption. Consolidation and new distribution platforms have rejuvenated traditional programming, creating a world of opportunity for new voices, genres, and storytelling that can be heard anywhere, anytime. 

As gaming, viewing and social interaction increasingly become a single experience, there are more opportunities for broadcasters to develop consumer touchpoints using business intelligence to deliver customized viewing experiences and drive monetization, subscriptions and advertising.

On this episode of Thinking Out Loud, host Vicki Lins sits down with Miheer Walavalkar, CEO and Co-Founder of LiveLike, an audience engagement platform, for an insightful conversation on emerging technology and the next era of content consumption: social, immersive viewing.