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  • Most Millennials still pay for TV

    Most Millennials still pay for TV

    MUMBAI: While it’s not startling that Millennials (consumers in the 16-24 year-old age group) watch a lot of TV online, it might be more unexpected that the vast majority of them haven’t cut the cord, according to a new study (PDF) from Verizon Digital Media Services (VDMS), the company’s cloud video unit.

     

    As a group that translates to multiple screens and represents about 21 per cent of total consumer spending, Millennials spend three times as much of their TV time watching online – 34 per cent versus 12 per cent among non-Millennials, VDMS found in a study that surveyed 1,000 consumers (800 Millennials and 200 non-Millennials) and based its findings in part to in-home interviews with eight selected Millennials.

     

    But 75 per cent of the Millennials surveyed haven’t cut the cord and still pay for TV through a traditional MVPD, the study revealed.  And most (64 per cent) also pay for an online streaming subscription, versus 33 per cent of surveyed non-Millennials. Only 14 per cent of the Millennials surveyed said they had never watched TV from an online source, versus 44 per cent among non-Millennials.

     

    Here is a look at how the Millennials surveyed broke down their total TV distribution time, 41 per cent was for live TV, 34 per cent online, 15 per cent on the DVR, and 10 per cent using VOD.

     

    But broadcasters could have some reason for concern. While Millennials are generally brand loyal, not a single broadcast network made the top ten list of brand loyalties among the Millennials surveyed, VDMS said.

     

    According to the survey, the top 10 brands among Millennials were: Amazon, YouTube, Facebook, Google, Walmart, Netflix, Apple, Microsoft, McDonald’s, and Samsung. Verizon was 16th.

     

    Among other findings:  40 per cent of Millennials want access to live TV online, 40 per cent want 4K/Ultra HD video, 25 per cent want device and session shifting, and 19 per cent want interactive TV.

  • Amazon’s Prime Instant Video strengthens its library

    Amazon’s Prime Instant Video strengthens its library

    MUMBAI: Amazon and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM) are getting into a content licensing partnership that will see Prime Instant Video streaming past seasons of MTV’s Teen Wolf, along with a host of old classics.

     

    The popular series will air exclusively on Amazon’s online-only subscription home. The deal will also make available for streaming past MGM movies such as The Usual Suspects, Raging Bull and Thelma and Louise. More movies are set to be available on Prime later this year.

     

    The company is glad to add more MGM classic films such as Raging Bull and Thelma and Louise to Prime Instant Video; and is confident that its customers will love these great films.

     

    Teen Wolf is an exciting addition to the library of MGM content available for instant streaming exclusively to Amazon Prime customers. The company strives to deliver its most popular TV shows and movies on a variety of platforms which its audiences can access from anywhere.

  • WWE app surpasses 10 million downloads

    WWE app surpasses 10 million downloads

    MUMBAI: WWE’s mobile application has surpassed 10 million downloads in 220 countries since it launched in August 2012. The WWE App will be a key component in the delivery of WWE Network, the first-ever 24/7 streaming network that launches on Monday, 24 February.

     

    WWE Network will be available through the WWE App on TV via connected devices including Roku streaming devices, Sony PlayStation(R) 3, Sony PlayStation(R) 4 and Xbox 360. WWE Network will also be available through the WWE App on iOS devices, including Apple iPad and iPhone, Amazon’s Kindle Fire devices and Android devices, as well as on desktops and laptops via WWE.com.

     

    Through the WWE App, the company keeps fans connected with a second screen experience during its flagship TV programs. The experience includes live match continuation during TV commercial breaks, backstage content, live polls, photos and exclusive information on WWE superstars and divas. WWE Network will offer fans a similar interactive fan experience for all original programming and live events via the WWE App.

     

    Over the past year, the WWE App has been downloaded more than six million times with more than 500,000 fans experiencing its second screen capabilities on Monday nights.

     

    The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE continues to be committed to provide family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 150 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 600 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Istanbul and Tokyo.

  • Time Inc. names Colin Bodell executive VP and CTO

    Time Inc. names Colin Bodell executive VP and CTO

    NEW YORK: Time Inc. today named Colin Bodell executive VP and CTO, effective 18 February. In this newly-created position, Bodell, who is joining Time Inc. after eight years as a senior executive at Amazon, will be responsible for shaping the company’s overall strategic technology direction as Time Inc. prepares to enter the public markets. In addition, he will have oversight of day-to-day IT operations. 

     

    Bodell will be charged with establishing a vision, identifying and acquiring best-in-breed technology and leveraging it across Time Inc. He will also play a key role in digital product development and report to Time Inc. CEO, Joseph A. Ripp.

     

    “Investing in technology and new product development is one of our single biggest priorities,” said Ripp. “Colin’s established technology leadership, proven ability to bring teams together to manage complex issues and relentless focus on customer experience make him the ideal executive to lead our effort. He has a reputation for being able to see beyond what currently exists, and that is exactly what we need.”

     

    “Time Inc. is a clear leader when it comes to creating deep, high quality content,” said Bodell. “My role will be to ensure we are delivering that content in the ways that are most relevant to our consumers. Joe is setting a clear vision for Time Inc. as an independent company and I am excited to be joining his leadership team. I look forward to collaborating with all of the digital product and technology leaders throughout Time Inc.”

     

    Prior to his current appointment, Bodell was Vice President of Amazon’s Digital Store Platform where he led the organization responsible for the Kindle book, periodical and magazine store as well as the technology that supports Amazon digital content across web, Kindle and third party devices. He originally joined Amazon in 2006 to run the Website Application Platform (WAP) group, which he headed until 2013. WAP provides the platforms, services and tools that power Amazon’s websites around the world and makes the company’s massive scale possible.

     

    His teams were charged with building products that simplify operations and helping Amazon customers launch new applications. In addition, he sat on the Amazon Open Source Board, which sets policy for use and release of open source code and content by Amazon and its subsidiaries.

     

    Earlier, he served as Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Engineering at VA Software where he had product and engineering responsibility for its SourceForge Enterprise Edition and the technical operations of the company’s media properties.

     

    In his 29-year career in technology, he has also held senior executive posts at Webgain, Intellicorp, and Micro Focus.

     

    Bodell is a named inventor on four U.S. patents on topics ranging from methods for fabricating products on demand to protecting network sites during adverse network conditions. He currently has ten patents pending with the U.S. Patent Office.

     

    He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology and served as the executive sponsor of Amazon Women in Engineering during his years at the Company.

     

    A native of Liverpool, England, Bodell holds a degree in Computer Science from Coventry University, England. Bodell immigrated to the United States in 1985.     

  • GroupM launches new advanced television unit

    GroupM launches new advanced television unit

    MUMBAI: GroupM today announced the launch of a new innovative TV business unit that will offer clients superior targeting and engagement capabilities in what has become a technology driven, data fused, addressable media environment.

    The announcement was made by GroupM North America CEO Kelly Clark, who said the unit will be called Modi Media and will be led by Michael Bologna, GroupM’s Director of Emerging Communications. Bologna’s appointment as President of Modi Media is effective immediately, and his previous role is being folded into his new position.

    “We are preparing for a world of media consumption and advertising message delivery that is radically different from what we see today,” Clark said in making the announcement. “Data and technology are driving enormous change in the structure and the economics of the television business, and it’s critical that we are ready to help clients navigate the new landscape. Modi Media will develop powerful advanced TV solutions for advertisers.” Clark said Modi (pronounced “Mo-Dee”) will offer solutions that provide advanced targeting, less waste, improved ROI, and deeper engagement.

     Specifically, the unit will cover four practices:

    DIGITAL CONTENT DISTRIBUTION: Focused on the promotion of sale or rental of digitally distributed films across cable and satellite platforms and through connected devices (iTunes, Xbox, Amazon, Vudu).

    ADDRESSABLE TV: Addressable television is the ability to send a TV commercial to a specific household based on a brand’s actual target profile. Targeting criteria can include income, advanced demography, and purchase behavior, among others. Ads are served only to the homes that fit the specified target criteria. The current reach potential of addressable TV is 40 million TV homes across the US, and is expected to grow significantly.

    HYPER-LOCAL TV: Hyper-local television is the ability to insert a TV commercial directly to a specific zone or zip code based on geographic skews, sales data, trading radius etc. This helps focus clients’ TV advertising in highly concentrated local neighborhoods without having to buy an entire market, thereby reducing waste.

    INTERACTIVE TV (iTV): iTV enables advertisers to engage consumers more deeply with interactive content and promotions, using TV commercials as a “jumping off point.” Solutions include dedicated advertiser channels, commercial overlays for lead generation, smart TV applications and e-commerce. Modi will provide advertisers with strategic planning, buying, production, and data analysis across platforms including cable, satellite, telco and gaming services.

    Rino Scanzoni, Chief Investment Officer of GroupM, noted that Modi will be supported by the full resources and scale of GroupM including its TV implementation, optimization, research and data capabilities. The unit’s services will be made available to clients of all GroupM agencies, which include Maxus, MEC, MediaCom and Mindshare. In addition the new unit will offer its mservices to other WPP agencies and directly to clients who may not work with a GroupM media agency.

    Bologna started his career at MEC in 1998 as an assistant media planner on the agency’s AT&T account. He was an original member of MEC’s digital unit (The Digital Edge) and more recently has held positions that focused specifically on advanced television. He is known throughout the television and media industries for his expertise in the field of advanced digital communications.

  • Netflix is gaining popularity over cable among US young adults

    Netflix is gaining popularity over cable among US young adults

    MUMBAI: The statistics portal Statista has revealed in its study that among Americans between the ages of 18 and 36, 46 per cent of paid subscribers choose cable, while 43 per cent are Netflix users.

    This, however, shifts as the demo ages up. Of those ages 37 to 48, 48 per cent subscribe to cable TV and 31 per cent subscribe to Netflix. With respondents 49 to 67, 55 per cent opt for cable and 21 per cent for Netflix.

    Looking at other pay-TV services, with Americans aged 18 to 36, 16 per cent subscribe to satellite TV, 17 per cent to Amazon Prime and eight per cent to Hulu Plus. Satellite TV is more popular with older demos, with 30 per cent of those 37 to 48 subscribing, 28 per cent of those 49 to 67, and 25 per cent of those over age 68. Amazon Prime and Hulu Plus are less popular with older demographics.

    Of Americans ages 37 to 48, 15 per cent said they subscribe to Amazon Prime, and five per cent to Hulu Plus. Among 49-year-olds to 67-year-olds, 10 per cent choose Amazon Prime and three per cent choose Hulu Plus. Amazon Prime has captured only six per cent of the demo 68-plus, according to the survey, and for Hulu Plus, the figure is just a per cent.

  • Amazon brings instant video service to Japan

    Amazon brings instant video service to Japan

    MUMBAI: Amazon has started to offer its online video distribution service in Japan, allowing customers to purchase or rent films and TV shows from a selection of more than 26,000 titles.

    Shochiku and Toho as well as major broadcasters NHK, TBS and Fuji TV are among the content producers for Amazon Instant Video in Japan. The service offers video downloads for around 100 yen ($1) for rental and 1,000 yen ($10) for purchase.

    Hulu and Apple are both currently operating platforms in the region, adding to the competition that also includes local operators such as GyaO Corp, Tsutaya TV and NotTV. The Japanese cable network JCOM also offers a VOD service that allows for content to be downloaded on multiple devices. With Amazon Instant Video, titles can be streamed to two devices, but only downloaded to one. One of the devices linked with the service is Amazon’s own Kindle tablet.

  • Mip Junior puts spotlight on VOD

    Mip Junior puts spotlight on VOD

    CANNES: Mip Junior took off on 5 October at the tony Carlton Hotel in Cannes.

    The spotlight was on children’s content as delegates discussed everything from tight budgets to the change in focus to Video on Demand (VOD) to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

    The first session ‘Money Matters: Finding Finance in New and Different Ways’, moderated by Debbie Macdonald consultant Debbie Macdonald and presided over by Snow River Media chief executive Angus Flethcher, concentrated on new business models, opportunities and challenges facing the independent creative and producing world.

    “Technology has changed and so has the audience. The audience is moving dramatically from one platform to the other. There is an extraordinary revolution going on, and it’s exciting to be in the middle of that change,” said Flethcher, adding that though television could be scary, the good part is: “We can directly speak to our audience. Producers today need not make a half an hour or one hour series. Instead they can create a one minute video for the internet and get immediate feedback.”

    He said content producers now had both newer entry points and people to talk to. Citing the example of Angry Birds, he elaborated: “The character was developed with a story, not as a series, but as a game, and it has done tremendously well.”

    The first session stressed on the importance of the VOD platform. While it was the success of Netflix that made everyone think of VOD as a medium to reach out to audiences, BRB Internacional CEO Carlos Biern said, “Most important is the audience (kids), who can, with VOD, be glued to animation 24X7.”

    Whereas the second session, ‘New Content Deal-Making: get the most of your VOD rights’, spoke about how the VOD platform could be utilised to reach out to audiences. Biern observed it could prove fruitful for advertisers as well while The Jim Henson Company executive vice president, global distribution Richard Goldsmith informed: “VOD is quickly becoming television. So while we look at VOD as a separate source of income, every time we have a conversation with channels, they also want to buy the VOD rights. This shows how important it is becoming for all of us.”

    What emerged is that while Netflix and Amazon may continue to rule the roost, the remaining VOD players had to stand out from the crowd. “We want to become the only option in children’s tablets and smart phones. We all need to involve with our brands to be able to connect with our target group,” said Toon Goggles managing director Stephen L Hodge.

    The key takeaways of the talks seemed to be that every show will sooner than later turn into an app and that SVOD will soon replace standard linear television.

  • Light up a Childs Diwali

    Light up a Childs Diwali

    MUMBAI: Amazon.in today announced the launch of Light up a Child’s Diwali, a unique opportunity that enables Amazon.in customers to select and send Diwali gifts to underprivileged children across the country. Pratham and Naandi Foundation, two NGOs working to improve the lives of disadvantaged children have created and put up on Amazon.in wish-lists, a selection of products like educational toys & puzzles, books, comics, dictionaries, encyclopedias that are needed by children under their care across the country. Customers can browse the wish-list and select products they want to gift and Amazon.in delivers them to the NGOs. Amazon.in will also donate the fees it makes from these transactions to the two NGOs.

    “The festive season is about joy and celebration, and also an opportunity to share happiness. The Light up a Child’s Diwali will help customers conveniently select useful and needed gifts by the NGOs. By spending a few minutes in this section, customers can make a significant difference to a child’s Diwali,” said Amit Agarwal, Vice President and Country Manager, Amazon India. Simple five-step procedure.

    Customers can visit the Light up a Child’s Diwali section on Amazon.in and follow the five-step process:

    • Step 1: Select the NGO you want to support

    • Step 2: Browse the Wish List to see selection of toys, books, educational aids, baby products

    • Step 3: Choose the product to gift and click on ‘Add to Cart’ button

    • Step 4: Select Gift Registry Address for the delivery address of NGO

    • Step 5: Process to Check Out and make payment of the product

    Customers can track their gift order and its delivery from the ‘Your Orders’ section of their Amazon.in account.

    As with all purchases on Amazon.in, customers using the Light Up a Child’s Diwali initiative benefit from a safe and secure ordering experience, convenient electronic payments, no-risk hassle-free returns policy, Amazon’s 24×7 customer service support, and a globally recognized and comprehensive purchase protection provided by Amazon’s A-Z Guarantee.

  • ShipRocket offers high-speed dispatch and shipping service for e-retailers

    ShipRocket offers high-speed dispatch and shipping service for e-retailers

    MUMBAI: KartRocket, an e-commerce platform for SMEs and retailers, has launched a new powerful order-processing and shipping service for its e-retail clients, ShipRocket.

    The one-click service, based on the SAAS (Software as a Service) model, allows e-commerce ventures to enjoy the benefits of the highly efficient delivery management service. ShipRocket enables its clients to dispatch a shipment, pick a courier company, assign an airway bill number and print a shipping label amongst other facilities.

    The service prints all packing slips in batches providing easy access to all customers and order information in one place. Order statuses change automatically from ‘dispatch’ to ‘shipped’ and from ‘shipped’ to ‘delivered’, facilitating the tracking of order history for a particular order.  The final consumer is notified via auto-emails and SMSes when the order moves through dispatch and delivery. ShipRocket manages remittance from various companies and is fully integrated with Amazon and eBay.

    Kartrocket.com CEO and co-founder Saahil Goel commented on the new service saying, “ShipRocket is a phenomenal new technology that we have introduced to smoothen the work of those who want to sell their products online. The service has extended coverage with shipping enablement to over 12,000 pin codes including 6,000 COD pin codes. We follow the policy of a uniform contractual agreement for all clients, enabling multi-vendor management with vendor panels for all our clients. We truly hope to revolutionize the e-commerce space with this excellent introduction.”

    Keeping true to its promise of providing unmatched coverage and reach to its clients, the company is looking at adding more shipping service providers in local regions in the quarters to come.