The first panel of VS Next during LA Virtual Screenings 2021 was led by Maria Rua Aguete, Senior Research Director at Omdia, who discussed with executives from Roku, ViacomCBS, ZEE5 and Starz. The OTT market will be more saturated, with more alliances, and the OTT business models will be much more hybrid than before, they agreed.
Another interesting trend from Rua Aguete has been that one out of every two OTTs in the next five years will come from the APAC region. She also underlined that while Pay TV users decreased in markets such us USA and Australia, the online content consumption is growing: ‘Along with USA and Australia, Brazil, UK, Singapore are showing record numbers’.
The executive pointed out that even the ‘exponential’ digital growth, Pay TV ‘still maintains a certain leadership’ in some countries, and has seen its user base strengthened since the beginning of the pandemic, such as in Indonesia, Africa and South Africa: ‘These countries maintain a healthy Pay TV business’, she recognized.
After her presentation, ViacomCBS’ Marco Nobil, SVP of marketing, streaming division, commented that the company that has had a successful strategy in Linear TV, having developed the digital business with Paramount + (6 millions subscribers in Q1, reaching 36 millions in the world) and Pluto TV (+6 million MAUs, reaching 50 million users in Q1), he said: ‘We feel very comfortable with mixed business models that respond to the needs of our audience. If we talk about the success of one of them, we highlight Pluto TV, whose global user base has touched 50 million, with a 100% free and safe consumer experience for all generations and types. audience ‘.
Mirjam Laux, VP International platform at Roku, commented: ‘We went through all the phases of a streaming platform, and now we are focused on continuing to feed our AVOD and subscription offering’. She mentioned that it continues to promote their AVOD model through The Roku Channel, which they continue to feed with more third-party content alliances.
Archana Anand, global business head, ZEE5 (India), underlined the ‘versatility’ of their service in each of the countries where it is launched, with good examples as Bangladesh: ‘We see tremendous talent there. These artists and creators have big aspirations, hopes and dreams. There are opportunities and abilities here to work together and bring art and content together. There is a lot to connect us in terms of our cultural connections and value systems. That is why Bangladesh is an obvious choice for us as a partner. As soon as we launched here, we became the number one OTT player within a short time and it has given us a sense of the kind of love there is for original content ‘.
Last but not least, Starzplay’ Jeff Cooke, VP of programming, international digital networks, said: ‘Although we are in the top 10 of services in the USA, we do not feel a direct competitor for Netflix or Amazon. I think that from our brand we prioritize content beyond the platform expansion model. That is why we tirelessly try to offer content that promotes loyalty with our subscribers: meaningful, premium content and with high social values’.
VS Next will premier two different panels and sessions every day of the show until May 19. Register for free at www.virtualscreenings.com/registration and watch this and other top contents including key global decision makers.
