A network executive once told me that creating television today is like “entering the Wild West”. Indeed, the entertainment industry has always been at the forefront of change— whether it be technological or cultural. Especially now, brands have to navigate through the endless competition and the “cord-cutters” (or the even more pervasive “cord-nevers”) changing the way that we consume television. Especially as younger viewers consume most of their entertainment through streaming and mainly watch content on their laptops and phones, it’s understandable why people might think that linear television is a dying industry. And to those who think that— I disagree. Here’s why:
Read MoreAccording to a recently released study by the Pew Research Center, about a quarter of U.S. adults mainly get their news from YouTube-- not Facebook or Twitter, as one might suspect. The catch -- with a good amount of the sources being independent producers with no affiliation to accredited news organizations.
Though perhaps we might look at older, less media-savvy people and shake our heads at the ‘Karens’ of the world who are heavily influenced by Rush Limbaugh and the likes, more information than ever is distributed without fact-checking on popular online platforms like YouTube-- platforms that transcend generations and have the power to mold political attitudes and behaviors. Internet trolls aside, bigger issues arise when the spread of false political information permeates real-life behavior.
Read MoreThe entertainment industry has immense power to influence where we will go in the fight for social change. We’re just starting to see influential media companies exercise their corporate responsibility when it comes to addressing and combatting systemic racism. However, there’s a lot more work to be done.
It’s important that as individuals, we take the time to educate ourselves and have hard conversations so that we can then make larger impacts as a whole.
Here are some helpful resources for further informing ourselves on the issues, and organizations where we can make contributions on an individual level:
Read MoreA breakdown of Viceland’s F*ck That’s Delicious, a travel food documentary show hosted by former chef/current rapper Action Bronson.
Between the cult-ish popularity of Bronson mixed with the tired-and-traditional format of a travel food show, F*ck That’s Delicious is a great example of how to hook in the next generation of viewers and revive a format that seems to have been done to death.
Read MoreHulu recently announced testing for its first social feature, Hulu Watch Party, that would allow groups of up to eight people to co-view shows and movies through a chat window. Hulu is just the latest streaming platform exploring this new way of content consumption.
This brief covers my predictions regarding the future of co-viewing technology, and how it may specifically help streaming platforms.
Read MoreCase study analyzing the presence and growth of gaming and e-sports in Mexico and key factors that can explain why the gaming and e-sports sector has taken dominance in the Mexican M&E market— specifically focusing on Grupo Televisa’s newly launched BitMe network.
Read MoreThough Avatar: The Last Airbender debuted on Nickelodeon in 2005, its cultural relevancy has held up this whole time.
Now, “when the world needed him most”, Avatar: The Last Airbender is back on Netflix US -- and I believe that this important IP may indicate bigger plays by ViacomCBS and Netflix in the streaming wars.
Quibi is the newest streaming platform to hit the app store specifically. Described as “Quick bites of captivating entertainment, created for mobile by the best talent, designed to fit perfectly into any moment of your day” on their website, Quibi is a mobile-centric streaming platform devoted towards short-form programming. From Chrissy Tiegen to Chance The Rapper, it feels like everyone and their mother now has a show on Quibi.
After all the pre-launch buzz regarding Quibi, as I downloaded the recently released platform, I was skeptical about whether or not I would actually like or need it. In this brief, I will break down my initial impressions on the platform.
Read MoreThey say children are our future— but what about the market that dictates theirs?
This brief lays out recent developments from the streaming giants that show the value and unfolding battle for dominance in the children’s programming market.
Read MoreHave you ever found yourself talking about something, and then suddenly an ad pops up on your Instagram feed about the same exact thing? Well, maybe you need to turn off your TV. The smart TV hit the consumer market about a decade ago, equipped with internet connection and apps. TV manufacturers were able to sell these devices at cheaper prices for one reason: these televisions collect data on your watching habits, which is then sold off to other parties (like networks or advertisers).
Read MoreNaysayers will try and convince people that reality television just doesn’t have the cultural power that it used to. Viewers are not tuning in religiously to shows like The Real World anymore, and we probably aren’t finding the next Kelly Clarkson from American Idol Season… (is anyone still counting?). Ratings on unscripted linear shows and cable networks just aren’t the same as the era of 2000s MTV, but here’s why the future of reality TV is looking just as shiny, loud and big as the OG Jersey Shore:
Read MoreIn the next 11 months, the UK will continue to abide by the EU’s rules and regulations as they haggle over final trade negotiations, in hopes to establish a deal. Though the future of Britain’s trade relations remains uncertain, this brief will break down certain parts of the British television industry that will be affected.
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