Maria Wu Kiskis

📈 Streamflation Alert: Subscription prices are rising again! In 2024, platforms are boosting prices for the second time in two years. Streaming services like Peacock, Max, and Spotify are increasing costs, often coinciding with major events or new content launches. 💡 Why the price hikes? Streaming platforms are adding more content and employing strategic moves to drive users towards ad-supported tiers, which generate higher revenue. For example, Peacock raised prices right before the Paris Olympics, and Max did so ahead of the new season of House of the Dragon. Bundling services are also on the rise, with companies like Disney and Verizon offering attractive package deals to reduce subscriber churn and enhance value. 📊 What's next? Analysts believe these price hikes are just the beginning, expecting more increases by the end of the year. The goal is to boost margins and gently push consumers towards ads and bundles, supporting the company's larger financial objectives. #TV #svod #streaming #bundle https://lnkd.in/e8-uYitV

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#Chiliz, the force behind the sport fan token platform #Socios.com, is nearing a significant milestone. They're in advanced talks with #SBI Digital Asset to establish a joint venture in Japan. I had the privilege to delve into Chiliz's strategy for penetrating Asia's premier professional sports market during my exclusive interviews with execs from the both companies in Tokyo. Stay tuned for my detailed insights on how this collaboration could shape the future of fan engagement and digital assets in Japan! 🌟 #Chiliz #Socios #SBI #DigitalAssets #SportFanTokens

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📺 New research highlights a significant shift in video content consumption, with Instagram surpassing Netflix and TikTok to become the second most popular video service in the US, while YouTube remains the global leader. 📱 Instagram’s video features resonate strongly with younger demographics, contributing to its rapid growth, especially in the US and Spain, where Instagram Reels is now the third most popular service. 📈 The rise of Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) channels, like Tubi and Roku, indicates a major shift towards ad-supported content, with FAST revenues projected to reach $12 billion by 2028. #Tv #streaming #FAST #video

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I could not agree with this sentiment more: “Free is a great driver to get people to try something,” says John Buffone, vp and media entertainment industry adviser at market research company Circana, noting, “Free doesn’t keep you there.” Regardless of platform type ... you need to build an offering and cost of entry that lures audiences in to sample what you've created ... and then you have to work to deliver on that promise and expectation day after day and week after week to consistently support the path leading to your strategic long-term vision, so the audience develops a new habit of returning to your platform - because each time they visit your platform, their expectation is met. Consistency is key. This growth and shift in habit for the audience takes time and patience ... regardless of the offering, regardless of the platform. You need to be in it to win it, so to speak ... with a right-sized expectation that matches your content and marketing investment and a realistic view of the time and resources needed to build audience in such a fragmented market. I love working with my clients to help right-size their expectations as we work together on short and long-term strategies to meet their platform goals. It's what I have been doing for over 25 years. If this type of guidance and partnership might be useful to you and your company, let's talk!

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Range Media Partners just raised big $$ from Liberty Global, Wildcat Capital Management. It's an M&A warchest so they don’t fall behind their peers.  Let’s break it down… BACKGROUND ON RANGE • Mgmt and prod co founded in 2020 by Peter Micelli and other top agents from CAA / WME / UTA • Goal = extend beyond trad film / TV representation • Has expanded into music, sports, gaming, digital, music pub M&A + CAP MARKETS HISTORY • Merged with film / TV prod co Automatik in Jan 2023 • Bought upstart athlete mgmt co Stoked Management Group in Sep 2023 • Existing investors incl Steve Cohen’s Point72 Ventures and A+E Networks (also has prod deal) NEW INVESTMENT • Last week closed significant minority investment by John Malone’s Liberty Global, TPG founder’s Wildcat Capital, and family entertainment co Playground Productions • Former CAA film finance exec Rick Hess, and The Forest Road Company were also involved (either as investors or advisors, can’t tell exactly from press release) • Use of Funds: M&A, scale in US, int’l growth, add more talent rep and prod services What you need to know about this deal 👇... It's not surprising when you consider all the other fundraising and M&A amongst Range’s peers in talent representation.  The influx of capital and high dealmaking volume is driven by a belief that outsized returns will go to rep firms who are fastest to scale, in a winner-take-most market. Because scale makes it easier to sign more talent clients, work with the largest brand marketers, hire the best talent agents and managers, package up the largest Hollywood projects, and launch the most exciting new talent-led ventures. Particularly in a world where scaled access to audience (which talent and influencers bring in a post ATT world) is the top driver in capturing share of high-growth IM spend, which is est at $7B in 2024, up 15% YoY. So it’s a race to the top. And that race is being fueled by large M&A war chests from big investor backers… Companies to watch here are: - Crestview-backed Gersh (just bought A3’s digital team) - Coral Tree-backed Loaded (just bought GG Talent) - Providence-backed Wasserman (13 deals in 2 years) - TCG-backed Night (just bought LFM and Roost Podcast Network) - The big 3: CAA, UTA, Endeavor And after last week, I expect Range Media to ramp up its acquisition activity. Particularly in athlete and digital-native representation. Curious to see what they do next with the $$. Will definitely add them to our buyers list as we bring more deals to market. —- I’m the founder of RockWater Industries. We do M&A and strategy advisory for media, agencies, and creator economy. My DMs are open. #media #agency #creatoreconomy

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UTA just promoted 24 new partners. What's driving this? Promotions can be part of a retention strategy as competition for talent, and their reps, heats up. Particularly when new firms like Range Media Partners, which was the result top agent defections from the Big 3 Hollywood agencies in 2020, are growing fast and raising growth capital (see my analysis 👇). Some questions worth asking... - How is the agency's employee retention rate trending? - How does the % of promotions compare to prior years? - What agency depts are seeing more promotions? e.g. fast-growing areas like digital? - What are the benefits of being a partner? - What type of commitment is required from partners, if any? - How does all this compare to peer agencies? Many talent reps are thinking through decisions about staying VS leaving at bigger co's, starting their own firms, staying independent, and more. This is important info to track. For both those starting out their agency careers, and more seasoned agency execs thinking about their next career step. #media #agency #creatoreconomy

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Deepna Devkar, Ph.D. what a treat having you on the podcast! If you’ve ever wondered what goes into building your personalised experience on Max, this is the episode for you. Tune in to hear from one of the minds leading the build of the platform experience!

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🎶 In a record-setting year for the music industry, sales of recorded music in the U.S. soared to $17.1 billion in 2023. Streaming led the charge with 84%, while vinyl saw double-digit growth. Discover more about the music boom and the changing landscape from the latest RIAA report. https://lnkd.in/ghEaTMYY #MusicIndustry

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🏀 Game 5 Takeaways: Knicks vs. 76ers - NBA Playoffs 2024 🚨 👏 The Philadelphia 76ers took the series lead 3-2, showcasing an impressive combination of offense and defense, thanks to stars Joel Embiid and James Harden! 📉 Unfortunately for the New York Knicks, their offensive strategies didn't pan out as planned. They struggled to keep up with the 76ers' pace, with Julius Randle scoring merely 14 points and committing 7 turnovers. This performance certainly left fans expecting more. 😨 Injuries also continue to loom over both teams, possibly influencing the outcomes of the upcoming crucial games in this fiercely competitive series. 🎉 Let's not overlook the electric atmosphere at Wells Fargo Center! The vibrant Philadelphia crowd undoubtedly boosted the 76ers, pushing their performance levels even higher! 💻 According to Google Trends, the "Knicks vs. 76ers" search surged drastically during this playoff season. This shows the massive interest and engagement from fans who are not only following the games but are also keen on player health updates and scheduling of upcoming matches. 🤔 For those following the series, what are your predictions for the next game? Can the Knicks bounce back with a new strategy, or will the 76ers smoothly sail into the finals? #NBAPlayoffs #Knicks #76ers #Game5 #basketball

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As the world progresses towards a more sustainable future, the film production industry must also take significant strides in adopting clean energy practices. Clean energy not only helps mitigate the harmful impacts of climate change but also enhances the production environment. At King Kong Trailers, we are at the forefront of this green revolution in film production. We recognize the importance of clean energy, which is why we continuously innovate to integrate green initiatives into our operations. By utilizing quieter, eco-friendly generators, we significantly reduce noise pollution on set, creating a more comfortable and efficient working environment for everyone involved. Our commitment to clean energy goes beyond immediate improvements; it's about securing a sustainable future for the industry and our planet. By choosing green production practices, we contribute to a healthier environment and demonstrate our dedication to corporate responsibility. #kingkongtrailers #setliferentals #greenproduction https://lnkd.in/giPqmZ5m

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EUROPEAN (UK, FRANCE AND ITALY) AND THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY - The recent pivotal elections in the U.K. and France are expected to significantly impact the entertainment industry. In the U.K., the landslide victory of Keir Starmer’s centrist Labour Party could bring an end to years of austerity and budget cuts, potentially revitalizing funding for the arts and media sectors. Conversely, in France, the success of the far-right National Rally raises concerns among cultural creators about the potential privatization of public broadcasting and the erosion of cultural identity, highlighting a stark contrast in the political landscape's influence on the media industries in both countries. https://lnkd.in/giJXNSmh

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Like most FAST services, such as Paramount’s Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Xumo and smart TV OEM platforms Samsung TV Plus, Vizio WatchFree+ and others, Tubi offers a mix of live linear-style streaming channels as well as on-demand content. Murdoch on Wednesday’s earnings call said that across content available on the platform, 90% of viewing happens in the on-demand environment. “This is very important because when the viewing comes on-demand and it’s proactively on-demand, as opposed to passively sort of sitting back and watching a FAST channel, that’s much more valuable to advertisers,” Other FASTs are leaning into on-demand as well. Samsung TV Plus, for example, initially focused more on linear FAST channels but during this year’s NewFronts presentation said it plans to double the amount of VOD content available, after having already done so last year. “money will continue to flow from linear entertain television, particularly cable entertainment networks, into streaming” including AVOD, SVOD, and ad-supported SVODs, Murdoch said. “That trend… will not slow" #FAST #AVOD #streaming #on-demand #content #TV

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Thrilled to announce the formation of a pioneering advisory group aimed at addressing sustainability challenges within live music. We've united an incredible group of more than 50 industry leaders -- music executives incl. Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl and Live Nation Entertainment CEO Michael Rapino, artists incl. #elliegoulding, touring teams for #coldplay, #billieeilish, #harrystyles, and #jackjohnson, event organizers, venue managers, production experts, sustainability leaders, and NGOs. This group will provide expertise and advice on our upcoming sustainable touring report with MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative, Warner Music Group, Live Nation Entertainment, Hope Solutions, and our artist #coldplay. The report will: * assess the relationship between live music and climate change * identify tangible areas where the industry and concert goers can reduce their environmental impact   * assess the newest technologies that the industry can tap into to meet sustainability goals It takes an ecosystem to make real and meaningful change - and I can think of no better group than this one to help us lead the charge. #Sustainability #LiveMusic #GreenEvents #Collaboration #Innovation #EcosystemSolutions #Partnerships Madeleine Smith, MHS John E. Fernández Lucy August-Perna Lukas Howell MSI CEnv FIEMA FRSA Brian Levine Adam Met Caius Pawson Harlan Frey Jaime Nack https://lnkd.in/dfm6Y-Zg

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What's old is new again. I have been predicting this since 2017 when premium subscription streaming was heralded as the future of the business. We are seeing streaming embrace traditional TV revenue models like windowing and advertising and now they will start to bundle services into their version of a "set top box" that will look (and cost) an awful lot like your old cable subscription. More cost effective longer seasons, more broadly appealing four quadrant shows, this is where creatives need to focus our energy. https://lnkd.in/gAKsgCnX

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I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Net Influencer to discuss the creator economy's rapid growth, the expansion of 456 Growth (456 Growth Media and 456 Growth Talent); 25th Hour Social, and my predictions for the industry's future. Here are a few impactful insights from the interview that my partners Robert Bocchicchio, and Austin Cohen Esq., and the entire team at 456 Growth feel strongly about. Leveraging Data and Testing to Stay Ahead of Trends For us at 456 Growth, the key to staying ahead in the creator economy is a relentless focus on data, testing, and identifying new opportunities before they become industry norms. “You work for a big agency, and you have red tape that slows you down,” I said. “But overnight, snap your fingers—something could collapse. But also, an opportunity pops up.” 456 Growth’s agile, service-based approach involves “continuous testing, evaluation, and scaling” across its creator management and brand media divisions. According to our co-founder, some partners are eager to be on the cutting edge, while others prefer to see consistent results before adopting new strategies. “The brands that tested, even in a down economy, dominate because they didn’t lose their competitive advantage,” I explained. “The brands that tested early with things like whitelisting or Instagram Stories crushed it and built massive pyramids of creators driving 6 or 9-figure returns.” Moving from a “data-last” to a “data-first” perspective allows partnerships to be structured in a way that unlocks their full potential over the long term. With full visibility into both sides of the brand/creator relationship, 456 Growth can serve as an effective matchmaker. https://lnkd.in/e8Q6qej4 📊 #CreatorEconomy #DataDriven #InfluencerMarketing #456Growth #IndustryInsights #DigitalMarketing #Innovation #NetInfluencer #ContentCreation

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The near $76 billion deal for the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s media rights between ESPN, Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, and NBC Sports underscores the ongoing battle between traditional #cable networks and #streaming platforms to secure #livesports #programming, which has become a huge asset for audience engagement and retention. For #streamers, winning these rights is more than just about broadcasting games; it's about leveraging what live sports offer to attract and retain subscribers. The ability to offer live sports gives platforms a unique advantage, drawing in a diverse and dedicated viewer base that is often harder to capture through other types of content. It reflects a broader shift in consumer preferences toward on-demand and live streaming services, which promise flexibility and convenience that traditional cable struggles to match. As more sports leagues explore deals with streamers, integrating new technologies is transforming the viewer experience. Tech-first streamers like Amazon are not only bidding for broadcast rights but also innovating how games are presented. Advanced analytics, interactive features, and enhanced viewing options are becoming the norm, enriching the way fans engage with live sports. This edge allows streamers to offer a more personalized and immersive experience, setting them apart from traditional cable programming. The outcome of the NBA's media rights negotiations will set a precedent for future deals, emphasizing the growing importance of technology in sports broadcasting and the ongoing evolution of how live sports are watched. Zooming out and looking at the larger picture - live sports was one of the only reasons people kept their cable subscriptions. Now that live sports are becoming more available on streaming services, it’s hard to see a reason why consumers would keep paying for cable TV. https://lnkd.in/gRdGXAGB #LITrendingTopics #streamingtech #livesports #mediadeals

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Music Business Association Music Biz 2024 coming up in May. Find out more about Reactional Music and what we are delivering across interactive music, music personalisation, in-game economies, generative composable music and the possibilities for creators, composers, artists and developers

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