Christopher Slaughter
CEO
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It’s that time of year again: Mary Meeker’s latest Internet Trends report has hit the streets, all 213 slides (or, if you prefer, in PDF.) As you might expect from a deck so dense (it started back in 2001 as just 25 slides), there is a ton of data to wade through, and everyone has their own favorite slides. Among mine: India has passed the US to become the #2 global Internet market after China; but in general, the Internet boom is plateauing. Oh, and online video advertising sucks, but there’s not enough of it, either.
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Jane Buckthought
Advertising Consultant
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Video will account for roughly 70% of mobile data traffic in 2021 after growing by some 55% annually over the next five years, according to the latest Ericsson Mobility Report. The study noted a “significant increase” in video traffic share on smartphones and tablets and said that “viewing is gradually switching from traditional TV to streaming video on smartphones”. |
John Medeiros
Chief Policy Officer
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It’s pretty cool to work in an industry where our members (in this case, Thaicom and SpaceX) are doing stuff like this. It fires the imagination – maybe SpaceX really will go to Mars in two years. And for an even better understanding of what it means to drop a rocket onto a barge in the middle of the sea, watch the end of this slowed-down version, which has the landing platform location photo-shopped in, so you can see it way way way below, while Falcon 9 is still in space. Awesome, really. (On a side-note, Thaicom and SpaceX really hit the PR bonanza with that 30-second video…….almost 2 million Youtube views in a few days – hope Google is sharing the ad revenue!) |
Kevin Jennings
Vice President, Programme
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Apple has moved into the number three spot in the OTT Set Top Box market. The results, based on revenue in the overall global set-top box market saw Apple move to third place in 2015 from ninth the year before. More than 10 million Apple TVs were shipped in 2015, the fifth largest volume in the world — following Arris, Technicolor, Skyworth and ZTE. The Set Top Box market has certainly grown since 2007, when Steve Jobs originally described the Apple TV business as a hobby.
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Mark Lay
Vice President, Singapore
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Michael Wolfe takes an interesting look at the economics of the skinny bundle and determines that maybe Fat is the New Skinny He indicates that “cord shaving and cutting come largely from the barely or temporarily connected young and from basic subscribers constantly shopping for a better deal — marginal or unprofitable customers whose business often fails to cover the cost of their cable box. In other words, the fight over them is something of a battle for a worthless prize”. In related news, James Murdoch thinks that “most of the big MVPDs in the U.S. will probably seek to go out-of-market, competing with each other on an over-the-top basis.” |
John Medeiros
Chief Policy Officer
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In last week’s issue, I noted the EU proposals to put local content requirements on the catalogs of OTT program providers. Well, now other governments are rushing to consider ways to tax and regulate OTT video. Aussie Screen producers want a share of the loot. The Indonesian authorities want all players to have a permanent local establishment (and pay taxes). Spanish operators say Netflix should chip in to help fund the national TV station. The flood of new regulatory initiatives will soon reach tsunami status. |
Christopher Slaughter
CEO
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Another week, another round-up of articles about the Future of TV: from the viewpoint of a tech VC, the CEO of the Television Academy (home of The Emmys), a US-based consultant, and the Atlantic magazine, for whom the future is mobile.
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John Medeiros
Chief Policy Officer
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Favorable reports from India on IP issues: the Commerce Minister just got the Copyright Registrar’s Office moved under her, and she admits there has been a “complete absence of enforcement of copyright” despite the laws on the books. And she goes on to say “we have to stop this; it tarnishes the image of the country.” Dedicated police units would be a good way to enhance enforcement; in a CASBAA-led panel at last March’s FRAMES conference, Telangana police announced they intended to introduce a new Telangana IP Crime Unit (TIPCU), and now that seems to be going forward. Meanwhile, Star TV filed a bunch of complaints against cable pirates, obtaining police raids and seizures of equipment from several cable operators. |
Kevin Jennings
Vice President, Programme
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Netflix will be alive with the sound of music next year with a new series starring Julie Andrews as the head of a stage school. The preschool show, known as Julie’s Greenroom will air worldwide in early 2017. It is significant as it forms part of the Netflix strategy to create more family viewing for subscribers. Julie Andrews created the show with her daughter and The Muppets owners the Jim Henson Company. |
