Monday January 25, 2021

Tru Optik announced an agreement with Targetspot, specialist in digital audio solutions, to offer advertisers audience-based targeting capabilities for streaming audio. Tru Optik’s data management platform will be integrated into Targetspot’s tech stack starting next month.

TiVo has renewed its patent deal with Chinese electronics company TCL. “This expanded agreement further demonstrates TCL’s commitment and respect for intellectual property as we continue introducing industry-leading features and capabilities for our loyal users,” said Jonathan King, VP of Corporate & Legal Affairs for TCL.

Storytelling platform Wattpad is being acquired by South Korean conglomerate Naver for $600 million. Among Naver’s varied portfolio is publishing platform Webtoon, featuring user-created comic strips. “Wattpad’s vision to entertain and connect the world through stories fits perfectly with our vision for Webtoon and Naver’s content brand,” said Naver CEO Seong-Sook Han.

IMG and Panasonic Avionics Corporation have extended their agreement in a deal that will make Sport 24, the live 24/7 sports channel for the in-flight industry, available to all airlines worldwide. Panasonic will market both Sport 24 and its sister channel, Sport 24 Extra, to airlines using other connectivity networks for the first time, enabling the service to be shown on any carrier featuring in-flight entertainment. The new deal “conveys the confidence both parties have in the recovery of the airline industry after the pandemic, especially now that vaccines are being rolled out around the world,” said Richard Wise, SVP, Content and Channels, IMG Media.

NEW FEATURES

YouTube has added a new feature, hashtag landing pages, to help users discover content. When users click on a hashtag on YouTube, they’ll go to a landing page that features only videos where the hashtag has been directly used, sorted “to keep the best videos at the top.”

Google has added a new rank change icon on its top app lists on the Play Store. Arrow icons in the Top Charts tab indicate how apps are trending in downloads.

TikTok is testing a new Q&A feature, rolled out to select creators with 10,000+ followers, that enables them to respond to fan questions via video or in a livestream.

ADVERTISING

Canoe Ventures, provider of dynamic ad insertion on video platforms, reported impressions dipped 5% in 2020, to 26 billion – its first decline. While the average number of video-on-demand DAI advertising sessions grew in March and April, thanks to pandemic-related home viewing, viewership declined with TV production delays. From September to December, impressions slid to around 8 million per month. Canoe, owned by Comcast, Charter Communications’ Spectrum and Cox Communications, said 93% of its ad inventory was sold through direct sales teams, with 7% sold through private marketplaces.

Tremor International announced 127% revenue growth in the Connected TV space in 4Q20 compared to 4Q19. Along with video, which represents more than 80% of Tremor International’s 2020 revenues, CTV is now a significant growth engine for the company, with more than 300 clients executing CTV campaigns through Tremor Video’s demand-side platform in 2020, a 71% increase YOY.

StitcherAds, a platform for ad solutions and shopping experiences, has been named a Pinterest Partner, and recognized by Pinterest with its newest badge – Dynamic Creative. Pinterest Partners make it easier for advertisers to create advertisements and measure performance.

AI-powered search intelligence company Adthena has acquired Kantar’s Paid Search offer (formerly known as AdGooroo). “As search continues to become the barometer by which all advertising efforts are measured, the importance of having access to the best intelligence possible cannot be understated,” said Ian O’Rourke, CEO and Founder of Adthena. “And this acquisition of Kantar’s paid search assets, in combination with our Kantar partnership, will enable us to break new ground for brands and agencies while also helping us to continue upon our growth trajectory.” The acquisition builds on the recently announced integration partnership between Adthena and Kantar, which established Adthena as the central search partner for Kantar’s comprehensive ad intelligence tools, including Advertising Insights.

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The Video Call Center announced it has received a two-year extension to an agreement with Discovery, Inc. which uses VCC’s Caller Cloud services to support the worldwide production reach of shows such as” 90 Day Fiancé.” The extension is the third consecutive agreement between the companies.

Veritone and Base Media Cloud struck a new six-year agreement with Extreme E, which uses electric SUVs to race in remote parts of the world while raising awareness of climate change. Extreme E will use a multi-cloud distribution solution created by Veritone and Base Media Cloud to utilize cloud-native remote workflows, enable smart global content distribution and instantly access this content across the globe. The combined solution from Veritone and Base Media Cloud supports Extreme E’s climate change mission because it is built purposefully on public cloud infrastructures that require fewer servers and lower electricity consumption.

STREAMING

In 4Q20, 62% of Apple TV+ users said their subscriptions to the service were free promotional offers, according to MoffettNathanson’s SVOD Tracker Report, and 29% of those said they do not plan to resubscribe when they have to pay. At Disney+, 16% of subscribers said they are using a freebie, while 23% of HBO Max users report accessing the streamer via a promotional offer.

As it prepares to roll out its Viaplay streaming service to ten international markets, Nordic Entertainment Group has extended its agreement Parrot Analytics to help the Nordic region’s streaming company localize its customer content offerings, increase its ability to attract new subscribers with country-specific demand insights, and to quantify additional growth opportunities. “We want to become the European streaming champion and partnerships will be essential in making this vision a reality,” said Filippa Wallestam, EVP and Chief Content Officer, NENT Group. “The market and audience demand intelligence we get from Parrot Analytics will help us expand effectively into new territories by providing compelling consumer offerings tailored uniquely to each region.”

Ready to launch: ViacomCBS streaming service Paramount+ will debut in the US and Latin America on Thursday, March 4, with further international rollouts beginning March 25 in the Nordics. The company is hosting an investor event offering an overview of its streaming strategy, including Paramount+, Pluto TV and Showtime OTT on February 24.

Netflix added 8.5 million subscribers in 4Q20 (versus a projected 6 million) for a global total of 203.7 million. Revenue was $6 billion, just above estimates; quarterly earnings per share were $1.19, down from an estimated $1.36. The streamer said it anticipates 2021 being break-even, and cash-flow positive beyond that.

Nearly half of Tubi’s audience (48%) doesn’t subscribe to cable, a number that rises to 57% for A18-34, according to the Fox-owned streamer’s audience report, The Stream. Other findings include:
· On average, Tubi users are 20+ years younger than linear audiences.
· 80% of Tubi’s streamers can’t be reached across the top 25 cable networks, and 68% can’t be reached on other AVODs.
· 85% of Tubi streamers live in households of two or more people.
“Our findings highlight Tubi’s young, diverse and nationally representative streaming audience, including viewers in harder-to-reach markets,” said Natalie Bastian, VP, Marketing at Tubi.

Cinedigm is expanding its presence in the streaming sector with the acquisition Fandor, the indie film streaming service. “As a key element of our recently announced streaming rollup strategy, Fandor will immediately benefit from our streaming distribution muscle, huge library of independent films, Matchpoint technology, cost savings and infrastructure and synergies with our wide portfolio of enthusiast streaming channels,” said Erick Opeka, Chief Strategy Officer and President of Cinedigm Networks.

FilmRise, a film and television studio and streaming network, and talent management company Night Media have entered into an agreement to bring a dozen digital native creators across digital streaming platforms and broadcast television. FilmRise will package and produce broadcast and streaming content from Night Media creator videos. “The opportunity to leverage FilmRise’s vast global streaming network and Night Media’s most popular YouTube creator brands to streaming audiences is very exciting to us and we believe there will be huge cross-over success,” said Max Einhorn, SVP of Acquisitions and Co-Productions of FilmRise.

Redbox is teaming with Screenvision Media to enhance its ability to provide national, regional, and local advertising to customers. The companies will combine efforts under Redbox’s Redbox Connect advertising sales arm. “Audiences are hungry for entertainment and spending increased time with Redbox browsing and enjoying content across our newly expanded services,” said Terrence Coles, Sr. Director Redbox Media Networks. “Partnering with Screenvision Media enables us to expand national campaigns, as well as deploy regional and hyper-local opportunities for our advertising partners to engage with Redbox customers.”

Pluto TV is launching two new channels. BBC Food focuses on British chefs including Nigella Lawson, Jamie Oliver, and Rachel Allen, while BBC Home brings viewers a look at British home remodeling and garden renovation.