
Even the most niche audiences are catered for by technology, writes Dan Goman, founder and CEO, OWNZONES Entertainment Technologies
Contributor 1 hour ago
Even the most niche audiences are catered for by technology, writes Dan Goman, founder and CEO, OWNZONES Entertainment Technologies
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin> Even the most niche audiences are catered for by technology, writes Dan Goman, founder and CEO, OWNZONES Entertainment Technologies
https://www.tvbeurope.com/features/how-tech-is-solving-the-problem-of-nothing-to-watch title=Share via Email class=share-email>
A well-worn joke in the heyday of pay-TV was that there were a thousand channels, and nothing worth watching was on - a trope so popular Bruce Springsteen sang a song about it (57 Channels and Nothin' On).
This quip - that consumers have ever increasing options yet still crave more - still applies today, even as traditional television takes the backseat to over-the-top (OTT) streaming services like Netflix, Amazon and others. Despite these streaming giants cranking out original content at a record pace, and new players like Apple and Disney entering the fray, the modern media consumer will always demand more.
But as these services look to offer the most diverse, broad set of programming, an emerging market has taken the opposite tactic, focusing on very niche offerings instead. These new options aim to super-serve smaller and more specialised audiences, many of whom have been starving for an outlet that meets their viewing needs. And this strategy seems to be here to stay - some analysts predict the giants like Netflix and Hulu will account for just 15 per cent of the pay-TV/pay-OTT market by 2022.
BET, for example, has invested big in OTT with BET+, a service anchored with original programming from Tyler Perry and offering thousands of hours of exclusive content geared toward an African American audience that for years has been underserved by traditional media providers. Similar offerings serving specific audiences can be found in BritBox or Acorn for superfans of content from the UK, or Crunchyroll for anime enthusiasts.
While seemingly diverse and different, these small to mid-sized OTT streaming services face a two-fold challenge. First, the streaming services themselves must grapple with a variety of technical challenges when organising and distributing content for users. And second, the production houses that create this niche content are operating under tight budgets and resource limitations that, without improved technology, make it difficult for them to turn around quality programming quickly.
Thankfully, solutions are emerging that are tailor-made to address these growing pressures, both for the small to mid-sized streaming service providers that lack the resources of larger players as well as production houses that feed them content. By investing in technology that allows for greater collaboration and streamlined processes, both can answer this increasing call for more niche content.
Cloud-native technology helps production houses answer the call for more niche content
Catering to a niche audience is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it is a hyper-focused subset of viewers that show incredible passion for the specialised content being produced for them. On the other hand, because viewership isn't as large as it is for a general service like Netflix, budgets for new content may be smaller.
Production houses that want to succeed in an environment where niche content is produced quicker and at lower price points need to invest in Cloud-based solutions that streamline post production across a decentralised system. Resource-heavy tasks like colour grading, editing and mixing can all be done as soon as footage is shot, and in some cases, can be completed concurrently. Further, Cloud-based platforms make packaging of final products for distribution much faster, streamlining processes like region-specific versioning and subtitling. This creates significantly lower server costs, improves upload/download speeds and ultimately reduces a timeline to global distribution.
A deeper look at the benefits of Cloud-native solutions proves niche content creators and distributors can bring original content to market quickly and with a smaller budget if they have the right tools.
Seamless global collaboration
Studios based in the Cloud eliminate the need for local editing bays. Cloud platforms can make footage available from the set to post production professionals around the globe in an instant, allowing real-time collaboration and reducing or eliminating the need for pricey and complicated on-premise servers. These systems also make the transfer of in-progress footage more seamless between teams, giving the entire operation peace of mind that they all have access to the most current content and eliminating the risk of duplicate or conflicting workflows.
Significant reductions in cost
The massive amount of footage that is required to produce a modern TV series can cost a significant amount just to store and manage. But by migrating footage and workflows to a Cloud-based system, production houses can eliminate significant technical costs involved in on-prem solutions, including server maintenance, licensing, staff, utilities and IT support. Moreover, a Cloud-based workflow has the benefit of scalability, so you pay for the amount of storage you need, when you need it, scaling up and down as you see fit. Additionally, as these costs decrease, the talent pool grows. Professionals all over the world can now become part of the team without being on set at a much lower cost.
Automation helps niche streaming services stand out
Niche streaming services can't always afford to offer exclusively original programming. Moreover, the appetite of modern audiences for
Most recent headlines
13/03/2025
WASHINGTON FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced that the agency has launched a massive, new deregulatory initiative that could potentially subject virtually all ...
13/03/2025
SUNNYVALE, Calif. SDVI has announced that it has integrated its Rally media supply chain management platform with the Spectra Vail multi-cloud data management s...
13/03/2025
ATLANTA Gray Media has announced that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted a waiver of its local ownership rules to permit Gray Media to acqu...
13/03/2025
TV Tech: What do you anticipate will be the most significant technology trends at the 2025 NAB Show?...
13/03/2025
Watch Student Naomi Soleils Folk Pop Performance on The Voice The songwriting major sang Stars by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals during the blind auditions.
...
12/03/2025
O Spotify acaba de lan ar o relat rio Loud & Clear deste ano, uma vis o transpar...
12/03/2025
Spotify acaba de presentar el informe Loud & Clear de este a o, una mirada trans...
12/03/2025
Ramadan, a period of profound spiritual significance for Muslims worldwide, is a time for fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. Enrich your experience thi...
12/03/2025
Spotify has just unveiled this year's Loud & Clear report, a transparent loo...
12/03/2025
More than 70% of FAST programming has been produced since 2010, according to new Gracenote report
NEW YORK March 12, 2025 Gracenote, the content data busin...
12/03/2025
GEONA, Nev. Independent digital and linear advertising rep firm Viamedia will adopt cloud-based ShowSeeker Pilot as its primary ad campaign and order management...
12/03/2025
BRUSSELS Mediagenix has announced that Wael Yasin has joined the company as sales director Central Europe....
12/03/2025
LONDON A new study highlights opportunities for shoppable TV and the massive impact online consumer spending is having on the economy, with Omdia predicting tha...
12/03/2025
CUPERTINO, Calif. Interra Systems has announced that Comcast Technology Solutions has integrated recent updates to BATON Version 9 into its operations....
12/03/2025
Nevion announces new 400G addition to its eMerge SDN media fabric offering
Brie Clayton March 12, 2025
0 Comments
High-capacity switch enhances existi...
12/03/2025
DaVinci Resolve Studio Delivers Cinematic Sound for Adam Bol
Brie Clayton March 12, 2025
0 Comments
Feature film relies on DaVinci Resolve Studio for ...
12/03/2025
SVT Leverages Ateliere Live to Pioneer 100% Software-Defined Production at Rally...
12/03/2025
Berklee Awards Fenway Neighborhood Improvement Grant to Four Organizations A total of $17,000 will be distributed among the Boston-based nonprofits.
By
Madd...
12/03/2025
TVBEuropes Jenny Priestley sits down with new SMPTE president Richard Welsh to discuss his aims for the organisation going forward, its efforts to attract a you...
12/03/2025
The new process has significantly enhanced operational efficiencies, with automation freeing up creators to concentrate on higher value tasks
By Matthew Corrig...
12/03/2025
Jellyfish Pictures, which has offices in London and Sheffield, said it has been battling hard in the face of strong headwinds over the last 12 months
By Jenny ...
12/03/2025
Visit Booth #W2213 to Experience the Latest in AI-Driven Content Discovery and Workflow Automation
Bitcentral, a leader in media workflow solutions, is set to ...
12/03/2025
CHICAGO Jeff Lilly has been named WGN-TV director of technology effective March 17, 2025, according to Ric Harris, WGN-TV vice president and general manager....
12/03/2025
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. A new study from LG Ad Solutions indicates that consumers want more features that would allow them to shop for products on the connected T...
12/03/2025
BOTHELL, Wash. The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA) and the Video Services Forum (VSF) will once again present...
12/03/2025
PHILADELPHIA Comcast announced that it has upgraded Xfinity Internet speeds for more than 20 million customers for no additional cost....
12/03/2025
Create with Maxon: Cinema 4D Fundamentals Workshop - March 12-14
Brie Clayton March 11, 2025
0 Comments
Makin' Waffles with Elly Wade
During Marc...
12/03/2025
Ottawa, Canada - March 12, 2025 - Ross Video is pleased to announce the appointment of Aaron Tunnell as Business Development Director, Cloud Solutions, reinforc...
12/03/2025
12 Mar 2025
VEON to release 4Q 2024 trading update on 20 March 2025 Dubai, 12 March 2025 - VEON Ltd. (NASDAQ: VEON), a global digital operator, today confirms ...
12/03/2025
Getting set for the Winter Olympics: Inside SVT's ongoing software-based pro...
12/03/2025
THE PLAYERS Championship 2025: AI Commentary, Shared-Reality Viewing at COSM, La...
12/03/2025
Seamless SMPTE 2110: A Discussion on Making the Move to IP Less Painful Leaders from Netflix, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, LinkedI, and Megapixel address ...
12/03/2025
Opening Doors of Perception: Meta's Ajit Ninan on Rethinking AR/MR Perceptua...
12/03/2025
With the 2025 Formula 1 season set to begin in Melbourne on March 16, Sky Sports is gearing up to deliver its most comprehensive F1 coverage yet. Following a th...
12/03/2025
Unicanal and Trece TV revolutionize Digital TV in Paraguay with Rohde & Schwarz ...
12/03/2025
Honoring Service, Celebrating Sport: Rohde & Schwarz UK Sponsors NavyFit Rugby D...
12/03/2025
New HVS-Q12 Represents a Quantum Leap in Switcher Design...
12/03/2025
Telespazio and ABS Expand Partnership to Deliver Tailored C-Band Connectivity So...
12/03/2025
ABC conducts independent audits across the TAG programs. In the March 2025 TAG s...
12/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Moonlight: ESA program to create a satellite con...
12/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
In 2025, Thales ranks among the top 0.01% of the...
12/03/2025
Consumer show back following hugely successful first series
10 March 2025 Following a hugely successful first series, The Complaints Bureau returns to RT ...
11/03/2025
By Lucy Spicer
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival...
11/03/2025
Salsa is making a comeback, captivating new listeners with its infectious energy...
11/03/2025
For many people, music can serve as a reflection of their roots and upbringing. ...
11/03/2025
The solution delivers reliable, scalable and secure connectivity for critical pu...
11/03/2025
SAN JOSE, Calif. Harmonic has announced that Weigel Broadcasting has deployed Harmonics VOS Media Software, which offers playout-to-delivery capabilities, inclu...
11/03/2025
NEW BERN, N.C. Wheatstone will introduce a Linux audio driver for its WheatNet IP audio network during the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, at the Las Vegas Convention...
11/03/2025
NEW YORK A new study finds that as TV viewership for women's sports surged by 131% in 2024, the programming also saw a 56% year-over-year increase in ad im...
11/03/2025
Powerful switcher for news studio
FOR-A, a cutting-edge video broadcast technology company backed by more than 50 years experience, has installed its HVS-1200 ...