OTT Executive Podcast with Brian Mahony: Recent Episodes
Brian Mahony
Strategic advice and interviews with the 50,000+ member OTT Executive Community. Learn from the leaders of the media & entertainment industry.
1) Interning for "Late Night with David Letterman" -- can people still start their M&E careers that way? 2) CNN Digital role; 3) Launching first live news streaming service; 4) The "Great Big Story" story; 5) CNBC and NBC News OTT products; 6) Partnership with Pluto; 7) What was the inflection point where streaming became "real"? 8) Current Allen Media Group role as President of Digital; 9) What is the future of "local" in streaming? 10) Current state and future of streaming UX; 11) Role of AI to improve content management and UX-- "AI will eventually build the ultimate streaming service"; 12) Michael's passion for writing, being creative, and using AI to create new logos; 13) Michael's advice to people starting their M&E careers "ask how can I be helpful"-- take action, be humble, be useful.
Also watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ottexecutive
1) Paul's career background-- Technicolor, Disney, Discovery, Struum; 2) Paul's mentor and move into strategy; 3) Getting the call from Disney; 4) The
"moment when my career trajectory changed"; 5) How to use viewer data to be cool at cocktail parties ; 6) QuickPlay's focus on Tier 1 customers; 7) QuickPlay's USP: architecture and culture; 8) QuickPlay's new AI programmer tool; 9) Paul's passion for tennis and his beef with the Tennis Channel bundle; 10) Meet Paul's puppies Betsey and Sophie.
Also watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ottexecutive
1) Kevin's background at Lucasfilm, Electronic Arts, Walt Disney Pictures, and Zynga; 2) Learning about merchandising, gaming, and communities when launching the Pokémon franchise to the USA; 3) Why EA (Sims franchise) and Zynga (Words with Friends) highlighted the powerful combination of content, gaming, and communities; 4) Genesis of Bold Baking Network; 5) How "baking" is different from "cooking"-- it's about joy and love; 6) 500 million video views and 8 million monthly unique viewers; 7) What does it mean to build a content "universe"; 8) How Star Wars created a "cross-generational" community; 9) Role of mobile for building out your community; 10) Bold Baking Network's plans for a new FAST channel; 11) Working with SpaceMob for OTT platform and distribution; 12) Viewer acquisition strategy; 13) Importance of including live content for the baking audience; 14) Gamification of the UX; 15) Kevin's passion for cinema.
Also watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ottexecutive
1) Scott's career background starting with device drivers at Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC); 2) Current role leading SeaChange's advertising team; 3) SeaChange's end-to-end streaming platform; 4) Advertising solutions including pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll and creating custom FAST channels on the fly; 5) Innovations such as side-by-side advertising, clickable events, and QR codes; 6) Trade-offs of server side vs. client side advertising solutions (or both); 7) Role of big data to match ad inventory to user behavior; 8) Scott's 22-year support of the Pan-Mass Challenge (192 mile bike ride) to benefit cancer research. PMC this year will hit the milestone of $1 billion raised for cancer research.
Also watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ottexecutive
1) Steve's career background- "Silicon Valley meets Hollywood"; 2) The problem to solve-- universal search within the OTT operating system; 3) How is it possible your title doesn't show up in search even if it's in your library? 4) Why/how the search algorithm optimizes the platform's monetization-- not the apps; 5) Search vs. CTV/platform marketing- what has better ROI? 6) How Steve's team works to index/optimize your content library; 7) In an ideal world, who's job is it to optimize search results to maximize UX, engagement, monetization? 8) "The search engines and CTV OS wars are obfuscated and secret..."; 9) How to optimize your title names/tags for search; 10) Sometimes it's better to negotiate a bad deal so the streaming platform optimizes your content in their search algorithm; 11) Why you might need a search partner to get access to CTV/OS engineering teams; 12) ROI = 500% to 1000% increase in app downloads and titles watched.
Also watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ottexecutive
1) Evan's 2023 wrap up; 2) The media universe "death stars" getting bigger; 3) Consolidation of advertising market under Google, Meta, and Amazon (60%); 4) Why are the media giants getting into sports in a huge way? 5) "We left the last era of media four years ago when Disney went to DTC.... chasing Netflix towards a business model that doesn't work."; 6) Good churn vs. bad churn; 7) The paradox of consumers wanting choice-- AND bundles; 8) 2024 M&A predictions-- Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery, Fox, Disney; 9) Data/identity will trump content in 2024; 10) Additive role of Gen AI in 2024; 11) 2024 investment best bets- Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Alphabet, NVIDIA-- be careful of AI bubble.
Also watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ottexecutive
1) Keith's background in theater and film; 2) Moving into digital media and then streaming media; 3) Space Mob's focus on creating FAST channels and creating series; 4) FAST market under pressure as platforms are cutting back channels; 5) Focus on entertainment sports streaming such as pickle ball; 6) Minimum viable FAST channel needs 150 hours to start; 7) Revenue share model with content partners; 8) Merchandising opportunities; 9) Smaller production companies will likely exit the business; 10) Keith supporting his kids' Pokémon passion.
Also watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ottexecutive
1) Katherine's pre-Vizio career background; 2) First job at Vizio 11 years ago; 3) Current role; 4) Vizio as full-service media company including hardware, content, data, advertising, distribution, mobile; 5) Vizio content vetting process; 6) Higher bar for content partnerships, but still lots of new "white space"; 7) Elements of a good content deal; 8) Vizio's key UX metrics; 9) Role of voice in search and navigation; 10) FAST and other industry trends; 11) Katherine's love of fitness
Also watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ottexecutive
1) Rachel's career background; 2) Rachel and husband met in kindergarten? I forgot the follow up question about this! 3) Recognizing the wedding video opportunity; 4) Getting started building a large social community; 5) Anatomy of a content licensing deal; 6) Advertising strategy and lack of data visibility; 7) Partnering/competing with CTV and distribution platforms; 8) Why Rachel doesn't worry about content and distribution saturation; 9) Content curation strategy; 10) "Content discovery" vs. "search"; 11) The easy CTV distribution era is over; 12) Building communities around video content; 13) Rachel's love of precision skating.
Also watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ottexecutive
1) Natalie's current role; 2) Career background from JP Morgan to ESPN; 3) Vevo's global operations-- streaming across 34 distribution platforms including YouTubeTV, Samsung TV+, Pluto, Roku, and Amazon FireTV-- over 800,000 pieces of content; 4) Launching FAST channels; 5) Embracing a data-driven environment; 6) The promise vs. the reality of addressable advertising; 7) The process of data and advertising experimentation; 8) When will measurement become standardized and reliable?; 9) Future of FAST and role of CTV; 10) Personalization of the "long tail"; 11) Natalie's renewed love of horse-back riding.
1) Stephen's role and background on Robosoft Technologies; 2) Marquee customers including Discovery+, Magnolia, Global Cycling Network, Food Network, and ESPN; 3) Creating "communities" to enhance engagement and monetization; 4) Engineering and software development outsourcing vs. staff augmentation vs. innovation centers of excellence; 5) Cross device/platform brand integration; 6) 25 year history including first customer Apple; 7) Creating emotional engagement via human-centric design; 8) UX best practices; 9) Stephen's love of travel.
1) Background on Imagicomm and INSP "5th ranked cable channel in the U.S."; 2) Media conglomerate including cable, original content distribution, and 13 broadcast networks; 3) "Lunge-free" family/friendly content including "The Cowboy Way", "Legal Action", and Christmas movies; 4) Charlotte-based studios/distribution; 5) Tell family stories without being preachy; 6) Jonathan's background including MGM and Walt Disney Studios; 7) From directing to producing/business side; 8) Advice for college grads trying to break into media & entertainment industry; 9) Status of industry right now during tough economy; 10) AVOD vs. FAST business; 11) Future challenge for niche streaming services vs. bundled content; 12) Moving beyond just content libraries to building a community; 13) How to improve tune-in rates and watch times; 14) Jonathan's "Southern" kids- "Y'all see that yella cat?"
1) Jason's finance/private equity background; 2) Problem statement- simplifying streaming; 3) Win-win-win three-tiered approach- consumers, streamers, and broadband providers; 4) MyBundle watch list; 5) Partnering with cable providers for cord-cutters selecting broadband; 6) "Find MyBundle" tool; 7) Dominance of smart phone over TV remote as content discovery tool; 8) Difference between "search" and "browse"; 9) The "WD-40" of streaming; 10) Role of AI; 11) FAST vs SVOD app monetization; 12) Jason's unrequited love for golf vs. his kids being "his world".
1) Teresa's background at Rakuten launching new channels; 2) Dearth of channels in Europe; 3) Need for localization (local content, local language); 4) LoveTV Channels one year anniversary; 5) Distribution with Samsung, Xumo, etc.; 6) Finding new distribution in U.S. market; 7) Love the Planet channel about sustainability; 8) Next stage focused on viewer acquisition; 9) Role of European telcos in streaming FAST channels; 10) Teresa's passion for cooking.
1) J. Alexander's background including co-founding FUBU; 2) Opportunities in streaming media; 3) Signing with Cineverse; 4) Future of FAST; 5) Writer's strike pushing move back to reality TV; 6) Role of AI in streaming; 7) Focus on building his businesses; 8) Future plans
1) Thoughts on StreamTV Show in Denver; 2) Colin's career background from "structural engineer specializing in water-retaining concrete design" to Xumo leader; 3) Xumo's roots in digital ad-tech; 4) Comcast acquisition; 5) Comcast-Charter joint venture; 6) How does Xumo fit into Comcast's portfolio including Peacock, Xfinity, Flex, Xumo App, Platform, OS, etc. 7) What does the future of FAST look like? 8) The role of free/ad-supported video; 9) Importance of content discovery; 10) Meet Colin's rescue dog "Flounder" (who comes to work with him everyday); 11) "Sneaking" into the "VIP" Xumo reception.
1) Brad's background from local radio, to cable and broadcast, to streaming; 2) Launching MTV; 3) How "South Park" put Comedy Central on the map; 4) Early forays into streaming with Bloomberg and Scripps; 5) Creating Eagle Dock Media (and not getting sued by LeBron James); 6) Is content exclusivity/walled gardens going away? 7) Experimenting with content monetization strategies; 8) Is re-aggregation the future? 9) Brad's love for live music (40-50 live shows a year!)
1) Jeremy's career beginning with "knocking on doors" for Continental Cablevision; 2) Launching Google Fiber; 3) Launching YouTube TV; 4) Content piracy; 5) Launching Stern Digital Strategies; 6) Role of AI; 7) Status of Local TV industry; 8) Industry cost-cutting as "natural evolution"; 9) Growth of OTA and ATSC 3.0; 10) Jeremy's passion for Blues guitar.
1) Background on Cinedigm; 2) Cinedigm content strategy; 3) The power of "enthusiast" content (anime, family, horror, etc.); 4) Cineverse "Big Umbrella"; 5) Building communities around video content; 6) FAST as a "throw-back linear approach"; 7) Celebrity-based channels; 8) "Wall Street whipsaw from growth at all costs" to "focus on the bottom line"; 9) Erick's passion for Finger Lakes fun.
1) Sara’s background; 2) Working for Mr. Rogers; 3) Non-profit focus on experimentation vs. commercialization; 4) PBS Kids and gaming; 5) PBS distribution/device strategy; 6) PBS podcasts; 7) How to stay the course despite cutbacks in kid content; 8) PBS content strategy; 9) Show curricula- Curious George as Engineering teacher?; 10) How to make content more accessible for audiences; 11) Sara’s built-in “focus group” at home
1) Background on Robert; 2) 15 years since Hulu launch; 3) Can the industry sustain massive content investment amid huge losses? 4) Avoid the "collapse of the middle" through scale or focus; 5) BritBox viewer acquisition strategy; 6) Why a dedicated BritBox service vs. licensing through other services? 7) How rise of CTVs changes things; 8) Robert's passion for pizza and pizza ovens.
1) Mike Bloxham's background; 2) New study on streaming subscriber churn; 3) "Intentionality of churn"; 4) Six different churn segments; 5) Why are "Hypers" both highly engaged and most likely to churn? 6) How "good/bad churn" is like cholesterol; 7) Moving to a "subscribed months" metric; 8) Why churn isn't correlated to income; 9) Churn segment "portfolio management"; 10) SVOD vs. FAST churn; 11) Mike's passion for Scotch whiskey.
1) Kieanji's background; 2) Genesis of Nakx; 3) Streaming opportunity for independent films; 4) Nakx business model; 5) Linear programming strategy; 6) Nakx distribution strategy; 7) Nakx launch plans; 8) Future plans for original content; 9) Kieanji's foray into reality TV (watch her on "The Blox").
1) Marc Zand background; 2) What are multicast/diginet/D2-D3 networks? 3) How did multicast networks get their initial content? 4) OTA content discovery; 5) How did Marc grow Ion Media Networks? 6) How was multicast a pre-cursor to FAST channels? 7) The tension between content exclusivity and wider distribution; 8) What are the various aspects of content licensing deals? 9) The era of the "grown-ups" taking charge and focusing on profit margins; 10) How Marc used divorce and paternity law as an entre into the entertainment industry.
1) Background of Tony Mugavero; 2) Merger of ROW8 and Rad; 3) Video applications of blockchain, web3, smart contracts, etc. 4) What is NFTV and premium transactional VOD? 5) Marketing aspects of video/music NFTs; 6) Extending video content via merchandising, collectibles, etc. 7) Do blockchain smart contracts replace DRM? 8) How to make video blockchain/NFTs mainstream; 9) Tony's EDM passion-- search "DatGuy" on Spotify to hear his music.
1) Donna's background; 2) Democratizing content creation; 3) New studio and tech stack; 4) Greenlighting 50 new shows; 5) Distribution strategy; 6) A "billionaire in spirit"; 7) Is the content market saturated? 8) Storytelling; 9) Donna's favorite things; 10) Bonus: Will Brian and Donna create a new show together?
1) FITE distribution strategy; 2) new FAST channel FITE 24/7; 3) Unique aspects of PPV; 4) Getting added to the Roku Channel; 5) Expanding into soccer and rugby; 6) Viewer acquisition strategy; 7) Fighting content pirates; 8) 2023 predictions; 9) Bonus: Did Michael catch William "the Fridge" Perry during WrestleMania 2?
1) Two college students talk about their media and entertainment habits; 2) Discussions include Apple, Disney+, YouTube TV, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Peacock, Hulu, FuboTV, Instagram, TikTok, SnapChat, etc.; 3) Favorite shows and ways of watching; 4) Music comes first, followed by social and video; 5) No interest in cable TV or OTA; 6) Switching from Apple Music to Spotify; 7) What if there was a Spotify Wrapped for video?; 8) Ads vs. subscription services; 9) When you graduate, what services would you get and what are you willing to pay?
1) Interview with Adam Ware, SVP Growth Networks, Sinclair Broadcast Group; 2) Career background; 3) Differing viewer acquisition strategies across broadcast and streaming services; 4) Resilience of Over-The-Air (OTA); 5) ATSC 3.0 "Next-Gen TV"; 6) Content discovery strategies; 7) Discussions including Netflix, Amazon, Disney, Hulu, Peacock, etc.; 8) TV channel "brands"; 9) Rise of ad-supported business models; 10) BBC's plans to merge broadcast and streaming; 11) Adam's passion outside of work.
1) E.J.'s career recap; 2) Background on MolQ Entertainment; 3) MolQ Films and MolQ TV launch plans; 4) Growth in advertising business models; 5) Role of NFTs for marketing and engagement; 6) UX strategy; 7) International launch plans; 8) Things about E.J. you might not know.
1) Background on Isabel; 2) Language, culture, or geography-- how do you define the "Hispanic" market? 3) Programming and content curation; 4) "Peak streaming"-- how will the limit of subscribers/viewers impact growth? 5) Role of original content vs. licensed programming; 6) One thing about Isabel you may not know.
- Evan Shapiro dispels “tentacle” rumors
- Disney’s CEO revolving door amidst “peak TV”
- How bad will the media industry “impression recession” get? -- two leading indicators to look for
- Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Roku, Netflix, Amazon, Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery, 5G, Pay TV, and Triple Play discussions
- Why Amazon overpaid for NFL Thursday Night Football
- How to manage your career during industry contraction
- The future of content— advice for creators and storytellers
- One thing about Evan you might not know