TV + Media Industry: A Retro Timeline

A causal, brief look at how TV + media content consumption has changed over the years, with some pop quizzes.

Best for those who are born post-iPhone : >

Transcript

1. TV + MEDIA INDUSTRY A RETRO TIMELINE Chaki Ng — 11.2019
2. GOALS • Brief evolution of the TV + media industry • Keep distribution in mind: how does content creators connect with audiences? • Some pop quizzes
3. This talk is optimized for post-iPhone generations : >
 
 How many of you did this?
4. TV
5. QUIZ What was the first devices that enable 
 watching TV wirelessly?
 
 iPod? iPhone?
7. 1920+: ORIGINAL TV SETS • Analog broadcast - “adjust your antennas” • Just a few networks (e.g., ABC/NBC) • Shows are linear / once a week • People gather around new episodes • Free TV, then ad revenues
9. 1960-80+: CABLE • A private “pipe” into people’s homes • Now browse 1,000 channels… • Rise of cable providers (e.g., Comcast) + new networks • Monthly subscriptions + ad sharing • Side Effect: tricky negotiations (e.g., N “add-on” channels)
10. QUIZ What to do if you cannot be home to 
 watch favorite shows?
12. But only one tape can be inserted at a time…
 (about 2 hours)
14. 1999: TIVO (DVR) • People can record and watch later / anytime • No more to rush homes • Disrupted weekly events, advertising, analytics… • Industry initially tried to fight it; today charge DVR rental $ + no rewind + ads
15. MOVIE
16. QUIZ Where could people watch movies
 back in early 1900s?
18. QUIZ 80s and 90s?
21. 1997: NETFLIX • How to watch movies: 1) movie theaters; 2) rent VCR tapes from Blockbuster on weekends • Netflix invented “mail DVD” service + subscription revenues (e.g., keep 3 DVDs any one time)
22. INTERNET
24. 2004: YOUTUBE • Anyone with a browser can watch + upload • No more “Hollywood” insider track to be a star • Side Effects: piracy + lawsuits • Today: settlements / revenue sharing
25. QUIZ What does OTT stand for?
27. 2012+: OTT • “Over-the-Top” boxes + apps on top of DVR • 100% on-demand + movies | binge watch • A few in 2012 to now hundreds of players… hardware (Roku) + software-based (Netflix) • Revenues: subscription fees and also free (Pluto TV)
28. QUESTION What was the #1 downloaded app on iTunes
 at the end of 2012?
29. (None of the top 10 apps back then 
 supported much/any videos)
30. 2012+: MOBILE • Users finally has another platform (iPhone) to watch TV content (other than on TV sets) • Behavior shifted completely in the past 7 years: top apps stream hundreds of millions per year
31. TODAY+ • Novel app-based video innovations • Formats: short (Vine), music (Tik Tok), live streams • Thousands of apps, millions of new creators • Revenue sharing with creators (e.g., stickers for $)
33. QUIZ How do people measure “TV ratings” for decades?
35. 1950: NIELSEN BOX • Self-reporting system • Sample = just less than 40,000 households…! • Hasn’t changed much :-O • Digital / iPhones / web tech are pushing change
37. TOMORROW • What’s the future of distributions like? More gatekeepers or direct creator to consumers? • How many media companies will be around in 10 years? • How much can users consume? How many subscriptions will they keep? • What’s new after on-demand / binge?