Among predictions from a co-founder of a new prepaid virtual MVPD is that "social TV is here to stay.” Polls and memes, like so-called watch parties, are part of social TV, said Vidgo President Shane Cannon. In an increasingly crowded media segment that continues to steal share from traditional pay TV (see 2103310055), more than 120 million consumers have subscribed to skinny bundles, said Cannon, whose company provides such content. Cannon expects that number to “pick up steam” over the rest of 2021, as live TV streaming becomes “the preferred way to watch” among younger viewers who want to pick their own content. Betting via sports channels makes "a lot of sense,” Cannon said Wednesday, noting sports betting is best served on multiple devices. A top challenge for streaming services is “how to get Gen Z to pay for content,” he told a Parks Associates virtual conference: Ad-based VOD is widening the gap, giving the segment a way to get content without paying. Vidgo believes the best way to lure Gen Z is through live sports and news -- content that doesn’t get to AVOD platforms.
Comscore joined the Out of Home Advertising Association of America and trade marketing association DPAA, as it adds OOH measurement to its cross-platform product offerings. More than $9 billion is projected for OOH ad spending in coming years, it said Wednesday, citing plans to measure outdoor advertising platforms, cinema and place-based distribution including retail spaces, stadiums, office buildings and transportation hubs. OOH adds to Comscore audience insights across linear TV, over-the-top video, desktop, mobile and cinema “when America is starting to go out of home again,” said CEO Bill Livek.
While growing, virtual MVPDs face some of the same challenges as their traditional pay-TV rivals, many of which are losing video subscribers, a Parks Associates webcast heard Wednesday. Rising content costs lead vMVPDs to raise prices, said Parks' Paul Erickson. By 2023, vMVPD subs will be higher than telco and satellite pay TV combined, behind cable TV, the analyst said. In a competitive sector, Erickson said vMVPDs are riding the popularity of over-the-top video services and need unique propositions amid a growing number of rivals. Churn is a major challenge for vMVPDs, which lack customer contracts, said Erickson: Subscription duration averaged a year to 15 months for Dish Network's Sling (16 months), AT&T Now (15), Alphabet's YouTubeTV (15), Disney's Hulu + Live TV (14), AT&T WatchTV (12) and T-Mobile TVision Home (8). Since Parks' survey, AT&T announced it's spinning off DirecTV (see 2103010046), and T-Mobile shut down its TVision OTT service this week, six months after launch, instead partnering with Google and making YouTubeTV its preferred live TV offering.
AT&T began supplying 4G LTE connectivity to 2021-model Maseratis in the U.S. under a multiyear agreement, said the carrier Tuesday. Access is included with unlimited AT&T in-car Wi-Fi through AT&T data plans. Maserati owners can sign up for a free trial lasting three months or 3 GB, whichever comes first.
Peak demand for LifeMD’s telemedicine services drove 2020 revenue 200% higher than in 2019, said CEO Justin Schreiber on a Q4 earnings call Monday. “December 2020 alone eclipsed the entire fourth quarter of 2019,” he said. “Despite the challenges and heartbreaks, perhaps one silver lining to the pandemic is how it catalyzed the rapid expansion and evolution of the telehealth industry.” LifeMD is on pace to finish Q1 with nearly 300% revenue growth compared with the 2020 quarter, said Schreiber. “We believe we've only begun to scratch the surface of what we see as a $600 billion and growing addressable market opportunity.” Shares closed 15.3% lower Tuesday at $15.98 from reports the stock was significantly overvalued.
Apple is going virtual again with its Worldwide Developers Conference, scheduled for June 7-11, it said Tuesday. WWDC, traditionally at Apple's Cupertino, California, headquarters, was virtual for the first time in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Google Maps is getting a refresh this year, with upgrades to location capability, weather and routing models, blogged Dane Glasgow, Google Maps vice president-product. Live View is coming to indoor places that are tricky to navigate, including airports, transit stations and malls. Indoor navigation will be enabled by localization, which uses AI to scan “tens of billions” of Google Street View images to determine a user’s orientation, Glasgow wrote Tuesday. Advances “help us understand the precise altitude and placement of objects inside a building,” he said. Data comes from AirNow.gov, the Central Pollution Board, the Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Lab and The Weather Co., and the app works with other companies' services.
Entercom rebranded as Audacy, said CEO David Field Tuesday. He cited sports betting, with the company announcing a multiyear deal with BetMGM Tuesday. The MGM property is its “preferred sports betting partner” across its stations, Audacy and Bet QL apps and digital platforms, and the recently launched “BetQL Audio Network.” Audacy is integrating sports betting content to “millions of sports fans” who tune in daily to Audacy’s broadcast stations, podcasts and shows, it said; BetMGM gets preferred access to Audacy talent. The broadcaster recently bought sports data and iGaming affiliate platform QL Gaming Group. “The advent of legalized mobile sports betting has presented an unprecedented opportunity to bring the action closer to the audience than ever before and, as a result, provide our partners with a direct line of sight to tap into an attentive, fully engaged audience of potential sports bettors,” said Mike Dee, Audacy president-sports. BetMGM Chief Revenue Officer Matt Prevost cited Audacy’s track record in sports radio, digital audio and “now the direct-to-consumer betting analytics space,” saying the partnership enables the company to extend its reach. Audacy’s stations include WFAN-FM/AM New York, SportsRadio WIP(FM) Philadelphia and WSCR(AM) Chicago. Audacy also said Tuesday it signed an exclusive podcast partnership with singer and actress Demi Lovato and exclusive podcasts and projects with Boomer Esiason, Big Tigger and The Rich Eisen Show. A revamped Loveline debuts this summer, it said. The broadcast company’s stock ticker symbol will change from ETM to AUD. Also effective Tuesday, the company sunsetted the Radio.com brand and aligned its direct-to-consumer platform under Audacy. Cadence13, Pineapple Street Studios, BetQL and Podcorn remain market-facing brands.
Defining broadband as 100 Mbps symmetrical would be "arbitrary," with no data to justify it since applications for key services and streaming entertainment rely on much less, Technology Policy Institute President Scott Wallsten blogged Monday. Only 42% of households have such service, he said. Too high a definitional bar could mean subsidies going to areas that don't need them, with people in unconnected areas remaining unconnected, he said: The FCC would be better off taking a weighted look at various factors, not just bandwidth. AT&T and NCTA have raised similar arguments (see 2103260035).
Disney+ and ESPN+ are rolling out on Comcast's X1 app and the Flex 4K streaming player. ESPN+ became available Monday on Flex via the ESPN app, with plans to launch the streaming services on X1 in the “coming weeks,” said the companies Monday.