Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

2025 M&E Trends: What's old is (sometimes) new again

13/01/2025

Steve Reynolds, CEO of Imagine Communications, offers a view on the trends he believes will significantly impact the way the media and entertainment industry creates, delivers, and monetises content over the next 12 months and beyond

By Contributor

Published: January 13, 2025 Updated: January 14, 2025

Steve Reynolds, CEO of Imagine Communications, offers a view on the trends he believes will significantly impact the way the media and entertainment industry creates, delivers, and monetises content over the next 12 months and beyond

target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin> Steve Reynolds, CEO of Imagine Communications, offers a view on the trends he believes will significantly impact the way the media and entertainment industry creates, delivers, and monetises content over the next 12 months and beyond

https://www.tvbeurope.com/business/2025-me-trends-whats-old-is-sometimes-new-again title=Share via Email class=share-email>

As the media and entertainment (M&E) industry continues to sound the death knell for traditional TV, I'll make a bold prediction for 2025: Linear will experience a resurgence - of sorts.

I'm not suggesting that the pendulum swing toward streaming viewership will suddenly reverse course, but over the past year, a surprising trend surfaced as media companies - even digital natives - rediscovered linear as a way to drive ROI and TCO.

One high-profile U.S. example was Amazon's live streaming of NFL Thursday Night Football, which they paired with linear ad sales. While Amazon certainly has the capability to sell the streaming inventory as DAI or addressable impressions, they opted to sell the entire audience. Why? Simple economics. Amazon gets a higher ad price for the massive TNF audience than is possible by selling this inventory on an impression basis. This strategy demonstrates the enduring value of linear TV in reaching broad audiences and driving monetisation.

Steve Reynolds, CEO of Imagine Communications With emerging ad tech innovations, it's possible for big brands to purchase ads that guarantee category exclusivity during a commercial break in the digital environment - something that was previously limited to linear TV. Enabling digital to be sold like linear, with broadcast-quality rules and brand protection, strengthens media companies' ability to sell inventory in a direct but automated way, which is the key to maximising streaming revenue. The future of advertising lies in integrating the best of each platform, optimising the user experience while maximising returns for advertisers.

In 2025, the market's focus on the revenue-driving advantages of linear will continue to develop, especially when the goal is to reach large audiences simultaneously. Integrating digital streaming with linear ads is a win-win for broadcasters who can tap into a hybrid model that enables them to engage diverse viewers while leveraging well-established revenue streams. Successful media companies have realised that linear vs. digital is the wrong answer. Linear + digital is the path to profitability.

Is the smart money still on-prem? For over a decade, cloud solutions have been heralded as the future of broadcasting. On the surface, the choice between on-prem and cloud seems a simple one: on-prem systems require significant investments in physical infrastructure and time, while cloud solutions offer rapid deployment without the maintenance headaches. But the choice isn't so clear-cut.

With no Olympics or elections driving advertising revenue in 2025, reducing costs will be a top priority across the media industry. One of the ways broadcasters will navigate the challenge is to do the maths to determine whether it's more cost-effective to run their operations on-prem or in the cloud.

For example, if you're deploying a disaster recovery solution or operating FAST channels that are never going to touch an antenna, it's probably cheaper to do it in the cloud. But if you're running 24/7/365 workflows or have significant investments in studios, IT teams, HVAC systems, and backup generators, on-prem solutions may make better economic sense.

A hybrid strategy may turn out to be the optimal approach, with high-value channels and time-consuming resources run on-prem and the cloud used wherever it makes economic sense, including as a testbed for new ideas and to quickly launch new services. The balance between on-prem and the cloud will change based on percentage of usage, the kind of workflows and solutions needed over time, and the fluctuating cost of the cloud.

A one-and-done calculation won't cut it in a rapidly changing industry. So as we head into 2025 and beyond, broadcasters may need to regularly revisit the TCO maths to determine whether on-prem, cloud, or a hybrid of both will best meet their unique needs and budgets.

Where cloud makes sense (and an on-ramp to get there) While keeping things on-prem makes operational and economic sense for many broadcast workflows, one area where the balance has skewed in favour of the cloud is remote production. Paris 2024 stood out in what was a banner year for sports, which helped accelerate the move toward remote and cloud-based production thanks to SMPTE ST 2110 and the native IP protocols used for contribution to cloud.

One example is the synthesis between 2110 and JPEG XS - basically native IP speaking to native IP via VSF TR-07 and TR-08 technical recommendations - which was proven on the world stage at the Paris Games. We've also seen extensive use of H.264 via SRT in cases where the cost vs. bandwidth trade-off favours higher compression. These advancements not only exceeded expectations, but also established valuable proof points and case studies, which will help drive broader industry adoption.

In 2025, sports broadcasting will cont
LINK: https://www.tvbeurope.com/business/2025-me-trends-whats-old-is-sometim...
See more stories from tvb

Europe Stories

05/02/2025

Spotify Teams Up With Swedish Youth Organization Fryshuset To Amplify the Next Generation of Local Artists

Investing in the future of music means investing in the next generation of artis...

05/02/2025

Spotify Launches Mi Primer Escenario' in Argentina, Offering Emerging Artists a Festival Debut

Supporting emerging artists is woven into Spotify's DNA, and we're ampli...

05/02/2025

Spotify lanza Mi Primer Escenario en Argentina, ofreciendo a artistas emergentes un debut en un festival

Apoyar a los artistas emergentes est entretejido en el ADN de Spotify, y estamo...

05/02/2025

Inside IBC's innovation boom: what's powering the future of media?

Speaking exclusively to TVBEurope, four of its experts weigh in on the IBCs role in fostering innovation, the technological shifts on the horizon, and why sport...

05/02/2025

Meet the director of product marketing

Vincent Noyer, director of product marketing at LYNX Technik, tells TVBEurope how remaining engaged and proactive leads to opportunities for growth By Matthew ...

05/02/2025

Puerto Rican broadcaster Telecinco Media selects the Rohde & Schwarz liquid-cooled transmitter to modernize its WORA-TV digital station

Puerto Rican broadcaster Telecinco Media selects the Rohde & Schwarz liquid-cool...

05/02/2025

Thales announces two new appointments to its Board of Directors

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Thales' Board of Directors (Euronext Paris: HO) which met on February 4, 2025, coopted as a Board member Val rie Guillemet, ...

05/02/2025

RT publishes Register of External Activities for Q3 2024 (statistical summary)

RT is today publishing a statistical summary from the Register of External Activities for the third quarter of 2024. The RT Register of External Activities (...

05/02/2025

Eurovision Royalty to join the Late Late Eurosong Special this Friday Night

Here is your host, Patrick Kielty! This Friday night Eurovision royalty Linda Martin, Niamh Kavanagh and Eimear Quinn will come together for the first time to ...

05/02/2025

Other Voices makes its return to RT this Spring with an incredible lineup

Laura Marling, Lisa O'Neill, James Dean Bradfield, Jacob Alon, Bashy, Morgana and more to feature in Other Voices Series 23 this Spring RT 2 & RT Player |...

04/02/2025

Spotify Reports Fourth Quarter 2024 Earnings

Today, we announced our fourth quarter 2024 earnings, closing Q4 stronger than ever by outperforming across key metrics and celebrating our first full year of p...

04/02/2025

Spotify rapporterar intkter fr fjrde kvartalet 2024

Idag rapporterar vi int kter f r fj rde kvartalet 2024. Vi avslutade Q4 starkare n n gonsin genom att vertr ffa f rv ntningarna p v ra nyckeltal och kan d rm...

04/02/2025

SGL Carbon opts for green electricity at its German sites

As a technology-based company and one of the worlds leading companies in the development and production of carbon-based solutions, SGL Carbon opts for innovativ...

04/02/2025

ST Engineering iDirect Names Sridhar Kuppanna as Chief Technology Officer

Ground segment technology innovator appoints new CTO to execute bold technological vision Herndon, Va., February 4, 2025 ST Engineering iDirect, global leade...

04/02/2025

Radio Botswana chooses Calrec's IP-native Type R mixing system

The shift from analogue to IP was driven by a desire for greater flexibility in our operations. IP simplifies connectivity, reduces the physical footprint of th...

04/02/2025

Simplifying Gray Media News Operations with Calrec's Type R

Streamline, standardise and save: how Gray Media has simplified news operations At TVNewsCheck's News Tech Forum 2024, Gray Media's Peter Gogas and Calr...

04/02/2025

Bending Spoons closes $233 million acquisition of Brightcove

Boston, MA-February 4, 2025 | Bending Spoons, the Italy-based technology company, completed its previously announced acquisition of US-based streaming technolog...

04/02/2025

Colourist Claudio Del Bravo on grading Queer

Explaining the process to TVBEurope, Del Bravo said the films look was inspired by the Technicolor three-strip' process, evoking the rich colours of early ...

04/02/2025

An update on our TV and broadband prices

An update on our TV and broadband pricesTuesday 4 February 2025 An update on our TV and broadband prices Devesh Raj, Chief Operating Officer, Sky This April,...

04/02/2025

Sky extends partnership with the PDC to remain the home of darts until 2030

Sky extends partnership with the PDC to remain the home of darts until 2030Tuesday 4 February 2025 Following another record-breaking PDC World Darts Championsh...

04/02/2025

Frankfurt is the world's first airport to regularly use walk-through scanners from Rohde & Schwarz for passengers

Frankfurt is the world's first airport to regularly use walk-through scanner...

04/02/2025

Riedel Unveils Next Generation of StageLink Edge Devices

Wuppertal February 4, 2025 Riedel Unveils Next Generation of StageLink Edge DevicesRiedel Communications today announced the launch of its StageLink family of...

04/02/2025

Fox Corporation Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results

Fox Corporation Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results NEW YORK, NY, February 4, 2025 - Fox Corporation (Nasdaq: FOXA, FOX; FOX or the Compan...

04/02/2025

Introducing our fully digital, true diversity wideband wireless mic solution

DPA Microphones is moving into the wireless market with the release of its new N-Series Digital Wireless System at ISE 2025 (Stand 7P600). A fully digital, true...

04/02/2025

2025-02-04

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today introduced Apple Invites, a new app for iPhone that helps users create custom invitations to gather friends and family for any...

04/02/2025

Thales Alenia Space signs a contract with Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre to develop the Emirates Airlock Module, a critical element of Lunar Gateway

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Thales Alenia Space strengthens its cooperation with the UAE as a key partner in future space missions Cannes, February 4th, 20...

04/02/2025

RT Internship Programme 2025 - Applications Now Open

We're thrilled to announce that applications for the 2025 RT Internship Programme are now open....

04/02/2025

Jack Woolley tops the Dancing with the Stars leaderboard in Dedicated Dance Week

Jack Woolley topped the leaderboard in what was an emotional night on Dancing with the Stars, as the remaining nine couples took to the floor for Dedicated Danc...

03/02/2025

Spotify's This Is Taylor Swift' Immersive Experience Connects Swifties Across Asia to Their Favorite Anthem

If you're one of the many Swifties living in Asia, you're in for a treat...

03/02/2025

5 Spotify Hacks Every Free User Needs To Know

Whether you're discovering your new favorite song or queuing up the latest episode of the hottest podcasts, Spotify is always innovating to deliver the best...

03/02/2025

InterDigital initiates IP enforcement action against Disney

The company said it deserves fair compensation for its innovation, with the long-term success of the streaming industry for consumers and creators dependent on ...

03/02/2025

My ISE: Ciaran Doran previews the show

Ciaran Doran, chair of ISE 2025's AV Broadcast Summit, is looking forward to checking out traditional TV broadcast vendors' tailored products and servic...

03/02/2025

Barb: UK SVoD growth largely flat' in fourth quarter

The report included an ad tier estimate for Netflix, Disney and Amazon By Matthew Corrigan Published: February 3, 2025 The report included an ad tier est...

03/02/2025

Introducing Technicolor Pathways - a Dynamic Training Program for Current & Aspiring Professionals in VFX and Feature Animation

Big news! We're thrilled to announce Technicolor Pathways - a free training ...

03/02/2025

UKTV acquires UK premier of Side Hustlers for U and U&W in deal with ITV Studios

UKTV has acquired the UK premier of Side Hustlers, the US business reality series produced by Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine, part of...

03/02/2025

Fox Corporation and FOX Sports Announce Super Bowl LIX Community Initiatives

Fox Corporation and FOX Sports Announce Super Bowl LIX Community Initiatives Company Partners with Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Louisiana to Invest in Great Fu...

03/02/2025

2025-02-03

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today announced Apple Music is celebrating Kendrick Lamar's Road to Halftime with a spotlight on the era-defining artist who has...

01/02/2025

DiGiCo Quantum225T Makes its Official Debut at ISE 2025

BARCELONA, Spain - ISE stand #7F300 - February 2025 - It's no secret that many of Broadway's and West End's largest theatrical houses steadfastly ch...

31/01/2025

Blackmagic Design reveals customisable URSA Cine 12K camera

The URSA Cine 12K LF Body excludes shoulder mounts, handles, some lens mounts, battery plates, power supply, lenses and the high capacity 8TB media module By J...

31/01/2025

Anton/Bauer takes power outside with EDEN

EDEN aims to provide continuous power when operating in remote locations, and can be recharged using solar power By Matthew Corrigan Published: January 31, 2...

31/01/2025

Sky Original podcast Smart TV with Alison Hammond confirmed to launch on Tuesday 4 February

Sky Original podcast Smart TV with Alison Hammond confirmed to launch on Tuesday...

31/01/2025

Sommer cable's Ethernet cables set new standards for connection solutions

Sommer cables Ethernet cables set new standards for connection solutions posted: 31/01/2025 When it comes to reliability, robustness and flexibility, the ...

31/01/2025

Sky Original podcast Smart TV with Alison Hammond confirmed to launch on Wednesday 5 February

Sky Original podcast Smart TV with Alison Hammond confirmed to launch on Wednesd...

31/01/2025

Thales to present advanced defence and aerospace innovations at Aero India 2025, reinforcing its 'Make in India' commitment

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Thales will be present at Aero India 2025 (3.3 i...

31/01/2025

RT is Supporting 18 Arts and Cultural Events all over Ireland this February

Watch our promo: RT Supporting the Arts | What's on This February, RT is delighted to support Dublin International Film Festival, along with 17 other ama...

30/01/2025

SGL Carbon secures natural graphite supply chains through diversification and remains a reliable partner for its customers

The supply capability of SGL Carbon, a leading international supplier of carbon-...

30/01/2025

BRIGHTCOVE SETS A NEW STANDARD FOR VIDEO MARKETING MEASUREMENT WITH THE LAUNCH OF MARKETING INSIGHTS'

BOSTON - November 7, 2024 - Brightcove (NASDAQ: BCOV), the world's most trus...

30/01/2025

Brightcove Earns Top ISO Security Certification, Bolstering Commitment to Data Security for Its Customers

BOSTON - January 16, 2025 - Brightcove (NASDAQ: BCOV), the world's most trus...