Ampere Analysis Neil Anderson discusses how European broadcasters are playing catch-up in the VoD space, and why working with one another will help them respond to the challenge of the global streaming services
By Jenny Priestley
Published: March 23, 2023 Updated: March 31, 2023
Ampere Analysis' Neil Anderson discusses how European broadcasters are playing catch-up in the VoD space, and why working with one another will help them respond to the challenge of the global streaming services
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin>
From Britbox UK to French streaming service Salto, attempts by European broadcasters to work together and take on the global streaming giants have pretty much fallen flat.
But why is that? And, how can broadcasters stop the big streamers from gaining market dominance? TVBEurope spoke to Ampere Analysis' Neil Andreson to answer those questions and more.
Over the last few years we've seen the likes of Britbox UK and Salto attempt to take on the big streamers before either being rolled into another service or closed completely why do you think that is? With international companies like Netflix and Amazon dominating the VoD space, broadcasters are playing catch up. This is largely a result of a decade worth of half-hearted attempts by broadcasters to shape the European SVoD market, leaving the door wide open for global streamers to amass massive market share. Netflix, Amazon and Disney Plus collectively accounted for roughly 70 per cent of the European SVoD market in 2022, with the offerings of national broadcasters lacking the scale to compete with SVoD giants.
From launch, both Britbox UK and Salto failed to emerge as serious competitors and similar joint streaming ventures in Spain and Germany haven't exactly broken the mould. These streaming alliances have often been marked by various issues: a lack of total commitment from their backers; differing strategic priorities of broadcasters; and the thorny issue of content exclusivity.
Combined services have been seen to be deprioritised by their owners, who are focused more on their individual streaming efforts. While the demise of Salto was triggered by the failed merger of TF1 and M4, Salto's appeal had already been undermined by its backers, with French broadcasters launching subscription versions of their existing BVoD platforms.
These services have seen limited investment in original content, a cornerstone of streaming success, with broadcasters preferring to focus investment on their own services. Additionally, the limited growth market makes it hard to justify the sort of investment needed to seriously compete with the multi-billion content budgets of global streamers
The reality is that it's likely too late for any new homegrown ventures to take direct aim at Netflix, Amazon or Disney Plus. After waiting so long to mount a reasonable challenge, any domestic partnerships will likely be considered expendable services by consumers that are increasingly wedded to the deep catalogues of global streaming services.
Additionally, European audiences have come to expect free access to high-quality local content from BVoD platforms as part of their content consumption mix, making it difficult for consumers to see the benefits of a paid-subscription to a cross-broadcaster platform
Some broadcasters have tried to merge operations with others (RTL Netherlands, Talpa) only for them to fail to meet regulatory approval. How can they meet those requirements? RTL Group has been dealt a double blow after the collapse of the planned merger of French network M6 with TF1, and the decision by Dutch authorities to block the proposed merger of RTL Nederland and Talpa Network. These recent developments have tested the ability of regulators to understand the speed and extent of changes in the global media landscape and the pressures on European broadcasters In both cases, regulatory concerns largely relate to the significant television advertising market share that new entities would potentially command. The remedies needed for the TF1-M6 merger would have included the divestment of one of their main TV channels, undermining the strategic rationale for the merger.
This approach to regulating media mergers, largely based on free-to-air TV advertising market shares, fails to reflect the growing online ad market, the rise of global streamers, and the declining audience share of traditional TV players. However, regulators are right to be cautious of concentrated media ownership in broadcasting, with linear TV still commanding huge audiences in Europe.
The successful merger of TF1 and M6 could have paved the way for a wave of broadcaster mergers across Europe, however these regulatory issues will likely stifle any immediate developments in M&A activity. The growing pressure for consolidation may be difficult for regulators to contain, as they balance concerns around market concentration with the desire to secure the long-term future of local media
Is market consolidation the way forward? If not, how can broadcasters take on the challenge of the global streamers? In recent years, M&A activity in the global media industry has been heating up the recent Warner Bros Discovery merger is just one example. Despite regulatory hurdles, large European broadcasting groups will continue to seriously consider consolidation as an appropriate response to the challenges posed by global streamers.
While national mergers may not yet be acceptable to regulators, MediaForEurope sees pan-European consolidation as the answer to these challenges. On completion of its merger of Spanish and Italian operations, MediaForEurope will have total control of its Spanish and Italian operations as well as being the main shareholder of German broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1. This strategy follows in the foots
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/07/2026
Broadcast Management Group (BMG) has announced the appointment of Kathy Samuels ...
01/07/2026
Shade has announced Custom Objects and Automations, a platform expansion releasing June 29, 2026, that adds database and workflow automation capabilities direct...
01/07/2026
FOR-A America has announced the addition of Jaz Wray and Fernando Cruz to its U.S. sales team. Both report to Ernie Leon, Senior VP and Head of Sales and Strate...
01/07/2026
NBC Sports will air all 15 MLB games nationally on Sunday, July 5, across NBC, P...
01/07/2026
Clear-Com has announced a wireless communications upgrade for Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, deploying FreeSpeak II and FreeSpeak Icon systems across both prod...
01/07/2026
England's performance team will use Sony's STATSports APEX GPS tracking system to monitor player physical data in real time during FIFA World Cup 2026 m...
01/07/2026
Adder Technology has announced the appointment of Neil Hillier as Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2026. Hillier succeeds Adrian Dickens, who transiti...
01/07/2026
Bitcentral, Inc. has announced a strategic transaction creating two separate companies. The Production and Playout business will continue as Bitcentral, now own...
01/07/2026
DAZN has announced results from DAZN48, its creator initiative for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Launched in April 2026, the program received thousands of applicatio...
01/07/2026
Sarah Rose, VP, global services, Daktronics (NASDAQ: DAKT), will be inducted into the Information Display and Entertainment Association (IDEA) Hall of Fame at t...
01/07/2026
Gravity Media and the World Economic Forum's production team provided broadc...
01/07/2026
Insight Productions has announced the launch of Insight Storm, a 53-foot mobile broadcast unit built for esports production. The truck is built around a Ross Vi...
01/07/2026
ESPN has announced several content initiatives marking America's 250th anniversary, as part of The Walt Disney Company's Disney Celebrates America pro...
01/07/2026
Eleven production kits, REMI workflows, and cloud distribution bring 40 World Cu...
01/07/2026
The conference also discussed the opportunities offered an industry that is endu...
01/07/2026
The Mountain West Conference has announced the launch of MW , a direct-to-consumer streaming platform powered by Kiswe. The platform will carry live Mountain We...
01/07/2026
New AI Assistant, Multi-channel Audio, ARA2 improvements & more
Tracktion's DAW software has just received its latest major update, gaining a selection ...
01/07/2026
Stammering, stuttering, strangulated tones
The Crow Hill Company's latest creation promises to be the most original sound set they've produced to d...
01/07/2026
Exclusive run of limited-edition modelling pedals
Sweetwater and Andertons M...
01/07/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the ca...
01/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/07/2026
Manfrotto Introduces UNCOVER, the new premium camera bag collection for modern h...
01/07/2026
Blackmagic Design Powers Houston Tamil Sangam Literacy Competition
Brie Clayton July 1, 2026
0 Comments
Volunteers use ATEM Mini Pro, Blackmagic Desig...
01/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/07/2026
PlayBox Technology has published State of Broadcast Infrastructure 2026, an in-depth industry research report examining the technologies, operational challenges...
01/07/2026
LONDON, UK, 1 JULY Jigsaw24 has appointed Alan Henry as Head of Sales for Media and Entertainment, reinforcing its continued investment in helping broadcaster...
01/07/2026
Content Vault, the patent-pending secure content distribution platform protecting high-value media from disclosures, theft and unauthorised access, today announ...
01/07/2026
Bitcentral, Inc. a leading provider of enterprise software and digital media solutions for news, sports and entertainment broadcasters, as well as streaming pla...
01/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/07/2026
Groundbreaking First Nations Screen Business Accelerator launched through nation...
01/07/2026
Chyron Launches the All-New Chyron Academy: A Reimagined, Hands-On Learning Expe...
01/07/2026
Amplium Captures Kawasaki Brave Thunders Game with Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersiv...
01/07/2026
Boris FX Optics Expands Plugin Support to Apple Photos, Capture One, and Affinit...
01/07/2026
UKTV has today announced the appointment of Matt Berry to the newly created role of General Manager - Marketing, effective 1 July.
Matt will take on this senio...
01/07/2026
Sky Zero Footprint Fund-backed TV campaign featuring Deborah Meaden challenges consumers to rethink everyday bathroom wasteWednesday 1 July 2026
Fussy asks Bri...
01/07/2026
Constituency-level analysis reveals where girls miss out most on sport - and where targeted action could unlock more than £640 million in economic and health be...
01/07/2026
Wuppertal July 1, 2026
Riedel and SKAARHOJ Expand Collaboration With SimplyLive IntegrationRiedel Communications today announced an expanded collaboration wit...
01/07/2026
Apple today introduced power-packed updates to Apple Creator Studio, a groundbre...
Ampere Analysis Neil Anderson discusses how European broadcasters are playing catch-up in the VoD space, and why working with one another will help them respond to the challenge of the global streaming services
