Welcome to News Views, CASBAA’s news round-up culled from sources across the industry for the week ending Jan 23rd. Curated by CASBAA, News Views keeps you in the loop. We always value your feedback, so tell us what you think!
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Christopher SlaughterCEO |
“It is increasingly clear that virtually all entertainment video will be Internet video in the future…” So says the latest quarterly shareholder letter issued by Netflix. The company also declared it will complete its global expansion to 200 countries within two years, and that its original content strategy cost less and got better viewing metrics than programmes it licensed. Meanwhile, Netflix content head Ted Sarandos amplified that, telling the audience at NATPE that he’s looking to release up to twenty original scripted series per year. |
John MedeirosChief Policy Officer |
Net Neutrality is a hot topic in many countries these days. Close to us,India and Vietnam are both grappling with whether telecom operators should be allowed to put “speed bumps” in the way of consumer accessto services like Skype and Wechat and WhatsApp. This is an issue that is really ripe for “sloganeering over the Internet,” as one Indian commentator noted, adding that “the ‘net neutrality’ argument…sounds logical, but it is inappropriate for India.” TRAI is expected to launch a regulatory consultation soon, which will be interesting to watch.
In Indonesia, Kominfo Minister Rudiantara told this week’s CASBAA “Indonesia in View” conference he was trying to broker talks between Indonesian telcos and foreign chat network operators, to work out an approach to similar issues. Meanwhile, In the USA, the debate is more about OTT video programming than chat services. Now there is firm support by the cable and wireless operators for legislation that would mandate a mostly-neutral regime, but avoid the FCC declaring the internet to be a fully regulated (and fully neutral) utility – and leave a bit of wiggle room for “prioritization” of specialized services. What that means, only time would tell. NCTA Chairman Michael Powell said legislation is the only way to avoid years of litigation, should the FCC decide to regulate, and he’s certainly right about that. But can Congress really pass meaningful legislation? (And is it a coincidence that this legislation pops up just after the Republicans take control of both houses of Congress?) Watch for more political polarization over OTT, as both US political parties jockey for support from different industry groups. |
Mark LayVice President, Singapore |
Hopefully not a sign of what’s to come in Asia but Standard Media Index described the (US) television sector’s performance in the fourth quarter of 2014 as “paltry” and “lackluster” in its latest quarterly ad spend report.” And if this isn’t enough, “Facebook has been working hard to convince marketers to shift part of their TV ad budget to the social network.” |
Kevin JenningsProgramme Director |
If you want to wrap your head around Programmatic Buying in China, there’s an interesting article from Clickz that offers some insight into the way it’s handled at the Chinese video platform Youku. |
Anjan MitraExecutive Director, India |
Technology is such a wonderful thing. It can even make policy-makers realise the futility of regulations at times. The Indian MIB and Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, recently hinted about reviewing some irksome policies that may signal acche din (good days) to come. Jaitley ruled out government censorship of media as technology has made such moves almost irrelevant and will also re-examine the advertising minutage cap on TV channels, but cautioned media that all freedom comes with a fair dose of responsibility. More importantly, Jaitley started a serious debate on the possible need to review the level of foreign investment in news media, which is restricted at 26% and is said to be a major stumbling block for big global players to set up ops in India. |
Jane BuckthoughtAdvertising Consultant
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The Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), the Indian industry body formed by broadcasters, advertisers and advertising agencies, is in final stages to launch its TV ratings measurement system with more than 275 channels having signed up for embedders. All major networks in each region and across genres are on-board and a series of roadshows will begin in February to showcase the plans for the next TV measurement service as well. |
Christopher SlaughterCEO
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There’s been no official comment from China’s State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (the agency formerly known as SARFT), but more foreign TV shows have apparently been pulled from online video services. SAPPRFT announced last year it would tighten up its control over online video services, and it seems to be making good on that promise. |
John MedeirosChief Policy Officer |
Participants in CASBAA’s Indonesia in View conference in Jakarta last Tuesday chewed over the state of the pay-TV market there… and concluded that some of the sweetness has gone out of it. One of the main problems, the conference heard, is too much supply of pay-TV chasing not enough consumer demand. CASBAA members candownload a short market summary distributed at the conference, which notes that, in addition to cable, there are 14 licensed satellite DTH operators functioning in the country, with 16 more licenses in the pipeline! |
Mark LayVice President, Singapore |
On the programming side, a number of CASBAA members are seeing more distribution as Now TV adds BBC, Disney, FOX, Warner to on-demand library. And, down in my part of Asia, YuppTV to stream Zee TV in Singapore. |
Kevin JenningsProgramme Director |
In a move that might be a sign of things to come in the broader industry,Amazon has announced it plans to produce and acquire original movies for theatrical release which will then premiere online in the US just four to eight weeks after their cinematic debut. |