Industry News
SELECTED ITEMS OF INTEREST TO THE MEDIA COMMUNITY
A Sudden - and Significant - Change in How Podcast Listeners are Counted
Changes in the way that Apple reports podcast audiences have sent the industry reeling, according to an analysis in Semafor. Apple, the leading podcast platform, has started switching off automatic downloads for users who don't listen to five new episodes of a show within two weeks. As a result, many podcasts have seen dramatic drops in listeners, including some shows that are believed to be the most listened to in the world. The shift, described as "technical" by Apple, came without warning. Among the possible consequences of the changes is the way listeners are counted:
- Many podcasts are now having difficulty determining the true size of their audiences.
- Some advertising deals were based on audience numbers that may no longer be achievable.
- Some podcasts might now struggle to meet minimum download agreements.
Read more of the Semafor story here.
#media #strategy #consulting
Print Magazines Take a Licking - But Keep on Ticking
The widely-held assumption that print magazines would disappear once digital options became popular has been to a surprising degree disproven, according to an analysis in The Conversation. While the number of print magazines has decreased in the online era, due to factors including demand for constantly updated content and the shift of advertising dollars to social media, print magazines continue to find an audience. Established publications including "The New Yorker" and "Vogue" have subscribers for both their digital and print formats. And new titles continue to be launched, including more than 120 print magazines in the U.S. in 2021. Among the reasons print continues to endure:
- Consumers still value the physical experience of reading.
- "Digital fatigue" has heightened the appeal of print.
- Print magazines may have more pleasing aesthetics than digital options, particularly important for fashion and travel publications, which feature photographs and visual design.
Read more of The Conversation story here.
#media #strategy #consulting
Educated Guessing: What’s Ahead in 2024
TVRev is out with its predictions for major trends in advertising, streaming, data, and measurement in the new year. One of the first changes to watch for in 2024 is how consumers will respond to Amazon Prime Video running ads, starting later this month. TVRev anticipates that less than a third of Prime subscribers (estimated to number between 160 and 170 million) will decide to pay extra for ad-free viewing. Other TVRev predictions include:
- More advertisers will become comfortable with the idea of streaming advertising.
- Anger and frustration among sports fans will grow as it becomes increasingly difficult to find where to watch athletic events, which are available on a wide -- and confusing -- array of streaming services and broadcast networks.
- Streaming services will move toward longer seasons.
- New AI-based software will make it easier for brands to add shopability to their commercials.
Read more of the TVRev story here.
#media #strategy #consulting
