Advanced Television

IDATE report: Who will win the content race?

July 3, 2017

The digitisation of content and networks is resulting in rapid and profound changes in audiovisual consumption patterns, characterised by a disaffection for linear programming, rapid adoption of streaming and on-demand consumption, the arrival of new players and internationalisation of content and services. One of the only certainties in this restructuring and still unstable market is that the value travels all along the audiovisual chain up to production and ownership of video content, reports IDATE DigiWorld.

Vertical integration along the value chain on the rise

In recent years there has been an uptick in vertical integration operations along the value chain, particularly by companies uninvolved in these activities a decade ago. For example, alongside TV channel broadcasters (who are increasingly acquiring audiovisual production companies or companies specialising in OTT video), telecom operators have been particularly active in buying sports rights, movie rights and series so they can create TV channels or OTT services, and in buying or creating audiovisual and/or movie production companies. Takeovers of media groups by telecom operators, although rare, have raised questions since the early 2000s on the potential success of an “infrastructure-content convergence” strategy.

Finally, the arrival of Internet players has introduced new competition: the audiovisual market, until now essentially a domestic market, has become increasingly internationalised as it is driven by players, primarily US-based, with the ability to address a wide international audience and therefore acquire rights on a near global scale. Although all players share a common interest in video content, it does not play an equal role in the strategies of these three main categories of player.

Content is a loss leader for telcos 

For telecom operators, pursuing a content strategy is not an end in itself; rather it serves to drive broadband subscription growth, both fixed and mobile. Although the approaches of the major operators vary considerably, especially regarding the national pay-TV landscape, the costs associated with implementing these strategies can be regarded as marketing costs, at least in part. The TV activity is not necessarily intended to be directly profitable, it is more important as a means to attract new customers or retain existing customers.

Pay-TV threatened by a scissors effect 

Television channels and broadcasters, on the other hand, need content distribution to be profitable. The current escalation in premium rights ownership is impacting pay-TV broadcasters more than FTA broadcasters. Pay-TV channels, whose business model is based on owning exclusive premium rights, are threatened by a scissors effect on margins due to rising costs associated with increased competition, and potential revenue loss as low-cost competing offerings drive prices down. FTA broadcasters are less at risk from this competition and could find growth potential in broader exploitation of content, via TV and OTT, by integrating the production segment.

Internet players split between using content as a loss leader or core business 

Internet players sit on both sides of the fence: some regard content distribution is an ancillary activity, designed to grow their audience, increase traffic to a website, increase consumption on e-commerce sites, or sell equipment; and some regard content distribution as their core business and face similar challenges as traditional media players.

Interest in convergence between telcos and content providers, but with reservations 

Although the idea of convergence between networks and content is not new and was not deemed successful 15 years ago, the environment back then was very different to the current one.

The evolution of telecom networks, the widespread use of mobile screens and changing consumption patterns have in theory created a more favourable environment for integration or stronger partnerships between content stakeholders and network providers:
> Telcos need content to differentiate and grow ARPU.
> Content providers need to find growth drivers and new opportunities in a period where consumption is evolving and traditional revenue streams are under pressure.
> Telcos have the means to invest in content and own networks that will be used for most content consumption in the coming years.

Two unknowns remain:
> the position of the competition authorities, who can prevent some of these mergers and/or render them ineffective;
> the position of the major Internet players, who have both significant financial resources and global audiences, which no telecom operator has been able to compete with so far.

Ultimately, a certain balance of power is likely to prevail, but the escalation of rights ownership will be dangerous for certain players and detrimental to consumers.

Categories: Articles, Content, Markets, OTT, Pay TV, Research, VOD