November 2023 M&E Newsletter

Embracing Gratitude and Innovation

Andy Beach
November 22, 2023

Intro

Unbelievably, it’s nearly the end of November! As we gather around tables to celebrate Thanksgiving in the US, I want to extend warm wishes to those who observe this holiday, and to all of you, my heartfelt gratitude for being part of our media community. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the things that matter most to us, a sentiment that resonates deeply this year.

Amidst this season of gratitude, it's important to acknowledge the recent developments that have captured our attention. Over the past weekend, news around the collaboration between OpenAI and Microsoft created ripples of interest and intrigue. I want to be transparent in sharing that, like many of you, I am navigating these developments with a sense of curiosity and anticipation. The partnership holds the potential to shape the future of AI and its impact on media, but we are all on this journey together. I encourage you to explore the insights and perspectives from our leadership in the official messaging from Satya Nadella and Sam Altman, which provide valuable context.

Now, let's turn our attention to some of the compelling stories and advancements in the media landscape that await you in this month's newsletter.

Microsoft in Media

Blizzard’s president on the studio’s “new era” under Xbox

The studio is juggling a lot.

www.theverge.com/2023/11/6/23949086/blizzard-president-mike-ybarra-new-era-xbox-microsoft-blizzcon-2023

Microsoft Repositions 7TB 'Project Silica' Glass Media as a Cloud Storage Solution

7 TB glass storage media is now faster to write and "could last 10,000 years."

www.tomshardware.com/news/microsoft-repositions-7tb-project-silica-glass-media-as-a-cloud-storage-solution

An intelligent future for media and communications

When OpenAI’s ChatGPT launched in November 2022, it fired the imagination of millions. The freely available chatbot tool, operating on a Microsoft Azure infrastructure, offered a glimpse of what a future with artificial intelligence could hold, and by January 2023, it had become the fastest growing web application of all time with 100 million monthly users. The myriad of possible applications for generative AI has since emerged. In media and communications, innovation has been...

www.technologyrecord.com/article/an-intelligent-future-for-media-and-communications

Customers & Partners

Watermarking Technology: Revolutionizing the Video Streaming Industry

Learn how to master watermarking in video streaming with our detailed, step-by-step guide. Boost content safety and brand visibility now.

www.harmonicinc.com/insights/blog/video-watermarking

Transitioning from Azure Media Services to EZDRM: Enhanced Security Options

A transition from Microsoft Azure Media Services (AMS) offers an opportunity for service operators to take advantage of EZDRM solutions. #DRMaaS #Azure

hs.ezdrm.com/blog/azure-media-services-retirement-and-ezdrm-options

STG COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF AVID TECHNOLOGY

Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVID), a leading technology provider that powers the media and entertainment industry, today announced the completion of its acquisition by an affiliate of STG in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.4 billion.

https://www.avid.com/press-center/stg-completes-acquisition-of-avid-technology/

Disney Expects to Pay Comcast at Least $8.6 Billion to Buy Out Hulu Stake, Final Price Tag Could Be Higher

Disney said it expects to pay $8.61 billion to Comcast to acquire the cable operator's 33% stake in Hulu.

variety.com/2023/digital/news/disney-buys-hulu-stake-comcast-1235776557

WSJ News Exclusive | Netflix Explores Streaming Live Boxing Match

A potential foray into boxing comes as the company has begun experimenting with live sports.

www.wsj.com/business/media/netflix-explores-streaming-live-boxing-match-1d24b780?st=aj52sr0gh3zcqe8&utm_campaign=article_email&utm_content=article-11646&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sg

Disney ads chief: TikTok is now our ‘programming extension’ - The Media Leader

President of Disney Advertising Rita Ferro told an audience at Leaders Week London that, for sports and entertainment brands, social media is more than just a marketing tool.

the-media-leader.com/leaders-in-sport-social-media-should-be-considered-a-programming-extension/?utm_campaign=article_email&utm_content=article-11646&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sg

Industry News

Europe’s Commercial Giants: How Leading Networks Finally Woke Up To Streaming… But Is It Too Late? – Mipcom Cannes Special

When ITV switched on its new streaming service ITVX in December 2022, the initial promise was to deliver 10,000 hours of free content, including originals such as Damian Lewis drama A Spy Among Fri…

deadline.com/2023/10/mipcom-cannes-european-tv-streaming-1235568716

Apple TV+ Knows What It Is, and That Will Matter in the Post-Peak TV Era

The streamer has shown that, in an age of endless options, consistency is an attractive and increasingly novel approach.

www.primetimer.com/features/apple-tv-plus-knows-itself-fighting-post-peak-tv-battle?utm_campaign=article_email&utm_content=article-11646&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sg

Streaming Services Should Beware of Becoming Like Cable Companies

About a month ago, I finally reached my breaking point with YouTube TV, the streaming service I had subscribed to years earlier as a replacement for cable TV. I didn’t think twice about paying $40 a month for it in 2018, but after years of price increases—YouTube TV now costs $73 a month—I ...

www.theinformation.com/articles/streaming-services-should-beware-becoming-like-cable-companies?rc=jtsdxo

Demand Dynamics: How Major Streamers Distribute Their Bets

Peak TV may have already peaked, as the recent Hollywood strikes have impacted the delivery of fresh scripted content over recent months. Which is why no one is arguing that the entertainment industry is still in the unfettered Wild West phase that drove its prolific expansion from 2018-2022.

Demand Dynamics: How Major Streamers Distribute Their Bets (ampproject.org)

Why Shoppable Media Is The Next Evolution Of Retail Media — TVREV

AiBUY’s shoppable overlay is on display in these two videos featuring Evan Shapiro and Alan Wolk talking with the AiBUY team about the future of shoppable media.

www.tvrev.com/news/why-shoppable-media-is-the-next-evolution-of-retail-media

MediaRadar: Writer’s Strike Cost TV $1.6 Billion

Primetime and late night TV lost an estimated $1B alone

www.tvtechnology.com/news/mediaradar-writers-strike-cost-film-and-tv-nearly-dollar2b

Events

Foster Creativity with the Power of AI

The effect that recent AI/ML technologies such as Generative AI has had on the industry has created disruption from a philosophical to an innovation perspective. Avid has been leveraging AI for many years and are keen on the opportunities while remaining sensitive to applying a Responsible AI approach that elevates creativity and simplifies bringing ideas to life. Learn more about Avid’s vision and emerging technology driven by AI to power greater creators.

Foster Creativity with the Power of AI - AI Creative Summit 2023

Resources

Solutions for the media and entertainment industry - Azure Architecture Center

Architectures and ideas to use Azure services for building efficient, scalable, and reliable media and entertainment solutions.

learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/industries/media

Media in Minutes with Simon and Andy

Every day, Simon Crownshaw and Andy Beach learn something new. “Media in Minutes with Simon and Andy” stars these two long-time media and entertainment veterans in conversations about how technology is changing the industry landscape. This dynamic duo chats with each other, industry heavyweights, and technical experts about the trends and transformations they see nearly every day.

sites.libsyn.com/449211