Antenna’s CEO Dives into New Research on Specialty SVOD
Oct 4, 2024
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Jonathan Carson, CEO and co-founder of Antenna, shares insights into the booming specialty SVOD landscape, revealing its impressive growth and how it's heavily reliant on Amazon Channels. He discusses the challenges faced by niche services, including subscriber retention and churn rates compared to premium platforms. The conversation also covers the recent DirecTV and Dish merger and its implications for the pay-TV market, alongside addressing the launch of a new FAST sports streaming service aimed at diverse sporting content.
Specialty SVOD services have seen a 20% year-over-year growth due to their appeal to niche audiences and categories.
Dependence on Amazon Channels for 59% of subscriptions presents both growth opportunities and vulnerabilities for specialty SVOD providers.
Deep dives
Robust Growth of Specialty SVOD Services
Specialty SVOD services are experiencing significant growth, with a year-over-year increase of 20% by mid-2024, compared to 8% for premium services. This rise is attributed to more Americans discovering these niche offerings, expanding from 25 million to 51 million subscribers in just two years. The report highlights that unlike mainstream services, specialty SVODs cater to specific audiences and categories, which contributes to their appeal. As consumers shift away from traditional pay-TV, many are realizing the value that these focused services provide.
The Role of Amazon in Speciality SVOD Distribution
Amazon channels play a crucial role in the distribution of specialty SVOD services, accounting for nearly 59% of subscriptions in this category. The platform's show-centric experience emphasizes content from these smaller brands, making it easier for consumers to discover and subscribe. However, this dependency on Amazon raises concerns about potential vulnerabilities, as specialty services could become merely content suppliers within Amazon's ecosystem. Nevertheless, this reliance has also facilitated significant subscriber growth for these niche offerings.
Challenges with Customer Loyalty and Churn Rates
While specialty SVODs are gaining traction, they face challenges in customer loyalty, as evidenced by a higher churn rate of 7.6% compared to 4.6% for premium services. This is partly due to the smaller and less diverse catalog of content these platforms offer, which makes it harder for them to become ingrained in users' entertainment habits. As consumers explore their viewing options, many may subscribe to specialty services temporarily before canceling. This trend highlights the need for specialty SVODs to enhance their customer retention strategies and expand content offerings.
Opportunities through Bundling and Market Segmentation
The potential for growth lies in the strategic bundling of specialty SVOD services with both premium offerings and other specialty platforms. This approach targets casual subscribers who might be attracted through bundled deals, as these individuals often have shorter engagement periods with standalone services. By implementing tailored distribution and pricing strategies that align with their total addressable market, specialty services can foster long-term loyalty. This segmentation could lead to more effective marketing efforts and a more robust presence in the competitive streaming landscape.
In this exclusive interview, Antenna’s CEO shares new research on specialty SVOD services, which show robust growth, dependence on Amazon Channels, and particular success stories.
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