Our Director of Content Sales & Distribution, Mauro Black, was asked to share his key outtakes as he reflected on 2023. In what has been a very successful year of original content and record-breaking, fresh African stories, the MultiChoice Studios team has advanced and evolved in conjunction with an exciting time for entertainment platforms.
“When asked about my thoughts on 2023 and content sales and distribution, my mind immediately went to how the viewing landscape has changed.
FAST (Free Add Supported TV), the acronym that I first heard at MIPCOM more than two years ago, is now dominating everyday conversation. FAST is however far from a flash in the pan and has dispelled the adage that “talk is cheap”.
This is demonstrated by the changing TV share of advertising type or platform. According to Statista’s TV advertising spending in the United States from 2023 to 2027 by type, FAST currently brings in $15,62 billion with Cable at $42,1 billion. “FAST” forward to 2027 and the forecast flips with FAST as the primary source of revenue at $42,58 and cable dropping to $18,75 billion.
TV advertising spending in the United States from 2023 to 2027, by type (in billion U.S. dollars)
Adapting to a changing landscape has been a rewarding task for the team at MultiChoice Studios. Monitoring and engaging with new platforms, along with established business that have added FAST platforms, plus the companies that provide technology to said platforms has become the starting point for commercial opportunity. The echo system has expanded and regardless of how it will continue evolving, it will most certainly never be the same.
Change is a constant, but the driver ultimately continues being viewers. This is underpinned by content, which incidentally can be old library content as seen by the resurgence of The Joy of Painting. The show that aired in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, created and hosted by the late Bob Ross, is experiencing record viewing on devoted FAST channels with approximately 15 million monthly active users, this is according to American Public Television that manages the syndication and programme exchange service.
Leveraging its extensive library, MultiChoice Studios is well-positioned to supply a diverse range of content for thematic channels, signalling a promising outlook for growth in the coming year. The evolving viewing landscape has set the stage for a dynamic and opportunistic industry, and MultiChoice Studios is poised to capitalize on these developments, offering a compelling mix of content to cater to diverse audience preferences.
Our vast library allows us to tap into our legacy content while including newer releases to drive African playlists.
So, my final thoughts on 2023 would be that the changing viewing landscape has set the scene for growth. Our industry is brimming with opportunity and for MultiChoice Studios, we are in the strong position of being able to supply a mix of content for a variety of thematic channels.”
If you would like to view any of our full length screeners please reach out to the team at sales@multichoicestudios.com
