Subscription Wars: The Future of Video On Demand

A Mumbrella interview with Ori Gold, CEO Bench.

Subscription wars: The future of Video On Demand

Originally published on Mumbrella.com.au

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With the intensifying VOD competition and inflation’s effect on players in the industry and their subscriber base, Mumbrella’s Emma Shepherd speaks to Ori Gold, CEO, and co-founder of Bench Media to share insights on what will impact the future of VOD in Australia, as well as the implications of the rising popularity of AVOD on SVOD’s growth in Australia.

For the Video-On-Demand (VOD) industry, the future has become uncertain, as industry players face fierce competition and rising subscriber abandonment, with consumers ditching their subscriptions amidst rising inflation.

Netflix’s recent disclosure of its first quarterly drop in subscribers in more than a decade has thrust the industry into turmoil as the streaming giant warned that subscriber losses would continue in the near term.

With consumers increasingly likely to cancel their subscriptions or turn to less expensive ads-based options, how then, can Streaming Video-on-Demand (SVOD) providers such as Netflix, Disney Plus, Stan, and Foxtel position themselves against advertising-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) providers? How will the current VOD landscape affect brands’ marketing and advertising campaigns on these platforms?

Speaking to Mumbrella, Bench Media’s Ori Gold says,

We already see a slowdown in all the regions and players in terms of subscription growth. It’s so easy today to do so and this is the main driver for all large players looking at ad-supported models. This is definitely a sign of maturity after many years of disruption.

While this competition remains to increase at a rapid rate, Gold says this also makes it harder to monetise these platforms while keeping up with the increasing cost of content production and technology development.

“Without sponsors or advertisements, the company’s profitability will keep eroding,” Gold admits. “This means that large streaming platforms, with their huge investment in tech and content, will have to continue to raise prices on their subscription plans, continue to crack down on different users sharing one plan, and as we see happening on all global platforms besides Apple TV, introducing ad-supported tiers as a gateway for these users.”

In April, this year, Netflix said it was set to introduce an advertising-supported subscription offering. During the company’s quarterly earnings call in the US, the CEO said the company was open to an advertising-supported subscription model in the near future after years of rejecting calls for an ad-supported streaming tier.

As for the future of VOD in Australia, since Netflix entered the Australian market in 2015, VOD services have become more and more popular.

The 2021 Media Consumption Survey by the Department of Communications, reported in January that SVOD services had overtaken commercial free-to-air television as the most popular way to consume screen content, with 62% of respondents using SVOD services compared to 58% using commercial free-to-air TV.

But this led to a significant drop in viewership of Australian content and productions. Gold thinks the entry of local players into the streaming marketplace improved it slightly, but not near what it was before.

Continued…

Read the full article which appeared on Mumbrella.

1000 667 Shai Luft

Shai Luft

Shai Luft brings over 25 years of diverse marketing experience to the table, with a focus on fostering growth by leveraging data led marketing strategies. His journey began with roles in senior marketing positions within leading telecommunication companies including TPG, Optus, and Telstra, where he gained valuable insights and honed his strategic thinking. In 2012, Shai co-founded Bench, a digital agency that quickly gained recognition for its quality services. Serving a broad range of clients such as Epson, Nestle, and Panasonic, Bench became known for its digital expertise and global media buying capabilities. Shai holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from UNSW, with a specialisation in Marketing and International Business.

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SHAI LUFT - CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Meet Shai Luft, a senior marketing executive with a proven track record of delivering results for Australia’s largest ASX200-listed companies

Chief Operating Officer

Shai Luft

Meet Shai Luft, a senior marketing executive with a proven track record of delivering results for Australia’s largest ASX200-listed companies. Despite his success, Shai was frustrated by the amount of red tape and bureaucracy that held back marketing innovation. That’s why he co-founded Bench in 2012. As the driving force behind Bench’s operations, Shai is committed to empower marketers with the agility and control they need to achieve their best results.

ORI GOLD - CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER An ad tech and martech expert. Driven by the frustration of everyday marketers facing a lack of control and accessibility, Ori co-founded Bench in 2012 to revolutionise the digital advertising landscape.

Chief Executive Officer

Ori Gold

Meet Ori Gold, an ad tech and martech expert. Driven by the frustration of everyday marketers facing a lack of control and accessibility, Ori co-founded Bench in 2012 to revolutionise the digital advertising landscape. Heading the talented and forward-thinking team at Bench, Ori is the driving force behind the company’s strategic and product vision. Thanks to Ori’s leadership, Bench has become one of the most respected and successful digital agencies in Australia.

GENERAL MANAGER LIAM GARRATT Meet Liam Garratt, the creative mind behind Bench’s top-notch products and services. With a career in digital media spanning over a decade, Liam has made a name for himself as a leader in the industry.

General Manager

Liam Garratt

Meet Liam Garratt, the creative mind behind Bench’s top-notch products and services. With a career in digital media spanning over a decade, Liam has made a name for himself as a leader in the industry. He got his start in 2011 working for UK-based programmatic platform Crimtan, where he played a key role in launching the company’s Australian office. In 2017, Liam brought his expertise to Bench, where he now leads the Product & Services functions. Liam is passionate about delivering only the highest quality products and services to Bench’s clients. His commitment to excellence is the foundation of Bench’s stellar reputation.

VP OF GROWTH ANTHONY FARGEOT Meet Anthony Fargeot, the pioneer behind Bench’s growth and success. Joining Bench in its infancy in 2013, Anthony’s experience with high-growth start-ups gave him the skills to help Bench become one of the most successful digital agencies in Australia.

VP of Growth

Anthony Fargeot

Meet Anthony Fargeot, the pioneer behind Bench’s growth and success. Joining Bench in its infancy in 2013, Anthony’s experience with high-growth start-ups gave him the skills to help Bench become one of the most successful digital agencies in Australia. As Head of Client Services and then Director of Operations, Anthony led Bench through its highest growth period. Today, as VP of Growth, Anthony uses his creative thinking and strategic insights to always look for new and innovative ways to help Bench stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly changing digital landscape.