Shows
The Dan Rayburn PodcastSpecial CDN Podcast: The Latest Data on Pricing, Market Size, Tech Trends, DIY, Revenue, and PerformanceSee my blog post at www.cdnmarket.com for a detailed breakdown on market sizing.In this comprehensive podcast update on the CDN market, I separate facts from opinions, providing a detailed analysis of the latest trends. I cover everything from CDN pricing trends, market sizing (about $5.3B in 2023), traffic and revenue growth rates, DIY initiatives (TikTok, Disney, Apple, Netflix), tech trends and demands across 4K, ULL, CMCD, bitrate optimization, multi-CDN, Open Caching deployments, changes in performance testing, to unique delivery challenges in regions like India.Revenue numbers for CDN vendors, including Akamai, AWS, Cloudflare...
2024-07-011h 25The Dan Rayburn PodcastEpisode 81: Latest ARPU and Sports Viewership Numbers, Fubo Price Increase, Super Bowl Will Stream in 1080P60 HDRThis week, we break down all the latest sports viewership numbers from ESPN, FOX Sports, CBS Sports, and NBC Sports. We also highlight the new joint venture by YES Network and MSG Networks, the launch of an Innovation Lab by Major League Soccer and details around the Super Bowl stream, which will not stream in 4K on Paramount+ and will be in 1080P60 HDR. We detail the latest APRU numbers across the primary OTT services and why, with all the OTT price increases in 2023 and the recent launch of new AVOD tiers, the ARPU metric is becoming o...
2024-01-1753 min
StreamTime SportsDan Rayburn has some hard truths about the state of sports streamingDan Rayburn is one of the foremost authorities on streaming media technology and digital video business models. He joins StreamTime hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone to discuss how sports media companies are transitioning to the digital age.
Talking points:
The main business and technical challenges that face the major platforms today
Is ultra-low latency really that important?
The impact of big tech on the market
What to look out for in 2024 from the big media giants
What does it mean for the fans?
Can streaming only work as a strategy?
The stats about sports streaming
2024-01-101h 02The Dan Rayburn PodcastEpisode 80: The Streaming Economics Driving Layoffs, Debt Restructuring and Cancelled MergersThis week, we review what's behind all the industry layoffs as companies reset the cost bar on CAPEX and OPEX expenses. With full-year 2023 financials in the book, some companies didn't hit the revenue, efficiency, and cost savings goals they had expected, prompting layoffs to start the year. We also detail how some vendors are restructuring their debt with Fubo, the most recent example, which will pay a higher interest rate in exchange for pushing debt out by three years and getting to profitability faster.We detail the 2023 domestic box office revenue numbers, which topped $9.03 billion, an improvement...
2024-01-0848 minThe Dan Rayburn PodcastEpisode 79: Peacock's NFL Gamble; Why Sports Streaming Doesn't Work Financially; A WBD and Paramount Merger Isn't PracticalThis week, I reviewed Peacock's exclusive NFL game stream with some users having a poor quality video experience and detailed why I think Peacock's strategy failed with their ad-free fourth quarter. I also break down the viewership numbers reported by NBC Sports and highlight how sports is a costly and unproven part of Peacock's subscriber acquisition strategy, with no ability to scale sports content globally.I discuss, with numbers, why the rumors of Warner Bros. Discovery buying Paramount would not make sense from a financial standpoint since the deal would likely be a stock-for-stock deal, with the...
2024-01-0144 min
Investing ExpertsExciting time for streaming sports, but broadcast + pay TV aren't dead - Dan RayburnDan Rayburn says it's an exciting time for streaming sports, but streaming won't replace broadcast or pay TV (0:45) Dearth of data from sports leagues (11:40) Netflix's 'useless' release (21:25) Upcoming NBA and Formula 1 deals (26:00) Disney, ESPN, Apple, Google and Amazon (33:00).Episode transcriptsShow Notes:Streaming Reality Vs. Fantasy With Dan RayburnBreaking Down Paramount's Finances: Not Going Bankrupt But Balance Sheet Could Be BetterNetflix reveals what we watched & for how long with new data setFor full access to analyst ratings, stock quant scores as well as dividend grades, subscribe to Seeking...
2023-12-201h 00The Dan Rayburn PodcastEpisode 78: Detailing Paramount's Financials; Sky Secures Premier League Rights Over StreamersThis week we discuss, how in a blow to Amazon and DAZN, pay TV broadcaster Sky won broadcast rights to show a record number of Premier League matches in a new four-year deal. We also break down Paramount’s balance sheet to refute the reports they are nearing bankruptcy and highlight Peacock’s latest data of 30 million paying subscribers, their $10 ARPU, and their two upcoming exclusive NFL games. We detail Twilio’s announced layoffs and the shutting down of their Programmable Video product, a 17% workforce reduction announced by Spotify, along with Netflix's recent outage and the lack of transparency in the...
2023-12-1943 minThe Dan Rayburn PodcastExecutive Interview: WBD's CTO and CPO Discuss Building Out Max for Live News, Sports, and Enhanced DiscoveryAvi Saxena, CTO and Tyler Whitworth, CPO at Warner Bros. Discovery, join me for a detailed conversation about the technical video stack at Max. Learn how they approach the user experience when it comes to their apps, latency, adding live sports and news to the platform, device support, 4K, advertising, personalization, and how they measure QoE. We also discuss what’s ahead for the service, the technical challenges in ad delivery, expanding into LATAM, and the skills they are looking for when they hire developers and engineers across the WBD organization.Podcast produced by Security Halt Media
2023-12-0339 minThe Dan Rayburn PodcastEpisode 77: Aggregation and Bundling, NFL Black Friday Viewership Numbers, Latest DTC ProfitabilityThis week we discuss some of the latest news and rumors around bundling and aggregation of streaming services, the impact that wholesale rates have on DTC profitability, and the lack of data in the market to prove that bundling reduces churn. We also cover the viewership numbers from Prime Video's first NFL Black Friday game, Amazon's new licensing deal with NASCAR, and Charter's recently launched mobile broadband service that limits video streaming quality to 480p.Podcast produced by Security Halt Media
2023-12-0336 minThe Dan Rayburn PodcastExecutive Interview: Comcast Discusses Ad Measurement Challenges; The Soon-To-Disappear Cookie, and Cohesive, Cross-Media Measurement and InnovationLarry Allen, VP/GM, of Data and Addressable Enablement at Comcast Advertising joins me for a detailed discussion on how the shift in viewing habits to all screens is making it difficult to provide cohesive cross-media measurement. We discuss the impact of the loss of third-party cookies, the challenges and opportunities that exist with measurement at scale, including with FAST services, and the potential role of AI tech to fill in measurement gaps. Finally, we highlight why the industry needs a clear set of guidelines on how the industry wants to approach measurement across inventory owners and distributors to...
2023-11-2935 min
A guy with a scarfEp. 17: Dan Rayburn: Streaming Industry Faces Challenges Despite Positive Q3 EarningsI recently interviewed streaming industry expert Dan Rayburn to get his candid perspectives on the state of the market. From economic headwinds to overhyped capabilities, Rayburn shared insightful and unvarnished takes. Here are the key themes that emerged and why they matter:
Momentary Gains Belie Structural Challenges
Amid the hype around streaming wars, Rayburn urges focusing on long-term sustainability over quarterly fluctuations:
“We’re playing chess, not checkers, and we care about what happens to this industry over a long period. And you can’t really look at what happens in one quarter.”
He notes...
2023-11-2238 minThe Dan Rayburn PodcastEpisode 76: Special Sports Episode! All The Latest Sports Streaming News, Viewership Stats and Content DealsThis week we cover all the latest news in the world of sports streaming tied to Apple, Amazon, ESPN, Disney+ Hotstar, Fubo, Max, Peacock, and YouTube TV. We also discuss content licensing and viewership stats across the NFL, NBA, Formula 1, and MLS. Some highlights include:Apple reported that they had more than a million viewers to watch the biggest MLS games this season and the rumors that Apple is eyeing Formula 1 as its next big sports investmentThe latest in the NBA media negotiations and why the NBA needs to package national TV rights with local-market rightsPeacock's first-ever exclusive...
2023-11-2040 minInvesting ExpertsStreaming reality vs fantasy with Dan Rayburn"It takes a really long time for one technology to disrupt another. In many cases, it's not disrupting it, it's a complement to it." Streaming expert Dan Rayburn on fantasy vs. reality of the industry (4:10) Q3 earnings and the importance of defined methodology (8:25) Hitting back on FAST hype (40:00).Show Notes:Why Disney's Projected Numbers For Disney+ Subscribers And DTC Profitability Are In JeopardyParamount jumps as narrower streaming losses drive Q3 beatDisney earnings call: Focusing streaming, paving ESPN's futureThe Dan Rayburn PodcastEpisode transcriptsFor full access to...
2023-11-1455 minThe Dan Rayburn PodcastEpisode 75: ESPN+ and WBD's DTC Turn a Profit; Streaming Vendors Low on Cash; Other Q3 Earnings DataThis week, we examine the Q3 financial results of OTT industry heavyweights Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, DISH, and Vizio, along with streaming providers Akamai, Brightcove, Kaltura, Comscore and Vimeo. We go over some of the most important conclusions, such as Disney+ having 5 million AVOD customers and ESPN+ making $33 million in profit. We go into detail on how WBD paid off an astounding $12 billion in debt this year and anticipates producing at least $5 billion in free cash flow. The company is attempting to position itself as an acquirer, as evidenced by the $111 million in positive EBITDA that their DTC sector...
2023-11-1143 minThe Dan Rayburn PodcastEpisode 74: Key Q3 Earnings Data From Paramount+, Peacock, Fubo, AMC+, Roku, Brightcove; Latest Pay TV Losses and Sports NewsThis week we detail the Q3 earnings numbers you need to know tied to Paramount+, Peacock, Fubo, AMC+, Roku and Brightcove including subscriber counts and DTC profit and loss. We also draw attention to the roughly one million new Comcast, Verizon, Charter, and Altice pay TV customers who have cut the cords. We talk about the announcement from Netflix that their ad tier now boasts 15 million monthly active users worldwide; Harmonic's strategic review of their video division; Bitmovin revealing that their revenue for the upcoming year will be in the 30s million; and Nokia suing Amazon and HP for...
2023-11-0543 minThe Dan Rayburn PodcastEpisode 73: Netflix’s AVOD Business; ESPN’s Balance Sheet; and Lumen Exits the CDN MarketThis week we break down the numbers from Netflix’s Q3 earnings, their content spend for 2024, what their ad business looks like today and the reasons why many are undervaluing Netflix's prospects for AVOD in the coming years. We also talk about YouTube's statement indicating that they most likely won't participate in the upcoming round of bidding for NBA broadcast rights and we highlight ESPN's newly released revenue figures. In conclusion, we discuss Lumen's departure from the CDN sector and the recent patent litigation filed by Sling TV and Dish Network against BritBox.Podcast produced by Security Ha...
2023-10-2259 minThe Dan Rayburn PodcastExecutive Interview, Datazoom: The Complex Road Ahead for Ad Measurement Data and MetricsDiane Strutner, CEO of Datazoom, joins me for a detailed discussion on the current state of advertising data and the complex road ahead as inventory moves to digital and CTV. We discuss the seismic industry shift from siloed to a converged currency models, and the ensuing challenges in valuing digital and streaming ad impressions. Learn the crucial distinctions between accreditation and certification, particularly in relation to how they relate to audience measurement, and the impact on advertisers. The conversation takes a turn towards transparency, or lack thereof, in Nielsen's methodology and their conspicuous absence from new industry i...
2023-10-0947 minThe Dan Rayburn PodcastEpisode 72: Exploring Apple's Formula One Bid; Candle Media's Poor Revenue Forecast; Taylor Swift’s Media DominationThis week we discuss the rumors that Apple is weighing an annual bid of $2 billion for Formula 1 racing, with the opportunity to purchase global rights after five years. We also detail how Candle Media's earnings are predicted to be between $140 and $170 million, which is less than the $330 million initial expectation. According to reports, Candle Media spent $900 million for Hello Sunshine and $3 billion for Moonbug Entertainment. Finally, we detail how Taylor Swift has already sold more than $100 million worth of advance tickets at AMC Theatres as she continues her worldwide domination across all forms of media.Podcast produced...
2023-10-0941 minThe Dan Rayburn PodcastEpisode 71: No Viewership Transparency Included in The WGA Deal Terms; Court Rules Netflix Infringed on Broadcom's HEVC PatentThis week we detail the language in the new terms announced by the WGA in their deal with the studios (AMPTA) that have come as a result of the writers strike. The new deal provides no real transparency into viewership numbers outside of total hours streamed and only for self-produced high budget streaming programs. We also discuss Amazon's news that starting in early 2024 Prime Video shows and movies will include limited advertisements. Finally, we provide some details on the recent ruling from a German court that Netflix is infringing on Broadcom's video patent related to HEVC.Podcast...
2023-10-0332 minThe Dan Rayburn PodcastEpisode 70: The Impact of The Current Economic Climate on the Streaming Media Industry: Budget Constraints, Longer Sales Cycles and Higher Funding CostsThis week I break down the economic and financial factors that are directly impacting the growth and restraints in the streaming media industry. Learn why companies are doing more with less, reducing and consolidating their spending on services like storage and delivery, and the market factors that are influencing their decisions. From banking interest rates for new money, tighter budgets, and lengthier sales processes, this new way of doing business is now the new norm.I also cover some recent comments from ESPN’s chairman discussing the importance of linear to US sports broadcasters, the triggers that wo...
2023-09-2129 minThe Dan Rayburn PodcastEpisode 69: NFL Streaming Kickoff: Detailing How YouTube, ESPN, Peacock, Amazon and Xfinity Did With Opening WeekendThis week I recap the opening weekend of the NFL season reviewing the streaming services across YouTube (NFL Sunday Ticket), ESPN (Monday Night Football), Amazon, (Thursday Night Football), and Peacock (Sunday Night Football). I document why YouTube came out on top, the problems Amazon and Peacock had, and the complete outages that took place on Xfinity and Shaw.I also discuss the patent suit that Sling TV and DISH Technologies filed against fuboTV alleging infringement on eight patents related to multi-bitrate streaming, with the oldest patent dating back to Move Networks technology. And I briefly cover news...
2023-09-2134 minThe Dan Rayburn PodcastEpisode 68: The Implosion of The Pay TV Market as Blackouts, Increasing Carriage Fees and Cord Cutting Destroy Legacy Business ModelsThis week we detail how the current model of licensing broadcast networks to pay TV distributors is completely broken. With a recent blackout on Spectrum due to a licensing dispute with Disney and a current blackout on DISH due to their dispute with Hearst, the methodology of how content is valued needs to change. We discuss what consumers want from streaming services, how they want to aggregate them, the business models that work best, and the ridiculous fragmentation fans have when watching sports-related content. We also highlight the recently announced layoffs from Roku, Nielsen and the new f...
2023-09-1245 minThe Dan Rayburn PodcastExecutive Interview: Roku Discusses the Latest Advertising Metrics, Formats and Trends Across FAST and AVODDan Robbins, VP of Ad Marketing and Partner Solutions at Roku joins me for a discussion about the latest challenges and opportunities with advertising across SVOD and FAST services. We discuss the measurement side of advertising, the powerful role of big data and integrated platforms in delivering accurate and consistent results and what brands are demanding for targeting. Dan also details Roku's vision for TV advertising, new creative ad formats and why Roku decided to build Roku branded TV's with a third-party manufacturer. Learn the complexities of the rapidly evolving advertising market and the multitude of opportunities waiting to b...
2023-09-1132 minThe Dan Rayburn PodcastEpisode 67: Nielsen's Flawed Comparison of Pay TV to Streaming ServicesThis week we expose the flawed comparisons of bundled streaming services to pay TV, with Nielsen improperly comparing linear TV to YouTube, but excluding vMVPD services like Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV in their ratings. We also break down the new NFL Sunday Ticket bundle with Max, new student pricing, and multi-view combinations, and speculate on the future potential for platform customization and interactive features available on mobile and TV. Wrapping up our discussion, we discuss the potential of streaming services to reach profitability and the possible future where pay TV operators stop making profits from pay TV s...
2023-08-2442 minThe Dan Rayburn PodcastEpisode 66: Analyzing Disney's Financials; Max to Add Higher Priced Sports Tier; Sling TV Loses Subs; NFL+ Price IncreaseThis week we break down Disney's recent financials and news from their earnings including their DTC revenue and losses; subscriber churn, the announcement of higher pricing for their ad-free tiers, ESPN+ and Hulu + Live TV, as well as their plans to crack down on password sharing next year. We also detail the numbers from other earnings including Paramount’s addition of 700,000 Paramount + subs, Sling TV’s loss of 97,000 subs, and Vizio’s AVOD revenue of $142.3M, which was up 28% from the previous year. Also discussed is the latest sports streaming news across the industry including the report that Wa...
2023-08-1641 minThe Dan Rayburn PodcastEpisode 65: Q2 Earnings Recap Numbers for Peacock, Max, Roku, Fubo, Brightcove, Vimeo and FastlyThis week we break down all the important numbers you need to know regarding Q2 earnings from OTT platforms and streaming vendors. Hear about profitability/loss and subscriber gains/losses for Warner Bros. Discovery (Max), Comcast (Peacock), Fubo, Roku, Brightcove, Vimeo, Verizon, Charter, Kaltura, Fastly and Cloudflare. We also pose tough questions about New Relic's valuation following its acquisition and the implications for other vendors in the industry.Podcast produced by Security Halt Media
2023-08-0943 minThe Dan Rayburn PodcastEpisode 64: Analyzing the Future of Streaming: Netflix’s Crackdown and Disney’s Linear and Streaming StrategyThis week we deliver fresh insights on Netflix's password sharing crackdown, analyzing the effects of the introduction of the ad-supported tier, the adjustment of pricing and plans, and how consumer behavior and engagement metrics are driving their decisions. We also discuss the news around Disney's intention to pull back spending and content creation for the Star Wars and Marvel franchises along with Bob Igor’s comments that linear TV channels like ESPN and ABC “may not be core" to their business. Learn how these industry powerhouses are strategically working to bundle, package, and license content while keeping their audiences enga...
2023-07-2733 minThe Dan Rayburn PodcastExecutive Interview: Dr. Fou Details YouTube’s Ad Scandal and the Complexities of Fraud in the Online Video Advertising MarketThis episode offers a deep dive into the murky waters of ad fraud detailing the allegations against YouTube. Dr. Fou, an expert in ad fraud joins me as we head straight into the eye of the storm, exploring the latest report alleging Google's TrueView ads appear muted and on autoplay on third-party websites. Discover how these misrepresentations are impacting advertisers' trust, why YouTube's reply to the allegations ignored the issues, and what this could mean for YouTube's revenue.We also detail challenges in the overall video advertising industry when it comes to detecting ad fraud, why advertisers...
2023-07-1746 minThe Dan Rayburn PodcastEpisode 63: FAST is Popular, but Not Profitable; Microsoft to Shut Down Azure Media ServicesThis week we discuss the topic of FAST and how as an industry, we have almost no details on revenue growth amongst the FAST platforms. With Plex’s recent round of layoffs and too many FAST channels in the market, we make the case that popularity, without profitability, is a problem for FAST operators. We also discuss YouTube TV's business including their outage that took place during the NBA playoffs, their decision to drop SNY and the MLB network, and YouTube's experiments with ad-blockers. Finally, we break down why Microsoft announced it will shut down Azure Media Services in 2024 an...
2023-07-1146 min