Category: Broadcast

An improved user experience, including reduced latency, and a wider choice of in-home applications will be delivered to broadband consumers as the Broadband Forum launches three new projects.

The three new open broadband projects will provide open source software blueprints for application providers and Broadband Service Providers (BSPs) to follow. These will deliver a foundation for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for network automation, additional tools for network latency and performance measurements, and on-demand connectivity for different applications.

“These new projects will play a key role in improving network performance measurement and monitoring and the end-user experience,” said Broadband Forum Technical Chair Lincoln Lavoie. “Open source software is a crucial component in providing the blueprint for BSPs to follow and we invite interested companies to get involved.”

The new Open Broadband-CloudCO-Application Software Development Kit (OB-CAS), Open Broadband – Simple Two-Way Active Measurement Protocol (OB-STAMP), and Open Broadband – Subscriber Session Steering (OB-STEER) projects will bring together software developers and standards experts from the forum.

The projects will deliver open source reference implementations, which are examples of how Broadband Forum specifications can be implemented. They act as a starting point for application developers to base their designs on. In turn, those applications are available on platforms for BSPs to select and offer to their customers, overall, shortening the path between the development of the specification to the first deployment of the technologies into the network.

“The development of open source software and open broadband standards are invaluable to the industry, laying the foundations for faster innovation through global collaboration,” said Broadband Forum CEO Craig Thomas. “The Broadband Forum places the end-user experience at the forefront of all of our projects and is playing a crucial role in overcoming network issues.”

OB-CAS aims to simplify network monitoring and maintenance for BSPs, while also offering a wider selection of applications from various software vendors. Alongside this, network operations will be simplified and automated through existing Broadband Forum cloud standards that use AI and ML to improve the end-user experience.

OB-STAMP will build an easy-to-deploy component that simplifies network performance measurement between Customer Premises Equipment and IP Edge. The project will allow BSPs to proactively monitor their subscribers’ home networks to measure latency and ultimately, avoid network failures. Four vendors have already signed up to join the efforts to reduce the cost and time associated with deploying infrastructure for measuring network latency.

Building on Broadband Forum’s upcoming technical report WT-474, OB-STEER will create a reference implementation of the Subscriber Session Steering architecture to deliver flexible, on-demand connectivity and simplify network management. Interoperability of Subscriber Session Steering is of high importance as it will be implemented in the access network equipment and edge equipment from various vendors. Business Wire

Disney, opens new tab is planning to reduce headcount by roughly 6% of the total workforce of ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Networks, a person familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, as the entertainment giant grapples with declining TV audience.

The layoffs, which would affect less than 200 staff across both the units, are expected to be announced as early as Wednesday with a majority of the impact on ABC News, the person said, requesting anonymity as the matter is confidential.

Some ABC shows including “20/20” and “Nightline” are consolidating into one unit, the source said.

Disney is also integrating its digital editorial and social teams with news gathering, shows and owned stations, the person said.

ABC News is home to the popular news talk show “Good Morning America”. The Wall Street Journal, which reported the news earlier in the day, said that all three hours of the branded show will be consolidated under one leader. The show’s third hour currently has a separate production team.

Media giants are reshaping their business strategies in response to the continued migration of cable TV audiences to streaming platforms.

ABC News did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Disney reported a 44% jump in adjusted per-share earnings of $1.76 for the October-December quarter. Reuters 

According to data from Ampere Analysis, total revenues from streaming platforms in Europe have overtaken public-service broadcasting revenues for the first time.

Streaming revenues across subs and advertising are projected to reach €38.4 billion by 2029, a 37-percent boost, led by the U.S. majors, notably Netflix. Public-service revenues, consisting of license fees, taxes and advertising, meanwhile, are expected to be flat, inching up just 1 percent to €27.9 billion by 2029.

The gains for the global SVOD giants are being driven by ad tiers—they will account for 8 percent of European revenues for those services by 2029—as well as price hikes.

The crunch on PSB funding is worrying given their crucial support for the production ecosystem—pubcasters commissioned 43 percent of all titles in Europe last year. Pubcaster BVOD services are key for retaining their relevance; they already ranked as the second most-used streaming video platforms in Q3 2024 in the U.K., Denmark and Finland. In Sweden and Norway, the PSB platforms were third.

Sam Young, analyst at Ampere Analysis, said, “While Ampere’s projected public TV revenue growth represents a challenging outlook, public-service broadcasters remain a crucial stabilizing force in the European TV landscape. To remain competitive amid shifting viewing habits, and in the face of global streamers, PSBs must prioritize the development of their streaming platforms and find innovative ways to operate within limited and often uncertain funding structures. Forming ambitious strategic partnerships can enable them to continue to produce high-quality content at lower costs and expand their audience reach. However, local governments must recognize the need for financially sustainable models, especially as broadcasters face rising content costs, driven by increasing competition from global streamers. Adequate funding is not only essential for PSBs to keep investing in distinctive programming and fulfilling their public service remits, it is also necessary to support the wider European production sector.” World Screen

Warner Bros. Discovery’s subscription streaming video service Max will officially launch in Turkey on April 15. The rollout includes the combination of WBD-owned Turkish streaming service BluTV, leveraging the platform’s local content portfolio with Max’s richer lineup of content.

Turkey becomes the 77th Max territory and marks a significant moment in the globalization of WBD’s streaming service that now has 116.9 million subscribers after adding 6.4 million in Q4 2024. As one of the most populous countries in the EMEA region, with more people than Germany, U.K, or France, the launch in Turkey presents a major opportunity to entertain and engage millions of new fans with high quality content across film and television from WBD’s world class studios.

Turkish subs will continue to have access to BluTV shows and series, while gaining access to HBO and Max Originals, upcoming seasons of BluTV’s local productions, exclusive new Turkish originals, and movies from Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Studios.

Subscribers will also have access to live sports from Eurosport, kids content from Cartoon Network and Cartoonito, live news from CNN International, a wide selections of discovery+ shows, and a slate of true crime and documentary series.

Local content highlights include the highly anticipated second season of “Magarsus,” which premieres on March 6, with upcoming episodes released weekly. The season’s final two episodes of the BluTV Original will then land exclusively on Max in Turkey on April 17 and April 24.

“Turkey is a key market as we take Max global,” Jamie Cooke, GM CEE, MENA and Turkey at Warner Bros. Discovery,” said in a statement. “This marks a significant milestone in fully integrating BluTV into Warner Bros. Discovery’s global portfolio.” Media Play News

Spanish soccer’s LaLiga has launched a new round of media rights tenders across several major European markets.

Three tenders have been launched covering Belgium and Luxembourg, the DACH countries (Austria, Germany, Switzerland), Luxembourg and Liechtenstein, and the UK and Ireland.

The tender in Belgium comprises a single package of exclusive rights to all 380 annual LaLiga games (and non-exclusive rights in Luxembourg) starting in the 2026-27 campaign and running for three seasons, with the 2029-30 and 2030-31 seasons also up for grabs requiring a second offer.

The second tender also offers one package of exclusive rights to all 380 LaLiga fixtures across the three DACH nations as well as non-exclusive rights through the same package in Liechtenstein and Luxembourg, but concerns the four years following the 2026-27 campaign with a fifth season available once again through a separate bid.

In the UK and Ireland meanwhile, two packages of rights have been offered, one with exclusive rights to all LaLiga games available for any bidder, and the other for free-to-air rights for all of the league’s Sunday night 8pm (GMT) games that will run for between four and five seasons starting in the upcoming 2025-26 campaign.

Rights in Belgium and Luxembourg are currently held by Eleven Sports/DAZN, the combined media enterprise that was formed after DAZN purchased Eleven in 2022.

Across the DACH region, the rights are also held by DAZN’s standalone business, as well as BlueSport in Liechtenstein.

In the UK, currently, rights are split between OTT service Premier Sports, and free-to-air commercial broadcaster ITV, as part of a rights strategy the league has undertaken to grow in the market since 2022.

Shoulder content, ancillary programming, and more are all included in the packages, with the exclusive rights packages each offering linear and streaming rights to LaLiga’s own LaLigaTV 24/7 English channel and the additional content that it provides.

Additionally, bidding parties may also opt to take up the rights to LaLiga’s second-tier Segunda Division.

In its request for offers, LaLiga states: “LaLiga’s prestige has surmounted national boundaries. There is an increasing worldwide interest in the competition and LaLiga stirs passion among football fans.

“This is the reason why LaLiga aims at achieving an authentic audiovisual experience for fans outside Spain. This entails a powerful high-quality broadcast equipped with the latest audiovisual technology.” Sportcal

Canal+ Group has solidified its position as a primary supporter of French cinema by entering a new agreement that will allow the broadcasting of films just six months after their theatrical release. This deal, effective retroactively from January 1, 2025, will last for three years, with the possibility of tacit renewal.

Under the terms of the agreement, Canal+ and its affiliate CINE+ OCS have secured a privileged spot in the media chronology, a system that dictates how soon after a movie’s theater run it can be shown on other platforms. This move will enable the group to broadcast movies significantly earlier than the standard window, enhancing its offering to subscribers.

The financial commitment from Canal+ totals a minimum of €480 million over the duration of the contract, allocated as €150 million in 2025, €160 million in 2026, and €170 million in 2027. The investment underscores the group’s dedication to nurturing a diverse range of cinematic works, including those with smaller budgets under €4 million.

In its announcement, Canal+ highlighted its ongoing support for all types of cinema, ranging from mainstream comedies to genre, animation, and auteur films. The agreement also promises to increase the number of linear film broadcasts and extend the period for non-linear broadcasting, which is expected to benefit the subscribers.

By securing early access to films from major American studios and a selection of French and European cinema, Canal+ aims to maintain the attractiveness of its subscriptions, which are primarily motivated by cinema content. The company takes pride in its pivotal role in the creative ecosystem and the preservation of the French cultural exception. In.Investing

Having grown up in Chennai, Karthik Rao, the global CEO of Nielsen, is returning to his roots to strengthen the company’s presence in India, creating more jobs and developing products that will drive Nielsen’s global growth.

“India has the most complex media environment. If we develop products for the Indian market with the level of complexity, we can scale that to other markets around the world. India also has the best natural resources for our business talent. We will be creating jobs in the thousands. The combination of the two things is why we will double down in India,” Karthik Rao, Global CEO, Nielsen, told businessline on the sidelines of the inauguration of the company’s new office in Mumbai spread over 1,50,000 sq. ft. The new office space in Mumbai and Bengaluru can accommodate 1,500 employees each.

The company recently signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) worth ₹450 crore at the World Economic Forum 2025 in Davos with the Maharashtra Government, which will create 1,100 new jobs, particularly in technical roles such as AI experts, data scientists, data analysts, and other specialized technology positions.

“India is a critical market for Nielsen, playing a pivotal role in our global growth and innovation strategy. As we continue to expand our presence, we are not only investing in new offices, but also deepening our collaborations across the industry. Our commitment to India extends beyond just growth — we are dedicated to fostering a vibrant ecosystem where talent, technology, and strategic alliances come together to shape the future of measurement and analytics.”

Building AI tool
The company will also utilise its development capabilities in the country to build its new Artificial Intelligence model.

“The next level of reasoning intelligence is going to be created which will have to become vertical specific. To get vertifical-specific, one needs to use proprietary data that nobody else has access to. We see this as a perfect moment for our company to create new products using AI around the entire value system for content. We have all forms of intelligence information in advertising and content, one can imagine the power of what that does for us from a product development perspective to solve distinct problems. We will build our own models. We will also partner with companies that are on their own journey of building AI capability,” added Rao. The Hindu Business Line

The “Broadband Services Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis by Broadband Connection (Fiber Optic, Wireless, Satellite, Cable, Digital Subscriber Line), End Use (Business, Household), and Region with Segment Forecasts, 2025-2030” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering.

The global broadband services market size is estimated to reach USD 875.06 billion by 2030. The market is estimated to expand at a decent CAGR of 9.8% from 2025 to 2030. The rapidly escalating demand for broadband services due to their ability to offer higher date access to the internet using a wide spectrum of technologies is a major propeller of market growth of the market.

The market is positioned to register strong growth over the forecast period, driven primarily by the steep demand in the market. The high demand is supported by proactive government initiatives, technological advancements for improved user convenience, consumer awareness, and increased usage of devices-such as mobile phones, tablets, MIDs, and eBooks-requiring a broadband connection. The internet speed and widespread availability of broadband services are notable growth-contributors.

Some of the key market trends in the market include the following: strategic usage of broadband pre-registration indices to collect market data regarding price, engineering decisions, and user preferences; online registration of broadband services makes the process transparent and user-friendly; electronic signature in registration documents and validation of identity proofs aids in maintaining an automatic contract status and limits malpractice; system integration is increasingly emphasized to offer a one-stop-shop service for all marketing, mails, management, installation, and customer support needs; and finally, B2C models are increasingly focused on impacting crowd mentality to attract a larger customer base.

The COVID-19 pandemic has rendered a positive impact on the broadband services as digital consumption has witnessed a sharp rise over the last few weeks. Work-from-home concepts in most business, online classes in education formats, higher usage of video calls for conferences and personal uses, online shopping of essential items, and higher viewership of entertainment content have notably increased the requirement for broadband services. Investment in companies to adopt digital channels for product promotion and sales is also likely to surge in the near future. Besides speed, add-on services are a key attraction for customers, thereby leveling up the competitive rivalry in the market.

Broadband Services Market Report Highlights

• Asia-Pacific regional market accounted for the largest market share in 2024, owing to the widescale usage of broadband services
• The fiber optics segment dominated the market due to its speedy connection, large-scale adoption, and continuously evolving technology
• Wireless broadband services are positioned to demonstrate double-digit growth momentum over the forecast period
• Increased adoption of broadband services during COVID-19 has prominently augmented market growth and fueled the digital revolution in business models

GlobeNewswire

For the first time, Netflix is set to overtake YouTube in total video revenue in 2025, according to exclusive Omdia research presented at MIP TV London 2025.

In 2024, YouTube led the market with $42.5 billion in revenue, while Netflix generated $39.2 billion. However, projections for 2025 show Netflix pulling ahead, reaching $46.2 billion, driven by $43.2 billion from subscriptions and $3.2 billion from advertising. Meanwhile, YouTube is expected to generate $45.6 billion, with $36 billion from advertising and $9.6 billion from YouTube Premium.

Netflix and YouTube take distinct approaches to revenue generation:

• Netflix is projected to have over 340 million paying subscribers in 2025, with more than 600 million users benefiting from its content.
• YouTube continues to dominate in scale, reaching over 2 billion users globally, leveraging its massive audience through advertising and premium subscriptions.

As the streaming landscape evolves, Netflix’s growing ad-supported model and subscriber base could reshape the competitive dynamics of digital video revenue.

“In markets like the US and UK, there is significant overlap between audiences,” said Maria Rua Aguete, Senior Research Director at Omdia. “In the US, 57% of YouTube users are also Netflix subscribers, while in the UK, that number rises to 67%. This dynamic presents opportunities for both platforms.”

While often positioned as rivals, YouTube and Netflix are increasingly collaborating rather than competing. “I see more collaboration than competition between YouTube, Netflix, and other industry players,” Rua Aguete stated. “Streaming services, broadcasters, and platforms are working together through marketing partnerships, content distribution, and advertising deals.”

One key example is Netflix’s use of YouTubers to promote the TV series Squid Game, leveraging influencer-driven marketing to attract new subscribers. Meanwhile, YouTube is solidifying its role as a premium content platform, outperforming Free Ad-Supported TV (FAST) services.

“At the end of 2024, YouTube generated seven times more revenue than FAST platforms, $42.5 billion versus $6 billion,” Rua Aguete explained. “Major studios are taking notice. Warner Bros., for example, recently released 37 full-length movies for free on YouTube, and we expect to see more partnerships like this in the future.”

Looking ahead, YouTube is making a strong push toward TV-like content.

“Large players can turn this to their advantage by entering favorable ad-share agreements or even selling some sponsorship and video inventory directly,” Rua Aguete noted.

She also highlighted the growing role of YouTubers in cinema recovery, with influencer-driven promotions becoming an integral part of movie marketing strategies.

Another major shift is YouTube’s increasing consumption on Connected TVs. “Viewers are watching YouTube on the big screen more than ever before,” Rua Aguete said. “This changes the advertising game, making YouTube an even bigger player in premium video.” Omdia

Global media giant Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has published its fourth quarter (Q4) and year-end financial results, revealing a huge net loss of almost $500 million for the final three months of 2024.

The company suffered a 2% year-on-year (YOY) drop in quarterly revenue to $10 billion from $10.28 billion during the same quarter in 2023, and a 4% YoY annual revenue decrease to $39.3 billion, down 5% from $41.32 billion in 2023.

The results are the first since the company decided in December to separate its cable TV businesses from streaming and studio operations, laying the groundwork for a potential sale or spinoff of its TV business.

In Q4, WBD reported a net loss of $494 million, compared with a net loss of $400 million, during the same prior period last year.

WBD reported a full-year 2024 loss of $11.3 billion, primarily driven by $6.9 billion of asset acquisition costs and restructuring expenses and a $9.1 billion non-cash goodwill impairment charge in the networks segment.

The media heavyweight did, however, deliver a profit in its streaming business and added 6.4 million subscribers to its Max service, pushing the total figure to 116.9 million.

Q4 revenue for the streaming segment, including Discovery+, Max, and Eurosport+, came to $2.7 billion, up 5% from $2.53 billion in the same quarter last year. WBD’s quarterly profit for its direct-to-consumer (DTC) business stood at $409 million compared with a loss of $55 million in 2023.

For the full year, WBD’s DTC business turned a profit of $677 million, compared to a 2023 profit of $103 million.

The media and entertainment company said it has a “clear path” to hit 150 million global subscribers on Max by the end of 2026.

WBD previously said it targeted $1 billion or more in DTC earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) in 2025.

Chief executive David Zaslav, however, recently told Wall Street that the company was now expecting to meaningfully exceed that.

He said: “We expect strong DTC subscriber growth to continue throughout 2025. And we now have a clear path to reach at least 150 million global subscribers by the end of 2026, with corresponding strong DTC revenue and adjusted EBITDA growth.

“Max continues to grow at a powerful pace, and we expect it to continue throughout 2025 and beyond. In this generational media disruption, only the global streamers will survive and prosper, and Max is just that.”

Max is set to launch in Australia at the end of March and on major pay-TV network Sky in the United Kingdom and Ireland by the second quarter of 2026 before debuting in Germany and Italy in the first quarter of that year. The service was rolled out in more than 70 countries across Europe and Asia last year.

WBD announced Wednesday that Max would keep its B/R Sports and CNN content available at no additional cost to subscribers in its standard and premium tiers. Initially, WBD planned to charge an additional cost for sports.

However, it will pull both verticals from its basic, ad-supported tier beginning March 30.

In terms of its major sports rights, WBD is losing US broadcast rights to basketball’s NBA starting next season. It still has a domestic sports portfolio that includes the French Open tennis grand slam, Major League Baseball, college football, and the ice hockey’s NHL.

With major streaming platforms such as Netflix entering the live sports scene and providing competition to established media groups, Zaslav said the company is more focused on maximizing its returns than acquiring more sports content.

He stated: “There are sports rights that we can look at opportunistically and say we can make a real return on, but we don’t need any more sports anywhere in the world to support our business. We would buy sports if we think it would enhance our business.”

Zaslav argued the continuing appeal of sports content bundles will be driven by potential value and convenience for consumers.

Last month, Venu Sports, the prospective joint venture sports streaming platform planned by WBD, Disney, and Fox Corp., was scrapped.

Venu would have combined the sports streaming property portfolios of Disney, Fox, and WBD and control over 50% of live sports broadcasts in the US both regionally and nationally.

Revenue for networks, WBD’s biggest segment that includes the aforementioned sports broadcasters in their linear form, came in at $4.8 billion, compared with $5.04 billion in 2023, and profits down 13% to $1.9 billion. Ad revenue dropped 17%, driven by domestic networks’ audience declines of 28%.

Meanwhile, WBD has acquired rights to The Snow League winter sports competition in Europe in a multi-year deal.

All the action will be streamed live on Max and Discovery+ across Europe starting with the first event in Aspen, USA from March 7-8.

Live coverage will be complemented by a highlights programme on WBD’s premium linear channels.

The inaugural season will feature some of the world’s top winter sports athletes going head-to-head in four competitions at iconic resorts, with events leading up to, and immediately following, the Milan Cortina Olympic Winter Games in 2026.

The competition will feature 36 snowboarding stars including men’s reigning Olympic halfpipe champion Ayumu Hirano (Japan), men’s reigning half-pipe World Champion Chaeun Lee (South Korea), and Beijing 2022 women’s halfpipe medallists Queralt Castellet (Spain) and Sena Tomita (Japan).

The deal was brokered on behalf of Snow League by the Range Sports agency, which advises on its media rights and commercial partnerships strategy and execution. Sportcal