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Kantar Video Pursues a Holistic Approach to Video Analytics
This morning I'm pleased to introduce Adam Wright, VideoNuze's newest contributor. Adam has a strong background in online video, having worked at NBCU in digital distribution, MySpace in branded content, and more recently at Tubefilter in research. Adam has a BS in Business and an MS in Entertainment Industry Management from Carnegie Mellon University. After 2 1/2 years of carrying the full daily editorial load at VideoNuze, it's great to have Adam on board contributing several times per week!
Kantar Video Pursues a Holistic Approach to Video Analytics
by Adam Wright
Kantar Video announced itself last week, but with the torrent of news coming out of both SME and the Cable Show, it slipped under the radar. So late last week, I took some time to talk with Bill Lederer, CEO of Kantar Video,
who is a seasoned veteran in online and set-top box research, to get a better understanding of the company's holistic approach to their research/analytics service and the implications on the analytics space.
Kantar Video's "Videolytics," which is currently in a private beta, will be tracking everything from online video, advanced TV, and most interestingly mobile, which is a rapidly growing space. Kantar Video plans to combine this data with the extremely rich marketing data sets from other Kantar Media business units. Bill explained, "for instance, we're the world's biggest company in the attitudinal area. We're going to work with Dynamic Logic, TNS, [etc.]. We're going to capture things like ad expenditure data." In addition, he mentioned cross-referencing data from other sets such as demographics, psychographics, purchase data, and much more from other Kantar Media affiliated branches.
Kantar Video's overall goal is to create a decision system to harness all this data to provide relevant information for business decisions. As a result, Kantar Video's holistic approach might be considered a "Nielsen for online video" analytics/research service. While there have been many options for online video analytics and research, few have come to encompass this breadth of data, which will ultimately help users understand the implications of online video and online video advertising down through the purchase chain, helping grow and better monetize the space.
Though there's a lot of data already floating around, in Bill's opinion often it isn't entirely useful to decision-makers. As Bill put it, "The medium is producing Latin. The customers are in need of Greek." He sees Kantar Video as trying to answer tough questions from marketers. For instance, "What's the real ROI for investing in video? Online guys will talk about views, but marketers talk about how did it do relative to not just campaign execution, but the brand?" Bill said, "We're trying to create a multi-channel solution - real time turn-around with deep domain expertise."
Kantar Video is trying to set itself apart competitively by focusing exclusively on analytics, as compared with others like TubeMogul and BBE's recently spun off Vindico who are also providing ad serving. Kantar Video has some similarity to analytics provider Visible Measures, but with more varied data sets and tools from other business units.
Finally, Bill was quick to trumpet that "we're able to bring in a significant number of advertisers and media companies. I think we'll have some quick validation." With a big name like WPP behind it, Kantar Video has a certain built-in credibility with many brands and advertisers, but Bill also stressed they are working with non-WPP companies as well. "We have built a career on coalitions and partnerships within and without in order to provide more value." In addition, they are preparing to go global quickly by building out their platform in many languages.
Kantar Video is definitely an analytics firm to look out for, with a company like WPP backing it financially and developmentally, it would seem to have some natural momentum. Only time will tell if it catches on, but either way, this means more competition in the analytics space.
What do you think? Post a comment now (no sign-in required).Categories: Analytics, Startups
Topics: Kantar Video, TubeMogul, VINDICO, Visible Measures
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If You're in the Boston Area, Join Me Tomorrow Morning for "Chaos in the Living Room" Discussion
If you're based in the Boston area, then please join me tomorrow morning (Wed, May 19th) for a discussion panel, "Chaos in the Living Room - Video, Media, Applications and the Cloud Near a Tipping Point." The session is being hosted by the Mass. Technology Leadership Council at the Foley Hoag Emerging Enterprise Center in Waltham, MA from 8-10am.
The panel features:- David Fellows - General Partner, Genovation Capital (and former Comcast CTO)
- John Hoctor - VP, Business Development and Marketing, Navic Networks
- Yvette Kanouff - President, SeaChange International
- Will Richmond - Editor/Publisher, VideoNuze
- Jonathan Ruff - Senior Director, Technology Marketing, Motorola
- Jeff Binder - General Partner, Genovation Capital (moderator)
We'll be discussing connected TVs, 3D, LTE, cloud delivery, over-the-top and more, trying to decipher what these might mean to companies in the video ecosystem today and emerging entrants. Lots of good stuff to chew on!
Click here to learn more and registerCategories: Events
Topics: Mass Technology Leadership Council
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Video Interview with Netflix CEO Reed Hastings
Last week when I was in CA for the Cable Show, I did a side-trip to Los Gatos to meet with and interview Netflix CEO Reed Hastings at the company's headquarters. We met up in the "Green Acres" conference room, one of the building's many meeting spaces named for popular TV shoes and movies. As I've written over the past several months, Netflix is on a huge roll, having grown its subscriber base 25% in just the last 2 quarters from 11.1 million subs at the end of Q3 '09 to almost 14 million subs at the end of Q1 '01.
Watch the interviews to learn more about topics like what Reed thinks is really driving Netflix's rapid growth, what Netflix pays to stream a movie online vs. deliver a DVD, whether streaming will remain unlimited, why Reed thinks TV Everywhere is "frustratingly brilliant," who the real competition is, what's on Netflix's streaming product roadmap, why sports are so important to cable, how net neutrality will be resolved and importantly, why Netflix's message to Hollywood is "our checkbook is open."
Reminder: Netflix's Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos will be on the VideoSchmooze breakfast panel on Tuesday, June 15th at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. Click here to learn more and save with the early bird discount.
Part 1 (9 minutes, 27 seconds):
Part 2: (9 minutes, 20 seconds):
What do you think? Post a comment now (no sign-in required).Categories: Aggregators, People
Topics: Netflix, Reed Hastings
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Silverlight Team Offers 4 In-Depth Case Studies on 2010 Winter Olympics Online
A heads-up that the Silverlight team has just posted 4 great case studies detailing different aspects of their international media partners' experiences delivering the 2010 Winter Olympics online. The partners are CTV (Canada), NBC (US), NRK (Norway) and France Televisions (France). All were using Microsoft's Silverlight and IIS Smooth Streaming.
The case studies dig into 4 topics: online viewing times, effective ad monetization, broadcast reach and quality experience. I've only had an opportunity to skim each of the 4 case studies, but they are packed with in-depth information and details that I have not seen before. For those interested in learning more about how a high-profile live event like this was executed and some of the key performance metrics, this is super valuable info.
Categories: International, Sports, Technology
Topics: CTV, France Televisions, Microsoft, NBC, NRK, Olympics, Silverlight
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"Mobile Set-Top Box" Era Begins on June 4th with Sprint Evo Introduction
News this week from Sprint that it will release the much-anticipated HTC Evo 4G on June 4th means that the era of the "mobile set-top box" is about to officially get underway. For those of you not familiar with the Evo, it is the first smartphone capable of working on Sprint's ultra-fast 4G wireless network. The Evo, powered by the Android 2.1 OS also sports an HDMI output (the first that I've seen), which means that you can connect the device to a widescreen HDTV and watch 720p video in gorgeous quality on a widescreen HDTV (note, Sprint plans to charge a $10 incremental 4G fee, though data transfer will be unlimited). See video below showing Evo outputting to an 85-inch plasma HDTV and also a side-by-side Engadget did with the iPhone.
The implications of the Evo - and the many similar devices that will no doubt follow it - are profound. While current set-tops can of course deliver stunning HD programming, they are anchored to the room and the designated TV. Conversely, video-capable smartphones have offered video watching on the go and ever-increasing quality. The Evo is essentially the first bridge between these 2 worlds, opening up exciting use cases and unprecedented consumer control. For example, with a set-top in your pocket and a Netflix or MLB streaming app you could conceivably transfer your experience from the mobile screen to the big screen in a snap, just by plugging in your handy HDMI cable.
It is these kinds of Android innovations that will put increasing pressure on iPhone sales (see below for more on that), and also demonstrate the rampant wireless competition in video in the coming years. Even as the government seems intent on regulating broadband ISPs, innovation abounds, ensuring highly competitive dynamics and accelerating investments. The mobile set-top box era promises a new chapter in consumer value.
What do you think? Post a comment now (no sign-in required).
Categories: Mobile Video
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Comcast's Amy Banse Provides an Update on TV Everywhere Rollout
While at the Cable Show early this week, I had a chance to sit down with Amy Banse, President of Comcast Interactive Media, which is driving the rollout of Fancast Xfinity TV - what Comcast calls its TV Everywhere service. After a lot of PR build-up last fall, Comcast officially launched FXTV (my shorthand) last December. As a Comcast triple-play customer myself, I was able to give it a try, and I thought the initial effort was respectable, even though the content selection was limited.
Flash forward 5 months and curiously, Comcast hasn't said a peep about how things are going with the FXTV rollout. Amy explained that with the NBCU deal's approval process underway, the company has chosen to maintain a relatively low profile on FXTV, something she hopes will change in early fall. Amy said about 1 million people are accessing FXTV regularly, with engagement time a lot higher than with the open Fancast portal. Subscribers to premium channels like HBO are the heaviest users and like FXTV the most. Primarily people use FXTV to catch up on missed episodes and past seasons.
Still, Amy noted that the authentication process needs to be improved substantially, reducing the number of steps from its current 8-10 (though I have to say, I just authenticated on my new Mac and it really wasn't that painful). Amy's eager to introduce a universal ID approach, so users don't need to scramble to remember their Comcast login information. And the company is working on getting more content; the key issues to doing so are proving in authentication, building trust with content partners and enabling measurement.
I was an early fan of the TV Everywhere approach and believe it is key to blunting cord-cutting's appeal. I recognize that nothing ever happens as fast as you'd like it to, but Comcast - and other operators - need to hustle more on rolling out TV Everywhere initiatives. As I noted recently, Netflix is banging it out of the park, gaining more mind-share and disruptive potential. They're just one of many new competitors the industry needs to worry about.
What do you think? Post a comment now (no sign-in required).
Categories: Cable TV Operators
Topics: Comcast, Fancast Xfinity TV, TV Everywhere
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iPhones vs. Android Phones - The Competitive Battle is Underway
A report from market research firm NPD earlier this week, showing that in Q1 '10, sales of smartphones running the Android operating system outpaced the iPhone by 28% to 21% (though both were behind RIM at 36%), highlighted something that I've been thinking about a lot lately: could it be that Apple is about to replay in smartphones its losing fight from the past against Microsoft-Intel in desktop computers?
While plenty is different about today's Apple, the basic contours are similar. Apple, the vertically integrated and control-oriented hardware/software/service company has a well-loved, but extremely narrow smartphone product line. Meanwhile, smartphones based on the Android OS are sprouting like wildflowers, riding a wave of broad OEM adoption, wider customer choices, heavy purchase incentives by multiple carriers and diffused innovation (note Google is saying its partners are shipping 65K Android smartphones each day). Aren't these some of the main reasons why Microsoft and PC OEMs swamped Apple in desktop computers?
I'm not suggesting Apple is headed for a fall any time soon, but one thing's for sure, Apple's early ownership of the smartphone category is over; the market has caught up. One area where we can expect the iPhone vs. Android competition to be particularly intense is in video. As the Evo's launch (see above) shows - better screens, network capacity and yes format support (i.e. Flash) are going to be pushed as proof points for sexy video apps. Meanwhile Apple has ensnared itself in the ever-escalating battle with Adobe over Flash, which is a huge distraction. It will be interesting to see how these iPhone vs. Android sales numbers unfold in 2010.
What do you think? Post a comment now (no sign-in required).Categories: Mobile Video
Topics: Android, Apple, iPhone
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JetBlue Uses Customer Video to Tell Its Story Well
Long-time VideoNuze readers know I'm continuously following how brands are reinventing the way they communicate with customers and prospects through the use of online video. The latest example to hit my radar is JetBlue, which
has just launched a video-rich area of their web site called "Experience JetBlue." As this article notes, JetBlue has recognized that customer testimonials about tangible attributes (e.g. more leg room, on-board TV, etc.) provided in an authentic, non-interruptive way, resonate well. Beyond the four current testimonials, there is also a ton of background video in the mini-site.
Coincidentally, I just flew JetBlue back and forth from Boston to the west coast this week. One other thing I'd say about why this customer testimonial/online video approach works is that they're true and accurate, which speaks to the opportunity and risk of this approach. When real people are featured, they better be telling the truth, or trust in the brand will be seriously damaged. But if they are, then there's a lot of upside. The success of user-review sites like TripAdvisor, Yelp and others shows that people really do care what other people have to say. Video just enhances things further. As a result, I expect we'll see more brands go this route.
What do you think? Post a comment now (no sign-in required).Categories: Brand Marketing
Topics: JetBlue
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