Latest news with #AVOD
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Allen Media Group Hires Moelis to Explore Sale of TV Stations
Byron Allen's Allen Media Group has retained the investment bank Moelis & Company to help it explore financial and strategic alternatives, including a potential sale of its 28 owned and operated ABC-NBC-CBS-FOX affiliate television stations in 21 U.S. markets Over the last six years, AMG has invested over $1 billion in acquiring television stations and has become one of the largest independent privately held owners of Big 4 network affiliated stations. 'We have received numerous inquiries and written offers for most of our television stations and now is the time to explore getting a return on this phenomenal investment,' Allen said in a statement. 'We are going to use this opportunity to take a serious look at the offers, and the sale proceeds will be used to significantly reduce our debt.' An AMG representative declined to comment further. In addition to the stations, AMG has ten 24-hour HD cable television networks serving nearly 300 million subscribers, broadcast syndication, HBCU GO Sports, five digital streaming platforms and the free-streaming AVOD service, Local Now. In January, S&P Global put AMG on a negative credit watch, noting the company had an outstanding balance of $99.9 million on its $100 million revolving credit facility and had $60.1 million in cash as of Sept. 30, 2024. In February, the company refinanced the credit facility, extending its debt maturities to 2027. Additionally, Bloomberg previously reported that the company also has an $840 million term loan maturing in 2027. AMG also underwent a round of layoffs in May 2024 across every division designed to 'drive future business opportunities and support our growth strategies in our rapidly evolving industry,' the company said at the time. The pivot comes as Allen has public expressed interest in being a buyer rather than a seller of TV assets. More to come… The post Allen Media Group Hires Moelis to Explore Sale of TV Stations appeared first on TheWrap. Sign in to access your portfolio
Broadcast Pro
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Animotion Media partners with HappyKids to expand access to children's content
Through this collaboration three of Animotion's series are now available to millions of families via the HappyKids platform. Animotion Media Group, a production and distribution company known for its children's animated content, has announced a strategic partnership with HappyKids, a free AVOD streaming platform for kids. The collaboration brings three of Animotion's beloved animated series — Beardy Bodo (Travel Season), The Fixies (Seasons 1–4) and BabyRiki (Season 4) — to millions of families via the HappyKids platform. HappyKids has earned a reputation as a trusted destination for safe, family-friendly entertainment. With a vast catalog of curated shows, movies, music, educational vlogs, stories and DIY content, the platform is completely free and parent-approved. Accessible across Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and major mobile devices, HappyKids currently serves over 24m parents globally. Valeria Korotina, Chief Commercial Officer at Animotion Media Group, said: 'We're proud to partner with HappyKids – a platform that shares our values of safe, enriching, and accessible content for families. It's a joy to know that more kids across North America will now be able to discover our stories, laugh with our characters, and learn through play.' Korotina added: 'We are excited to bring our unique and educational animated content to a wider audience through HappyKids. Our mission has always been to deliver entertaining content with depth, shows that spark curiosity, encourage discovery, and stay with kids long after the screen turns off.' Among the titles now available, The Fixies is a globally recognised animated series that introduces children to basic science and technology concepts through engaging storytelling. Beardy Bodo (Travel Season) combines humor and life lessons with a journey through global cultures, while BabyRiki offers music-driven educational content designed to support early childhood development. Soma Sengupta, Head of Partner Relationships at HappyKids, stated: 'At HappyKids, we're always looking for exceptional content that is both safe and enriching. Animotion's IPs align perfectly with our mission , The Fixies spark scientific curiosity, Beardy Bodo celebrates global exploration, and BabyRiki supports early childhood development in a joyful and gentle way.' The partnership reflects a shared commitment to delivering meaningful and accessible children's entertainment — content that's not only fun and educational but also free for families to enjoy.
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
JioHotstar races ahead, now second only to Netflix with 280 mn subscribers
JioHotstar, the streaming platform of India's biggest media conglomerate, JioStar, has reached 280 million subscribers since its launch in February, bringing it closer to Netflix, the US-based subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) OTT platform with over 300 million subscribers. 'Within a short period of three and a half months… we have got 280 million paid subscribers,' said Kevin Vaz, chief executive officer (CEO), entertainment, JioStar, in an earnings call in April. 'Globally, we are very close to Netflix, which gets this [subscriber base] from across the world.' In comparison, Amazon Prime Video has over 200 million Prime members (some countries have Prime Video services bundled with their Prime membership, while in some regions Prime Video exists as a standalone video service, which is not included under Prime membership). Earlier, in April, Media Partners Asia Insights, through its LinkedIn post, had projected that JioHotstar would reach 300 million subscribers before the IPL final in May, which is now rescheduled to June 3. JioHotstar did not respond to an email query on when it expects to surpass Netflix's subscriber base. A major differentiator between Netflix and rivals Prime Video and JioHotstar is the advertisement-supported model (AVOD) adopted by the latter two. Prime Video will introduce limited advertisements from 17 June. At launch, the combined platform of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar had around 50 million subscribers, which surged to over 200 million in April, largely due to the Indian Premier League (IPL). Since the start of this year, JioHotstar has gained momentum not only due to its wide range of international content from top American studios—such as Warner Bros., Discovery, HBO, NBCUniversal's Peacock, Disney and Paramount—but also due to ongoing major cricket events like the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy, the Women's Premier League, and the IPL. 'JioHotstar has a large broadcasting network and this network has a huge base in the majority of the sports event rights in India. This becomes a huge advantage for it [JioHotstar, particularly in cricket streaming], and compared to this, it is hard for others [other major OTT platforms like Netflix and Prime Video] to achieve that scale in India,' said a media buying executive. In the same earnings call, Vaz highlighted that JioHotstar's content library of 320,000 hours is six times larger than that of Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. He added that the India–New Zealand ICC Champions Trophy final match achieved a concurrency of 61 million, setting a world record for the number of people watching a sports event simultaneously. 'If I have to put it into perspective, as many of us might know of the Super Bowl in the US. Let me tell you, their peak concurrency could be one-fourth of it [compared to the India–New Zealand final match],' Vaz noted. He further said that JioHotstar's catalogue includes 250 original titles—the highest among its contemporaries. On a monthly basis, the Indian OTT platform has 503 million users, which is considered significant compared to other major platforms in the country.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Netflix May Rerate on Accelerating Ad Revenues
Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) wins bullish reviews after its ad-supported tier hit 94 million monthly active usersup more than 20 million since November and soaring from 40 million in May 2024highlighting accelerating monetization of its $7.99 ad plan versus the $17.99 ad-free entry point. Evercore's Mark Mahaney reiterated a Buy rating with a $1,150 price target following Netflix's annual Upfront Presentation, where management showcased the ad tech platform rollout and new viewership data, while noting that ad viewers now watch 41 hours/month on AVOD. BMO Capital's Brian Pitz also stuck with Buy and a $1,200 target, citing positive second-half 2025 monetization tailwinds from the upcoming Ad Suite launch in EMEA and a planned 2026 rollout of AI-powered ad formats. Seaport Research's David Joyce lifted his target to $1,230, praising Netflix's in-house ad capabilities and flexibility across formats even as subscription price hikes and membership growth continue to underpin the majority of revenue. The FT-reported upgrades reflect growing confidence that Netflix can parlay ad traction into material revenue, offsetting subscriber-growth plateaus in mature markets. Analyst commentary underscored that with advertising now accounting for a growing share of overall ARPU, Netflix may unlock a multi-year ad-revenue catalyst. Why it matters: stronger ad-tier engagement and rising price targets suggest Netflix's valuation could re-rate as investors price in incremental revenue from AVOD. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Prime Video India with ads: necessary for growth?
Following a global pattern of streaming platforms exploring hybrid monetisation strategies, Amazon Prime Video has announced its entry into the ad-supported video on demand ( AVOD ) space in India. Starting June 17, 2025, Indian subscribers will encounter limited advertisements during movies and television shows, a change communicated via email and framed as a means to bolster ongoing investment in content. This move is seen by many as a natural progression for Amazon in a market where AVOD is demonstrating significant growth potential. The 2024 Ormax Media report reveals that SVOD audiences in India comprise 150.6 million people, representing 27.5% of the total OTT universe, while a significant 72.5 percent (396.6 million) access only free content, often exclusively on platforms like YouTube and social media. Notably, the SVOD audience has declined this year, with the overall 21 percent growth of the Indian OTT universe being solely attributed to the expanding AVOD audience segment. Industry experts have weighed in on this development, with many highlighting its alignment with global trends and the specific dynamics of the Indian market. Sanjay Trehan , digital and new media advisor, commented, 'This move is understandable and not entirely unexpected as it follows a global template. India is a cost-conscious market and Amazon needs to generate additional revenue by leveraging its Prime Video audience. Along with innovative CTV ad formats, this is Amazon's attempt to expand its reach and appeal to the bottom and mid tiers of the content consumption market without causing much disruption.' Nitin Menon , co-founder and MP at NP Capital, echoed this sentiment, stating that the introduction of advertising was a natural progression for all OTT players. He explained that with rising content costs and the long-term, patient nature of subscription growth in a price-sensitive market like India, leveraging advertising to boost revenues is a logical step. Menon asserted, 'In a price-sensitive market like India, you cannot ignore advertising as a substantial revenue stream, and all OTT platforms would need to incorporate it in some form or another.' Amazon notified subscribers that limited advertisements will be introduced to Prime Video movies and TV shows from June 17, 2025, explaining this will allow for sustained growth in content investment. They emphasised fewer ads compared to TV and other streaming platforms, with no impact on the current Prime price or requiring any user action. While the existing Prime membership fee will remain unchanged, Amazon also revealed the introduction of a new optional ad-free add-on for its Prime members. This premium option will be priced at INR 699 annually or INR 129 on a monthly basis and will become available for subscription from the same date, June 17, 2025. The experts suggest a mixed bag of reactions. While some believe Indian consumers are accustomed to ads and the value of the Prime bundle might cushion the blow, others highlight the risk of alienating existing subscribers who expect an ad-free experience. The success of this move will heavily depend on the ad load, the quality of the ads, and how well Amazon balances revenue generation with user experience in a price-sensitive market. Menon believes this is a "win-win" as it boosts overall OTT revenue, allowing for greater investment in content and reducing pressure on SVOD growth. While acknowledging a potential initial inconvenience for consumers unaccustomed to ads, he emphasised that the ad strategy and implementation are at the discretion of each OTT platform. Meanwhile, Trehan elaborated on the potential of ad-supported models, stating, 'AVOD is the way to go and will help expand the premium content market. Having said that, India is a country that defies linear constructs. There are enough takers for an ad-free, clutter-free seamless experience and are willing to pay a premium for it. So, it looks like a smart move to upsell an ad-free experience.' This dual approach, offering both ad-supported and ad-free options, appears to be a strategic manoeuvre to cater to the diverse preferences and price sensitivities within the Indian consumer base. The evolution of the OTT landscape and shifting consumption patterns are also key factors influencing this decision. He also addressed the monetisation debate, suggesting a coexistence of models. 'I expect both AVOD and SVOD models to grow, as India is a vast and diverse market and content consumption patterns are influenced a lot by local and regional factors. The key, however, is to produce quality and differentiated content that celebrates diversity and builds on cultural sensitivities. Mopping up additional revenue will help Prime Video spend more on generating premium content.' Shradha Agarwal , co-founder and CEO of a digital marketing agency—Grapes, believes Prime Video's new strategy will segment its user base into those willing to watch ads for continued access at the current price and those who will pay extra for an ad-free experience, reflecting existing preferences in content consumption. Agarwal firmly believes in the growth potential of AVOD in the Indian context, asserting, 'AVOD is undoubtedly the most promising avenue for growth in the current OTT market.' She further projects the long-term revenue dynamics, suggesting, 'Ultimately, sponsorship and advertising will likely become the primary revenue generators, potentially accounting for 50-60% of the total, while subscription fees will primarily fund platform development and maintenance.' Despite the anticipated surge in AVOD adoption, Agarwal acknowledges the continued relevance of subscription-based models, noting, 'Despite the rise of AVOD, SVOD will persist in India. Users are already accustomed to managing multiple subscriptions and will likely continue this habit.' India's OTT market presents diverse subscription options. JioStar offers ad-supported mobile plans from INR 149 quarterly, with an ad-free premium yearly plan at INR1499. Netflix's ad-free tiers range from a INR 149 monthly mobile plan to a INR 649 premium monthly plan for four screens. ZEE5 has three-month premium plans at INR 599 for three devices, alongside regional monthly options from INR 99. SonyLIV provides a mobile-only annual plan at INR 699 and a premium yearly plan for two devices at INR 1499. YouTube premium starts with INR 149 monthly.
