Navigating the New Competitive Landscape in Media & Entertainment Requires More Than Just Content
For over a decade, “digital first” was the north star for media and entertainment (M&E) brands. The playbook was clear: Launch an OTT service, build subscriber growth, and deliver content across devices.
That approach reshaped our industry—and defined what has come to be known as the streaming wars.
But the rules of engagement have changed.
Today’s platforms face a radically different landscape, one shaped by saturated markets, fragmented consumer attention, and relentless competition not just from traditional rivals, but from unexpected players like social media platforms, gaming ecosystems, and influencer-driven content channels.
As a recent Digital Media Trends report by Deloitte points out, the average U.S. household now subscribes to four or more streaming services—but nearly 40% of consumers say they’re overwhelmed by the number of choices. Churn has become a default behavior, not a crisis response. Meanwhile, global expansion has opened up lucrative new markets—but only for companies with the agility to navigate regional payment methods, compliance rules, and cultural content preferences.
Why “Digital First” Isn’t Enough Anymore
What passed as innovation five years ago—SVOD billing, cross-device logins, basic personalization—is now table stakes. Audiences today expect the same seamless, intelligent experiences from their entertainment platforms as they do from top ecommerce and fintech brands. That includes:
- AI-driven personalization and real-time engagement
- Frictionless onboarding at scale
- Localized payment systems with smart retry logic
- Intelligent churn mitigation strategies
- Modular infrastructure for rapid go-to-market launches
Yet, many media companies are still operating with legacy infrastructure, stitched-together tech stacks, and siloed data. The result? Slow rollouts, underwhelming user experiences, and missed monetization opportunities.
The Future Is Not Just Streaming—It’s Monetization as Strategy
What we’re seeing now is a shift from digital as access to digital as orchestration. That means more than just delivering content—it means managing the full subscriber lifecycle with intelligence, agility, and measurable outcomes.
Global OTT revenues, according to a recent Global Entertainment & Media Outlook report by PwC, have been projected to exceed $135 billion by 2027—but growth will come primarily from regions outside North America. Capturing that revenue requires platforms to scale fast, experiment with new monetization models (like FAST, hybrid bundles, or micro-transactions), and optimize payments for local markets.
Who’s Already Making the Leap?
Our latest eBook, From Digital First to the Digital Future, highlights a growing list of media leaders who have already crossed the chasm. Leading services including Shahid, SonyLIV, and BritBox are building flexible, cloud-native ecosystems that prioritize agility over legacy. They’re achieving:
- 10x subscriber growth
- 85%+ market penetration
- Near-zero latency during live content events
- Rapid expansion across 100+ countries
The Bottom Line
This isn’t just a tech refresh—it’s a strategic realignment. Companies that treat monetization as a feature will fall behind. Companies that view it as the engine of growth will win.
So ask yourself:
- Are you optimizing for subscriber volume or value?
- Can your systems adapt to market changes in weeks—not quarters?
- Are you building an experience your users can’t live without?
Let From Digital First to the Digital Future be your guide to answering those questions—and how to act on them.
Read the full eBook to explore the new M&E playbook, real-world transformation stories, and the platform capabilities reshaping the future of content.
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