Video Streaming Services

VidCon Panel: Should Brands Make Videos? – Video Streaming Services

2017-06-30T16:44:55.217000Z

VidCon Panel: Should Brands Make Videos? – Video Streaming Services

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This past week, the Unreel team was at Vidcon meeting with major creators, networks and brands, exploring how we can help them with OTT distribution. During the event we attended several round-tables and keynotes, all focusing on a unique aspect of the rapidly expanding digital video industry. One of these discussions stuck out as the most insightful and forward thinking. Its title; Should Brands Make their Own Content?

Obviously, that sort of question at Vidcon is rhetorical in nature. The panel featured the content executives for Fandango, Dollar Shave club, Portal A and Mattel, who all opened with an unequivocal yes; brands should make their own content. Of course no one was in attendance for that anti-climactic conclusion. The actual focus of the dialogue was to understand how brands should go about making and distributing videos. Videos that engage their target market, expand their brand, and even possibly break through as a new source of substantial revenue for their respective company.

Deliberating the best means for brands to create content were Eileen Rivera of Fandango, Zack Bloom of Portal A, Josh Schoellmeyer of MEL, the content arm of Dollar Shave Club, and Isaac Quiroga of Mattel. The group warned that for brands, taking on a legitimate content strategy was difficult, failed to present any kind of short term gain, offered unmeasurable and on occasion dubious long term returns, and is absolutely necessary to compete in today’s climate. The challenge may be immense, but the payoff is unrivaled; a community of loyal for life fans. To engage with your customers and nurture a relationship to that point results in an ROI marketers salivate over. In order to accomplish creating that community requires two things; engaging content and appropriate distribution methods.

The adage ‘Engaging content’ is carelessly thrown around at Vidcon, with most possessing little understanding of its actually meaning. Fortunately the panel was eager to share their refined definition of quality content for brands. Engagement for brands is a challenge to measure, because it goes beyond views, likes and even comments. The engagement brands care about is winning hearts and minds, ultimately driving a sale. To reach that end goal, you have to do something that is a bit counterintuitive – produce content that serves your target market without selling them a thing. Entertain them, inform them, design narratives and formats that serve your users, but never sells them. Would the content be able to stand on its own if it was not produced by a brand? According to Josh Schoellmeyer of MEL, only after years of engaging your audience can you work in light marketing and sales information without spooking your fans away forever. For MEL, the name of the game is volume, constantly experimenting on a daily basis with videos. If you hit 60% of the time, you are doing an outstanding job.

The next component of the content equation for brands is distribution. The group’s consensus was to focus on one platform that fit your brand well and would reach the greatest number of your target users. Fitting the brand means a platform’s users match your target market, has limited restrictions, and posses a reputation aligned with your company’s goals and image. When asked which brand is killing the content space, the first name to receive nomination from every speaker was Red Bull TV. The reason? Red Bull TV not only does a terrific job with creating content that serves its fan base, but they also have owned and operated OTT apps. By owning the apps their content is distributed on, they need not worry about finding an external platform that is appropriate for their brand, they have created their own.

In creating their own platform, Red Bull TV has captured the Holy Grail for brand videos. They have been full heartedly embarrassed by their target market as a lifestyle brand synonymous with extreme living. They are reaching their fans on their own terms on their own apps, without a concern for the restrictions and reputation of other platforms. Lastly, they are able to start monetizing, or promoting themselves within their platform however they would like, sans some outrageous rev share or restrictions. Red Bull has created a community passionate about their brand for life. A community that took years to nurture that will now be customers for decades.

Click here to learn how Unreel is helping brands take control of their own distribution with OTT apps.

The post VidCon Panel: Should Brands Make Videos? appeared first on Unreel.me – Powering OTT for the Largest Networks in the World!.

https://www.unreel.me/2017/06/30/vidcon-panel-brands-make-videos/

App Spotlight: WHO?MAG Multimedia – Video Streaming Services

2017-06-21T19:24:19.294000Z

App Spotlight: WHO?MAG Multimedia – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2017/06/21/app-spotlight-whomag-multimedia/

Unreel’s newest partner to launch apps across leading OTT platforms is the largest host of urban entertainment and music content in the world, WHO?MAG Multimedia.

WHO?MAG brings you exclusive interviews, movies, TV shows, concerts, music videos, and much more. Starting as one of the first hip-hop/R&B orientated websites in 2002, a DVD magazine in 2005, to the largest independent hip hop/R&B TV show worldwide since 2007, WHO?MAG TV has now evolved into the TV network, WHO?MAG Multimedia. WHO?MAG has always been ahead of the curve in urban entertainment, and now with Unreel, it is continuing that trend with OTT apps.

WHO?MAG Multimedia features the biggest names in hip hop and R&B ranging from Pitbull, Wyclef, Big Sean, Rakim, KRS-One, Redman & Meth, DJ Premier, Mathew Knowles, George Clinton, Public Enemy, and hundreds more. Check out the gallery below to see some of the industry’s biggest names already using the app.

Ready to get access to exclusive hip hop interviews, music videos, concerts, and much more? Get WHO?MAG Multimedia, now live on Android, iOS, tvOS, and Roku!

The post App Spotlight: WHO?MAG Multimedia appeared first on Unreel.me – Powering OTT for the Largest Networks in the World!.

https://www.unreel.me/2017/06/21/app-spotlight-whomag-multimedia/

Bonnier and Unreel Partner to Launch Branded OTT Apps – Video Streaming Services

2017-05-30T22:05:26.466000Z

Bonnier and Unreel Partner to Launch Branded OTT Apps – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2017/05/30/bonnier-and-unreel-partner-to-launch-branded-ott-apps/

Unreel is proud to announce our partnership with one of the world’s leading publishers, Bonnier Corporation. By working with Unreel, Bonnier Corp. has already rapidly released a streaming service supported by multi-platform apps for one of their most popular brands, On Two Wheels, a video series focused on motorcycling.

As innovative thought leaders in the publishing industry, Bonnier Corp. has come to consider OTT a key component of their business’s blueprint for long-term success. With the majority of consumers coming to prefer video over text and transitioning their viewing habits to OTT devices, the need to embrace video via an OTT app strategy has become a necessity for publishers. For them, OTT is a can’t miss opportunity and Unreel is the ideal partner to grow both their audience and revenue streams.

“Partnering with Unreel to deploy our own branded apps saved significant time and money, allowing our team to focus on content creation.” -Sean Holtzman, Bonnier

By powering many current and upcoming Bonnier Corp. own-and-operated video streaming apps, Unreel is enabling them to engage and monetize audiences on new digital platforms. As the publishing industry continues to converge with technology, it is clear that leveraging OTT is a vital part of 21st century publisher’s success; connecting and monetizing their audience in a new way (SVOD, VOD, AVOD). Utilizing Unreel’s big data focused OTT solution ensures that Bonnier Corp., and any publisher or network who partner with Unreel, will lead the new digital video landscape.

More about On Two Wheels:

On Two Wheel is the best motorcycle video series on the internet! Watch as Zack Courts and Ari Henning take on the most exciting motorcycle adventures they can find. Whether they’re skidding across the frozen lakes of Wisconsin, riding BMWs through Thailand, or racing Honda Grom’s, they’ll show you how to have fun On Two Wheels. A monthly motorcycle video series including motorcycle video reviews and motorcycle video test.

Click here to download On Two Wheels for tvOS, Roku, iOS and Android.

The post Bonnier and Unreel Partner to Launch Branded OTT Apps appeared first on Unreel.me – Powering OTT for the Largest Networks in the World!.

https://www.unreel.me/2017/05/30/bonnier-unreel-partner-launch-branded-ott-apps/

How We Would Change The NAB Show – Video Streaming Services

2017-05-08T22:24:22.014000Z

How We Would Change The NAB Show – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2017/05/08/how-we-would-change-the-nab-show/

The NAB Show is the cannot miss event for those in the video industry, be their focus on film, television, digital and everything in between. It attracts anyone and everyone who is involved in the process of recording audio and video, editing it, storing it and then distributing it to audiences. As a distribution solution to that equation, we at Unreel have a unique perspective on how the NAB Show could be enhanced; providing a more productive experience for exhibitors and attendees.

Improving the Show comes down to the most cliché’ phrase in the OTT, film, and television industry — Content is king.

For an event loaded with exhibitors focused on the process of creating and succeeding with content, one thing is glaringly missing from the expo hall; content. Every piece of the puzzle to win in video is missing except the actual video. There are film festivals and other content focused events happening year round for highlighting content, but they are fragmented and don’t draw as large a crowd focused on video as the NAB garners. Inviting owners of content to exhibit at the event would benefit all attendants, most of whose entire world circles around producing or distributing what else, content.

As it currently stands content owners of all kinds, be they networks, filmmakers, or creators, do not exhibit at the NAB. Although they constitute a significant portion of attendees, from the smallest independent creator to the head of a major network, without a booth their only opportunity to participate in the event is by walking. The NAB is overwhelming and even the most ambitious attendee would struggle to make it to all corners of the event and meet with every company relevant to their needs. For owners of content, there is one specific need that they can ill-afford to miss out on exploring every solution for; that is additional distribution. By giving them the chance to exhibit rather than wander, it would simplify the process of connecting content with distribution platforms; be it a new app store, UDN, or means to distribute themselves.

How the new and improved NAB Show would work:

Just like hardware, software, and services get their own floors at the NAB, so would content owners. Major Networks, the OTT kings (Netflix, Hulu, etc.), and MCN types would be able to have a presence as exhibitors, and show off their content; an asset nearly every one else at the event so desperately wants to get their hands on in some way. Platforms with the need for content, like Unreel, be it for syndication, distribution via an app, or original content, would then be able to target and approach appropriate content owners— rather than waiting and hoping that those content owners just pop up at the platform’s own booth by chance. At the end of the event content owners who chose to exhibit would have a thorough list of contacts for new opportunities to distribute. It is a win-win for all sides, allowing those with content, always looking for new ways to increase their reach, to connect with platforms desperate for content to deliver to their audiences.

To learn more about how Unreel transforming the way owners of content distribute, click here!

The post How We Would Change The NAB Show appeared first on Unreel.me – Powering OTT for the Largest Networks in the World!.

https://www.unreel.me/2017/05/08/nabshow2017/

App Spotlight: KNEKT Television – Video Streaming Services

2017-04-19T21:47:28.672000Z

App Spotlight: KNEKT Television – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2017/04/19/app-spotlight-knekt-television/

In a society where the entertainment industry and its stars often focus on the material and extraneous, the video network KNEKT is digging deeper. At the intersection of celebrity, charity, A-list events, and healthy living, KNEKT develops socially conscious content that matters. Driven by their motto, ‘Believe. Connect. Change the World,’ the LA based production company produces world class live and pre-recorded HD broadcasts from exclusive events, concerts, performances, charity galas, fundraisers and red carpet shows, as well as developing and producing film and TV shows with a core theme of conscious content and social good. A winner of the 2016 iMedia Agency Award “Campaign of the Year,” KNEKT is defining what it means to produce content that is as impactful as it is entertaining.

Introducing KNEKT Television apps:

KNEKT Television, the exclusive streaming service of KNEKT content, has launched across iOS, tvOS, Roku, and Android with the help of Unreel tech! Here is what to expect from KNEKT Television apps:

“KNEKT Television will take you behind the velvet ropes to experience world-class exclusive events, celebrities and social influencers. From concerts, performances, charity galas, fundraisers, red carpet interviews to health and wellness videos, sporting events, environment, animal rights and celebrity news, there is something that matters for you to watch on KNEKT Television. KNEKT Television will entertain, inspire and educate through content that matters with a focus on social good.”

Of course KNEKT Television’s website and apps feature the cutting edge UI/UX only Unreel powered apps offer. That includes moment based commenting, an instant GIF/MEME maker to GIF your favorite scenes, and social engagement from around the web. Couple that tech with an incredibly rich and diverse content library keen on delivering a positive message and KNEKT Television is an app you have to have!

The post App Spotlight: KNEKT Television appeared first on Unreel.me – Powering OTT for the Largest Networks in the World!.

https://www.unreel.me/2017/04/19/app-spotlight-knekt-television/

How to make more money from videos: Syndication – Video Streaming Services

2017-04-12T23:07:30.514000Z

How to make more money from videos: Syndication – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2017/04/12/how-to-make-more-money-from-videos-syndication/

For content creators, cashing in on their videos is becoming increasingly difficult. Major companies and their ad dollars, predicted to be worth almost a billion dollars, are fleeing away from YouTube after recent blunders. The platform’s response has been to tighten the rules around what content can be monetized, further hurting YouTubers. There is less money to be had, and it is harder than ever to get past the gatekeeper. Even if you create a monetizable viral hit, it is nearly impossible to keep others from copying the video, and republishing it on Facebook or elsewhere, allowing them to take a significant cut of the revenue you could have generated. In today’s content world, making a business out of your videos means pursuing multiply revenue opportunities. Only mega-creators, who’ve signed lucrative exclusive deals with a specific platform, can rely on distributing their videos to one place. A major part of distributing content to multiple platforms and maximizing revenue for creators now includes syndicating content.

Syndicating your content is a simple process that allows your videos to work for you without additional effort. It is important to note the major advantage of syndicating videos is that it in no way affects your current content strategy. You continue along as you would, free to make and distribute content however you choose. Syndicating simply means that the videos you upload to YouTube and Facebook, will also synch with other properties (video streaming apps) who have been given permission to show your videos. When your videos are shown on these properties, ads are placed just as they would be on YouTube or Facebook. Of that ad revenue, you are given a majority cut.

Syndication libraries like Unreel’s push out videos to apps with millions of users. When you synch your videos to our content library, they have the opportunity to be seen by millions of new viewers. This means you receive ad revenue without having to do a thing and gain exposure to a massive audience interested in the genre your videos occupy. Those new viewers are often easily converted into fans of your brand, then seeking your content on other platforms.

How it works:

Go to Unreel.me and launch your own video streaming site for free. This can be a destination you market and drive fans to, or a private place, simply used to synch and upload your content. If having your own video streaming service (Think your own Netflix) is something you are interested in, Unreel can also build you video streaming apps for every device to reach your fans wherever they watch.

Upon creating your site, you will be invited to connect your YouTube and Facebook accounts. By doing so, every video you’ve ever published on those platforms will automatically be imported onto your new site and integrated into Unreel’s syndication library. Any videos you upload to YouTube or Facebook in the future will also automatically be synched. You also have the option to upload videos directly to your Unreel.me powered site.

Contact us through the admin and express your interest in syndicating. By creating a site and synching your content you will automatically be added to our syndication marketplace, however by personally letting us know about your desire to syndicate, we can make an effort to push your content out to our partners and our own properties.

Keep doing what you do. Continue making the videos you enjoy to produce and posting them where you normally would. They will automatically be pulled into our system’s library and be eligible to syndicated to millions of users.

Learn more and start earning with syndicated content at Unreel.me!

The post How to make more money from videos: Syndication appeared first on Unreel.me – Powering OTT for the Largest Networks in the World!.

https://www.unreel.me/2017/04/12/make-money-videos-syndication/

YouTube is Loosing Creator’s $750 Million Dollars! – Video Streaming Services

2017-04-06T01:05:42.021000Z

YouTube is Loosing Creator’s $750 Million Dollars! – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2017/04/05/youtube-is-loosing-creators-750-million-dollars/

In a very short amount of time advertising darling YouTube has taken a fall from grace. The veil has been lifted and companies advertising with the Google owned site have suddenly recognized one of the platform’s most significant shortcoming. Next to wholesome brand campaigns aimed at winning the hearts and minds of consumers is often indecent video content chock-full of violence, misogyny, racism and vulgarities. Unlike traditional marketing channels, where companies can review the content their ads will be coupled with, YouTube is the Wild West. An advertisement for Girl Scout cookies could easily end up as pre-roll for the latest hit Neo-Nazi music video. Or in a very real world example, advertisements from the UK government were appearing next to radicalized terrorist videos. YouTube’s current safeguards attempt to prevent mismatches and block content inappropriate for ads, but they are not always effective. Very public, recent mishaps have left a bad taste in Advertiser’s mouths, leading many blue chip names such as McDonald’s, Toyota, L’Oreal to pull back or completely shut down their YouTube ad spend.

In response YouTube is scrambling to beef up their advertising algorithms in an attempt to insure that videos violating their intense monetization criteria are properly flagged and demonetized. Considering just how stringent the platform’s monetization rules are, it is impossible to make a truly foolproof system to prevent inappropriate content from delivering ads. Google’s most viable solution has been to approach a very intricate problem with a bazooka. They’ve begun to cast a wide net, flagging videos with any sort of questionable content and some without. An unfortunate consequence of this nuclear option is that millions of ad eligible videos are being wrongfully slapped with a demonetization sticker – an issue that is already being noticed and costing creators their livelihood.

What this means for creators:

The recent controversies surrounding YouTube ads have led to companies cutting their ad spend. The profit pie from which creators can take a slice has shrunk. The platform’s new algorithm is accidentally tagging an alarming number of videos as demonetized, making it harder than ever for YouTubers to even have a chance at crumbs. There is less to be made on ads and to make a bad situation worse; it is harder than ever to get a video approved to deliver ads. It has been predicted that the coinciding of these two phenomena will cost creators over $750 million dollars.^[1] This is surely a hit for YouTube but that sort of revenue loss will be overcome – one of the many perks of being owned by the world’s largest company. It is a different story for the 100,000’s of creators impacted, who are suffering an incredibly consequential loss. That sort of cut to ad spend means creators are going to lose money, possibly up to 10% of their already paltry cut. The money they need to pay the bills and put towards creating more content is drying up. This certainly isn’t the end of YouTube, but it is a reminder that relying solely on the platform for monetizing content is risky business.

Alternative revenue streams:

It is not your fault abhorrent videos on YouTube are going to cost you dollars. Take your content’s destiny into your own hands. As a creator you have options to self distribute your videos, no longer relying on a platform such as YouTube that take a significant portion of your revenue. By launching your own video streaming service (think your own Netflix or HULU) you can take your fan base and revenue to the next level. You can still enable ads that will start delivering automatically, however now you get to keep the vast majority of payout, instead of ceding YouTube’s huge cut. You also have the option to sell your content as a subscription service or with video on demand, once again allowing you to keep nearly all the profits. In addition to increased monetization opportunities, having your own video streaming service allows you take control of your fan base by collecting their emails, opening up marketing opportunities and the chance to nurture your relationship with them.

With Unreel.me you can instantly launch your own video streaming service for free and then roll out custom branded apps for every smart device. Unreel’s ad partnerships ensures when you enable ads, you will deliver ads with higher payouts than on any other platform; payouts you keep the lion’s share of. Monetize with SVOD, VOD, and merchandise as well. Using Unreel there is no commitment and you can continue your activities on YouTube and other platforms as you currently do. If you are looking for an additional way to profit from your content brand and continue to grow it, Unreel is the platform for you!

Click Here to Launch your video streaming service instantly!

The post YouTube is Loosing Creator’s $750 Million Dollars! appeared first on Unreel.me – Powering OTT for the Largest Networks in the World!.

https://www.unreel.me/2017/04/05/youtube-loosing-750-million-dollars-money/

Publishers and Impending Video Doom: a survival guide. – Video Streaming Services

2017-03-28T20:57:28.044000Z

Publishers and Impending Video Doom: a survival guide. – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2017/03/28/publishers-and-impending-video-doom-a-survival-guide/

Consumers have become zombies, hungry to zone-out on video content, how can print first publishers survive?

A sea-change is occurring in the digital content landscape, posing an extinction-level threat to the publishing industry. Video is on a path to become the dominant form of content consumed. It is predicted that by 2019, 80% of Internet traffic will be video.^[1] As attention spans continue to dwindle below that of a studious goldfish and consumers become increasingly stubborn to engage, video is dethroning all other content as king. Two thirds of millennials would rather watch than read to get information, a number that is skyrocketing with each successive generation.^[2] If publishers do not heavily invest in video and an OTT distribution strategy to fortify their brands, judgment day may be swiftly approaching for this centuries-old industry.

If content is King, video has become a Deity.

Two decades ago, publishers faced a similarly bleak outlook. Their industry was in peril due to a rapid shift in technology; the transition from print to digital. The Internet became ubiquitous and consumer preferences for content consumption turned from ink to screens. Pundits and insiders feared the collapse of the entire industry was imminent as the masses turned almost exclusively to the cyber-world for information. Rather than dissolving into irrelevance, publishers pulled themselves up by their bootstraps and rapidly developed a business model to reflect a digital first mindset. Magazines were made available digitally and their websites became vibrant communities of new information generating tremendous traffic. The publishing industry endured a systematic change in the way content is consumed, pioneering lucrative new revenue streams in the process.

Once again positioned at a similarly transformative juncture, most publishers’ path to prosperity is clear – evolve or die. Established magazine brands equipped with millions of subscribers and strong name recognition are fortuitously positioned to capitalize on the emerging OTT video ecosystem – an ecosystem made possible by the fall of cable and the rise of unbundled content.

Publishers’ built in fanbases are thirsty for niche’ videos produced by their favorite magazines. Aided by years of expertise in their respective field, magazines should not find developing video content of value a challenge, nor should encouraging their passionate fans to download branded video streaming apps. For the publishers with a pliable distribution strategy, the threat of video is merely a chance to lead OTT’s wave of creative destruction and leave the cadavers of slow-to-adapt competitors in their wake.

How to Capitalize:

Publishers know the content game. Let Unreel, a member and approved vendor of the MPA, take care of the distribution. Rapidly launch video streaming services for each of your brands with custom apps across every platform. Instantly ingest video content you already have from any source and upload new exclusive content directly to your properties. Don’t have a deep video library? Unreel can provide you with premium content in your genre from our extensive syndication library. Manage your empire from a single admin and monetize content however you would like, be it with subscriptions, ads or VOD. Unreel is already working with some of the worlds largest publishers to power their OTT strategy.

Check out Bonnier Corporation’s Unreel powered apps ‘On Two Wheels’ and the Enthusiast network’s ‘Recoil’ apps to see prime examples of what Unreel is able to do for publishers in a short amount of time.

To learn more how Unreel can help your magazine brands develop a video OTT strategy click here!

The post Publishers and Impending Video Doom: a survival guide. appeared first on Unreel.me – Powering OTT for the Largest Networks in the World!.

https://www.unreel.me/2017/03/28/publishers-video/

Why we decided to offer free OTT cloud hosting – Video Streaming Services

2017-02-28T23:51:09.408000Z

Why we decided to offer free OTT cloud hosting – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2017/02/28/why-we-decided-to-offer-free-ott-cloud-hosting/

Charging to host content just doesn’t make sense to us.

If you shop around looking for a turnkey OTT service you will find many companies offering similar cookie-cutter solutions. To work with them you request basic video streaming apps, wait an undisclosed amount of time as they are built, upload your videos, launch your properties and sell content. What you will also find is a costly fee each month based on data used to host your videos in the cloud. This charge to store your content on their servers can quickly escalate to a small fortune if you are trying to scale a network with an immense video library. To the OTT providers it seems fair; server space is an expense that can easily be passed on to the customers. This policy also serves as insurance; if they are so lucky as to bag a substantial partner, charging based on storage space used allows them to leach off of their costumer’s size, meaning they do not miss out on extra profits when working with established brands. This model for cloud hosting on OTT essentially penalizes the content owner for adding content, curbing them from taking necessary steps to make their apps profitable.

Why would you hurt your partner’s chance at success?

For Unreel, the decision to offer free OTT cloud hosting was easy. Our number one concern is our partner’s OTT app’s success. In that vein, one of our main focuses is to guide our partner’s content strategy. Being across all platforms on your own video streaming apps is meaningless if those apps lack content that entices fans to use them every day. A great driver of effective content strategy is offering an extensive reserve of videos. The more content to discover on a property, the longer a user will stay, increasing ad viewership, further developing their relationship with your brand, and providing additional opportunities to cross promote your other brands or properties. When you engage fans on an app loaded with an overwhelming supply of content, fans consistently return because there is always something new for them to watch.

Upload terabytes of video without spending a dime.

To us it makes absolutely no sense to discourage our partners from bulk uploading videos to develop a deep content inventory. By bearing the brunt of cloud hosting expenses ourselves, we free up our partners to shape their content strategy around making their video streaming service the best experience for users. Whether we are working with a single content creator who has 100’s of videos or a major network with a content catalogue that goes back decades, they both pay the same for hosting – nothing. Unhindered by the fear of raising their overhead, Unreel partners are more effective at launching OTT apps that are built for long term success.

Click here to learn about Unreel.me’s free hosting and launch OTT apps of your own!

The post Why we decided to offer free OTT cloud hosting appeared first on Unreel.me – Powering OTT for the Largest Networks in the World!.

https://www.unreel.me/2017/02/28/free-cloud-hosting-ott/

Maker Studios Cut Me, What Now? – Video Streaming Services

2017-02-16T22:23:30.352000Z

Maker Studios Cut Me, What Now? – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2017/02/16/maker-studios-cut-me-what-now/

This could be the best thing to ever happen to your career as a creator!

In a move that is sending shockwaves among the content creator community, Maker Studios has announced it will cut ties with all but 300 of their creators.

If you are one of the thousands to be let go, you might be feeling like this:

Or in extreme cases this:

In reality though you should be feeling like this:

Now free from Maker you have two choices: Partner with another MCN or go it by yourself.

New MCN’s and Networks Will Call For You. They will say they are different from Maker, but they are not. They all operate under the same model, find as many creators with fans as possible, promise the world, trap them with an inescapable contract, and take the majority of revenue the creator generates despite the creator doing the majority of the work. Why would you want that again?

Go it alone and tell Maker and other MCN’s what they can go do:

Why going it alone does not have to mean going it alone:

As you wiggle your way out from under Maker studio’s thumb, you are entering a new world where YouTuber creators without a network are self-distributing and monetizing content with the support of Unreel.me. Unreel provides creators with their own branded video streaming site and apps, basically their own Netflix, available across all platforms. With Unreel.me powered properties creators are able to sell subscriptions, videos on demand, enable ads just like on YouTube, and accept tips like Patreon. The vast majority of the profits generated are the creators to keep, not an MCN’s or YouTube’s. On top of that, creator’s videos can be cross promoted on thousands of other Unreel powered sites and apps, exposing the creatorto new fans and increasing opportunities to earn ad revenue.

How self-distributing works:

Step 1: Launch your own “Netflix like” video streaming site and apps for free instantly with Unreel.

Step 2: Sync your YouTube and Facebook content and upload videos directly to your site.

Step 3: Monetize your site and apps by selling subscriptions to access exclusive videos, video-on-demand, enabling ads, and accepting tips.

Step 4: Tell your fans about your site and instruct them to download your apps to see exclusive videos.

Step 5: Jump in your swimming pool of money, since you do not have to share the majority of your revenue with an MCN or YouTube!

Ready to be your own boss?

Instantly Launch your site for free, click here!

With Unreel.me there is no commitment and it is free to launch instantly. Customize your site with your own branding, colors, and content. Sync with your YouTube and Facebook video libraries and upload exclusive content directly in the admin. Drive your fans to check out your properties where they can buy subscriptions to access exclusive videos, tip you, and view videos with ads. Contact us to explore opportunities to launch your own apps across all platforms and expose your content to millions of new fans with our syndication strategy. Without Maker you are now free to pursue countless new ways to earn more money from your videos and grow your fan base, let us help.

About Unreel.me:

Unreel powers OTT sites and apps for the industry’s largest creators, networks, and publishers. With a patented A.I. to power an unparalleled user experience and Big Data driven analytics, Unreel is building more than just another video streaming app for our partners. With a wealth of monetization options and opportunities to reach new fans, Unreel is dedicated to seeing its partners succeed by providing them the tools necessary.

The post Maker Studios Cut Me, What Now? appeared first on Unreel.me – Powering OTT for the Largest Networks in the World!.

https://www.unreel.me/2017/02/16/maker-studios-cut-now/

Unreel.me Feature Updates: Light theme and new discover page – Video Streaming Services

2017-01-27T23:29:46.623000Z

Unreel.me Feature Updates: Light theme and new discover page – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2017/01/27/unreel-me-feature-updates-light-theme-and-new-discover-page/

The new Light theme is bringing balance to the OTT force:

To be honest, Unreel has been keeping its partners in the dark…theme. With the introduction of light theme, that is the case no longer. Light theme features a white background and accents on unreel.me powered video streaming desktop and mobile sites. Today marks a brighter era for creators, publishers, and networks using the platform. Although black will always be a sleek and sexy look, now you have the choice to set white as your background, brightening up the aesthetic of your site.

To implement light theme simply go to the ‘general’ section of the ‘settings’ drop down from your admin dashboard. Then scroll down to the section titled, ‘colors’ and change the theme to ‘light.’

New Discover Page:

In addition to a new light theme option, all sites have been updated with a new discover page. The discover section of your site now has a more enticing look for the featured video sans the gradient, and a smoother channel layout with a new play button, scrubber bar and video details on thumbnails. We will continue to work on updating our designs to ensure our sites remain on the cutting edge of design.

Click here to launch your own Unreel.me Video Streaming site with Light theme.

The post Unreel.me Feature Updates: Light theme and new discover page appeared first on Unreel.me – Powering OTT for the Largest Networks in the World!.

https://www.unreel.me/2017/01/27/unreel-feature-updates-light-theme-new-discover-page/

Maximize your OTT revenue: Advertising vs. SVOD – Video Streaming Services

2017-01-20T23:17:03.815000Z

Maximize your OTT revenue: Advertising vs. SVOD – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2017/01/20/maximize-your-ott-revenue-advertising-vs-svod/

When it comes down to it, a video streaming service is a business. The sole reason why networks are turning to OTT to distribute content is monetization. Killer content is essential, but only because it brings an audience with buying power. The fact of the matter is that great content is simply a commodity; content owners want to maximize the earning potential of their videos. On OTT platforms there are two models for generating revenue that networks prefer; AVOD and SVOD.

OTT AVOD:

Advertising on OTT platforms is swiftly approaching the immense value that was formally only reserved for TV commercials. With the ability to effectively reach target markets across mediums that receive high engagement, marketers are eager to advertise on OTT. Currently in the land of OTT there is a deficiency of ad inventory. Lack of opportunities to deliver ads, combined with tremendous demand, has resulted in rocketing CPM’s (The amount marketers will pay for their ad to be shown to 1,000 people).

There are two reasons why OTT content is so valuable to marketers; the viewing habits of users on OTT devices and the precision to target demographics on such devices. The level of engagement with video advertisements on OTT platforms rivals that of cable. Across desktop and mobile, YouTube reports that millennials watch a staggering 29% of skippable ads, purely out of interest in the content.[1] Google determined that OTT ads provide a greater ROI than Television ads for over 75% of businesses that pursue both.[2] On OTT, advertisers can set their ads to be shown only to viewers who fit their target market. This is why engagement and ROI is so high, the right products and services are being shown to people who are most likely to be interested in them.

Calculating Potential AVOD revenue:

To estimate the potential monthly ad take of your video streaming service you must predict how many views your content will receive and then factor in your expected CPM. Putting a number on your monthly views can be done by examining the size of your current fan base and the level of marketing effort you intend to put in promoting your new OTT offerings. Keep in mind; unlike YouTube or cable, you cannot rely on organic discovery to fuel your OTT audience size. The majority of viewers you receive will be sent to your apps by your own efforts!

Optimistic outlook

Take the average view count for a video on your current distribution channels, and multiply that by the number of videos you intend to release per month. That number of views would be a very optimistic scenario, close to the ceiling of total views you can expect from your OTT apps for the first months.

Conservative outlook

Multiplying the number of dedicated fans you have (subscribers to your distribution channels and newsletters) by the number of videos you intend to put out in a month will give you a conservative scenario for total number of monthly views.

Expected CPM’s

Once you have the number of expected views you want to use, you will have to break it down by the platforms you will be on. In general on Unreel powered apps, SmartTV CPMs are $20-$40, Mobile app CPMs are $5-$10, and Desktop/Mobile CPMs are $2-$7.

Plug your estimates into the equation below to get a feeling for what your monthly revenue from ads could be:

(CPM(# of views))/1000=Total revenue

OTT SVOD:

At first glance, Subscription video-on-demand appears the most lucrative business model for a video streaming service. There is a reason it is the preferred monetization strategy for the largest names in streaming. The reliability and revenue potential that comes with monthly payments from users is the stuff digital distribution dreams are made of. With a subscription model, there are very few variables. It is easy to calculate monthly revenue to budget around. For the most part, SVOD provides unrivaled security, delivering cash flow into a business at a consistent rate.

SVOD comes with a caveat however; it only works for some types of content. Generally, subscription services have a supremely dedicated following; either because their content is uber-premium, or it fits a niche with a highly engaged fan base. SVOD services also need large libraries of content that update consistently and frequently. Netflix and HBO are winning with SVOD because they mix massive and constantly updating collections of major Hollywood films with frequent and new quality content. Lesser known brands pull SVOD off because they provide great content for a specific genre, be it fitness, comics, humor, horror etc.; they have dedicated fans. Even these smaller subscription services are only able to make SVOD work because among their niche’ they are popular and they consistently put out interesting videos.

Calculating potential SVOD revenue:

To calculate the optimal revenue from subscriptions requires putting on your guestimation cap. It all starts with determining the elasticity of your offering.

Elasticity is a measure of costumer sensitivity to a change in price. The more elastic your service is, the higher the price you can charge without experiencing a significant drop-off of users. Elasticity for OTT apps is based on several factors including, dedication of fan-base, quality of content, type of content, and frequency of new content. All of these factors make your service appear to be good value for users. It is up to you to know what price for your subscription will be received as solid value to your target users and what price will drive them away. Price too high and no one will pay it; price too low and you leave money on the table.

Use this table to get a feel for subscription prices for some of the top OTT services:

Once you’ve determined a price that won’t send your fans running for the hills, you will need to anticipate how many users will actually sign up. This number should be based upon the size of your current fan base (subscribers to your current distribution channel and newsletter) and the extent of your marketing efforts. Assume the percentage of current fans that subscribe to your service will be between 5%-25%.

Now that you have a price and the number of users you expect to sign up, simply multiply them to come up with your SVOD estimated revenue.

(# Of users) X (Price of monthly subscription)= SVOD monthly revenue

Comparing SVOD to AVOD:

Now equipped with two numbers, you have a very rough estimate to compare what your revenues could be. from AVOD and SVOD. These figures are not financials to bank on, rather, are more of a wake up call to ensure you truly consider if SVOD is the correct avenue for your streaming service to pursue.

A Final Word:

Choosing between Ads and SVOD is a vital decision that will shape your video streaming business. Unless your fans are many and extremely loyal, relying on AVOD is the safest way to generate revenue. The decision is not easy, and you need to reflect inward, just how dedicated are the people who love your content? Is there enough of them to sustain your business if the only revenue you receive is their monthly payments? You can always choose to do SVOD and Ads. Keep your subscription rate low, and supplement it with the revenue from ads. This is a way to guarantee yourself a monthly revenue stream, with the opportunity to significantly increase profits from high views counts. Do not be afraid to experiment to find what works best for your content.

Unreel is powering video streaming services for some of the largest networks in the world, monetizing with several different business models. If you are ready to take your content OTT, or looking for an upgrade, lets talk.

The post Maximize your OTT revenue: Advertising vs. SVOD appeared first on Unreel.me – Powering OTT for the Largest Networks in the World!.

https://www.unreel.me/2017/01/20/maximize-ott-revenue-advertising-vs-svod/

The Future of the Future of TV: 2017 Edition – Video Streaming Services

2017-01-06T22:13:04.047000Z

The Future of the Future of TV: 2017 Edition – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2017/01/06/the-future-of-the-future-of-tv-2017-edition/

Little over a year ago Apple’s Tim Cook issued a bold statement. The future of TV is apps.

Visionary as Apple Inc. may be, even they cannot claim something and then simply make it so. Rather, that statement was an assessment of an abundantly clear truth; both the market and networks have a predilection for content that is neatly packaged into easily consumable apps. Fans want an un-bundling of content, allowing them full control of what they watch and pay for. Unlike other media, networks are eager to disavow traditional platforms in favor of the greener pastures distribution through their own apps promise — more control, more information, more revenue. Networks no longer require a third party’s platform to push content to their audience, they can become their own platform. Apple’s prediction is quickly becoming a reality; the future of TV really is apps.

So then what is the future of TV apps?

Networks brimming with content and individual creators are in need of apps to own their distribution on new platforms . The market has already demonstrated that niche’ apps for specific genres of content, brands, and creators assure a built-in audience and therefore instant usership. Digital networks are sitting pretty, backed by armies of creators with content easily pushed to vertical driven apps. Traditional networks are also well positioned to dive headfirst into the OTT app pool with each of their unique content offerings attracting established fans. All networks will need apps for each brand/genre in their portfolio, leaving them with the daunting task of managing hundreds of individual properties. The future of SmartTV will be the networks that can manage and leverage their multitude of apps from a central CMS and drive engagement with an optimized user experience across all their properties.

Interconnected apps are the future of TV.

The winners of SmartTV will be those early adopters who launch a network of apps able to communicate with one another, share data, and be managed from a central CMS dashboard. The fiber connecting these apps is data. A network of apps collecting metrics on overarching trends as well as specific user behavior will yield highly actionable insights. Providing both an omniscient recommendation engine for individuals in addition to revelations about groups of user-cohorts. This intimate understanding of user engagement will provide an unparalleled advantage to networks armed with data from their interconnected apps, allowing for strategic decisions to be informed by in-depth data not hunches.

Cross-promotion breeds increased engagement.

Interconnectivity is a two way street. It is both a connection between apps on the back-end as well as the front-end. A single all access ‘passport’ account made by a user could mean access to the whole family of apps within a network, reducing friction and encouraging additional engagement. A thorough understanding of each fan’s viewing habits would then provide powerful recommendation data driving targeted engagement to new properties that will be of interest. This means longer watch times and increased downloads for additional apps. Once a user joins one of a network’s apps, they are exposed to all of them.

The 500 million dollar question:

Vevo recently announced their plans for music world domination that includes establishing an OTT empire. The price tag for their expansion, a cool $500 mill; much of which will be necessary to build the tech for their apps. Although Vevo’s situation is different than most, the sticker shock associated with a truly connected OTT platform may leave many networks with cold feet.

Make sure your network has a place in SmartTV’s future.

For networks, brands and creators hesitant or unable to shell out that kind of capital, other solutions do exist. One option is to outsource to an app firm that will craft a one-off, stand-alone app. While perhaps economical for a single app, any attempt to scale this way becomes both slow and pricy, taking considerable time and funds to execute. Another option is enlisting a standard cookie-cutter tech company that, in a reasonable amount of time, will build templated apps for each brand in a network. The only thing connecting these apps however are their identical standard design; as always, you get what you pay for. The shortcomings of these traditional solutions have slowed the imminent transition from cable, and desktop to SmartTV.

The key for networks is to find an OTT sweet spot; somewhere between the high costs of DIY, the long production time required when outsourcing to a firm, and the mass-produced stand alone tech company solutions. A strategy that can quickly produce interconnected OTT apps with a unique UI/UX and actionable data without costing a fortune. A strategy to scale apps with the right features quickly, striking while the iron is hot, will lead the winners of SmartTV into the future.

A New Solution.

Unreel.me supports networks looking to dominate SmartTV and OTT . Unreel is currently providing some of the largest networks in the world with interconnected custom apps; rapidly scaling every brand in their portfolio. Using a patented Big Data driven A.I., Unreel apps boast the industry’s most in-depth analytics dashboard and a powerful recommendation engine. Going beyond data by providing a one-of-a-kind UI/UX and viral features found nowhere else to boost fan engagement, Unreel OTT apps are more than just apps. With a focus on monetizing content with SVOD, VOD, Tip jar and Ad support, Unreel is turning OTT into a scalable stream of revenue for the business side of networks and creators all over the world.

Lear more about the Unreel advantage here.

The post The Future of the Future of TV: 2017 Edition appeared first on Unreel.me – Powering OTT for the Largest Networks in the World!.

https://www.unreel.me/2017/01/06/future-of-tv-ott/

Is OTT The Death Of Movie Theaters? – Video Streaming Services

2016-12-02T16:54:31.560000Z

Is OTT The Death Of Movie Theaters? – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2016/12/02/is-ott-the-death-of-movie-theaters/

From the Big Screen to your Own Screen:

Hollywood studios are considering shortening the window between a film’s theatrical release and home release to only two short weeks.[1] A move that would have been considered heresy even 5-years ago could happen in an often static industry known to be a late adopter.

The opportunity motivating such revolutionary thinking? The promise of self-distribution on OTT channels.

With DVD sales down double digits year after year, it is clear that consumer preferences are shifting towards digital content.[2] Digital content provides studios with the keys necessary to forgo traditional distribution gatekeepers, such as movie theaters and rental businesses, including the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu etc. OTT has endowed studios with the ability to make a movie available to fans, on the devices they want to watch, while keeping all the profit.

Some people would rather watch from their couch.

Studio execs see the opportunity and are even prepared to cannibalize ticket sales in order to capitalize on OTT.

Self-Distribution represents more than just an opportunity to circumvent the revenue share models of traditional channels. OTT for studios means taking control of their relationship with fans, allowing for retargeting and recommendations that drive further business. When a consumer goes to the theater, their only interaction is with the theater. That is whom they purchase their tickets and popcorn from and that is who has the chance to collect visitors’ emails and information in order to develop a relationship. Distributing on their own OTT platforms affords studios that privilege. Being able to gather data about users and then push additional content they may have interest in via in-app recommendations and email is extremely powerful.

The fact that the film industry is prepared to significantly impact their primary source of revenue, ticket sales, in order to maximize profits by self-distributing speaks volumes about the value of OTT.

When a film generates $100 million at the box office, a significant portion of that revenue is pocketed by the movie theater. For the first two weeks of a film’s release theaters on average take a 20% cut, with that number skyrocketing to 50% afterwards.[3] Rather then nibbling on an unimpressive 50% of ticket sales after a film’s first two weeks in theaters, studios now have the more lucrative option of selling their movie directly to fans in the $25-$50 range, feasting on nearly all of the revenue.

Will movie theaters be thrown to the wayside à la Blockbuster, drive-ins, and silent films? Probably not – OTT isn’t a replacement for the big screen experience. Rather, it is a means to capture audiences unwilling to go to the theater in favor of the convenience of their own devices as well as a way to reap all the profits from fans desperate to shell out cash in order to own a film as soon as possible; all the while collecting data and retargeting to drive further sales.

Unreel.me provides the technology and support for the self distribution of any film, be it independent or the years biggest hit.

To learn more about how Unreel powers OTT apps across all platforms to enable studios, networks, and content creators click here!

The post Is OTT The Death Of Movie Theaters? appeared first on Unreel.me – Powering OTT for the Largest Networks in the World!.

https://www.unreel.me/2016/12/02/ott-movie-theaters/

The 2016 Election in Internet Video Comments – Video Streaming Services

2016-11-08T02:45:48.350000Z

The 2016 Election in Internet Video Comments – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2016/11/08/the-2016-election-in-internet-video-comments-2/

Unreel’s patented A.I. bot, Bumblebee, has crawled the top 2,000 videos of the 2016 Election, analyzing over 2.5M comments to uncover 43,568 time stamped scenes people have reacted to on Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, and Youtube.

Click here to learn how Unreel gathers data and uses it to power OTT apps for some of the largest networks in the world!

The post The 2016 Election in Internet Video Comments appeared first on Unreel.me – Powering OTT for the Largest Networks in the World!.

The 2016 Election in Internet Video Comments

The 2016 Election in Internet Video Comments – Video Streaming Services

2016-11-08T01:15:57.417000Z

The 2016 Election in Internet Video Comments – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2016/11/08/the-2016-election-in-internet-video-comments/

Unreel’s patented A.I. bot, Bumblebee, has crawled the top 2,000 videos of the 2016 Election, analyzing over 2.5M comments to uncover 43,568 time stamped scenes people have reacted to on Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, and Youtube.

Click here to learn how Unreel gathers data and uses it to power OTT apps for some of the largest networks in the world!

The post The 2016 Election in Internet Video Comments appeared first on Unreel.me – Powering OTT for the Largest Networks in the World!.

The 2016 Election in Internet Video Comments

What We Learned at Streaming Media West – Video Streaming Services

2016-11-04T21:12:01.732000Z

What We Learned at Streaming Media West – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2016/11/04/what-we-learned-at-streaming-media-west/

On November 1st and 2nd Streaming Media West, a can’t miss conference for anyone in the online video space, came surfing into Huntington Beach, California. Unreel attended as sponsors with a booth on the expo floor to chat with industry experts and introduce ourselves.

Here’s what we learned about the OTT industry from the event:

1. Simplicity at Sign Up:

Mitigating friction during sign up was a major concern for networks with OTT offerings. Considering that the platforms users are creating accounts on do not lend themselves to typing (think writing your name and address with an Apple TV remote), making account creation simple and quick is essential. If the process requires too much time and effort, a considerable number of people will likely give up. Drop-off right before converting a costumer hurts enough and content owners want to ensure it is never because the barrier of joining their OTT service is too intensive.

Solutions to this problem involve only collecting crucial information, and a clean UI that makes it effortless to create your account.

2. Collect Data Please:

The sign up process can be double-edged sword; there is a strong focus on simplicity however collecting significant data about each costumer has huge upside. Being able to organize users into cohorts based on different criteria is vital to analyzing churn and patching leaks in the retention bucket.

A clear example would be HBO, who understands users signing up for their OTT service around the beginning of a new Game of Thrones season in the Winter will have a very different drop of pattern, and respond differently to marketing than users who subscribe to the service mid-Spring. Having users grouped based on information ranging from when they signed up to gender, age, and interests is invaluable.

Knowing the demographics of costumers may be necessary information to collect upon account creation, but the key is to not forfeit ease of use. Simplifying information input from the users side and only collecting metrics that matter can minimize drop offs and still provide the insights a successful OTT service will need.

3. Monetization is a numbers game:

The equation networks with OTT offerings are grappling with is simple. How many views could they accrue if their content was free with ads and what CPM would they receive? That number than needs to be pitted against the optimized number of users who would pay a monthly subscription at some price to maximize profits. There are also other factors to consider, such as reputation and protecting other premium distribution channels, however for most it comes down to the bottom line.

The trend seems to be that unless your content is high-end premium with an already passionate fan base, ads and possibly a freemium model is preferable. The prospect of receiving reoccurring payments from an army of subscribers every month may sound more lucrative than the inconstant revenue stream from ads, it is easier said then done. Unless you are able to shell out a considerable marketing budget, consistently produce premium content on a weekly basis, and can capture your existing fans, ads prove to be the better model.

4. Living for live:

Live video is in right now. Considering Twitter and Facebook’s huge push into live streaming the opportunity is clear to everyone. From networks looking for a way to synch their live cable broadcast to their OTT apps, to creators wanting to provide their fans with live coverage of special events, the capability to deliver content in real time is in high demand. In the expo hall nearly every content owner we spoke with expressed interest in our OTT app’s live video capabilities. The appeal is understandable and it is clearly a necessary tool in any effective OTT arsenal.

Looking for your own OTT Apps?

Here at Unreel we have always had a focus on user data. The OTT apps we power for some of the worlds largest networks are continually gathering information about their users from sign up to every engagement they have with content. The data Unreel provides its partners allows for cohort analysis to understand churn, and user-by-user preferences to make effective recommendations reducing the effects of show dumping.

Learn more about Unreel powered OTT apps and our focus on Big Data here.

The post What We Learned at Streaming Media West appeared first on Unreel.me – home for content creators!.

What We Learned at Streaming Media West

GT Channel Races to tvOS – Video Streaming Services

2016-10-28T21:42:27.185000Z

GT Channel Races to tvOS – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2016/10/28/gt-channel-races-to-tvos/

The new Unreel.me powered GT channel app is out for Apple TV, get it today!

GT Channel is the only network of youtube creators focused on the automative world. If it runs on four wheels, you will find it in a GT Channel video. Featuring the trademark energy and passion of car enthusiasts everywhere, the GT Channel tvOS app allows you to bring the worlds greatest car videos directly into your living room. See the world fastest, loudest and most beautiful cars on the best screen in the house!

By partnering with Unreel, GT Channel was able to quickly bring their one of a kind app to market. A UI/UX friendly experience with our unique design makes it easy for users to navigate and discover car videos they want to watch. Moment based comments and easy sharing means fans can engage with GT Channel’s content like never before.

To see the Unreel.me powered app in action, go to the tvOS app store on your appleTV and search “GT Channel!”

The post GT Channel Races to tvOS appeared first on Unreel.me – home for content creators!.

GT Channel Races to tvOS

Losing your Vine? A Vine Alternative You Need… – Video Streaming Services

2016-10-27T23:42:29.618000Z

Losing your Vine? A Vine Alternative You Need… – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2016/10/27/losing-your-vine-a-vine-alternative-you-need/

It is a sad day for Viners world wide. With the crushing news that Twitter will be closing the video platform, users of the site are facing an unsure future. For many Viners, the site was more than just a hobby, but a career, launching many into Internet stardom. Very shortly the plug will be pulled and suddenly thousands of content creators will be in need of a new home for their content.

Viners are asking what now?

The end of Vine does not mean the end of a career for any one who generated an income from the site and the fame it brought them. You still own a valuable library of videos and no doubt have plans to produce many more. The best vine alternative? Launching your own custom video streaming website and apps to take control of your distribution, fan-base, and revenue.

Take your content to a platform that will never let your down, your own!

With your own site and apps you can monetize your videos with subscriptions, advertisements, and collect money with a tip jar, all at one of the fairest rev-share rates in the industry. You will also be able to collect fans emails, allowing you to communicate directly with them, giving you full control!

Vine as a platform for discovery may be going away, but a new opportunity to monetize your fans and continue to grow is just beginning. Best of all it is free to get started with unreel.me!

Click here to instantly launch your own video streaming site and start monetizing your videos!

The post Losing your Vine? A Vine Alternative You Need… appeared first on Unreel.me – home for content creators!.

Losing your Vine? A Vine Alternative You Need…

‘Ad’dition by Subtraction – Video Streaming Services

2016-10-13T23:35:43.220000Z

‘Ad’dition by Subtraction – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2016/10/13/addition-by-subtraction/

How T.V. is losing its place at the top of the ad world because of OTT.

TV has long been heralded as the gold standard for advertisers. As a rare opportunity to target engaged consumers in their own homes the total annual spend on television commercials has led the ad market since 1954 .[1] However dominant Television’s past has been, its future is swiftly fading as the light of digital ads grow brighter and brighter. The new medium has seen a steady rise in ad market share since it burst onto the scene at the end of the 20^th century. Digital is now poised to overtake television thanks to explosive growth spurred by the new age of digital video. As more and more consumers cut the chord and groves of content owners migrate to the lucrative self-distribution options of digital, broadcast television could end up by the wayside.

By 2019 Digital ad spend is set to overtake Television ad spend as the market leader.

Source: http://www.visualcapitalist.com/chart-slow-death-traditional-media/

There are two major factors pulling ads from TV and pushing them into video.

New Opportunities for Content Owners:

For content owners such as networks the opportunity is immense. OTT simply represents a better option than cable. By self-distributing via OTT, networks have full control over their content, their audience, and their revenue, forsaking a financially strenuous relationship with Cable providers. Networks are free to navigate both distribution channels, committing to an OTT strategy while keeping one foot in traditional cable. Any cannibalization of cable viewership by OTT is welcome. Content creators such as YouTubers and Filmmakers also benefit, increasing their share of revenue and taking control of their fans via self-distribution. Content owners would not be sitting so pretty, if consumers hadn’t demonstrated their desire for cable alternatives.

Cord-cutters:

It is well documented that consumers, particularly the millennial generation, have little love for cable. In the US 25% of homes are now cable free, a number made up in part by 400,000 new Cord-Cutters from 2015 and the millions of Cord-Nevers, young adults who have never had a cable subscription and likely never will.[2] The reason? Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and a whole parade of new OTT content options from Networks are simply better. Nearly half of the US population subscribes to at least one of the big three OTT services (Netflix, Amazon, Hulu) and 16% subscribe to at least two OTT services. The number of “self bundlers” subscribing to multiple services has increased by 10% over the last 3 years.[3] There is a paradigm shift occurring that terrifies cable; consumers understand it makes no sense to pay for bundled content they do not want. OTT is allowing enlightened consumers to bundle as they please, a fact more viewers realize everyday. The opportunity to reach this new audience is drawing content owners and in turn advertisers to the OTT digital space.

The Future:

By 2019, advertisers will be spending more on digital ads than any other medium. As OTT continues to expand its share of the global media market, digital ads will become increasingly lucrative. The value of an OTT ad to marketers rivals that of television, with the precision to target a captivated audience by demographics and the opportunity for new types of ads that go beyond commercials to engage viewers. The CPM for OTT ads is proving to be drool-worthy for content owners. Those who can execute a winning OTT strategy, bringing eyeballs to their content, will be the ones who capitalize on the new medium’s lucrative and rapidly expanding advertising marketplace.

Unreel.me helps content owners jump on the growing ad spend on OTT inventory by providing them with video apps across all platforms to self-distribute their content. Content owners can monetize their videos on their own personal apps with SVOD, VOD, ads and several other options.

Learn more about unreel.me here!

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‘Ad’dition by Subtraction

Unreel.me Partners Up with Emerging Sports TV – Video Streaming Services

2016-10-04T21:09:50.304000Z

Unreel.me Partners Up with Emerging Sports TV – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2016/10/04/unreel-me-partners-up-with-emerging-sports-tv/

Unreel.me is excited to announce that we are teaming up with Emerging Sports TV, a leader in a new category they call the “3rd Wave of Sports Broadcasting, covering well-developed events, compelling athletes, and the most visually stunning venues in one of sports fastest growing segments.” Emerging sports has a potential reach of 60-80 million unique views, a number that has consistently been on the rise.

With Unreel, Emerging Sports seeks to expand their reach and provide a bridge for advertisers with events, viewers, and fans of the programming. Unreel will power Emerging sports OTT self-distribution strategy with a lineup of SmartTV, mobile, and desktop apps and sites. Utilizing Unreel.me’s patented social Big Data A.I, Emerging Sports seeks to increase engagement with its viewers and gain valuable insights about their content.

To learn more about Emerging Sports and our new partnership, view the Press Release here.

To find out why the largest networks in the world trust Unreel to power their OTT strategy, click here.

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Unreel.me Partners Up with Emerging Sports TV

Jash and Time Inc. Team Up for Big Laughs – Video Streaming Services

2016-09-30T17:07:02.181000Z

Jash and Time Inc. Team Up for Big Laughs – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2016/09/30/jash-and-time-inc-team-up-for-big-laughs/

Unreel.me partner Jash has announced a partnership with media titan Time Inc. to produce branded content.

Jash, a comedy network founded in 2012 in part by comedic heavyweights Sarah Silverman and Michael Cera, has made a name for itself by producing well-received branded content for numerous national brands. Former successes of Jash include campaigns for Chevrolet, Stand Up to Cancer, Captain Morgan, and the anti-smoking “Truth” initiative. This new strategic partnership will pair Jash’s comedic talents with Time Inc. brands and resources to produce humorous video projects for advertisers.

According to Jash Executive Chairman Doug DeLuca, ““The appetite for smart, premium comedy content is high, especially in the branded world.” By leveraging Jash’s network of rising and established comedians in union with Time Inc. brands the companies will produce high impact comedic assets; one of the most lucrative verticals in the marketplace. The value added by Jash’s standing in the world of comedy allowing them to draw from an unmatched pool of talent cannot be understated. Jash’s consistent delivery of fresh ideas with on-brand messaging opened the door for a partnership to form “a new content vertical,” in comedy that Time Inc. was looking to develop.

Unreel is proud to be a partner of Jash Network, powering their site, Jash.com, as well as their up and coming OTT apps. With this announcement it is clear Jash has become a comedic branded content powerhouse with a very funny and unreal future ahead.

Learn more about the OTT services Unreel provides Jash here.

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Jash and Time Inc. Team Up for Big Laughs

The Ultimate Tool to take Control of your Fan Base – Video Streaming Services

2016-09-29T16:09:20.937000Z

The Ultimate Tool to take Control of your Fan Base – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2016/09/29/the-ultimate-tool-to-take-control-of-your-fan-base/

TL;DR: Unreel has integrated with MailChimp, the web’s premier email marketing service, to allow networks, creators, and brands to collect their OTT app’s user’s emails.

Create a direct connection with your fans through email

Fans are the lifeblood of content. Without their passion and support creators would be unable to consistently produce videos worth watching. Every network, creator, and brand knows the relationship with their most passionate fans is vital to the bottom line of their business. New viewers are nice, but nothing matters more than keeping current fans engaged. That’s how content grows, spreads, and in turn generates new fans.

How it works:

When content owners launch their video streaming service with Unreel, they are not only getting powerful OTT apps, they are also gaining access to the most powerful marketing tool around; email. No other form of distributing content allows the content owner to collect fan’s emails once they begin engaging with content. By accruing an email list, an unprecedented direct line of communication is opened for the content owner. Now content creators, networks, or brands can promote themselves however they choose, directly to the exact audience that wants to be targeted; fans.

Email marketing is by far the most effective way to promote oneself

The instant new content debuts across your video streaming apps you can alert fans directly. Sending your coalition of faithful viewers to new content starts the viral snowball rolling, ensuring strong viewership numbers. Consistently emailing your fans allows you to both effectively strengthen your bond with them, as well as encourage sharing, to bring in new viewers.

Who Doesn’t Love Getting Mail?

To learn how to collect your fan’s emails, click here!

Don’t have an Unreel.me powered site yet?

Unreel provides creators, brands, and networks connected OTT apps across all platforms. Our patented streaming platform leverages social data to understand and engage viewers in new ways and deliver rich analytics to content owners. We are currently working with some of the largest networks in the world developing their OTT solutions.

Get Started Here.

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The Ultimate Tool to take Control of your Fan Base

67 Billion reasons to go OTT – Video Streaming Services

2016-09-22T20:21:04.599000Z

67 Billion reasons to go OTT – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2016/09/22/67-billion-reasons-to-go-ott/

By 2021 video streaming apps will generate 67 billion dollars in revenue, how much of that will be yours?

Learn about what OTT is here!

If you have been on the fence about jumping into the OTT pool, get ready to leap in headfirst.

OTT is consistently touted as the future of video and this year it became the present. In 2016 the OTT market is on track to generate ~25 billion dollars, accounting for 5% of the global video industry. What is most noteworthy is this represents a consistent 20% annual growth for the OTT market compared to traditional Broadcast Television’s paltry 2% growth.^[1] Consumers are sending a message that cannot be ignored—they want to control watch what they want on the devices they want. Those clear demands can only be delivered by an OTT experience.

The opportunity:

A recent esti

mate from TechSci Research projects the OTT market to exceed 67 Billion dollars annually by 2021. This exponential increase in growth could balloon OTT’s share of the worldwide video industry to nearly 15%.^[2] Rapid as its growth may be, OTT is just on the cusp of its potential ascent to distribution dominance. At the moment OTT is limited by its potential reach. SmartTV’s penetration of the market is still very much in its infancy, with only 20% of US households equipped with a connected set. The percent of US homes with a SmartTV however is set to explode very quickly to 50% over the next 3 years.^[3] In a very short amount of time, reaching a majority of viewers with apps on connected televisions will not only be possible, it will be preferable.

OTT offers advantages for each party involved that contribute to its impending domination.

Consumers:

It starts with consumers, who need to deliver the eyes to get the ball rolling for content owners and advertisers. Consumers are already demonstrating their distaste for traditional broadcast television, particularly the highly coveted millennial generation, who are leading the cord cutter movement. The demand for content on the new devices millennials want to engage on, Smartphones, Tablets and SmartTvs, is there and that will bring the content owners.

Content Owners:

-Networks and creators are yearning for the freedom and benefits that reaching their fans directly through OTT apps afford. The perks of owning the relationship with their fans and opportunities to further engage them cannot be overderstated. Direct marketing, powerful data, and recommendation engines all can be powered by the right kind of OTT apps.

Advertisers:

-For advertisers the unparalleled precision targeting possible on OTT apps means reaching their target market more effectively than on any other medium. This results in sky high CPM’s that stand to make networks and creators billions. If the consumers are there and advertisement friendly content is there, the marketers will do whatever it takes to make sure they are there too.

Now is the time to capitalize:

The chance to lead the OTT charge has not passed. Apple TV for instance was believed to have roughly 100,000 apps as of early 2016. In comparison, the Apple App store for IPhone has over 2,000,000 apps.^[4] The OTT waters are still blue for now, as it is early in the game. The mammoth trailblazers (Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Amazon) have been rocking the OTT world for several years, but it is not too late to join the pre-party. The door to get in on OTT at the ground floor is closing fast. There is still room however for networks and content creators to pounce on the early adopter movement and dominate the early world of OTT. Those who rule OTT early will most likely rule OTT late.

Ready to take the leap?

Learn more about launching your OTT apps with Unreel.me here!

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67 Billion reasons to go OTT

The Greatest Threat to OTT’s Reign – Video Streaming Services

2016-09-13T21:11:08.695000Z

The Greatest Threat to OTT’s Reign – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2016/09/13/the-greatest-threat-to-otts-reign/

Two Points of friction that will keep fans away from your OTT apps

OTT may be the future of video but the path is not completely clear. Two significant friction points stand in the way of OTT’s rightful place as heir to the content distribution thrown. Two phenomena, Show dumping and Network dumping, are significant roadblocks temporarily obstructing OTT’s rise to dominance. Show dumping occurs when a viewer stops watching a specific show because it becomes too difficult to access. Network dumping is when an OTT app fails to engage fans once the content they originally came for has been completed. Although both dilemmas will prove challenging obstacles, solutions exist; show dumping and network dumping can be overcome and the networks that figure out how will win the OTT crown.

Show Dumping

The immediate but more easily remedied issue facing OTT is show dumping. According to a global TiVo study 37% of viewers have dropped a TV program once it has gone OTT due to difficulties accessing it.[1] When a show is only available through an OTT premium app there is the potential for drop-off. Fans who do not own the hardware necessary to view OTT content are left in the dark and viewers who have yet to cut/ shave the cable cord may be unwilling to pay a la carte style for premium content. The solution is simple in this case, time. OTT is still in its early years. Only 20% of households currently have some form of SmartTV. Although that is already a large market, over 20 million households, by 2019 it is predicted half of all US homes will have connected SmatTV’s.[2] In conjunction with the rapidly growing number of cord cutters joining the ‘never cable’ millennial crowd, the days of show dumping are clearly numbered.

Network Dumping

Show dumping for the most part is due to take care of itself. However, Network dumping is a critical hurdle that requires direct action by a network to overcome. Networks that can thwart network dumping will be the ones who win at OTT. Once a fan has finished a show or a specific video, what will keep them engaging with new content? The answer is something the current king of OTT has known for years.

The Recommendation King

Netflix has mastered the art of keeping viewers engaged. Their secret sauce; a powerful recommendation system that the company claims is responsible for 75% of user activity.[3] The instant a user starts viewing on Netflix, it tracks their behavior, quickly developing a profile that will allow a recommendation system to predict what that user wants to watch next.

The Ultimate discovery tool is curated recommendations

Recommendations are not only a nice addition for a video-streaming app, they are vital. 53% of Millennials expect apps to recommend to them what else there is to watch.[4] It is crucial that networks deploy OTT apps that are constantly analyzing user preferences, and presenting them with recommendations pointed at content within the app, or other apps within the network’s family. To do this networks will have to ensure their apps are interconnected, sharing each other’s user’s preferences and promoting one another through recommendations. By doing so a network can protect itself from being dumped and assume its place among OTT royalty.

How to power a recommendation system across your OTT apps

Unreel.me builds OTT apps across every platform with a focus on networks. Using Unreel, networks are able to launch custom interconnected OTT apps across all platforms for every brand in their portfolio. Each of these apps will be able to recommend content from one another to users based on users preferences. Unreel is already working with some of the largest networks in the world to power their OTT solutions with a powerful recommendation engine.

Click here to Learn more about Unreel.me Powered OTT apps for networks.

The post The Greatest Threat to OTT’s Reign appeared first on Unreel.me – home for content creators!.

http://www.unreel.me/2016/09/13/greatest-threat-otts-reign/

Get Paid Instantly with Stripe! – Video Streaming Services

2016-09-08T22:47:40.932000Z

Get Paid Instantly with Stripe! – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2016/09/08/get-paid-instantly-with-stripe/

Integrating Stripe means content owners get paid the instant their fans purchase content.

At Unreel we believe in putting content owners in the drivers seat. That means everything from distribution to monetization. We also want to make sure that once fans pay for awesome content, the content’s owner gets paid as quickly as possible with an understanding about exactly where revenue is coming from. In order to accomplish this, we have integrated with Stripe, the webs premier transaction platform.

With our new Stripe integration, earning money from your Unreel properties is faster and more transparent then ever.

Stripe is a powerful online payment platform trusted by some of the largest companies in the world. With a free Stripe account content owners on Unreel are able to receive funds the instant they sell content on their site. They also will have access to payment reports around customer transactions on their Unreel.me properties. This will allow unreel.me content owners to understand everything around how users are purchasing videos, tipping them, and subscribing. Understand your business to make better decisions!

Unreel.me provides OTT apps and sites for the largest Networks and creators in the world.

Already have an an Unreel.me site or apps? Click here to learn how to create and synch your Stripe account!

Want your own Unreel.me powered site and apps? Click here!

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http://www.unreel.me/2016/09/08/get-paid-instantly-stripe/

Demonized and Demonetized: The 5 Things You Can’t Do On YouTube – Video Streaming Services

2016-09-01T20:32:37.191000Z

Demonized and Demonetized: The 5 Things You Can’t Do On YouTube – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2016/09/01/demonized-and-demonetized-the-5-things-you-cant-do-on-youtube/

A not so recent YouTube policy has Youtubers feeling “stabbed in the back.”

Starting August 31^st Youtubers began receiving notification from the site alerting them that specific videos of theirs violated guidelines and would no longer be monetized. Many of YouTube’s stars, large and small have suddenly realized that a number of their videos, going back many years, are not generating revenue because of violations. The majority of Youtuber’s are making it no secret they feel betrayed, as the most sacred aspect of online video, freedom, seems to be under threat. The truth is however, they never had any freedom at all.

Since the dawn of monetization on YouTube there has been “Guidelines for advertiser friendly content.”

These rules give YouTube the right to yank the ads from any monetized videos their algorithm does not deem fit. At the end of August 2016, in a ‘too little too late’ move of transparency, YouTube decided to start alerting creators when one of their videos failed to meet guidelines. Although these guidelines have been enforced for years, YouTubers only now finding out about violations feel betrayed. Most notably, platform star, Philip DeFranco has claimed it feels like he has been “stabbed in the back” after dedicating 10 years to the site. For creators trying to support themselves by monetizing content, the sudden realization that failing to meet strict and ill-defined guidelines has and will cost them in the future is terrifying.

Which begs the question:

What can’t you do on YouTube when monetizing content?!?!

Get ready to be told what to do by socially conservative men in suits!

1. Drugs are bad, Mmmmkay

You can’t “Promote drugs and regulated substances, including selling, use and abuse of such items”

Drugs! Of any kind. From caffeine in your coke, to coke in your coke, using, or even promoting the use of drugs is enough to loose your rights to monetize. Legal or not, they are banned.

2. No F*#@$#% cursing

You can’t use “ Inappropriate language, including harassment, profanity and vulgar language”

Unsure what “Inappropriate language, including harassment, profanity and vulgar language” looks like? Take a gander at literally any YouTube comment section. This gives YouTube ultimate power, as inappropriate language is an inappropriately subjective term. What constitutes inappropriate language is not defined, meaning YouTube can claim just about any word may be vulgar, or harassing.

3. America’s favorite, Violence!

You can’t show “Violence, including display of serious injury and events related to violent extremism”

Once again an ill-defined term by YouTube. In this case violence, gives the site disturbing power of discretion here. Is all violence banned? Is a boxing match considered violent? What about all those video games our parents thought would make you a serial killer? Is cartoon violence a violation?

4. Lets talk about sex baby lets talk about…oh we cant talk about that, ok never mind.

You can’t have “Sexually suggestive content, including partial nudity and sexual humor”

Cover up those ankles and wrists; you do not want to excite those ad executives. This is the Internet and there are other sites for these types of things, however suggestive content and sexual humor are the basis for an overwhelming number of videos. Stand up acts, pranks, sketches, skits, adult cartoons and shows often have jokes and underlying themes varying from innuendo to obscene.

5. LITERALLY EVERYTHING ELSE!

You cannot have videos with “Controversial or sensitive subjects and events, including subjects related to war, political conflicts, natural disasters and tragedies, even if graphic imagery is not shown”

We are going to call this one YouTube’s Drumpf card. Primarily because it gives them unlimited, unchecked power. If what you are saying for any reason offends the sensibilities of YouTube, you have violated the guidelines. No matter how thin a tightrope you walk, YouTube reserves the right to make certain subjects untouchable.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely…

It is this sort of vagueness leaving definitions up to YouTube’s discretion that essentially yields the site unlimited power. When people’s lively hoods are at stake, this lack of transparency is horrifying. When your job is to produce videos that get views, working under such ambiguous and strict terms is stifling.

I know what you are thinking. “But creators don’t have to monetize their content if they want to ignore these terms. Also I’ve seen monetized videos that violate all of these rules, YouTube is not that strict.” That may be true, but many creators rely on 100% creative freedom to produce their content, that is why they turned to the platform in the first place. YouTube may be flexible on these terms now, but as many Youtubers found out recently, at any moment, a switch could be flipped and their primary source of income could be gone forever.

Does freedom still exist online for content creators?

Creators are forced to make a difficult decision every time they commence production on a new video. Do they sell out and conform to collect their cut of the ad revenue, work around the rules and risk making nothing, or do something revolutionary; take their videos off platform!

Unreel.me provides creators with their own custom branded video streaming site and apps for free. As the creator, you become the platform, you decide your own guidelines, and you get to keep the lion’s share of the revenue. Enable ads or place your content behind a subscription or VOD pay wall. As your own platform, you have the freedom to express your artistic creativity as you wish. Make videos you know your fans will love worry free and make more money with a much fairer rev share model.

To learn more about Unreel.me and launch your site instantly for free, click here

The post Demonized and Demonetized: The 5 Things You Can’t Do On YouTube appeared first on Unreel.me – home for content creators!.

http://www.unreel.me/2016/09/01/cant-monetize-on-youtube/

Networks Vs. Netflix: Don’t join them, beat them with OTT – Video Streaming Services

2016-08-16T20:24:01.092000Z

Networks Vs. Netflix: Don’t join them, beat them with OTT – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2016/08/16/networks-vs-netflix-dont-join-them-beat-them-with-ott/

How can Networks can compete with established video streaming services?

It is no secret that online streaming services are the future of television. Consumers have already spoken, and their message is loud and clear; they want to watch what they want, when they want, on the devices they want. Video streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime have all seen significant jumps in users, more than proving their business model. Rather suddenly, the networks that once ran the ‘world of video’ are furiously fighting for share in the ever-expanding lucrative ‘world of online video.’

This has left networks in a rather precarious situation—either join the online kings Netflix, Hulu and Amazon prime, or fight them.

In its infancy, services such as Netflix were a win-win for every one. Netflix was flushed with content that the Networks no longer saw value. For Networks it meant off-loading stale, under-demanded content on the streaming services with the option to also sell them premium content with a high price tag. After all, online streaming was just another distribution channel, not a rival. In fact, selling underperforming TV shows to streaming services actually benefited cable viewership, allowing for “catch up” watchers to get hooked on a show online, to then watch new episodes live on TV. This beneficial relationship even saved the hit show “Breaking Bad,” that had such poor ratings after its first season that it was nearly cancelled. Thanks to Netflix however, AMC had a chance to salvage revenue from the show by licensing it; allowing Breaking Bad time to develop a large dedicated audience for the next four seasons on cable.[1]

Streaming services were simply a platform for content that could even boost viewership for Network’s shows on cable. Competition, they were not.

Things started to change as the cable cutter movement exploded, which coincided with extreme growth of the top online video streaming services. Watching online became a cultural phenomenon and the standard for a millennial generation reaching the height of their buying power. The market for online content is well on its way to surpassing that of cable. In a sea change, online streaming services have the majority share of the most desirable content market while the networks are on the outside looking in.

Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime have the majority share of the market, and it has left old school networks with a decision; join them, or beat them.

Networks have to decide whether they want to continue feeding content to streaming services or try to compete. As content farms for Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon, networks are making less money and further solidifying the competition’s foothold as the leaders in the market. The decision to compete, to pull the plug on the videos they license out, to open up shop as their own streaming service across every smart device platform, is clearly the most appealing path most networks are considering. HBOgo, NBC’s Seeso, and CBS all-access are examples of Networks taking this route, with many more following suit.

Every Network needs to be its own streaming service with a full range of branded OTT apps to accommodate every platform their fans watch content on.

Every size network needs a way to power their own OTT distribution. They need a video streaming website and apps for every phone and Smart TV platform that allow for monetizing content, and offer great UI/UX. Unreel has developed fully customizable white-labeled apps and sites to give every owner of content their own cross-platform OTT media empire. Each app is more then just an app, powered by our patented social engagement UI and features available nowhere else. Manage it all from a central dashboard featuring proprietary big data analytics. Unreel can even powers an army of apps for every unique brand, creator, show, or piece of content in your network’s arsenal, all managed from a single dashboard.

To learn more about Unreel’s OTT solutions, click here.

The post Networks Vs. Netflix: Don’t join them, beat them with OTT appeared first on Unreel.me – home for content creators!.

http://www.unreel.me/2016/08/16/networks-vs-netflix-ott-apps/

Goodbye Cable, Hello OTT! – Video Streaming Services

2016-08-09T19:19:43.134000Z

Goodbye Cable, Hello OTT! – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2016/08/09/goodbye-cable-hello-ott/

Cable’s imminent demise is swiftly approaching. An analog technology in an ever-expanding digital world, dishes and cables are about to go the way of the dinosaur, Brendon Frasiers acting career, and the Nae Nae. As people have grown accustomed to content specifically tailored to their interests online, cable and satellite providers continue to bundle packages of hundreds of channels when their consumers only watch, on average, 17. Rather than paying the costly cable bill, dealing with the necessary hardware/service, and living under the ever-looming threat of the next commercial break, more and more households are waving good-bye to cable and satellite. In America, 6.5% of households have taken the leap to dump cable and embrace the alternatives. The rate at which additional households are saying sayonara to cable and satellite is increasing as well.

Over the last 5 years nearly 3.8 million cable and satellite subscribers have cut the cord or ditched the dish.

Rather suddenly, traditional broadcast services have lost their monopoly on video content, and now millions of eyeballs once locked down by cable are up for grabs. With this opportunity, new content providers are seemingly popping up every day. Video has become democratized. No longer does a creator’s idea need to be picked up by a T.V. studio, produced with a swollen budget, and have content adjusted to appease its sponsors to be seen. A huge audience is now accessible to everyone, and that audience often chooses to engage with videos that would never fit into the broadcast television zeitgeist. This means traditional networks and the newly enfranchised digital creators are scrambling to find OTT services to distribute their content digitally.

As more people cut the cord and ditch the dish, OTT services are a necessity for content providers to reach consumers.

Whose down with OTT? Yeah you know me… But what exactly is OTT?

OTT stands for Over-the-Top content, and refers to the delivery of video media over the Internet without the need of a multiple-system operator in the control or distribution of the content. In simple terms, OTT is the distribution of videos to Internet connected devices without the middleman, such as a cable provider. It is direct from the content owner to the consumer, on the devices, such as smart phones and Smart TVs, that contemporary audiences prefer. It is a direct means for a network or content creator to reach their fans on the fan’s terms. The audience benefits from OTT as it puts them in precise control of which content they pay for and on which platform they view it. For the contents creator OTT enables a new way to reach fans plus the opportunity to keep nearly all the profits.

The problem arises when content owners realize the daunting task it is to take on their own OTT distribution. Without a full time dedicated tech team, creating and maintaining video streaming apps for iOS, tvOS, Android, Roku and desktop is impossible. Most networks and content creators are hesitant to take the bull by the horns and build out their OTT solution, considering the cost of entry. Aside from the pioneers, such as HBOgo, even the big guys are slow to tackle the OTT challenge. One thing is for sure however; the opportunity is there and the gold rush has just begun.

One solution to rule them all:

Every content owner needs a way to power their own OTT distribution. They need a video streaming website and apps for every phone and Smart TV platform that allow for monetizing content, and offer great UI/UX. Why employ your own team of master engineers and industry experts to build those apps for each platform when you can outsource the process with Unreel. Unreel has developed fully customizable white-labeled apps and sites to give every owner of content their own cross-platform OTT media empire. To learn more about Unreel’s OTT solutions, click here.

To Apply for IOS, Android, Roku, and tvOS Apps for every creator/property in your network click here!

The post Goodbye Cable, Hello OTT! appeared first on Unreel.me – home for content creators!.

http://www.unreel.me/2016/08/09/goodbye-cable-hello-ott/

The new Unreel LA Office! – Video Streaming Services

2016-07-27T21:34:04.790000Z

The new Unreel LA Office! – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2016/07/27/the-new-unreel-la-office/

We’ve moved our main office to Santa Monica for the surf, sunshine, and most importantly, the creators.

As a company that seeks to empower content creators, where better to be than the world epicenter for entertainment?

When it comes to video, you cannot throw a malfunctioning hover-board in this town without hitting a creator. Our new office in Downtown Santa Monica affords Unreel the privilege to rub elbows with both the largest and smallest content creators around. Between serendipitous meetings with a hot YouTube star in an elevator, to being minutes away from the top networks and studios, it is already apparent to us that this is the place to be.

Unreel’s goal is to give content creators the tools and means to self distribute their content, take control of their fan base,

and monetize their videos. Being in LA embeds us in the video creator community and makes it that much easier to reach out to help. The un-foreseen benefit is that the passion and commitment of local video creators has lit a fire underneath us, imbuing our team to work even harder towards our goal! Now that we have joined the vibrant LA content creator community we have made it our mission to empower its members and aid their online video success.

Did we mention our offices are NOICE (Nice)?!?

Even Pokemon stop by now and then.

Located between Bodega Wine bar and 24 hour Diner, there is always something to nom or slurp on after work. Add in LA’s best Italian deli, Bay Cities, and Santa Monica’s top burger spot, Pono Burger, within a block and we have quickly come to realize that we are living in foodie paradise. Our office doubles as a play place for our Pup, Pumbaa, rescued from a local dog shelter, Karma Rescue. Not yet able to code as well as our engineers (but well on his way) our pupper is happy to welcome the many creators who come through our doors.

Potty training takes time…

Join our Meet-up and come say Hi!

If you are located in the Los Angeles area join our meet-up, Santa Monica Video Creators. Come to our next event to say hi. We discuss both what Unreel can provide creators, and general techniques and strategies to get the most out of your content! Look forward to seeing you there.

The post The new Unreel LA Office! appeared first on Unreel.me – home for content creators!.

http://www.unreel.me/2016/07/27/new-unreel-la-office/

How to get your fans to pay for your videos! – Video Streaming Services

2016-07-08T18:16:21.160000Z

How to get your fans to pay for your videos! – Video Streaming Services

https://videostreamingservices.wordpress.com/2016/07/08/how-to-get-your-fans-to-pay-for-your-videos/

Most growing content creator knows the frustration associated with having one of their videos go viral, generating thousands or even millions of dollars for the host platform, and only receive a disappointing fraction of that revenue. An even worse feeling is being a content creator who grinds out hit after hit video and develops a large and dedicated fan-base but whose only source of revenue is selling T-shirts and accepting tips. Celebrity is fleeting and there is never a better time than the present to figure out how to monetize your fan-base. If they truly love your content, asking your fans for money is not a betrayal of their trust, rather it is a fair approach to let them show their appreciation and compensate you appropriately.

So you are probably thinking, “I know I want my fans to pay me for content, but how?!?!?”

First and foremost, you need to make sure you are set up with your own video streaming site on a platform that allows you to accept payment for your content. This does not mean abandoning the place where you built your fan-base. If you are a YouTuber, stay on YouTube, but also open up shop on an additional platform where you can sell content to fans.

Full disclosure, this is an Unreel.me article, so of course I am going to tell you Unreel.me is your best option — but that doesn’t make it untrue. Unreel.me has fairer rev share, puts you fully in control of your video distribution with your own website and apps that instantly synch with your existing content, and has the most customizable options for how you want to sell content to your fans (Video on demand, Subscription service, Tip jar, Advertisements, and yes, even T-shirts in a merchandise store.) Oh, and Unreel is free to use! There are other options out there and you should do your due diligence before deciding into which basket you put your eggs.

It is all about exclusivity.

Exclusivity is the reason you want to sit at the cool-kid table at lunch, fly first class, and have a Netflix account. It is also the same reason fans will leave your native platform (YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo etc.…) to visit your video streaming site and pay you for your content. It all starts with exclusivity.

This means saving some content, or creating new content that you plan on only posting to your site. Once you have done this, your fans will have the necessary carrot to follow you anywhere! If you choose to monetize that exclusive content and it is amazing, fans will be shouting, “Shut up and take my money!”

What kind of exclusive content?

There is no limit to the type of content you can make exclusive. Here is a list of some of the most effective use cases for your site.

Release a Movie/ Documentary:

Who doesn’t love a good movie? Showcase your content in a longer form video and turn yourself into a silver screen star. Promote the movie by sharing sneak peaks and trailers on your native platform. Just as with a Hollywood film, you will develop hype amongst your fans, who will race to your site once the picture is out. A movie is the style of content that fans are most accustomed to paying for and lends itself to a one-time Video-on-Demand payment. For more on self distributing a film, check out this article.

Release a Series:

In this era of binge watching, viewers are constantly on the prowl for the next series to watch in one sitting while ignoring all responsibilities. Why not help them dodge the grim realities of life and get them caught up in your own show? Release a trailer and the first episode or two on your native platform for free. Once fans are firmly placed on the edge of their seat by a cliff ending episode, direct them to your site where they can watch the rest of the series for a one-time video one-demand fee. Or release episodes one at a time, racking up the bucks with a subscription fee as fans keep up with the latest episode.

Behind the Scenes/Deleted Scenes/ The Making of/Commentary:

The typical bonus features on a DVD menu, behind the scenes, deleted scenes, ‘the making of,’ and commentaries are the style of content that appeal most to your true fans. If you have a dedicated fan-base craving to see any additional insights into your content, this can be highly effective. Release a new set of this type of videos each month and tie them to a subscription fee, or release them once in conjunction with a specific piece of content as video-on-demand.

Live stream:

Whether you are hosting your own Super Slam backyard-wrestling tournament, or are a competitive gaming streamer, asking fans to pay to view an exclusive live stream can be a lucrative avenue to pursue. The excitement of a live event is something Pay-per-view on cable has been leveraging for years. If live streaming is new to you, your fans will relish the opportunity to witness you unscripted and live for the first time. Live video creates a FOMO among your fans and will mobilize them to your site.

Highlight Reels:

Maybe you do not like the idea of creating content solely for your new site. That does not mean you can’t repurpose content! Creating a highlight reel of your best work condensed, or a compilation of your finest moments is a way to re-present old content as new. Unreel.me has an automatic highlight reel creator that uses a patented AI to find the best moments in your videos based on fan engagement and then stitches them together into an awesome new piece of content. By releasing a new reel once a month or so, you keep some of the content on your site exclusive without keeping anything away from your original platform. To learn more about Unreel’s Reelgenie automatic highlight reel generator, click here.

The most important part of exclusive content is that it needs to be marketed well. If your fans do not know it exists, they cannot pay you for it. Check out this article for ways creators can make their fan-base aware of their new site and its exclusive content.

Also keep in mind; you do not have to charge fans to make money off of them. Enabling adds and having a tip jar on your exclusive videos is a way to take advantage of the better revenue splits that a platform like Unreel.me provide versus YouTube, etc.

To learn more how Unreel can help you reach your monetization goals, click here.

The post How to get your fans to pay for your videos! appeared first on Unreel.me – home for content creators!.

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2016-07-08T02:56:51.941000Z

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