In 2010, the CEO of Time Warners Jeff Bewkes was asked whether he saw any danger in the DVD distributor Netflix, which had just started streaming. His answer back then: “It’s a little bit like, the Albanian army going to take over the world? I don’t think so.”* Well, he couldn’t have been more wrong: Now, ten years later, we find ourselves in a golden age of streaming. Together with Amazon’s Prime Video service, Netflix is at the forefront of an increasing number of video-on-demand providers. In 2019, these platforms generated revenues of around 1.7 billion euros in Germany alone. During the lockdown this spring, the demand for streaming was so high that in Europe Netflix and Amazon Prime have even been asked to reduce the quality of their streaming in order to save bandwidth for other communication needs.
What happens next?
We are curious: What happens next in Europe’s streaming landscape? With many new platforms like Disney+ entering the market, what will the next stages of the so-called streaming war be? And what role will broadcasters and pay TV play in the game?
In his #mthcon2020 keynote “After the Battle? What Happens Next in Europe’s Streaming Landscape” media analyst Klaus Goldhammer will share insights into what the future holds for the streaming ecosystem. Klaus Goldhammer is the founder and Managing Director of Goldmedia, a research group with a focus on media, gaming and entertainment industries. Since the beginning of 2017, Klaus Goldhammer has continuously and comprehensively surveyed the use of paid VoD services in Germany. So, we are not exaggerating when we call him the expert for facts and figures around streaming.
Some insights in the European streaming market
As Goldmedia’s “VoD ratings” show, 41 million people in Germany – which makes up half of its population – have access to video-on-demand services. 25 percent of German VoD users are even willing to subscribe to more than two pay-streaming services. And on average, German users are willing to pay around 20 euros for VoD subscriptions per month. These numbers from the Germany illustrate the huge revenue and usage potential for streaming. In his #mthcon2020 session Klaus Goldhammer will provide further data from the European streaming market and will address key issues regarding its future: How can European providers compete with giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime that have the ability to invest billions of dollars in new projects thanks to their global audience. What are the chances for European providers in the streaming battle? And what does the increasing demand for streaming mean for audiovisual professionals working in distribution more broadly? We are looking forward to some intriguing insights by Klaus Goldhammer at #mthcon2020!
* Time Warner Views Netflix as a Fading Star by Tim Arango, New York Times, Dec 12, 2010