Top Pick
3 key takeaways from Sky’s Tech Summit 2017
This week we attended the Sky’s Tech Summit 2017. The summit covered topics from video, audio, AI, VR, AR, esports, and big data.
While cultural shifts may be changing how we consume video and understand TV, digital upstarts and new entries to the market can still learn from traditional broadcasters. And visa versa.
Here are our 3 key take aways from the event.
Features
Snark aside, Mic sees signs of progress in its pivot to video
At Rerun, we believe that video format is an important factor for the success of video on any given platform. Mic, a media outlet targeting millennials, knows this, and as a result it has given careful thought to its video format.
The Mic newsroom have developed two new video formats to capture its target audience. Firstly opinions, which 'are told through outside voices but often feel like testimonials' and secondly 'news analysis videos by Mic’s own correspondents that focus on underrepresented groups'.
Mic hasn't released its official figures, but based on Facebook views Mic has shown huge gain, growing from 792 million views to 3.5 billion in the past year.
Watch the iPhone 8 event in 13 minutes
There were lots of interesting announcements from Apple's press conference this week.
Firstly Apple have added 4K to Apple TV. The new Apple TV device will upscale 1080p content to 4K and Apple will not charge extra for 4K movies. With more news content and live sports content on the way, at Rerun, we think that Apple are slowly making ground in eventually replacing the set top box.
However the headline grabber from the event is undoubtedly the iPhone X with its new facial unlock technology. The facial unlock technology could be an exciting addition. However some observers, such as Edward Snowdon have voiced their concern. The 'neural engine', the part Apple's new processor that powers the AI software for image processing has other unspecified features. Apple will likely use these features as it moves further into the realms of AR and AI.
With the development of such technology there is no doubt that ethical responsibly will be required to ensure user privacy and safety.
Future of TV
Cord-Cutting explodes: 22 million U.S. adults to cancel cable, satellite TV in 2017
Traditional TV in the US continues to face troubling predictions in 2017. According to this study, a predicted 22.2 million consumers will cut their chords in 2017, up 33% from 2016. On top of this trend, chord-nevers (people who've never had a paid cable subscription) will rise by almost 6% to 34.4 million.
Don't we already know this? Yes, but the size of the trend here is worth noting. Assuming that chord cutting will increase year after year, what is the future of traditional TV? Consumers are not leaving video content, but they're consuming it in new ways. While time viewing traditional TV is declining, digital video consumption is growing by almost 10% each year.
eMarketer: video viewing to see UK smartphone use surpass PCs
According to eMarketer, a digital data and research firm, for the first time smartphones will surpass computers as the preferred mentioned of internet access.
Their forecast predicts that by 2019 the daily time spent on smartphones in the UK will reach 2 hours 14 minutes. They attribute video viewing as the leading factor in mobile growth. This research signals the huge opportunities video will provide to content providers and publishers.
Spotify and Hulu partner on a discounted entertainment bundle, first aimed at students
Calling all students! Spotify and Hulu are partnering on an offer for student subscribers for only $5 a month. The partnership reminds us of other companies teaming up in recent months. It makes sense, and is a great way for companies to try out new content offerings with new audiences.
Last week we shared this story about the departure of Spotify's head of podcasts and video. They then announced Disney executive Courtney Holt would join their team to fill that role. Spotify is not giving up on video, and we'll be watching intently to see where this all is heading.
Briefs
- No one is using Facebook stories, so Facebook is borrowing Instagram’s
- It’s game on as Dublin VR firm WarDucks raises €1.3m in seed funding round
- Amazon working on new 4K, HDR Fire TV devices
- PewDiePie, the world’s most popular YouTuber, is back making more racist comments
Here's how to use Apple's Animoji - the new talking emoji that has your voice and facial expressions
As the curtains fell on Apple's latest product launch, one feature has raised an eyebrow. The Animoji tool makes use of iPhone X's facial tracking technology to animate an emoji with your expressions. Now you can record looping animated messages in real time and send them to your friends.
“If you were wondering what humanity would do when given access to the most advanced facial tracking technology available, you now have your answer." said Apple executive Craig Federighi while turning his face into a talking poo emoji.