With no office drinks, secret Santa’s, or Christmas jumpers, Team Grabyo turned to the cloud for Christmas Party inspiration.

The Challenge: A global team, 70 employees, and zoom-fatigue. The solution: a one-hour live Grabyo Christmas special.

Looking for a high-quality and low-latency solution, so that the production team could enjoy the reactions and real-time feedback of our global audience, Grabyo turned to its own Producer product. Requiring just a laptop and a web-browser, our 4 co-hosts could join the broadcast from their homes using a URL. No upfront cost or additional hardware was required, enabling a quick and agile live production. The show was broadcast to the whole company around the world, using Amazon Interactive Video Service (IVS).

Using Grabyo Producer, the team created a one-hour live broadcast for all of Team Grabyo to enjoy from their homes. This included live segments, as well as VOD content played throughout the hour. Content featured talent shows, lip sync battles, and a poem from the CEO. All VOD content was created using Grabyo Editor. This was played alongside the live element of the show including a live raffle draw, a live DJ set, and guest commentary.

To set the festive scene, graphics and custom layouts were inserted into the broadcast whilst Christmas music was played in the background.

The broadcast was produced with the help of Grabyo Producer’s new multiviewer, allowing the director to view multiple inputs on a single screen. Simultaneously there was a watch party for all guests hosted on Google Hangouts.

The show was streamed using AWS IVS. The high-quality and low-latency service is simple to set up and manage. The team just needed to create an IVS channel, embed the HTML code to the microsite, then push the program out of Grabyo Producer directly to the IVS channel. The service is pay per use creating a low-cost and scalable broadcast.

As we move into 2021 with more virtual events on the horizon, this type of in-house testing will allow us to deploy these solutions for broadcasters, content owners and publishers across the globe.

Happy Holidays from Team Grabyo!

Live shopping is taking the Asian market by storm, but it’s not just brands that can maximize this new trend – broadcasters and media publishers can get in on it too.

During this November’s ‘Single’s Day’ shopping event, consumers in Asia spent over $100 billion equivalent on goods. According to data published by Alibaba, buyers in China spent 498.2 billion yuan ($74 billion) on purchases. Many attribute the success of this year’s festival with the widespread adoption of live shopping.

In 2020, live shopping has emerged as a key channel for retail sales across Asia, particularly in the South East. When done right, it’s an interactive and immersive shopping experience.

As the popularity of live shopping continues to grow, media publishers and broadcasters must acknowledge the potential it has to bolster video subscriptions.

Live shopping: Not just for brands

The consistent success of live shopping streams lies in the interactive nature of showcasing products. This format can be cut and paste into a showcase of content and talent for a media publisher.

Whether it’s to drive sales of subscriptions or pay-per-view (PPV) events for broadcasters or streaming services, there are certain aspects of live shopping streams that lend themselves to promoting media services.

The most prominent of these is celebrity endorsements. In the retail space, last November reality star Kim Kardashian took to Tmall in China to appear on a live selling stream with one of China’s top influencers. Kardashian sold 15,000 bottles of perfume in minutes.

The pull of watching Kim Kardashian was enough to draw viewers in, and her influencer status was enough to drive purchases of the perfume.

The same can be done for content. For example, HBO Max show The Flight Attendant was among the most watched shows by Asian audiences at the beginning of December.

HBO Max could use the popularity of this show to drive subscriptions to the streaming service using live shopping. Imagine Kaley Cuoco, star of The Flight Attendant, answering fans questions on a live stream with clear calls-to-action to subscribe and one to two-click purchasing for the service.

Infotainment is key

A clear distinction of successful live shopping streams is the entertainment factor. These broadcasts are not straight adverts, the main purpose is to entertain.

For media publishers, showcasing content such as live sport, TV series or new films will be enough to attract the attention of audiences across Asia.

A content showcase with celebrity figures or sports personalities interacting with fans is a sure-fire way to grab the attention of consumers.

Publishers can also use the interaction of live shopping broadcasts to track trends of what consumers want to watch, which could feed into the content strategy. Certain media rights, series or genres may be more popular with those not currently subscribed to the service, and this gives a publisher the opportunity to uncover those insights from the horse’s mouth.

More than advertising

Live shopping streams are an effective way to receive feedback and give consumers the information they want. Social live broadcasts drive high engagement levels with comments on the broadcast post.

Publishers could give release dates, pricing and other information consumers want in real time. This could be the difference in converting a customer.

These broadcasts are another string to the advertising bow for broadcasters and media publishers. The TV spot or digital banner ad may be good for reach, but not engagement.

Consumers in Asia will respond when they feel they will be heard. The success of live shopping streams demonstrates this. The infrastructure and behaviours are in place for live shopping to become an established shopping channel for all types of products.

Those who begin early will reap the benefits, and have the luxury of time to shape exactly how live shopping with work for media services.

For more information, or to find out more about Grabyo, get in touch.

Channel 4 has announced it no longer sees its future in linear television, but will its digital-first content approach work?

Last week, UK broadcaster Channel 4 announced it will begin to shift away from its traditional TV model in favour of digital-first content.

Channel 4’s director of programmes said the shift will include a programming commission strategy that is more tailored to online audiences, mainly those who prefer the broadcaster’s online streaming service, All 4.

In broad strokes, this strategy is seemingly designed to future-proof Channel 4. The type of programming it currently commissions for All 4 is targeted at younger audiences, such as irreverent comedies and popular docu-series.

The biggest question is how this will affect Channel 4 as a business. Currently, the broadcaster relies heavily on traditional TV advertising for income. However, Channel 4 hopes to have replaced 40% of this revenue stream with an all-digital one by 2025.

But will it work?

2025

The target of replacing 40% of its TV advertising income with digital revenue streams by 2025 is a challenging one, but current forecasts suggest it can be done.

The broadcaster will need to leverage multiple sources of income to achieve this. Its top priority will be to increase paid subscriptions of All 4, which removes advertising on the free platform for paying customers.

The freemium model it currently employs, offering content at no cost to the consumer but recouping profits with advertising, is a tried and tested model for boosting paid subscriptions.

The strategy here is that Channel 4 attracts a large, loyal audience by removing the barriers to entry on its content. Over time, once that audience begins to cull its pay-TV subscriptions, it will be more willing to pay for online streaming.

But can it reach enough subscribers in five years?

Grabyo’s At Home Video Trends (UK) report, released in July 2020, found that by 2025, 60% of the UK’s paying video customers expect to have cut the cord.

With the majority of UK consumers only paying for digital services, Channel 4 will have the opportunity to capture these customers. However, the critical difference between growing a TV audience and streaming subscriber base is that online audiences follow the content, not the publisher. By 2025, Channel 4 needs a strong slate of VOD and live programming in place – something it has already begun to address.

Digital content ads

Solely relying on subscriptions will not be enough for Channel 4 to replace its TV advertising revenue in the long term. As it shifts focus to digital platforms, it will need to ensure it is maximizing its content assets online.

In the short term, focusing on digital content for All 4 will allow it to boost sales of advertising on the All 4 platform, but as its subscription base grows, fewer eyeballs will see these ads. At this point, it will need to focus on social media advertising and sponsorship.

Broadcasters across the globe are successfully monetizing their content through Twitter in-stream advertising or YouTube ads.

Real-time content, such as Channel 4 news or sport, will be of most interest to advertisers as this content attracts the most views on social media.

They are delighted and so they should be 👏

Giorgi Kveseladze crosses the line with a superb solo try to grab Georgia’s first score in the @autumnnations 🇬🇪#C4Rugby #IREvGEO #AutumnNationsCup pic.twitter.com/rOnuRsAwfM

— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) November 29, 2020

Channel 4 may also look into live social video – bespoke live broadcasts for social media platforms. During 2020, the popularity of these broadcasts have spiked and retained a high level of interest.

Live social broadcasts attract highly engaged audiences and give any sponsor partners high exposure. This could be a special news broadcast, chat shows with Channel 4 talent, or one-off live episodes of content.

The shift to digital online viewing is well underway in the UK, and by being among the first broadcasters to recognize the need for a change of direction, Channel 4 could be set to thrive in the years to come.

For more information, or to find out more about Grabyo, get in touch.

Here are Grabyo’s favorite content production ideas from around the sports and broadcast industry over the past weeks.

The US election has been dominating the news cycle and social media feeds for months, with a vast amount of global coverage. News outlets wanted to be the primary destination for viewers. CNN used a selection of informative videos and live election specials to engage with viewers during the months building up to election day. Sports are continuing to entertain people with the return of the Masters after a six month hiatus, the NFL continuing to provide jaw-dropping plays and the EA Madden NFL eSports competition. The Country Music Awards took place, using a combination of pre-recorded performances and a live award show on ABC and the streaming platform Hulu.

CNN election coverage

To keep people up-to-date with all things related to the election, CNN used a series of videos displayed on their website. One series included a comparison between the two candidate’s policies. Categorising each policy into sub-sections such as education, climate crisis and the economy, the short-form videos explored Biden and Trump’s stance on each matter as well as their plans for the future. CNN also provided recaps of debates that could be watched on demand for people to catch up on anything they missed.

The Masters

As the Masters returned after a six month delay, golf fans had plenty to be excited about. The autumnal colours provided a different view of the course and despite there being no patrons in attendance, this allowed for increased access to players. Players could be heard talking to each other and congratulating each other whilst playing the competition, taking fans as close to the action as possible. The real winner of the competition though was Jon Rahm’s hole in one during a practice round, which has now achieved nearly five million views.

His second in two days, Jon Rahm skips his way to a hole-in-one at No. 16 – on his birthday, no less. #themasters pic.twitter.com/rtefAN5XtH

— The Masters (@TheMasters) November 10, 2020

NFL watch-a-long

Fans are still watching NFL games from home, so the NFL took fans into the living room of Jerome Bettis as he watched his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers. Showing the highs and lows of supporting your team, the video allows fans to connect with the league as they empathize with the frustrations and elations of Jerome Bettis.

.@JeromeBettis36 is everyone watching their favorite team play 😂 @steelers

📺: Catch #NFLTheGrind Wednesdays 9/8c on @EPIXHD pic.twitter.com/nwQeBDMjly

— NFL (@NFL) November 11, 2020

Country Music Awards

A few guests were in attendance for the 2020 Country Music Awards, which took place in Nashville. With presenters socially distanced, the format was slightly different for this year’s edition. Performances were pre-recorded in empty theatre halls and played during the ceremony. The show was available to watch live on ABC and also available afterwards on their streaming platform and Hulu.

We could keep watching this @DanAndShay and @JustinBieber performance on the #CMAawards for 10,000 hours…and 10,000 more. pic.twitter.com/R2edA9xoLy

— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) November 12, 2020

EA Madden NFL 21

EA kicked off their Club Championship on the new NFL Madden 21 game with entries open to anyone who has the game. Streaming the competition on Twitch, fans could watch players battle it out whilst representing their NFL team. The total prize pool is $750,000, with regional qualifiers leading into the final there is plenty of action for fans to engage with.

To learn more about Grabyo and how we are helping global broadcasters, rights holders and media companies overcome these challenges with our cloud-based video production and editing platform – get in touch today.

Read about the most interesting and unique content ideas from around the APAC sports and broadcast industry these past few weeks.

As world tours are postponed indefinitely, Korean Band BTS hosted two virtual concerts to connect with fans and introduce new songs from their recent album. As this shift online continues with concerts and broadcast, the impact is also being felt for ecommerce as The Double 11 Single’s Day sale set a new sales record. The NBA is continuing to engage with fans in China, by opening six entertainment and experience centres. Amazon Prime has announced its debut in India by acquiring New Zealand Cricket rights from 2021 to 2025/26, one of the country’s most popular sports. As fans are unable to attend this season’s IPL matches, Disney+ Hotstar introduced #WatchWithYaars which allowed fans to video call family and friends to watch matches together. To further support the virtual event space, Sport Singapore announced a $50 million grant to encourage sport event organisers to engage locals via ‘phygital’ hybrid events.

NBA entertainment and experience centres China

NBA will be opening six entertainment and experience centres in China, as part of their partnership with Harves Entertainment . The centres will be equipped with interactive gaming facilities, NBA-themed restaurants and other entertainment choices. The centres provide an opportunity for the league to enhance its connection with its Chinese followers and expand the global reach of the league.

Amazon Prime in India

Amazon Prime Video announced earlier this month its debut into live sports in India, acquiring the broadcast rights for one of the country’s most popular sports. The streaming platform will be airing New Zealand Cricket from 2021 to 2025/2026. The deal includes rights to stream all international cricket matches played in New Zealand for both men’s and women’s cricket, ODI, T20 and Tests formats starting late 2021 on Prime Video’s platform.

Streaming giant @PrimeVideoIN has purchased the exclusive rights to live stream New Zealand-based BLACKCAPS and @WHITE_FERNS matches into India for the next six years. https://t.co/ZYtDqqZKcg #CricketNation

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 10, 2020

#WatchWithYaars on Hotstar

The 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL) took place over two months, from September to November, and attracted a record audience across television and digital platforms. 58 of the 60 IPL games showed a 24% increase from the 2019 edition and a cumulative of 383 billion minutes were watched.

As all games are held behind closed doors in United Arab Emirates this year, Disney+ Hotstar has introduced a “Watch with your friends” feature using #WatchWithYaars, that allowed users to video call family and friends while watching the IPL cricket matches on HotStar.

Double 11 sale breaks record

The double 11 singles day ecommerce sale broke another record, with 498.2 billion yuan ($74.1 billion) in sales revenue on Tmall.com and 271.5 billion yuan on JD.com. Brand owners are diversified ways of communicating with customers through live streaming platforms and invited influencers to endorse goods by publishing short-video advertisements.

BTS Virtual Concert: ‘Map of the Soul ON:E’

The pandemic has disrupted BTS’s World Tours but that hasn’t stopped them from connecting with their fans through two virtual concerts over a weekend in October. ‘Map of the Soul ON:E’ achieved a total of 756,000 viewers from 100 different countries to watch the online performance live. The virtual concert applied AR, XR and 4K/HD technology for a more immersive fan experience and provided fans with the option for “multi-view live streaming” with six different screens to choose from.

‘Phygital’ Hybrid events in Singapore

Sports Singapore has launched the “Blended” initiative which offers grants to sports event organisers, event management companies, private academies and clubs to engage locals via the ‘phygital’ hybrid event formats. ‘Phygital’ combines both physical and digital elements in sports to deliver a more interactive experience for participants.

To learn more about Grabyo and how we are helping global broadcasters, rights holders and media companies overcome these challenges with our cloud-based video production and editing platform – get in touch today.