Today’s video-viewing public can be broken down into five unique ‘television tribes,’ according to Ampere Analysis — and the tide is turning towards on-demand viewing.The research, sponsored by content protection and video experience technology provider NAGRA, surveyed consumers across ten advanced countries globally. The study identified a number of key groups: Content Connoisseurs – a young, affluent and tech-savvy early adopter group who want everything on-demand and are willing to pay for it, and who are also the most likely to churn; Broadcast Bingers – a low-spending group best entertained when binge-watching box sets; Digitally Detached – an older generation, harder to reach and least likely to spend money on pay-TV content; TV Traditionalists – a middle-aged group of linear TV consumers most interested in the big screen, particularly sports; Super Spenders – linear TV experts with money to spend to have full bundle access to content.
Of the groups, Content Connoisseurs were the most valuable and fastest growing consumer type, but also the most demanding, making up 24% of the global market. They are the biggest spenders, love their content and consume significantly more from subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) sources than the average household. They want to assemble their own á la carte TV bundles and expect high quality experiences across devices.
Nearly four-fifths of these cite online video platforms as their main source of TV and film content. They also predict their household will stop watching linear TV completely within five years, but their love of content makes them the most likely tribe to subscribe to pay-TV services.
TV Traditionalists are the second most valuable tribe for pay-TV operators. Representing 18% of market share, they are often overlooked in the multi-device and over-the-top (OTT) era. This group is willing to pay for core TV services, including access to live sports and films. They are also less likely to churn than any other tribe, with only 9% saying they switched within the last six months.
The study goes further to identify key actions operators can undertake to help defend their position in a fast-changing environment, including stacking the right services for each market segment, leveraging IP and cloud technology to launch new on-demand services quickly and cost-effectively, delivering a class-leading multiscreen user experience by embracing data analytics to improve customer insight and personalisation. Securing premium content across all screens and fighting online piracy also take on a new dimension in a more demanding always-connected market environment.
“As the distinction between conventional pay-TV and OTT services blurs, understanding these TV tribes, which ones are the most valuable, and keeping them happy with compelling content, experiences and technology, is the first step for operators to unlock new opportunities and remain relevant in a new pay-TV era,” said Ivan Verbesselt, SVP for group marketing at NAGRA. “A one-size-fits-all strategy will not maximise value. Meeting the needs of distinct segments of consumers is the key to attracting and retaining subscribers, and growing revenue. The successful operators of the future will be those who accelerate their transition to IP to gain more flexibility and meet evolving and diverse content consumption needs, enabling tech-savvy consumers to create their own next-generation bundle of TV and on-demand services.”
Guy Bisson, research director at Ampere, added: “The future is not about running from changes in the pay-TV market, but embracing them. Successful operators realise that the world of paid content has moved beyond the simplicity of relying only on sports and Hollywood movies to drive subscription and into a business environment characterised by shades of grey. To succeed, operators must understand the very different demands of today’s consumers and continue to give them what they want by embracing the opportunities offered by streaming services and content.”
Of the groups, Content Connoisseurs were the most valuable and fastest growing consumer type, but also the most demanding, making up 24% of the global market. They are the biggest spenders, love their content and consume significantly more from subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) sources than the average household. They want to assemble their own á la carte TV bundles and expect high quality experiences across devices.
Nearly four-fifths of these cite online video platforms as their main source of TV and film content. They also predict their household will stop watching linear TV completely within five years, but their love of content makes them the most likely tribe to subscribe to pay-TV services.
TV Traditionalists are the second most valuable tribe for pay-TV operators. Representing 18% of market share, they are often overlooked in the multi-device and over-the-top (OTT) era. This group is willing to pay for core TV services, including access to live sports and films. They are also less likely to churn than any other tribe, with only 9% saying they switched within the last six months.
The study goes further to identify key actions operators can undertake to help defend their position in a fast-changing environment, including stacking the right services for each market segment, leveraging IP and cloud technology to launch new on-demand services quickly and cost-effectively, delivering a class-leading multiscreen user experience by embracing data analytics to improve customer insight and personalisation. Securing premium content across all screens and fighting online piracy also take on a new dimension in a more demanding always-connected market environment.
“As the distinction between conventional pay-TV and OTT services blurs, understanding these TV tribes, which ones are the most valuable, and keeping them happy with compelling content, experiences and technology, is the first step for operators to unlock new opportunities and remain relevant in a new pay-TV era,” said Ivan Verbesselt, SVP for group marketing at NAGRA. “A one-size-fits-all strategy will not maximise value. Meeting the needs of distinct segments of consumers is the key to attracting and retaining subscribers, and growing revenue. The successful operators of the future will be those who accelerate their transition to IP to gain more flexibility and meet evolving and diverse content consumption needs, enabling tech-savvy consumers to create their own next-generation bundle of TV and on-demand services.”
Guy Bisson, research director at Ampere, added: “The future is not about running from changes in the pay-TV market, but embracing them. Successful operators realise that the world of paid content has moved beyond the simplicity of relying only on sports and Hollywood movies to drive subscription and into a business environment characterised by shades of grey. To succeed, operators must understand the very different demands of today’s consumers and continue to give them what they want by embracing the opportunities offered by streaming services and content.”
