The Consumer Electronics Show was held this past week in Las Vegas, Nev. and there were plenty of highlights in both software and hardware. Representatives from Apple and Facebook made rare appearances at the trade show to discuss data privacy. Samsung, Vizio, LG and Sony showed their newest TV models, whose features include bezel-less displays, 8K resolution and perhaps less practically, rotating screens. Quibi, the mobile-only streaming service from Jeffrey Katzenberg, (formerly at Disney and Dreamworks) and Meg Whitman (formerly of HP and eBay) was unveiled at the keynote.
The event, which dates back to 1967, has long been a debut site for home entertainment products. Some technologies, like the VCR (1970) and the Blu-Ray Disc (2004) have become obsolete, but others have been improved upon and still exist in updated forms today. Take, for example, TiVo, the first mainstream DVR product, which made its debut appearance at CES in 1999 (the first model had 14 hours of storage and sold for $499). This year, TiVo announced that it’s partnering with SlingTV and getting into the over the top (OTT) media game with a new 4K-capable, Android TV-powered device that will be sold in stores and bundled with cable operators who want to hold onto would-be core cutters (it’s just $49). “Flip shows, not apps,” reads the preview landing page on the company’s site, “TiVo makes your favorite apps feel like TV.” It remains to be seen just how TiVo will do this, but if they can get it right, they may be able to put up a fight against Amazon, whose plan for OTT domination in 2020 is strong.
At CES, Amazon announced its expansion plans for Amazon Fire, the brand’s OTT platform, which includes partnering with a number of electronic manufacturers to integrate Fire into their smart TV products. According to Forbes, by the end of 2020 Amazon plans to have over 150 Fire TV models across 10 countries. Amazon also announced partnerships with BMW and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to bring Fire TV into cars for passenger viewing. Soon, there may be nearly as many options for OTT devices as there are for streaming services. For consumers looking to combine the best of both worlds — on-demand streaming with a live TV option — smart TVs are a good middle-of-the-road option. It makes sense that Amazon is setting its sights on cornering that market, but smaller players like TiVo and Roku offer an attractive alternative to those who value flexibility.
For content creators, the possibilities for distribution in this ever-expanding landscape are infinite. Studio71 is a leader in distribution and well-poised to continue growing its OTT and streaming footprint, which currently includes Amazon, Apple, Caffeine, Facebook, Pluto, Roku, Snapchat and more. We partner with talent in and outside of our network to get the best original programming in front of as many people as possible. 2020 is going to be a dynamic year for streaming, and we’re prepared to be one step ahead.
