Decoding Streaming Media With Podcasts
The Ankler Podcast, Beyond The Stream, FAST Friends, Retention Zone, The Streaming Lab Podcast, StreamTime Sports, TellyCast and The Town.
Hey streamers 👋
Welcome to The Streaming Lab, a weekly newsletter exploring the trends that matter to streaming professionals in the MENA region. If you are not already a subscriber, sign up and receive it directly in your inbox every Monday (Most of the time ;)
Today’s program
Eight podcasts about streaming media
Why we need more of them
What’s next for The Streaming Lab Podcast?
And… Action!
Eight podcasts about streaming media
I listed below 8 podcasts about streaming media. Some of them focus on a film industry (The Ankler & Hollywood), a business model (FAST Friends & FAST), a region (The Streaming Lab Podcast & MENA/India), a specific challenge (Retention Zone), sports streaming, etc.
You’ll learn everything you need to know: Who are the hosts, when they started, what they're all about, how many episode are already out, when & where you can catch the new ones.
The Ankler Podcast
Host: Sean McNulty (NYC), Elaine Low (LA), Richard Rushfield (LA)
Launch date: June 2022
About the podcast: Listen in as The Ankler team and industry insiders break down Hollywood’s latest business headlines, power struggles and trends shaping the future of Entertainment.
Number of episodes available: 100+ (Weekly, every Friday)
Latest episode:
Beyond The Stream
Host: Edward Norton (UK), brought to you by Simplestream
Launch date: June 2023
About the podcast: Beyond the Stream is the podcast that analyses the intricacies of the video streaming industry, highlight the whys and hows video represents a great opportunity for oganisation of any size.
Number of episodes available: 8 (limited series)
Latest episode:
FAST Friends: The FASTMaster Podcast
Host: Gavin Bridge (NYC)
Launch date: October 2023
About the podcast: Discussions with industry figures of FAST
Number of episode available: 10 (Weekly, every Wednesday)
Listen here: Substack
Latest episode:
Retention Zone
Host: Carlo de Marchis (Italy), presented in partnership with Cleeng
Launch date: October 2023
About the podcast: Navigating the challenges of monetization and subscriber retention in video e-commerce for streaming platforms.
Number of episodes available: 22 (Weekly, every Tuesday)
Latest episode:
The Streaming Lab Podcast
Hosts: Yann Colleter (UAE) & Vinit Mehta (UAE)
Launch date: November 2023
About the podcast: Listen in as The Streaming Lab team and industry insiders break down the latest headlines and trends shaping the future of streaming in MENA & India
Number of episode available: 15 (Weekly, every Tuesday)
Latest episode:
StreamTime Sports
Host: Nick Meacham (UK) & Chris Stone (UK)
Launch date: October 2021
About the podcast: A weekly podcast profiling the people, business and technologies driving the sports streaming revolution. The go-to place for sports media professionals seeking ideas, insights and inspiration in these times of rapide transformation
Number of episode available: 100+ (Weekly, every Wednesday)
Latest episode:
TellyCast: The TV industry podcast
Host: Justin Crosby (UK)
Launch date: April 2019
About the podcast: TellyCast is a lively podcast discussion featuring broadcast industry news discussions with some of the TV industry’s leading players. Each week guests select the stories that captured their attention and discuss the wider ramifications for the industry.
Number of episode available: 100+ (Weekly, every Thursday)
Latest episode:
The Town by Matthew Belloni
Host: Matthew Belloni
Launch date: March 2022
About the podcast: Puck founding partner Matthew Belloni takes you inside Hollywood, using exclusive reporting and insight to explain the backstories on everything from Marvel movies to streaming wars.
Number of episode available: 100+ (3 times a week)
Latest episode:
Do you have another podcast about streaming media you would like to recommend? Just answer this email and let me know!
Why we need more of them
The broadcast and media industry is well-covered by established trade magazines such as Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, TBI Vision, C21, Advanced Television, and BroadcastPro Middle East, among others.
In recent years, a number of newsletters have launched as alternatives, specifically targeting the streaming media industry: The Ankler., The Entertainment Strategy Guy, The FASTMaster, Media War & Peace, Streaming Made Easy, The Streaming Lab, etc.
Podcasts are pretty much a game-changer for professionals in the streaming industry. Here's why we need more of them:
They are convenient: Unlike reading articles, podcasts can be listened to on the go, fitting into busy schedules. This allows streaming professionals to stay informed without having to book specific times to read.
Most of them focus on niche content: Podcasts offer deep focus into niche topics relevant to the streaming industry, featuring a range of voices from thought leaders. This content gives us new perspectives.
It’s a great way to follow the streaming news: The dynamic nature of podcasts means they can quickly address the latest industry developments, keeping listeners at the forefront of emerging trends and technologies.
You feel part of a community: Through interviews and discussions, podcasts create a sense of community, offering listeners the chance to connect with peers and influencers within their industry.
You can listen & learn: Tailored specifically for streaming professionals, podcasts deliver targeted content that addresses the unique challenges and opportunities within the streaming sector, making them an efficient tool for staying competitive and informed.
For professionals trying to understand the complexities of modern streaming media, podcasts are an essential tool, mixing industry insights and analysis into a unique format.
What’s next for The Streaming Lab Podcast?
I'd like to share some updates about the podcast I co-host with Vinit Mehta, which we kicked off last year:
In the initial phase, our goal was consistency. Having successfully released 15 episodes, we've proven we can maintain the pace. The podcast was initially exclusive to Substack, we've now extended the reach by setting up the show on both Apple & Spotify.
As we embark on Phase 2 starting today, our ambition is to enrich the podcast with even more valuable content, including interviews and in-depth analyses of streaming services, Tech providers, and content distributors. Here's an overview into the five core themes of The Streaming Lab podcast for 2024:
Streaming News: Updates on streaming trends in the MENA region and India.
Humans of Streaming: Insights from the people shaping the streaming industry.
The Tech behind the streams: Explorations of the technology powering streaming services.
Content is still King: A focus on the importance of content in the streaming world.
Streaming content & tech events: Coverage of key industry events and their takeaways.
A key element to The Streaming Lab is the support from our sponsors. Recently, I've opened up the podcast for sponsorship opportunities, allowing companies to promote their content, products or services to a qualified audience of streaming media professionals.
If you're part of a tech company, involved in content distribution, or organizing events and are interested in a media partnership or if you have a tip you'd like featured on The Streaming Lab podcast, I invite you to get in touch.
That’s all for today, the podcasts that will help you decode streaming media. If you enjoyed this breakdown, please consider sharing it with your friends and colleagues!
I hope everyone has a great week, see you online next Monday. Until then, enjoy IPL Best of 2023 on STARZ ON, the first FAST channel in MENA about the best moment from IPL last year.
The Streaming Lab is a weekly newsletter exploring the trends that matter to streaming professionals. If you are not already a subscriber, sign up and receive it directly in your inbox every Monday.
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Thanks for the mention alongside esteemed colleagues and friends ❤️