Why streaming services should join Threads. Now.
Why streaming services should join Threads. Now.
The Streaming Lab #58
Hey streamers 👋
Welcome to the 58th edition of The Streaming Lab. Thanks for reading me.
A big thank you to my sponsor of the week: Sparkup.
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Whenever you’re ready, there are many ways I can help you:
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Read all the previous editions of The Streaming Lab
And… ACTION!
This week’s program
Everything you should know about Threads, and how streaming services can leverage this new social media platform.
What is Threads?
The first streamers on Threads
Why streaming services should join Threads
BONUS: Top Threads from the streaming world
What is Threads?
Threads is an App built by the Instagram team for sharing text updates and joining public conversations. Here is a quick look ↓
Let me summarize the main features for you:
Threads is available on iOS and Android in more than 100 countries (not in Europe yet).
Posts can be up to 500 characters long.
Posts can include links, photos and videos up to 5mn in length.
You can post a Threads to your Instagram story or share your post as a link on any other platform.
Everyone under 16 (18 in certain countries) will have a private profile by default.
You can control who can mention your or reply to you within Threads.
You can unfollow, block, restrict or report a profile.
It’s easy to get started:
You can login using your Instagram account. And you can customize your profile specifically for Threads.
You can choose to follow the same accounts you do on Instagram, and find more people.
Just start threading!
The first streamers on Threads
Let’s have a look at 5 major streaming services that joined Threads last week, with their first posts and total number of followers and likes so far.
Netflix US (@netflix - 2.5M followers)
Netflix started 18 threads with a total of 500k likes already 🤪. The streaming leader launched other countries: UK & Ireland, Korea, Indonesia, India, Brazil, Australia & NZ, Japan, etc. (still no sign of netflixmena yet ;)
Prime Video (@primevideo - 423K followers)
Prime Video posted 15 times with a total of 78K likes. Prime Video also launched several localized versions: India, Philippines, Latam, Mexico, Canada, Malaysia, etc.
Max (@streamonmax - 344k followers)
Max wrote 5 threads with a total of 5K likes. It looks like Max only launched a single account for now.
Paramount+ (@paramountplus - 103k followers)
Paramount+ main account started 5 threads with a total of 5K likes. The major studio also launched other countries: Brasil, Australia, UK, Argentina, Mexico, etc.
Hulu (@hulu - 155K followers)
Hulu account started 7 posts with a total of 15K likes. The AVOD service also launched an account for Hulu Japan (hulu_japan).
Let’s now focus on MENA:
Here are the streaming services from MENA that already launched their official Threads account: TOD (@tod.tv), STARZPLAY (@starzplayarabia), Shahid (@shahid.vod), OSN+ (@osn), SwitchTV (@switchtvapp), ADTV (@adtvmena), WATCHIT (@watchit), RoyaTV (@royatv), Weyyak (@z5weyyak), Spacetoon Go (spacetoongo), Shofha (@shofamena), Noor Play (@noorplay_ar), Hilal Play (@hilalplayvod), TenTime (@tentimetv) and Roya Kids (@royakids).
You can track with me the streaming services in MENA that already launched their Threads account HERE.
Why streamers should join Threads?
I’m listing below 10 reasons why streaming services should join Threads, not today or tomorrow, but yesterday!
A new platform presents a unique opportunity: An audience looking for new content. By establishing their presence early, streaming services can capture this very receptive audience.
Threads is a new way to share with text. And at this game, streaming platforms are the best to tell stories.
You can also post videos up to 5mn in length. Perfect format to share trailers or short clips.
The main difference between Threads and Instagram seems to be engagement. If you want to engage in more of back and forth, Threads make sense. If not, probably Instagram.
If you want to talk to the right audience, localize and create an account for a specific country of region.
Start building your community on Threads now. It takes time to gather followers - even if the transfer from Instagram helps.
With the evolution of social media platforms, old giants rebranding and newcomers breaking through, diversification is essential.
Managing a corporate social media account can be boring. Just keep it fun.
If you post today on Threads, you’ll be there before Disney+ and Apple TV+ ;)
Test, Test and Test. We don’t know the potential of this social media platform yet. It’s the perfect opportunity to find your own way to talk to your audience.
BONUS: Top Threads from streamers
You can find below several posts coming from major streaming services. It might give you some ideas ;)
That’s all for today, why streaming services should start using Threads.
See you online next Monday. Until then, enjoy “65” on the brand new STARZPLAY Store. An astronaut crash lands on a mysterious planet only to discover he's not alone.
