VOD Pro+ Reports

My conversations with streaming leaders, the projects I work on for companies like Netflix, the BBC, Channel 4, Hearst Networks, Sony Pictures, TiVo and UKTV, and, of course, the insights I gather at our annual OTT Question Time Live conference, mean that I regularly get to take the pulse of the industry.

I use this knowledge to write about the critical forces shaping streaming today: commercial models, content trends, product development, operational challenges, strategic priorities, technology evolution, and the growing impact of AI and automation.

Each VOD Pro+ report is available for individual purchase or as part of the VOD Pro+ premium channel.

  • Hypothesis: AI Kills Google, Opens up a Massive AVOD Opportunity

    The rise of generative AI – particularly ChatGPT and other large language models – poses fundamental questions about Google and Meta’s ad-driven business models. If users bypass search engines in favour of AI assistants, and brands follow the audience, could this open the digital ad market to new players?

    …

  • OTT Leaders’ Sentiment Report 2025

    One of the most striking things about our OTT Question Time Live conferences is how much appetite there is for sharing knowledge, insights, and hard-won lessons — even (perhaps especially) among senior industry figures. I guess it’s a truism that while companies compete, people collaborate.

    With that …

  • The OTT Singleton Problem: Are OTT Video Services Penalising Single People?

    Many streaming platforms price their subscriptions around features like video quality, downloads, and concurrent streams rather household size. But with single-person households now making up around 30% of homes in the UK, USA, Canada, and much of Western Europe, is this model still fit for purpose?

    This report explores …

  • Growing the Pie: The State of AVOD in Europe

    AVOD is now a core part of many streamers’ business models offering a way to reduce churn (“Don’t unsubscribe! Downgrade to our ad tier instead!”) while opening up new revenue streams. But is the European ad market big enough for everyone? And do streamers even have the infrastructure to …

  • Business Resilience and Continuity in Streaming Services

    What would happen if your streaming platform went down tomorrow – not from sabotage but from a sudden, unexpected failure in the cloud, your CDN, or your own architecture? This report explores the real-world resilience strategies of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+, using them as a blueprint for …

  • Streaming Without Humans: The AI Takeover of OTT Services

    What if Netflix or BBC iPlayer could run entirely without human input? This report explores that provocative question in depth, using today’s AI capabilities as a starting point — and projecting how every major function of a streaming service could evolve over the next 1, 2, and 5 years. From encoding and metadata to scheduling, pricing, commissioning, CRM, content delivery, UX, and advertising, we map how AI is already reshaping the glass-to-glass OTT process and how close we are to autonomous operations. Drawing on real-world examples, visionary use cases, and strategic implications, this is a must-read for streaming leaders preparing for a future where AI isn’t just an assistant but a fully-fledged operator. With practical insights and a clear framework, the report also explores what remains uniquely human and where oversight, creativity, and governance will still be required in a world of algorithmic automation.