Volume 001. Subscription streaming service CuriosityStream said it has secured another $140 million in funding. T-Mobile US pay TV service to launch in 2019. The Super Bowl experienced its smallest audience in a decade but streaming was up 31%. The number of films with female leads hit record levels in 2018. At Sundance, these brands activated on Main Street to showcase what they’ve got to filmmakers.
‘Amazon Live’ is the retailer’s latest effort to take on QVC
Live video / Tech Crunch. Amazon Live covers all sorts of products, ranging from smart home to games to toys to kitchen items to home goods to electronics to kitchen items and much more. It’s also positioned differently. Instead of being a single live video show featuring only Amazon talent and guests, live streaming is something Amazon is opening up to brands that want to reach a wider audience and get their products discovered.
LinkedIn debuts LinkedIn Live, a new live video broadcast service
Live video / Tech Crunch. Launching in beta first in the US, LinkedIn Live will be invite-only. In coming weeks, LinkedIn will also post a contact form for others who want to get in on the action. It’s not clear when and if LinkedIn will make it possible for everyone to create LinkedIn Live videos, but if you consider how it developed its publishing features for written work, that will come later, too.
The Rise of Vertical Video Content on Social Media
Vertical video / MarTech Advisor. With 4.68 billion mobile phone users who hold their phones vertically 94% of the time, people produce and consume videos holding their gadgets upright. In short, it means a vertical video content format (9:16 aspect ratio) is on its rise.
Social Video Also Needs A Measurement Standard
Social video / Forbes. The need for a solid measurement system on digital has become more pronounced as publishers have found that all those viewers and all those alleged views aren’t making them a whole lot of money. That’s resulted in layoffs, belt-tightening, and merger rumors, not to mention the outright demise of former industry darlings like the late lamented Mic.
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The Top Myths of Making Video Content
Video production / Aftermarq. Too many businesses expect Netflix-level quality on a YouTube star budget. Most businesses think they can make a flawless video on their phones, that video production is too expensive, or that short videos are your best bet. Let’s evaluate each of these myths and see if they hold water. Read about those myths here.
How Your Brand Can Work with Filmmakers
Brand film / Aftermarq. What kind of emotions are you trying to create, and what unique story are you trying to tell? If you have something that distinguishes your brand from your competition, work with your filmmaker to emphasize that characteristic. Remember, also, that film is a medium that requires careful planning. Ask yourself these important questions before working with filmmakers.