Aisha

I do not think the streaming services want to get into the distribution game. Yes, they will get more access to raw user data by going directly to the users. However, I do not think there is a market for a Netflix stick. I try to keep my subscriptions to one service at a time. However, I know many people have 3-4 different streaming subscriptions. This means a consumer would have to have 3-4 different stick plugged into the back of their TV. Or that whoever makes the stick would have to offer all the other streaming services on their stick to bring people in. Would Netflix want to partner with Disney, Hulu, ESPN, CBS, Peacock, and all the others to get their services streaming through them? Would this other services even want to partner with Netflix in this manor? Doubtful on both counts. The industry is currently bifurcating as content developers end their contracts with Netflix and Hulu to start up their own streaming services.

I think it is interesting to consider how far Netflix has gone- how in fact, Netflix’s whole business model began as a physical service- a rent-able, mail-able DVD service that allows you to select a movie, watch it, send it back, and get another. Flash forward to 2020, and Netflix does not own any actual hardware, and getting Netflix onto Smart TVs often requires additional hardware. If Netflix had considered hardware for their streaming platform, would they be as successful? If they had to focus on maintaining and servicing their equipment would they have been able to spent as much money on licensing for popular shows? One of the biggest assets they have is their collection of shows- something that they have not always had to offer. It’s an interesting decision to make- to expand back out from digital software to hardware, but is it lucrative?

Aisha, I made a post very similar to this, but how movie theaters are a fragmentation to their industry due to covid-19 and the disruption of streaming sites. But I think it’s smart to consider that maybe these streaming sites might disrupt the potential of people continuing their cable carrier. Yes these cable carriers might have a lot more to offer on demand, but it’s all at what cost compared to these monthly subscriptions. My parents personally still have their cable due to sports, but it’s crazy to think that Hulu now streams sports, and live too. Throughout college and some young adults even after graduating don’t consider cable due to the cost but also because there are other options with Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Video, etc.

The question that you posed here reminded me of the Hulu case study. At the end of the day, people were not initially ready… shifting behaviors proved to be the greatest challenge, no matter how much more the shift made sense.
As I was reading your paragraph on folks that are still using cable, I had to laugh to myself because I have not touched the remotes in our house SINCE we shifted from cable to streaming. Not to add that we have multiple streaming systems so I’m not sure we’d be willing to go with just Netflix or just Disney+. Also, companies are still trying to get streaming right! In short, it’s going to happen, someone will do it because on many levels it makes sense.
The other piece that is just fascinating is how far these original companies have come already in terms of their original business models and how far they still have to go. If I had to place my bet, it would be on Netflix. I will forever be impressed with the move they made on Blockbuster. One day, I am in a long line at the local tape rental giant only to finally get to the front and be treated like trash because I neglected to rewind the the tape to having DVD’s delivered straight to my house while Blockbuster’s doors where being shuttered. Talk about the tide turning.

I completely agree with you Aisha! I think that when it comes to saving lives from senseless gun violence, it’s worth paying the price of privacy. What would you think about AI that more closely monitored who was looking up (or posting about) violent ideas like school shootings. We’ve heard time and time again about domestic terrorists posting about their plan of attacks on online forums. In my opinion, that kind of online behavior is a clear indicator of something going wrong in the mind of the poster. If we know someone is displaying these violent behaviors, I think it’s morally right for the government to stop them from hurting anyone. However, this is could be considered an invasion of privacy to many.

I like the idea of improving physical security. Airports are getting very close to being able to conduct x-ray scans as you walk through them. Soon the days of long waits in TSA will be replaced with long walks down x-ray hallways. Then when you through on a powerful AI to scan and find threats, you make the world a safer place for everyone.

I really like this idea and think it is a huge issue that needs to be dealt with. Schools needs to have the biggest measures of safety when it comes to entering schools. The idea of being able to scan someone’s body and having technology pull out objects in people’s clothes, bags, etc. is a great idea. This would put so many parents at ease. Many people have been pulling their students out of schools because of the threat happening in the country. Their were 417 mass shootings in the U.S. in 2019. That is more than how many days are in a year. Scary to think about but AI could be a great solution to help take a step in the right direction to solve this issue.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mass-shootings-2019-more-than-days-365/

Aisha what a great analysis! I really enjoy learning about the segmentation of markets and how those impact the usage of certain services/products. This is a great example showcasing the importance of African Americans in the industry. I am curious to see the distribution for other groups such as latinos or even the differences between genders.

I found a great article and I think you are going to find it interesting. It is titled “Men vs. Women: Who Is More Active on Social Media?” and below is the link. I enjoyed reading about the different utilizations of Social Media and I think it is especially important for us to learn when creating a Marketing Strategy. The differences between genders, ethnicities and people with specific backgrounds are important to be understood so that we can accurately grasp their attention. Very fascinating read!

https://www.brandwatch.com/blog/men-vs-women-active-social-media/

Hi Aisha,
I loved the focus of your post- I think targeting and segmenting of social media will be ever-increasingly important as we look towards the future. Right now, if I were to advertise on a print magazine, billboard, newspaper, radio or television ad, most advertising companies can give accurate breakdowns on the demographics so that marketing teams can make the best decisions possible and gain the most possible exposure. But this same thought process is not done entirely when marketers look towards social media. Marketing Teams see the internet as a great place for brand exposure and spend time setting up accounts, but then copy and paste different messages across different platforms. All despite the fact that different social media platforms have vastly different demographics that engage with them! They should be especially focused on taking advantages of the differences in platforms to drive engagement higher.

I did not know that African Americans lead in technology consumption. It really makes me wonder why there is not a bigger push for this demographic’s inclusion in advertising. I would be interested to see a study that looks at usage across social media platforms for this demographic.