Like other companies, DirecTV’s move to free, ad-supported video looks to break down barriers to entry among the cash-conscious viewing audience.
Experts suggested that rebundling tied to the user experience is a way the industry is looking to improve viewer satisfaction and reduce fragmentation, with the industry moving away from being an ecosystem of disparate apps and walled gardens.
Roku, which announced that it has more than 90 million streaming households, is one example of how companies can coexist, with the platform having a home screen that provides easy navigation and sponsorship opportunities for brands and streamers.
TVs: bigger, faster, stronger
On the product and consumer-facing side, three media experts told ADWEEK they were also interested in the evolution of TVs.
“The biggest TV trend—and not just this year—and this has been going on since after the pandemic, I do see TV screens losing its status of being a stationery, focal point of the living room and becoming more portable,” Richard Yao, associate director, strategy and content, IPG Media Lab, told ADWEEK. “There’s a lot more experiment with the form factor. It almost feels like TV is not only just TV. It’s like a super tablet display for your home.”
Though TVs are going from stationary to portable, two of the experts also noted that the tech has the potential to be the centerpiece of smart home hubs, displaying information passively while showcasing customizable widgets.
Along those lines, Samsung revealed The Frame Pro, which is optimized for displaying artwork. There’s also the possibility of E-ink art displays for use at home, which mimic the appearance of printed ink on paper and can be mounted permanently, requiring minimal maintenance.
Other futuristic TVs on their way to consumers include weatherproof units, wireless products, and AI offerings, which monitor and manage battery life. There are also products such as JubileeTV, which are designed to simplify the TV experience for seniors, even including features for teleconferencing with doctors.