--- title: Cleeng CEO Reflects on Recent Innovation, AI, and What’s Ahead in 2026 description: Cleeng's CEO reflects on 2025's innovations, AI advancements, and 2026 plans, highlighting milestones and future plans in the D2C subscription landscape. image: https://blog.cleeng.com/hubfs/end%20of%20year%20gilles%20domartini%20cleeng.webp --- Products What it does [Core Subscriber Management and Billing](https://cleeng.com/subscriber-management-system) [Merchant of Record Payments, Tax and Compliance](https://cleeng.com/merchant-checkout-optimization) [ChurnIQ Smart and Predictive Churn Analytics](https://cleeng.com/products/subscription-churn-analytics) [Hi5 AI-Enhanced Customer Care](https://cleeng.com/customer-care-digital-subscriptions) AI Products [Cleeng AI Ask questions in plain language](https://cleeng.com/ai) [Cleeng MCP Server Connect Cleeng to your own AI tools](https://cleeng.com/ai/mcp) [Data Intelligence Enriched context for every subscriber](https://cleeng.com/ai/subscriber-data) [Trust & Governance Complete control and auditability](https://cleeng.com/ai/legal) Solutions By industry [Streaming and OTT](https://cleeng.com/solutions/streaming) [Sports](https://cleeng.com/solutions/subscription-management-for-sports) [Wellness](https://cleeng.com/solutions/wellness) [Creators](https://cleeng.com/solutions/youtube-creators) [Gaming](https://cleeng.com/solutions/gaming) [Memberships](https://cleeng.com/solutions/memberships) By scale [Enterprise](https://cleeng.com/solutions/enterprise) [Small and Medium Businesses](https://cleeng.com/pro) For partners [Agencies & Integrators](https://cleeng.com/solutions/agencies) [B2B2C Platforms](https://cleeng.com/solutions/b2b2c-platforms) Developers [Launch Subscriptions](https://developers.cleeng.com/docs/launch-subscriptions) [Build with LLMs](https://developers.cleeng.com/docs/build-with-llms) [Integrate apps](https://developers.cleeng.com/docs/payments_on_mobile_tv_apps_intro) [System status](http://status.cleeng.com/) [Integrations Hub](https://cleeng.com/integrations-connectors) [Migration guide](https://cleeng.com/migrate-to-cleeng) [Certified Partner Program](https://publisher.support.cleeng.com/hc/en-us/articles/22272169788188-Cleeng-Certified-Partner-Program) Resources [Publisher Help Center](https://publisher.support.cleeng.com/hc/en-us) [Blog](https://blog.cleeng.com/) [Customer stories](https://cleeng.com/clients) [Events](https://cleeng.com/events) [Research & reports](https://cleeng.com/resources) [Demo Hub](https://cleeng.com/demohub) [Pricing](https://cleeng.com/pricing) [Login](https://srm.cleeng.com/auth) [Get started free](https://srm.cleeng.com/auth/register) [Blog](https://cleeng.com/blog) # Cleeng CEO Reflects on Recent Innovation, AI, and What’s Ahead in 2026 Company News | Cleeng | Dec 17, 2025 ![Post image](https://blog.cleeng.com/hubfs/end%20of%20year%20gilles%20domartini%20cleeng.webp) As the sun sets on 2025, the D2C subscription landscape looks vastly different from what it did just twelve months ago. It was a year defined by rapid consolidation, shifting viewer habits, and the undeniable acceleration of the AI revolution. For subscription businesses, the challenge wasn't just to keep up, but to find new ways to thrive in a market that demanded agility. At Cleeng, we embraced this era of transformation head-on. We didn't just adapt to the changes; we leveraged them to reshape our organization and deliver more value to our clients than ever before. In a recent end-of-year message, Cleeng CEO Gilles Domartini shared his reflections on our 2025 milestones and unveiled our strategic focus for 2026. Watch the full video below:   ## **2025: a year of transformation and growth** This past year was a testament to the power of bold decision-making. By restructuring our approach and doubling down on innovation, we turned industry-wide challenges into significant opportunities for growth. Here is a closer look at the key milestones that defined our 2025:   ### **Launching Cleeng Pro: deployment in under one hour** One of our proudest achievements was the launch of [Cleeng Pro](https://cleeng.com/pro). In an industry where speed to market can be the difference between success and stagnation, we shattered expectations. The Cleeng Pro offering allows clients to set up a fully functional subscription service in under one hour. This streamlined onboarding process is unique in the industry, removing technical barriers and allowing broadcasters to focus on what matters most: their content and their audience.   ### **Pushing boundaries with generative AI** 2025 was the year AI moved from buzzword to business-critical. We integrated the Cleeng AI Assistant to empower our clients with tools to boost subscription growth. Furthermore, we enhanced [ChurnIQ](https://cleeng.com/churniq-churn-intelligence) with advanced smart and predictive churn analytics. By leveraging generative reporting, our clients can now access deeper, actionable insights faster than ever, allowing them to proactively manage subscriber retention and lifetime value.   ### **Expanding our global footprint and accompanying client growth** Our commitment to innovation resonated with major players across the globe. We were thrilled to welcome prestigious new clients to the Cleeng family, including [ATP Media and](https://press.cleeng.com/atp-media-cleeng-to-deliver-a-world-class-subscription-experience-for-tennis-tv)[OneFootball](https://press.cleeng.com/onefootball-tv-goes-global-with-cleeng-powering-payments-and-growth). We also saw incredible growth from our existing clients. VBTV became the [official global streaming partner for Pro Volleyball Federation](https://en.volleyballworld.com/news/vbtv-becomes-global-streaming-partner-pro-volleyball-federation-for-2025-season), TOD saw a [168% spike in viewing minutes on Smart TV](https://thebrandberries.com/uae-with-47-and-qatar-with-36-surge-in-viewing-minutes-as-tod-unveils-its-enhanced-streaming-experience-tod-2-0/), and Newsmax’s subscription revenue remained steady at [$6.9 million year-over-year](https://ir.newsmax.com/news/news-details/2025/Newsmax-Announces-Third-Quarter-2025-Financial-Results/default.aspx), thanks to an increase in Newsmax+ subscribers. While [Tennis Channel launched its new Pickleball TV](https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/tennis-channel-united-pickleball-association-launch-pickleballtv-app), [Big Ten Network averaged 699,000 viewers this season](https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/12/08/college-football-rides-wave-to-new-audience-records-for-the-sport/) for its second-best season ever, behind only 2018. These partnerships and growth milestones highlight not only the strength of our vision and the reliability of our technology but also the incredible achievements and growth driven by the dedication and innovation of our clients.   ### **Financial resilience** Following a major client transition, we implemented several strategic shifts that yielded tangible financial results. In just nine months, we not only returned to profitability but also achieved25% Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) growth. This financial health provides a solid foundation for continued investment in our product and team.   [![free ebook 2026 d2c subscription benchmarks](https://hubspot-no-cache-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/5813983/interactive-202973249050.png)](https://blog.cleeng.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLJ2r8pc%2BQ8nPssHP8iMWrPKzMJjGJhGiSVCVf8Dn1tCWrWFj%2BOn5zcRegpGxRIGiF4fsCm0nicEbTkxC4az8umMc9gbPaP2p0%2Fvy4Csxd0leGhMsf%2F84JyQQfDIEkb3cF7nQxvQwLP6uXw%2FkjbSXs7TRDhm2U8WaHw2L0J897FAY7eXLrOX73bGIGkWw7IfxXWLIeGfWMw9ke%2FuES4%3D&webInteractiveContentId=202973249050&portalId=5813983)   ## **Looking ahead: our strategy for 2026** As we move into 2026, our path is clear. We are focusing our energy on three strategic pillars designed to drive value for our clients and expand our reach.   ### **1. Customer experience = top priority** We are committed to making our solutions the easiest to use and fastest to deploy in the market. Our goal is to ensure that onboarding remains straightforward and intuitive. By integrating with cutting-edge services like Claude Code and [Lovable](https://publisher.support.cleeng.com/hc/en-us/articles/22849028275228-Integrating-Lovable-with-Cleeng-Hosted-Widgets-Setup-Guide), we are setting a new standard for usability. We want every interaction with the Cleeng platform to be seamless, ensuring your subscription service is ready for launch within 60 minutes.   ### **2. Doubling down on AI** The AI revolution is just beginning. In 2026, we will develop even more intelligent tools to drive client growth. Our focus will be on providing **easier access to relevant insights and increasing actionability through generative reporting and campaigns**. We aim to move beyond simple data presentation to offer prescriptive analytics – telling you not just what happened, but exactly what steps to take next to maximize revenue.   ### **3. Expanding horizons to new markets** While we continue to serve the media and sports industries, we see immense potential in other verticals. We are actively expanding our reach to support clients in: - Automotive**:** In-car entertainment and subscription features. - Fitness and [wellness](https://cleeng.com/wellness)**:** Digital health subscriptions and coaching platforms. - Gaming**:** Subscription-based gaming services.     ## **A thank you to our community** None of this would be possible without the talent and dedication of our incredible team. To the Cleeng Tribe who work tirelessly to innovate and support our customers: thank you! We also extend our deepest gratitude to our clients and partners. Your trust fuels our innovation, and your success is our success. As we step into 2026, we are more energized than ever to help you build, manage, and grow your subscription businesses. Let’s make 2026 a landmark year together.     Keen to see how easy it is to get started with Cleeng? 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[Start free](https://srm.cleeng.com/register) ### Related posts #### [![SOC 1 Type II Certified: Cleeng Passes First Audit With Zero Exceptions](https://blog.cleeng.com/hubfs/SOC%201%20Type%202%20Banner-selection%20(1).webp) Company News SOC 1 Type II Certified: Cleeng Passes First Audit With Zero Exceptions **Jamini Rath** · Sep 22, 2026, 1:48:58 PM](https://blog.cleeng.com/soc-1-type-ii-certified) #### [![Agentic AI for Subscriber Retention Is Here: What It Means for D2C & OTT Brands](https://blog.cleeng.com/hubfs/cleeng%20at%20ibc%20-%20agentic%20ai%20for%20subscriber%20retention.webp) Company News Agentic AI for Subscriber Retention Is Here: What It Means for D2C & OTT Brands **Kamila Palka** · Aug 24, 2026, 11:07:41 AM](https://blog.cleeng.com/agentic-ai-for-subscriber-retention-d2c-ott) #### [![H1 2026 Product Update: AI Agents, Global Payments & Smarter Retention](https://blog.cleeng.com/hubfs/H1%202026%20Product%20Update%20(1).webp) Company News H1 2026 Product Update: AI Agents, Global Payments & Smarter Retention **Damien Organ** · Jul 21, 2026, 1:11:35 PM](https://blog.cleeng.com/h1-2026-product-update) Your Subscriber Retention Management® solution [Contact us](https://cleeng.com/contact) #### Ask AI for info - 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