IBC 2024: Spotlight on AI, Retention, and more

IBC 2024 was an excellent showcase of the OTT industry’s pulse. From groundbreaking innovations to dynamic discussions, one thing was clear—broadcasters are in the midst of an AI revolution. Everyone wants to integrate the latest AI technologies to future-proof their streaming business.

At Cleeng, we’ve been working towards this goal for a while. We’ve invested heavily in our state-of-the-art data infrastructure since 2018. As of 2024, we are laser-focused on using AI to solve broadcasters' real challenges, like reducing churn and cutting costs. While announcing one of our IBC product announcements, Cleeng CEO and Founder commented,

"We now have a state-of-the-art LLM model for subscriber retention analytics. By making it easy to surface the insights customers care about, ChurnIQ AI-ssistant is a game-changer for all professionals working in the media industry, saving time and boosting efficiency."

Want to see what else was announced at IBC? Check out these highlights:

Unveiling new solutions to tackle broadcasters’ biggest challenges 

In the lead-up to IBC 2024, we unveiled three key innovations designed to tackle the biggest challenges for D2C broadcasters. These advancements, including our new incorporation of AI, were showcased through live demos at our booth:

1. ChurnIQ AI-ssistant: Helps you generate instant insights with AI to act quickly
2. ChurnIQ Studio: Lets you create your personalized data dashboard easily 
3. Integration Hub Simplifies cumbersome and expensive integrations to accelerate your D2C strategy

The booth was buzzing with live demos of these new solutions, and the response was phenomenal. IBC attendees excitedly explored how to stay ahead by reducing churn and optimizing retention using these. 

An insightful panel session: Acquisition, retention, and the importance of user experience

Another major highlight was an insightful panel at the IBC Content Everywhere Stage, discussing market trends, evolving consumer behaviors, and exploring how streaming services can become subscriber magnets through seamless experiences and innovative business models. 

Cleeng CEO and Founder Gilles Domartini joined industry leaders from Uniqcast and MediaDistillery in the panel, which was moderated by Andreas Waltenspiel. 

The conversation underscored that while acquisition is essential, customer retention ultimately sustains long-term success in the streaming industry. 

Gilles also explained how D2C broadcasters can leverage AI to optimize both the acquisition and retention phases of the subscriber journey. He emphasized the importance of having a comprehensive, data-driven approach. 

Exciting action points included 

• Using flexible pricing plans: Pursuing monetization approaches like monthly and seasonal subscriptions to address the growing demand for affordability among Gen X and Millennial viewers.
  
  
• Leveraging AI-driven tech to enhance user experience across multiple devices: Using AI-based tools like ChurnIQ AI-ssistant shines here, enabling media professionals to instantly access insights that would otherwise require hours of analysis. Try the interactive demo.
  
  
• Balancing high-quality content with cost-efficiency: This is possible by using multi-tenant software. It saves platform launch and maintenance costs while maximizing content investment - all without compromising the quality of their offerings.

Special mention: The First-ever Retention Zone Live

The evening before IBC kicked off, we hosted the first-ever Retention Zone Live in Amsterdam. The event received a huge response, with the demand overwhelming our initial venue and then fully booking the larger location. 

Carlo De Marchis kicked off the evening by sharing key takeaways from the online Retention Zone episodes, packed with actionable lessons from streaming leaders. 

Following that, OMDIA analyst Dan Simmons unveiled an exclusive whitepaper on streaming monetization, churn reduction, and retention tactics. This report is a goldmine of insights, revealing how broadcasters can transform their streaming business using AI and cutting-edge strategies.

Attendees engaged in a lively discussion on the industry's biggest challenges: monetization, churn, and retention—sparking innovative conversations on how to move forward. Our CEO, Gilles Domartini, closed the event by sharing his vision for the future of streaming retention, underscoring AI's critical role in the coming years.

In short - A power-packed four days

IBC 2024 has reflected the dynamism of the OTT industry and reaffirmed the importance of collaboration and innovation in shaping the future of streaming. 

In that spirit, it was amazing to reunite with our partners, like AWS, who help us stay at the forefront of innovation with their tools, expertise, and market exposure; Alpha Networks, which used our MSSDK into their Geko Product; and several others, like BrightCove and Sportradar, to name a few. We also hosted a joint Happy Hour with Accedo to facilitate the exchange of insights and potential prospects, and we had a great time reuniting with our clients during the dinner.

On that note, we are grateful to everyone who visited our booth, attended our panel, or participated in Retention Zone Live. We’re committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in D2C streaming, and we can’t wait to continue this journey with our incredible clients and partners.

See you in a few months for Sportel Monaco! In the meantime: