As the year ends, we at allrites reflect on a year of growth, innovation, and valuable lessons. From launching new solutions that redefine content monetization to attending pivotal industry events, 2024 has been a year of milestones. In this post, we’ll take you through what we launched and what we learned, along with insights that shaped the content landscape this year.
Allrites Launched in 2024
allrites FAST
This year, we introduced allrites FAST, a comprehensive solution for launching Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV channels. As the demand for FAST channels surged globally, we identified a gap: the complexity and time investment required to launch and manage these channels effectively. allrites FAST simplifies this process, providing an end-to-end solution for building (concept, design, programming, audience definition, market analysis), distributing (launch, management), and monetizing (operation and programming) FAST channels.
Why does it matter?
The FAST ecosystem has become a critical avenue for content monetization, providing audiences with free, curated programming supported by ads. In 2024, FAST extended its reach beyond the U.S., becoming a global phenomenon. Before introducing allrites FAST to the world, we built and gathered our own success stories, including allrites-owned channels like The Apartment, VILN, and Inspire on Amagi Connect, which the world’s biggest CTV providers have already picked up (stay tuned for a "who" reveal in 2025).
ContentX by allrites
Another significant launch this year was ContentX by allrites, designed to create new revenue streams for content rights holders and accelerate AI model training. ContentX enables film and TV owners to license their material for AI training. At the same time, AI companies gain access to high-quality, context-rich content tailored to their training needs.
This innovative platform solves key challenges for both parties:
Content owners gain value from their libraries, especially older or niche content that might otherwise go underutilized.
AI developers access ethically sourced, bulk-licensed video content to train more accurate and practical models.
From enhancing AI’s audio capabilities to tackling copyright concerns for AI-generated content, ContentX has been a game-changer in the intersection of media and technology.
Allrites’ Learned in 2024: Television Entertainment Trends
The allrites team comprises television entertainment, distribution, and production industry professionals who have contributed and curated blog articles throughout the year, providing valuable insights and expertise. Additionally, the team engaged in numerous industry events worldwide, including MIPCOM, AFM, NATPE, and many others, gaining valuable insights into evolving trends. Here are the key observations that shaped our understanding of the content landscape:
FAST Expands Beyond the U.S.
While FAST channels initially gained prominence in the U.S., 2024 marked a turning point as they expanded into international markets. Viewing hours surged globally, increasing 130% in Asia-Pacific, 65% in Europe, and 64% in Latin America. The growing demand for free, ad-supported content has driven adoption in Europe. Latin America is seeing strong growth in ad-supported streaming revenue, particularly in major markets like Mexico and Brazil.
Localization and tailored programming remain key to engaging audiences across diverse regions.
AI’s Transformative Role in Media
AI is transforming the TV and content industries, streamlining production and enhancing global distribution. In production, generative AI tools reduce costs by creating realistic visuals that replace location shoots, speeding up workflows and minimizing logistical challenges. For distribution, AI-powered dubbing technologies are helping content reach global audiences efficiently by replicating voices, adjusting tone, and creating accurate lip-syncs, preserving the emotional depth of performances.
However, AI’s growing presence raises ethical and legal concerns. Ownership of AI-created content remains a grey area, with current copyright laws granting ownership only to human creators. Additionally, the increasing use of AI-generated performances and visuals has sparked debates about its impact on creative jobs and the authenticity of storytelling.
Sports Content: A Key Driver of Viewer Engagement
Sports content remains one of the most valuable assets in the entertainment industry, consistently drawing large, loyal audiences. Securing exclusive rights to premium sports events is highly competitive, with platforms vying for marquee events like global tournaments and domestic leagues. These rights are difficult to obtain, requiring significant investment and strategic partnerships to outbid competitors and secure long-term viewer loyalty.
Streaming platforms leverage sports content to retain existing subscribers while attracting new audiences. Highlights, replays, and sports documentaries are particularly effective at engaging casual viewers, creating opportunities to convert them into avid fans. Meanwhile, exclusive live broadcasts of high-profile events incentivize viewers to subscribe or switch platforms.
Demand for Authentic Representation: Quality and Quantity
Audiences today are increasingly seeking stories that reflect genuine experiences, moving away from outdated stereotypes. While strides have been made in promoting diversity on screen, there remains a significant need for content that authentically represents different cultural nuances, lived experiences, and identities. Viewers call for characters and narratives beyond surface-level representation, demanding depth and complexity.
This shift has pushed the entertainment industry to prioritize authenticity in storytelling and production. Streaming platforms and content creators recognize that meaningful representation meets audience expectations and strengthens viewer engagement and loyalty.
Authentic stories foster deeper connections with audiences by reflecting their realities, creating an opportunity for the industry to align social impact with commercial success.
Independent filmmaking and digital platforms have further enabled underrepresented voices to contribute their unique perspectives, addressing gaps left by mainstream media.
The Rise of Hybrid Monetization Models
Streaming platforms increasingly adopt hybrid monetization strategies, blending ad-supported and subscription tiers to attract and retain subscribers. This approach caters to diverse consumer preferences while maximizing revenue potential. In 2024, 61% of SVOD users who had the option chose ad-supported tiers, highlighting a clear shift towards advertiser-funded content (source) due to rising concerns about subscription fatigue and cost-conscious consumers. The average monthly spent on OTT services declined to $63 in 2024 from $90 in 2021, signaling the growing popularity of affordable options.
Many platforms demonstrated success in combining ad-supported and premium tiers. These strategies allow companies to experiment with pricing and ad loads to find the optimal balance for engagement. Moreover, ad innovations, such as pause ads and personalized targeting strategies, ensure that advertisements enhance rather than disrupt the viewing experience.
By leveraging hybrid models, streaming platforms can diversify their revenue streams while offering consumers greater flexibility. This will allow them to meet market demands for affordability and relevance without compromising on quality.
Content Discovery Challenges
In some of our previous articles, we highlighted the growing importance of content discovery for CTV and VOD platforms. This challenge has only intensified as the volume of available content expands. Nowadays, 50% of consumers stated they would spend more time on SVOD platforms if content discovery were easier. Many users are frustrated with wasting too much time searching for something to watch, with some ultimately giving up. Additionally, 60% of Gen Z audiences favor user-generated content (UGC) platforms because of their superior recommendation systems to traditional VOD platforms.
Content discovery isn’t just about finding content—it’s about delivering the right content at the right time. Metadata is a crucial enabler, allowing detailed information such as cast, genre, and themes to power search and recommendation engines. However, AI and machine learning have emerged as transformative tools, enabling platforms to offer highly personalized suggestions. These technologies analyze user preferences, behavior, and contextual data to surface relevant options, enhancing engagement and retention rates.
Addressing discovery challenges is key to reducing churn and maintaining user loyalty for platforms. By combining rich metadata with advanced AI solutions and intuitive designs, streaming services can ensure viewers spend more time enjoying content and less time searching for it.
Productions Beyond Hollywood
In 2024, off-Hollywood productions gained traction due to industry strikes, tax incentives, and the demand for authentic representation. The strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA earlier in the year disrupted traditional Hollywood pipelines, prompting studios to explore alternative production hubs globally.
Regions like Atlanta/Fulton County and Spain exemplify this shift. Georgia offers a 30% tax credit and affordable production costs, attracting significant projects such as The Walking Dead and Black Panther. Meanwhile, with its generous tax incentives and strategic support, Spain has become a thriving hub for projects like Money Heist and Society of the Snow, which have achieved international acclaim.
This off-Hollywood trend reduces costs and enables diverse storytelling, offering opportunities for productions to connect with global audiences through authentic and localized narratives. The combined impact of these developments is reshaping the entertainment landscape beyond Hollywood.
Bundling and Aggregation Gains Momentum
With subscription fatigue rising, bundling and aggregation strategies have gained significant traction. By offering consolidated access to multiple channels or platforms, these approaches simplify content discovery and provide cost-effective solutions for viewers. This dual benefit of convenience and affordability is particularly appealing as economic pressures lead consumers to reassess their spending on entertainment services.
Regional platforms have also embraced bundling to combine local and international content, catering to a broader range of audience preferences. By integrating diverse offerings under a single interface, bundling enhances user satisfaction and retention while reducing the hassle of managing multiple subscriptions.
Looking Ahead to 2025
2024 has been a year of innovation, learning, and growth at allrites and significant changes for the constantly evolving television entertainment industry. From launching transformative products like allrites FAST and ContentX to understanding the industry’s pulse through global events, we’ve gained invaluable insights into what drives success in the modern media landscape. As we look forward to 2025, we remain committed to empowering content owners, streamers, and audiences through cutting-edge solutions and meaningful partnerships.
Here’s to another year of launching and learning together.
Happy holidays, dear reader.
Stay tuned for what’s next!
About allrites
Located in Singapore and operating globally, allrites is a premier marketplace for buying and selling film, TV, and sports rights. We provide a vast catalog of Film and TV content, from major studios to independent producers, available in any language and genre. Our innovative licensing models, including allrites Content-as-a-Service, offer flexible and efficient solutions for content monetization and acquisition, accommodating the evolving needs of content buyers and sellers worldwide.
Contact us to learn more about us and our revolutionary CaaS model.
About ContentX by allrites
ContentX is a new solution designed to create fresh revenue opportunities for both content rights holders and AI companies. For film and TV content rights holders, it allows them to unlock new streams of income by distributing and licensing their content across a wider range of platforms, maximizing its reach and potential. Meanwhile, AI companies can leverage the vast library of licensed content available through ContentX to enhance their machine learning models, recommendation systems, and other AI-driven media technologies, opening doors for innovative partnerships and content utilization.
Learn more about ContentX by allrites here.
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