The media and entertainment industry continues to undergo rapid innovation and transformation, driven by advances in IP, cloud, and AI technologies. These developments are reshaping broadcast technology infrastructures and influencing which broadcasters succeed in a highly competitive landscape. As consolidation and divestiture become more common, the role of technology vendors is increasingly critical.

Industry Shifts and Streaming Growth

According to Nielsen, streaming usage is projected to rise by 71% between 2021 and 2025, highlighting the industry’s swift evolution. Traditional broadcasters now face intense competition from new digital entrants. While companies like Netflix and Amazon Prime initially disrupted the market, potential mergers—such as a hypothetical Netflix or Paramount acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery—could further transform the media landscape. Additionally, platforms like YouTube TV and specialized streaming services are fragmenting audience share even more.

Many broadcasters are responding by aggregating content on various platforms, expanding their market reach, and strengthening their brand presence. Sports rights owners are also capitalizing on digital opportunities, as seen with Paramount Skydance‘s bid for the UEFA Champions League and Apple‘s $750 million streaming deal for Formula 1. Industry forecasts from Ampere Analysis predict global spending on sports media rights will exceed $78 billion (€73 billion) by 2030, reflecting the growing competition for premium live sports content.

Advanced Monetization and Data Utilization

With access to increasingly sophisticated audience data, broadcasters and rights owners are exploring advanced advertising and monetization models that can significantly impact their business strategies.

Challenges for Broadcasters

Declining linear broadcast revenues, market competition, and industry consolidation present significant challenges for broadcast CTOs. Transitioning from traditional, monolithic systems to flexible, online-first platforms capable of reaching and monetizing global, fragmented audiences is a complex task—especially amid a skills shortage and the rapid emergence of AI technologies.

Investment Priorities and Technology Partnerships

Recent industry surveys highlight key areas for growth. The DPP Media Tech Survey found that global broadcast CTOs expect content management, processing, and streaming technologies to see the largest investment increases. Similarly, Devoncroft’s 2025 Big Broadcast Survey identified IP networking and content delivery as top trends among technology buyers.

To accelerate innovation, 85% of Media Tech CEOs are actively seeking supplier partnerships, viewing participation in vendor ecosystems as essential for growth and meeting the evolving demands of broadcasters and streamers. Flexibility is crucial—solutions must adapt quickly, whether through micro-services, open standards, or avoiding single-vendor lock-in. Software-defined workflows, deployable across multi-cloud, on-premise, or hybrid environments, enable deep partner integrations and tailored solutions.

Software-Defined Workflows and FinOps

The industry is moving toward broader adoption of software-defined workflows for live broadcasts, bringing financial operations (FinOps) into sharper focus. FinOps enables organizations to monitor cloud costs, forecast future expenses, and optimize deployment strategies. Cloud workflows offer scalability and flexibility that are challenging to replicate on-premise, and reliance on cloud solutions is expected to grow in 2026. However, as organizations enhance their FinOps capabilities, they may find that modern on-premise infrastructure can complement or even replace cloud solutions for certain workloads, offering cost stability or savings.

Trusted Technology Expertise

The increasing use of software-defined products across cloud, edge, and local environments provides greater flexibility, supported by adaptable software licensing. This trend, combined with ongoing investment in public cloud, is leading to a more intentional and measurable approach to live media infrastructure. Technology vendors with deep expertise are well-positioned to support broadcasters as they navigate these evolving challenges.

Disclaimer: This article has been auto-generated from a syndicated RSS feed and has not been edited by Vitrina staff. It is provided solely for informational purposes on a non-commercial basis.