Big news: The merger between AT&T and Time Warner has been approved by a federal judge.
The goal: Build an automated advertising platform that combines the best parts of digital (targeting/analytics) with premium video content.
Quote from Kelly Clark — CEO @ GroupM:
“Our clients want the highest quality programming informed by the highest quality data with the least amount of waste,”
Why this matters: This will bring one of the top catalogs of content (HBO, etc.) under the same roof as the #1 pay-TV provider and #2 mobile provider.
Top pay-TV providers:
1) AT&T/DirecTV/Sling — 26.2M
2) Comcast — 21.2M
3) Charter Spectrum — 16.4M
Top mobile providers:
1) Verizon — 151.5M
2) AT&T — 143.8M
AT&T is well positioned to grow these subscriber numbers atmultiple price points.
Addressable TV homes in U.S.:
1) Total — 60M
2) AT&T/DirecTV/Sling — 15M (25% of total)
Quote from Tracey Scheppach– CEO @ Matter More Media:
“The cost per thousand impressions — a common currency for pricing TV ad units — for a targeted ad aimed at specific households can top $60, compared to an average of $10 for a national ad.”
Flashback #1: AT&T may be plotting to revolutionize TV advertising
Interesting perspective. If AT&T offers addressable advertising AND owns the networks the following occurs:
1) Ad pricing — A single ad impression increases 192% from 1.2¢ to 3.5¢ due to improved targeting.
2) Inventory — The number of 30s spots available to AT&T increases 600% from 4 to 28 now that they are both the cable provider and content owner.
3) Total impact — AT&T currently makes roughly $0.05 per hour (4 spots x 1.2¢), but that could increase to $0.98 per hour (28 spots x 3.5¢) if they accomplish #1 and #2.
Flashback #2: The Data-Driven Marketing Revolution Will Be Televised
Key points for potential market size:
1) Only 15% of advertisers are fully using addressable TV advertising
2) Less than 3% of TV advertising spend is addressable
More #1: AT&T’s Play Against The Duopoly Hinges On Scaled Addressable TV And Brand Dollars
More #2: Watch CNBC’s full interview with BTIG’s Rich Greenfield
More #3: AT&T, Time Warner and the Entire Media Merger Frenzy Explained
