As an entertainment executive, maximizing the return on investment for your platform, studio, or TV series financing company can be challenging when making content and distribution decisions. One way to make informed decisions is by using demand data. The following analysis of "Blue's Clues" for the month of December 2023 in Canada demonstrates how demand data can help decision-making surrounding content acquisition, programming, and distribution.
Content Acquisition:
One way to determine the potential value of acquiring a TV series is valuation using demand data. Using Parrot Analytics content valuation system, the dollar value contribution of a title to a platform can be assessed. For "Blue's Clues," with 11.0 times the audience demand of the average show in Canada over the last 30 days, demand is outstanding. “Blue's Clues” achieved the peak rank of #130 in Canada, indicating it is a popular show. The show also has good potential for franchisability (spin-off potential) and travelability, meaning it could do well in international markets. Knowing the show's demand data allows you to assess its value to your platform, as Parrot Analytics can calculate the ROI a specific title will bring for any given platform. Thus, acquiring “Blue's Clues” for your platform could positively impact your bottom line, as it has a high demand and potential for international expansion.
Programming:
A critical factor in programming is ensuring that you are providing enough content that is in-demand to retain current subscribers and attract new ones. The demand data for “Blue's Clues” shows that during December 2023, audience demand for the show increased in Canada by 25.8%. Knowing that demand spiked during late December, it may be wise to program a marathon of "Blue's Clues" episodes during the holiday season when demand is high. Furthermore, since “Blue's Clues” has higher demand than 99.0% of all comedy titles in Canada, programming it back-to-back with another comedy might keep viewers engaged and reduce churn.
Distribution:
The demand data for "Blue's Clues" provides valuable insights into the show's global performance. By examining the top 10 global markets where "Blue's Clues" is most in-demand over the last 30 days, we find that this TV series outperforms the demand of the average TV show (1x) in each of these markets. Knowing where demand is high could guide your distribution strategy for the show. For example, "Blue's Clues" experienced outstanding audience demand of 12.3x in the United States, making it a great acquisition for a US-based SVOD platform. Similarly, its outstanding demand in New Zealand, Canada, Brunei, and Chile signals that it may perform well in those markets as well, making the show a good distribution choice for providers operating in those regions.
In summary, utilizing demand data, as shown by the analysis of "Blue's Clues," can help entertainment executives make informed decisions regarding content acquisition, programming, and distribution. Understanding demand can provide the resources needed to build optimal programming strategies while maximizing content value. It can also guide executives in evaluating where to allocate resources, such as marketing campaigns and talent or partner acquisitions. Ultimately, data-driven decision-making based on demand data can result in engaging programming and improved audience retention, as well as benefit a platform's overall performance trajectory.
