Top 10 digital media predictions for 2016 .. Strategy Analytics

Global intelligence firm Strategy Analytics has published a report on the 10 key trends that will shape the digital media landscape next year – from streaming services to ad blocking, and programmatic to Virtual Reality.

The 10 trends are (more detail in the 4-page report available here):

• Amazon will be the fastest growing streaming on-demand service
• Netflix will see a 7% to 10% decline in new subscribers
• Voice search will begin to impact how viewers search for TV programs
• Virtual reality will be the single hottest new technology in the media & entertainment space
• Apple Music will become the 2nd largest subscription music service, putting pressure on Spotify
• Revenue lost to ad blocking will double
• Facebook to take a big bite out of TV ad revenues
• Programmatic will account for 53% of digital display ad spend in the U.K.
• Netflix will match Amazon and enable video downloads so viewers can watch offline
• Netflix’ window of opportunity in China will close rapidly

“2016 will be an extremely disruptive year in the way people consume TV, films, music and games – and the hot kid on this block will be Virtual Reality,” according to Mike Goodman Director, Strategy Analytics’ director of digital media strategies. 

“We’ll see a seismic change in the way large media companies usually embrace a new tech. Instead of going through the usual protracted launch process and, despite the miniscule addressable market of headsets, many will throw caution to the wind and move aggressively to embrace Virtual Reality.”