Five Media Predictions for 2023
Also, the top Google search terms of 2022 and how watch brands are missing out on a digital opportunity
THE LEDE
There are going to be some major developments in tech and entertainment in 2023. Here’s my list of predictions for next year:
1. Artificial intelligence will go “beyond the caricature.” We’ve seen a lot of apps that now use artificial intelligence to generate pictures. Some, like the Lensa selfies, really showed the power A.I. has. This year, we’ll see A.I. move into the workflow; we will begin to see A.I. assistants who book our flights, keep our calendar and suggest appointments.
AI-generated image of “A television in vibrant colors in a field of poppies.”
2. Augmented Reality will step up. There’s an amazing technology right now that shows how AR can be used in a practical way. The tech is called XRAI Glass, and it’s for the hard of hearing. The glasses can understand someone speaking, and display the words so the wearer can see the conversation captioned in real time. That’s a huge breakthrough. Imagine this use for speakers of foreign languages. AR has just begun to exhibit its strengths.
3. There will be a shrinking number of active podcasts. The number of total podcasts is actually down almost 10 percent from a year ago. A lot of people started podcasts during COVID, and are finding that producing a regular show is hard work. Of the 2.5 million podcasts on Apple Podcasts, only about 450,000 are active, down from 755,000 in 2021.
4. The first $1 billion opening weekend for a movie will come when it is released on all platforms at once. (I’ve been predicting this for years, but it’s bound to happen eventually.) It’s time to get rid of the “window” that separates the theatrical release from the date the movie is available on VOD and streaming.
5. The major “plus” channels (Disney+, AMC+, ESPN+, etc.) will struggle. Warner Brothers Discovery is already talking about folding together HBO Max and Discovery+. Expect more consolidation and a couple more failed “plus” channels.
At the end of 2023, I promise to look back on this with you and see if my predictions played out.
NEWS AND NOTES
“HARRY & MEGHAN” TOPS NETFLIX SHOW OF 2022 IN UK: Say what you want about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex — they know how to draw attention. The first episode of “Harry & Meghan” dropped in the United Kingdom, setting a record for the most views on Netflix in the UK for the year. According to the online entertainment website Deadline, the show garnered 2.3 million views during its first day on the streaming service. Not everyone is sticking with it: Episode two saw 1.5 million streams, while the third episode dipped down to 800,000 streams.
“WORDLE” TOP TRENDING GOOGLE SEARCH OF THE YEAR: A word you didn’t even know a year ago leads Google’s list of top trending search terms of 2022. “Wordle” and questions about it led the pack, according to Google’s annual rundown of search terms. The top-trending person searched was Johnny Depp, and the top news item searched was the war in Ukraine.
NBC REFRESHES LOGO: NBC has announced it is updating its logo, but the change is subtle. Here’s a tweet that demonstrates the change in the “Peacock” logo.
This is hardly a major revamp. The “Peacock” has a slightly brighter color palate, thicker white lines, and a bigger bird in the center. Why the change? Reports NewscastStudio:
“The NBC brand refresh is a love letter to audiences everywhere, driven by NBC’s innovative spirit while celebrating the network’s powerful legacy,” said Juliet Garrett, senior vice president, NBC Creative Design, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, in an email interview.
We’ll take a love letter. Even a subtle one …
LINKS AND LIKES
AUTHOR USES SOCIAL MEDIA CLEVERLY TO PROMOTE BOOK: Ryan G. Murphy’s new autobiography, “Gingered,” is a charming, hysterical and touching memoir. Normally, I wouldn’t write about a book here, but it’s how Murphy is marketing his story that is so fun.
Murphy has been posting hilarious takes from the book and his life on Twitter @gingeredbook. And he even “pitched it” to “Shark Tank” in a Facebook video. Ryan G. Murphy (not to be confused with the producer of “Glee,” Ryan P. Murphy) has a background in media, and it shows. He knows how to make the most of social media to augment the launch of his book.
“Gingered” is available from Amazon for just $5.99 in paperback or $1.98 for the Kindle version.
REMOTE NOTES eBOOK COMING IN 2023: I am in the process of editing what will be the first Remote Notes eBook. “TELL THE TRUTH: Inside Information about News, Podcasting and the Media“ will come out in early 2023. It features the great interviews our experts have given, essays and editorials, all from the pages of Remote Notes’ first year. (The title comes from our interview with public relations professional Barbara Macleod. When we asked her for the best advice about PR, she replied: “Tell the truth.”)
BEYOND THE REMOTE
BRANDS MISSING OUT ON DIGITAL FACES: You can make your Apple Watch look like a Rolex, a Cartier, a Casio - really, any brand. I’ve even seen an Oreo watch face:
People are sharing watch faces in groups on Facebook, Reddit and the like. Using the app Clockology, you can have your watch display any face you (or someone else) can design. It’s not a flawless process, and Apple could do a lot more to embrace personalized faces. Here’s a “Breitling”:
Now, this is obviously against copyright/trademark law. But major brands should get into this or, at least, give their blessing. They should be creating digital faces. It’s an easy call for a brand like Oreo. I know the counter-argument watch companies will give: “If we sell digital faces, it will pirate the sales of real watches.” That’s all wrong. People who want a real Rolex will buy a real Rolex. This is marketing, and it’s an opportunity for the hurting watch business to pick up some money.
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REMOTE NOTES
Newsletter #34
Founder/Writer: Steve Safran
Editor: John Cockrell
Copyright 2022
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