The fun of launching a streaming Network!
The Fun of Launching a Streaming Network
Suddenly, it hits you: you have a groundbreaking concept for programming. You’re confident there’s a significant audience looking for the kind of shows you want to create. You’ve seen the big players shy away from this content because it’s too niche. But you know that even capturing a small slice of that audience could lead to success.
Where Do You Start?
You’ve produced content before, and you know how to make high-quality programming efficiently. But can you produce enough to fill an entire streaming network? Should you consider starting smaller—maybe just creating a few shows and putting them on YouTube?
No. You have bigger ambitions. You want to launch a full-fledged network, one that dives deep into every aspect of your niche. You envision other producers and talent getting excited and bringing their ideas to the table. So why not stick to YouTube or Patreon?
No again. Because you want to take on the big players. You want to be the Netflix of your niche.
Obstacle #1: Money
Where do you start? How much do you need?
The simple answer is whatever you can get. More is better, but there are ways around a lot of expenses if you get creative. Maybe you’ve got some money stashed away, or you’ve done a friends-and-family round to gather a bit more. But it’s not enough. What’s next?
You’re moving ahead, so you need to recruit a team because you can’t do this alone. You offer ownership and creative freedom—the chance to be part of something groundbreaking. You start building a “family” because the road ahead is steep, and you’ll need people who believe in the vision as much as you do.
Obstacle #2: Technology
You’re not a tech person. Rumor has it all you need is some software and a cloud service. That can’t be right. You know the tech side is critical to the success of your streaming network. So, you grab a copy of my book, From Stream to Screen (shameless plug: it’s available on Amazon), to get a crash course on the nuts and bolts. Now you have a better idea of the kind of person you need to hire, and you can ask smart questions during interviews.
When you find the right person, you convince them to join your mission—long hours and all. They see the opportunity, believe in the dream, and, luckily, they love finding “hacks” to outsmart the systems and save you money. You hand off the tech-heavy tasks to them, freeing yourself to focus on the parts of the process you love, and you move on.
Obstacle #3: Your Signature Show
What’s the signature show that will define your network and grab attention? You’ve had ideas, but now it’s time to develop one into a fully realized series. This show needs to resonate perfectly with your target audience. You only get one chance to make a strong first impression, so it has to be exceptional.
No pressure, right? Who’s the right talent, can they be the face of the network? Do they have the credibility they need? Are they interested? Are they available? You’ve produced before you know the right person and you sell them on the potential.
Logistical issue pop-up such as studio or field production, how many episodes can you make? Should it be topical or evergreen? You’re setting the tone for all the other programming to come. These network issues you never had to face when you were just producing a show.
Obstacle #4: Finding Your Audience
How are people going to find your network? How do you reach the community of viewers who will love your shows? You know you need engagement, but how do you create something that goes viral? You’ll have to try everything—mailing lists, social media, Google ads—everywhere you can get in front of the people who want to watch these shows.
At some point, you realize you need recognizable content to attract attention. You break down and acquire some known programming that fits your niche. It’s not your original idea, but it helps gets people to notice your network.
Obstacle #5: Platforms and Monetization
You’ve made it this far! You’re ready to launch. Is it AVOD, SVOD, FVOD, or FAST? How do you get your network onto every platform you want? How are you going to make any money?
You’re thrust into the world of minimum user thresholds. How many Impressions will you get? Can you survive on Programmatic ads? Who will serve the Ads? If you go SVOD add in a payment processor and integration.
The harsh reality starts sets in: you’re not reaching the levels needed to generate significant revenue. Suddenly, YouTube seems like a tempting fallback. But no—you and your team believe in this network. Others will, too!
Where the Rubber Meets the Road
At this point, you need two things: time and patience. Time to tweak the network. Time to gather feedback and adapt. Time to build an audience. Patience to let things develop.
And once again, Obstacle #1 (money) rears its head. You need backing—partners who share your passion and understand that success in this space requires a long-term commitment. But now you’ve got something to show the world.
Your Keys to Success
Passion
Creativity
Persistence
It’s not an easy path, but the rewards can be worth the effort.