By Martin Prins, Head of Product, Media Distillery
Video previews are transforming the way viewers discover content. With countless streaming options available, viewers often face “scrolling fatigue,” spending up to 10.5 minutes searching for something to watch. This search time has nearly doubled since 2019, showing just how overwhelming content choice has become. The result? Viewers either settle for something familiar or abandon the search altogether.
This is where video previews step in.
Example of a Preview Distillery use case
Switching from static images to video previews can dramatically improve the viewing experience. While a still image may hint at a story, a video preview immerses viewers in the content’s tone, pace, and atmosphere, helping them gauge whether it fits their mood and interests.
Netflix saw the impact of this first-hand when they introduced video previews in 2018, with 80% of subscribers relying on video previews to make their viewing decisions. The appeal is even stronger for Gen Z, who are accustomed to short-form videos on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. In fact, a recent YouTube report found that 59% of Gen Z viewers use short-form video apps to explore topics they will later watch longer versions of. TV Operators can harness this behavior by using captivating video previews within their platform to capture Gen Z’s attention, driving engagement and building long-term loyalty.
Example of Preview Distillery use case
Creating video previews across a large content library can be both costly and time-consuming, especially for TV operators looking to keep catch-up content fresh and relevant. The challenge intensifies with live broadcasts, where inaccurate EPGs and ad breaks complicate manual preview creation. Even automated previews can fall short, as they may unintentionally include ads, spoilers, or irrelevant content.
To effectively engage viewers, previews must deliver relevant, spoiler-free insights —a challenge that Preview Distillery is specifically designed to solve.
Preview Distillery uses advanced AI to generate dynamic video previews that help viewers make faster, more satisfying choices. The AI-driven automation tool analyzes the audio and visuals of each title to create tailored snippets, addressing challenges of scalability, speed, and accuracy. Here’s how it works in two key contexts:
• Catch-Up Previews for Live Broadcasts: TV Operators often face delays in getting timely, high-quality previews from broadcast partners for catch-up content. What makes Preview Distillery unique is its ability to generate previews from live broadcast video in real-time. It removes ads and irrelevant segments, providing TV operators with clean and engaging previews for their entire catch-up video library.
• VOD Previews for Large Libraries: Browsing an extensive VOD catalog can be overwhelming. Preview Distillery enhances the user experience by creating ‘trailer-like’ snippets for each title, giving users a quick visual summary of what’s available. By presenting a consistent preview experience across both catch-up and VOD libraries, TV operators can offer viewers an immersive, frustration-free browsing journey that keeps them engaged.
Example of Preview Distillery use case - Homepage
Preview Distillery makes it easy for TV operators to create high-quality, engaging video previews. By automating the preview creation process with AI, it ensures each snippet is accurate, relevant, and - importantly - spoiler-free, giving viewers a seamless and immersive browsing experience.
For broadcasters, Preview Distillery simplifies the challenges of generating previews from live content, tackling issues like inaccurate EPGs and ad breaks. The result is timely, interruption-free previews that allow operators to offer more engaging catch-up content.
Beyond enhancing the user experience, Preview Distillery also opens new revenue opportunities. By improving the discoverability of older VOD content, it gives operators a fresh way to re-engage viewers and tap into new monetization streams for their back catalog. With Preview Distillery, operators can reduce browsing time, drive higher engagement, extend watch times, and ultimately increase viewer retention.
Switching from static images to video previews is a smart move that really benefits both viewers and streaming platforms. Want to see how Preview Distillery can transform content discovery for your users? Book a meeting or a demo to explore how our solution can enhance your streaming platform and provide a more satisfying viewing journey for your audience.
November 18, 2024
