Omdia forecasts 900+ million connected cars on the road by 2030 featuring ever-larger screens in the front and rear, with the car OEMs themselves and the likes of Google and Apple looking to become gatekeepers to the in-car environment. We hear what the connected car means to the Media & Entertainment industry as a new distribution endpoint for content and advertising. What is the evidence that passengers, and especially drivers, will have the time or inclination to watch TV in this environment? Who will provide the Entertainment OS – and is this a race Pay TV aggregators can join? With car makers looking to develop recurring post-sale revenues (just like Smart TV manufacturers), what could the business models look like for those with leverage on content, advertising and data.
ScreenHits TV is a streaming app that aggregates and curates subscription and free streaming services into one unified user experience, making it easy for consumers to find and watch the content they want. Having grown up on Smart TVs, tablets and phones, this service has made the leap into connected car entertainment. A landmark global deal with Porsche (part of Volkswagen Group) makes ScreenHits TV a leader in this emerging market, which represents a whole new distribution channel for content owners and a way for advertisers to extend their reach. We hear about the opportunity to entertain rear and front passengers while driving and to entertain drivers when parked – like when charging an electric vehicle. ScreenHits TV believes the car will become the second most important screen outside the home, so we explore the implications for all stakeholders.
