Users to be able to manage Youtube recommendations

Youtube finally takes a request from its users into account. Consumers will be able to modify channel and video recommendations on YouTube by means of 3 options.

1. On the home page, YouTube will make it easier to discover new videos and in the "To Follow" reading thread by offering clickable suggestion buttons for previously explored topics, recently viewed videos or a frequently viewed Youtuber.

It’s for the moment only available for registered users in English or for the Android application. It will be extended later for the whole platform.

2. Like on Spotify or on Instagram, the user will be able to exclude videos and channels he/she doesn’t want to watch. This does not prevent access to these channels, but their videos will no longer be highlighted by the recommedation algorithm.

3. [only available via IOS] YouTube will supply more information on the very origin of the suggestions proposed, indicating why such a video appears in the suggestion thread.

Since users will be more in control of their content, we will probably be able to segment our ads better.  On the other hand, the recommendations may also accelerate the circulation of controversial content such as disinformation videos, sometimes at the expense of better quality achievements… So the innovation here is not an all time winner.

Screeninfluence: RTL to extend brands presence

IP/RTL Belgium has closed a deal with Stellar, a platform dedicated to influencers marketing. Their common objective is to develop a cross media proposal that will enable brands to be associated with the most active social media users from the RTL teams, regardless of their medium, radio, television, digital or social networks. This offer is called "Screenfluence" and will be launched in September, for the new schoolyear.

IP to sell TF1 airtime as of September 2019

Exit Transfer, now IP is going to be the new sales house for the large airtime inventory from TF1 (including mytf1). A big surprise. See our view on this cooperation either in Dutch https://www.space.be/seen/nl or French https://www.space.be/seen/fr.

In short:

• audience of TF1 is decreasing: in 3 years time, their audience share of shoppers 18-54 has lost 5 percentage points
• age, gender and social status of TF1 viewers are now similar to RTL-TVi
• few incremental reach to RTL
• ad breaks on TF1 are generally twice as long as on the local channels

Proximus to launch Pickx

The portal Skynet.be from Proximus is about to be replaced by the new Proximus Pickx (www.proximuspickx.be), presented as a content platform, under the ATAWAD principle (Any Time, AnyWhere, Any Device). The transversal approach will also be translated into a new decoder, with vocal command, including Chromecast, decoder that may be used as a game console as well. This new device is said to be available at the start of the new school year.

Qmusic launches an interactive digital radio

As of July 2019, Qmusic will start Q-Maximum Hits. Via Q-app listeners will be able to select the song they want to hear from an alternative choice. As in the past, when this all happened via phone (!), the song with the larger number of votes will be aired. Q-Maximum Hits wil be available via Q-app, Qmusic.be et DAB+.