1 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,200 Speaker 1: It's hard to stand out in the crowded O T 2 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:11,720 Speaker 1: T world where consumers have hundreds of options from which 3 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 1: to screen content. But a five year old venture called 4 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:19,280 Speaker 1: Pluto TV is unique for one thing, it's free. Another, 5 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: subscribers can access over a hundred channels. No wonder. Pluto 6 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 1: has already reported over six million subscribers, which, in its 7 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,480 Speaker 1: competitive slot, is saying a lot. I'm sure our next 8 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:33,519 Speaker 1: guest is a lot to say about that. Welcome Pluto CEO, 9 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 1: Tom Ryan, Thanks for having me. No problem, Tom, I 10 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 1: I think when I tell people that you guys don't 11 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 1: have subscribers, there's some curiosity about the business. So why 12 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:49,240 Speaker 1: don't you explain how you make money at Pluto? Sure? 13 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 1: Sure so, Um, we're entirely free and ad supported. Um. 14 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: So we deliver advertising. Uh and and we deliver um 15 00:00:57,160 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 1: that much like TV. It feels like TV advertising to 16 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 1: the viewer, but it's also targeted and addressable and and 17 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: sort of digitally delivered. So it combines the brand building 18 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: um power of television advertising with the addressable power of 19 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:16,680 Speaker 1: digital advertising. But when we're talking about channels, we should 20 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 1: be clear these are not channels, as most people understand it. 21 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:26,120 Speaker 1: On the traditional television dial you don't have CBS or HBO. Yeah, 22 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 1: So I'll explain a bit about the business we UM. 23 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:32,960 Speaker 1: You know, we're a free internet TV service, as you said, 24 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 1: with over a hundred channels UM, as well as thousands 25 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: of TV shows and movies delivered on demand in a 26 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 1: familiar TV like guide UM that is free and delivered 27 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:47,119 Speaker 1: over you know, just about every internet connected platform that matters, web, 28 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 1: mobile and connected TV. UM. You can think about the 29 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 1: business in two parts. On one hand, we're a virtual 30 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: m v P, D or UM sort of cable like 31 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 1: television service, So think a next generation comcast in that 32 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 1: we deliver over a hundred channels in the form of 33 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:07,559 Speaker 1: an app UM to viewers to consume within that app 34 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 1: on any device. UM. But what makes us unique is 35 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 1: that we are also an Internet cable networks group, so 36 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 1: think a next generation Discovery UM or viacom in that UM. 37 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 1: We're not just a taker of channels UM, so not 38 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: just a taker of fully formed linear channels. Were actually 39 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 1: a maker of channels, and so we make UM the 40 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 1: vast majority of the channels on Pluto tv. UM. We 41 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: do that through a combination of sophisticated technology, curation, UM 42 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 1: and UM content that we've licensed from over a hundred 43 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 1: different media companies, including big movie studios like Lionsgate, Paramount, UM, MGM, 44 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:49,920 Speaker 1: as well as UM TV companies like UM, CBS and NBC, 45 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 1: as well as any networks and scripts UM and we 46 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 1: deliver unique channels UM to our viewers UM and then 47 00:02:57,400 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 1: we also do take some channels, so we're a maker 48 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:02,080 Speaker 1: of most to the channels, a taker of some of 49 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 1: the channels, and we pair that all up into a 50 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 1: hundred plus channel bundle that we deliver for free. So 51 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:11,799 Speaker 1: it's really a two part business UM sort of a 52 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 1: virtual MVP d AT a AT a cable networks group 53 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: combined into one. But I want to clarify on the 54 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: cable networks group side, whereas viacom maybe owns the content 55 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 1: or a discovery owns the content, when you're making a channel, 56 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,080 Speaker 1: you don't own the content. You're just making a deal 57 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:32,079 Speaker 1: with the person who owns the content to take their 58 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 1: videos and constructed into a linear channel. That's correct. We 59 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 1: are licensing content from a hundred plus media companies and 60 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: we're creating most of the channels on Pluto with the 61 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: content that we've licensed. So talk about some channel examples, 62 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 1: because again, this is not stuff you get on TV, 63 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 1: although in some instances, if I'm correct, you're you are 64 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 1: dealing with a traditional TV channel programmer, but you're taking 65 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 1: some of their content and sort of remixing it in 66 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: a way that's different than what they can get on 67 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 1: linear TV. Uh. Yeah, that's right. I mean, because we're 68 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 1: the platform owner, the sort of virtual MVP D and 69 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 1: the cable networks group UM in one, we can go 70 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 1: both broad and deep. So we've got a very wide 71 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 1: variety of channels. Some of those are broadly genre UM 72 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:24,720 Speaker 1: or subject matter UM oriented. Some of them get quite 73 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 1: niche and quite deep in terms of what they address 74 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 1: names some examples UM. Some examples would be UM. So 75 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 1: we've got of the channels that we make UM. We've 76 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:35,479 Speaker 1: got channels that are owned and operated by Pluto under 77 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:39,239 Speaker 1: Pluto brands. Examples of those would be News seven, which 78 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:43,440 Speaker 1: curates the news from a dozen different news sources very 79 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 1: regularly throughout the day. UM gives different perspectives on the 80 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 1: same topic for for different news stories. We've got movie 81 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:54,479 Speaker 1: channels Pluto Movies UM. Horror seven is a horror movie 82 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:58,280 Speaker 1: channel UM. And we've got channels that are dedicated to 83 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 1: more niche subjects like geek and gamer oriented channel called 84 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:05,359 Speaker 1: The Feed. UM. So those are some examples of the 85 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 1: Pluto owned and operated channels, but we also create channels 86 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: under UM media company brands. So NBC News has a 87 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 1: channel on Pluto where they are delivering US news throughout 88 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 1: the day that we're curating into an NBC News branded channel. 89 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 1: Scripts has a couple of channels on the platform UM 90 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:26,360 Speaker 1: which are digital versions UM of of programming that they 91 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 1: already do. So there's a channel called Adventure TV, which 92 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 1: is in the travel category UM. And there's a channel 93 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 1: called UM front Door, which is in the home improvement category. 94 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 1: And so we're taking full length TV programming from Scripts 95 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,159 Speaker 1: and UM we're delivering those through these unique channels that 96 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:47,080 Speaker 1: they have on Pluto under these new brands UM. So 97 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:50,359 Speaker 1: it depends really on the media company and how, you know, 98 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 1: it differs on how we work with them. But we're 99 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:55,160 Speaker 1: creating Pluto owned and operated channels. We're also creating branded 100 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 1: channels UM. Sometimes we're creating new brands with media companies UM. 101 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:01,840 Speaker 1: And you know, while we started out with a lot 102 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 1: of short form best of digital content, today the vast 103 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: majority of the content on Pluto either has been or 104 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: is currently on TV. It's long form premium TV content. 105 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: I mean, I approached this is kind of a snob 106 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 1: in the sense that I'm so used to you know, 107 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: I gotta have my CBS and HBO. But it's when 108 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:23,479 Speaker 1: you say that you've got over six million subscribers that 109 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 1: I realize what you've got here is an interesting approach 110 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:32,919 Speaker 1: to the market. Who is watching this? Are they cord cutters? 111 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:36,799 Speaker 1: Are they doing it to supplement an existing pay TV 112 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:41,159 Speaker 1: maybe all the above? Yeah, I mean, so what we've 113 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 1: built is actually broadly appealing to a wide variety of users. 114 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:46,279 Speaker 1: As I said, we you know, we go both broad 115 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:49,920 Speaker 1: and deep um. And so the majority of our users 116 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 1: are actually cord cutters or cord nevers, and they tend 117 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:56,359 Speaker 1: to pair us with other O T T apps that 118 00:06:56,400 --> 00:07:00,080 Speaker 1: they use. UM, but a significant UM percentage of our 119 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 1: users have a pay TV subscription, whether that's a cable 120 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 1: TV bundle or whether that is a skinny bundle. And 121 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 1: so for the for the cord cutters and coordinevers, they 122 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 1: like us because we're a channel surfing free TV experience 123 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: with a wide variety of interesting channels that UM, they 124 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 1: can couple with a Netflix or a Hulu type of 125 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: experience where they are getting originals or catch up tv UM. 126 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 1: But we've got a lot of people who are actually 127 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 1: using us UM and basically expanding their bundle UM and again, 128 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 1: because most of the channels on Pluto are unique and 129 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 1: not available through your skinny bundle or your traditional cable provider, UM, 130 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 1: we allow you to expand your bundle UM for free 131 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: UM by over a hundred channels UM and and they're 132 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 1: by you've got just a greater channel offering than you 133 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: would have had UM. And I think there's a lot 134 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 1: of talk about how people UM don't want to pay 135 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 1: for hundreds of channels or they don't want hundreds of channels. 136 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 1: We think that that's not correct act UM. There's a 137 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 1: lot of contrarian theses we have about our business in 138 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: the tv UM landscape generally UM. But one of them 139 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 1: is is that that people actually like to have choice. 140 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:12,240 Speaker 1: They it needs to be delivered to them in a 141 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:15,760 Speaker 1: way that they can actually find the content that they 142 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 1: want and enjoy it. It also needs to be you 143 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 1: know that they get channels that UM you know if 144 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 1: particularly they're getting them for free and expanding their bundle 145 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 1: for free. UM. That's a great thing. People don't like 146 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: to pay for a lot of channels when they only 147 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: watch a few of them. And I think that's the 148 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:35,240 Speaker 1: sort of the conventional UM wisdom that we're focused on. 149 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 1: So you're saying that that linear channel grid still has 150 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 1: some staying power. Yeah, I mean sort of. Traditional TV 151 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:44,640 Speaker 1: did a lot of things right. It gave you a 152 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: place to go UM with a lot of great content. 153 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 1: It gave you channels that were programmed around UM particular 154 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 1: interests and genres UM that allowed you to be you know, 155 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 1: to just tune in and be entertained to great content. UM. 156 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 1: You know. I think one of the UM misconceptions over 157 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,000 Speaker 1: the past few years is that everything is moving to 158 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:06,840 Speaker 1: on demand. And one of our core thesis is actually 159 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 1: that UM, you know, the linear use case, the programmed 160 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: use case is alive and well and will remain alive 161 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: and well in the digital UM space because people, you know, 162 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 1: fundamentally want to be programmed too. There's plenty of times 163 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:22,319 Speaker 1: when you know exactly what you want to watch, you're 164 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 1: happy to to search for it and then play it 165 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:26,559 Speaker 1: on demand, and that works, you know, great for specific 166 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:29,440 Speaker 1: types of content. I think that's where companies like Netflix 167 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 1: have done a great job. But a lot of time 168 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 1: you just want to turn on your your service dropped 169 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:37,080 Speaker 1: into a channel and you know, let someone else do 170 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 1: the work for you so that you can just lean 171 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:41,120 Speaker 1: back and be entertained. And that's one of the core 172 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 1: theses of the company. I believe what you're saying in 173 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:47,440 Speaker 1: the short term. I think in the long term, however, 174 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:51,719 Speaker 1: the linear channel grade is going to be replaced by 175 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 1: something that is a much more data driven sense of 176 00:09:55,920 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 1: what a viewers user habits are like. Is Pluto TV 177 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 1: set up for that kind of future or do you 178 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: just disagree with what I'm saying. No, I mean I 179 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 1: think that both are true. I think that, um, the 180 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 1: linear experience is great for certain types of content and 181 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:15,560 Speaker 1: certain types of situations, which you know, I find to 182 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 1: be you know, and we believe are a significant use case. 183 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: But of course, um you know, you if you're going 184 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:23,959 Speaker 1: to be successful, you need to be data driven. We're 185 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 1: a very data driven company. UM. In fact, our our EPG, 186 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 1: which does allow you to channel surf, which we electronic 187 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: program guide for those Our our guide, UM, you know, 188 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 1: is there because we do believe people still love to 189 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:40,440 Speaker 1: channel surf in the numbers are bearing that out, but 190 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:44,319 Speaker 1: we all already do things to UM surface channels to 191 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: you that we think that you'll like based on what 192 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 1: you've washed before. UM. We allow you to sort of customize, 193 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 1: personalize your God. So using data in order to deliver 194 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 1: the best possible linear experience is core of what we do. 195 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 1: In addition, you want to watch TV shows or movies 196 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 1: on demand, that's you know, the other sort of leg 197 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 1: of the stool for for Pluto, and that we give 198 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: you thousands of TV shows and movies to watch on 199 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 1: demand as well. How do you first see that traditional 200 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 1: linear world playing out in the next two to ten 201 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 1: years And do you think as your company grows, how 202 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 1: significant a decline, if at all, do you think we'll 203 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 1: see in that traditional pay TV world? Well, I mean, 204 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:31,440 Speaker 1: if we're if we're saying linear as a proxy for 205 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:34,760 Speaker 1: just pay tv, UM, I think that you know that 206 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:38,199 Speaker 1: the numbers are are out there, and you know, probably 207 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 1: anyone listening to this podcast is probably familiar with the 208 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 1: acceleration in chord cutting and perhaps even you know more um, 209 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:49,480 Speaker 1: you know, sort of more serious is the fact that 210 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 1: lots of younger people are not connecting the chord to 211 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 1: begin with. So, um, you know ordinever ring as they say, yes, UM, 212 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:01,200 Speaker 1: so we find that, you know, I think we're benefiting 213 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 1: a lot from that trend. We're also UM trying to 214 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 1: provide our content partners with access to a lot of 215 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:13,079 Speaker 1: folks who may not connect the cable UM and or 216 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:15,320 Speaker 1: or may have cut the cable so that they can 217 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 1: experience that that In terms of the numbers, they appear 218 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 1: to be accelerating UM and uh. There's probably analysts who 219 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 1: are much closer to what they think those numbers are 220 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 1: than than I am. But it's definitely a big trend 221 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:32,160 Speaker 1: UM and I think the the good news is there's 222 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:35,960 Speaker 1: a huge mega trend around O T T consumption and 223 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 1: so I think a lot of the brands and a 224 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:41,840 Speaker 1: lot of the the content creators that have been successful 225 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:45,679 Speaker 1: in traditional pay TV UM can find great, big new 226 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 1: audiences through O T T. So there's this O T 227 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 1: T tidal wave. But the problem is is you're one 228 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 1: of many different kinds of offerings out there. How do 229 00:12:56,320 --> 00:13:00,120 Speaker 1: you see your competitive set? How do you think it's 230 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:04,720 Speaker 1: going to change in the coming years. Um, Well, you know, 231 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:08,080 Speaker 1: we we are one of many players, but I think 232 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:12,200 Speaker 1: we're quite a differentiated player. There's UM. I think when 233 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:18,760 Speaker 1: we launched the service live UM, there were everyone said 234 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:21,439 Speaker 1: everything's going on demand and subscription is the only way 235 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 1: to do it. You know, we had a different opinion 236 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:28,320 Speaker 1: about delivering a program linearized experience or leading with it 237 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 1: at least and also going free, which we also saw 238 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:35,560 Speaker 1: as an under appreciated opportunity over the time or at 239 00:13:35,559 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 1: the time. So UM, it's true that there are you know, 240 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 1: there's now hundreds of subscription video on demand apps out there. UM. 241 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 1: Some have built really interesting businesses UM. I think others 242 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:51,840 Speaker 1: struggle to acquire enough subs because the marketing challenge of 243 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:57,520 Speaker 1: actually acquiring subscribers around certain types of content categories UM 244 00:13:57,679 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: is difficult. Some of those players are actually coming to 245 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:04,680 Speaker 1: Pluto tv UM and they're actually creating linear Barker channels 246 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:08,920 Speaker 1: that allow us to promote essentially what they do, give 247 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 1: them advertising revenue, and then serve as a promotional vehicle 248 00:14:12,559 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 1: to get them to convert to a paying subscriber UM. 249 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 1: So you know, I think in order to be competitive, 250 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 1: you need to have a differentiated product, which we do 251 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:25,720 Speaker 1: in terms of the content offering. It's a lot of 252 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 1: content aggregated into one app, delivered in a way that 253 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 1: allows you to channel, serve and be entertained in a 254 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 1: lean back fashion. UM. And then we also are you know, 255 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 1: wherever we can finding ways to deeply integrate with with 256 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:43,200 Speaker 1: partners so that we can actually deliver UM what we 257 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: do UM for them an example, what mean yeah, I 258 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 1: mean an example, and we're gonna have a number of 259 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:53,360 Speaker 1: partnerships to announce UM this year. But an example is UM. 260 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 1: You know, while we while we sort of duke get 261 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 1: out in the app store with every other O T 262 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:00,160 Speaker 1: T U app that's there, and we do pretty l 263 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:03,840 Speaker 1: where number three free app for example on Roku, UM, 264 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 1: we are integrating plutos as a default free TV experience 265 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 1: UM into hardware and software platforms. So in the case 266 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:16,240 Speaker 1: of Samsung UM, Samsung is has launched a product called 267 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: TV Plus UM, which you know, if you think about it, 268 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:22,760 Speaker 1: you turn your TV on, and then there's this app 269 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 1: called TV Plus, which is the first app that you see. UM. 270 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 1: It's persistent there on the home screen, and Pluto is 271 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:33,440 Speaker 1: powering the channels for that offering. So UM it's almost 272 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 1: in a way a service that is default embedded and 273 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:40,800 Speaker 1: delivered in front of the app store. UM, so I think, 274 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 1: you know, back to your original question, I think you 275 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 1: need to have a differentiated product with great content UM 276 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:50,120 Speaker 1: and a distribution strategy that allows you to get in 277 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 1: front of consumers in a very compelling and discoverable way. 278 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:55,760 Speaker 1: And that's why we're focusing on all of these things. 279 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:58,800 Speaker 1: You mentioned. Samsung, they're one of your investors. Tell us 280 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 1: more about who is behind you? Sure we So we 281 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 1: have raised two rounds of funding since since our inception UM, 282 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 1: we've raised over fifty million dollars in total. Our Series 283 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 1: A was in UH shortly after we launched, and that 284 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:22,920 Speaker 1: was led by US venture partners in Silicon Valley UM 285 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 1: as well as a number of other vcs and UH 286 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:31,320 Speaker 1: some strategics including sky UM. And then in the fall 287 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 1: ofen we raise our Series B, which had a variety 288 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 1: of strategic and investors including Proceben from Germany, UM, Scripts Networks, Samsung, UM, 289 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 1: and a lot of our existing investors pro Ratis. So 290 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 1: we've got, you know, good combination of financial investors UM 291 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 1: as well as strategic investors on the content and distribution side, 292 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 1: all of which have contributed pretty pretty significantly to the 293 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 1: growth of the company and helping us with content partnerships, 294 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:06,320 Speaker 1: distribution partnerships and other help. But going back to what 295 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:09,440 Speaker 1: you were saying about Samsung, that's not just another investor 296 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:13,320 Speaker 1: when you consider what you were saying, if I'm getting 297 00:17:13,359 --> 00:17:17,400 Speaker 1: you right about the value of being baked into that 298 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 1: TV set, beyond just sort of sitting in this ocean 299 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:24,639 Speaker 1: of apps that might be on a Roku platform to 300 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:28,040 Speaker 1: have some great real estate that could be critical in 301 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 1: terms of driving future growth for the app. Now absolutely, absolutely, 302 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:36,480 Speaker 1: like I said, we're doing very well as an app. UM. 303 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:40,199 Speaker 1: Everyone needs to compete through a variety of tactics, UM. 304 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:43,040 Speaker 1: In order to be a successful app. Most importantly, you 305 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 1: need a great product with you know, a great customer 306 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:49,480 Speaker 1: offering including the content and how it's delivered. But people 307 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 1: gotta find you. But people do have to find you, 308 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:54,760 Speaker 1: and so you need to ensure that you are discoverable 309 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:57,159 Speaker 1: through you know, a variety of techniques. Fortunately for us 310 00:17:57,160 --> 00:18:00,360 Speaker 1: on the app side, UM, you know we have uh, 311 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 1: you know, a unique product which gets promoted heavily by 312 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:08,159 Speaker 1: you know, not just content partners but distribution partners UM. 313 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:12,080 Speaker 1: But of course where you can actually be deeply integrated 314 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:14,960 Speaker 1: as the default experience really the you know, sort of 315 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:20,919 Speaker 1: the primary player helping to power and experience for companies 316 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:23,200 Speaker 1: that want to be in the business that you're in. 317 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 1: That's a great place to be. And you mentioned Roku. 318 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 1: I would imagine that to some degree they are obviously 319 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 1: a friend to the company in the sense that you're 320 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 1: a highly discovered app in their platform. But the other hand, 321 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:41,119 Speaker 1: Roku also offers a ton of the same content that 322 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:44,359 Speaker 1: is wrapped in to your app. So are they in 323 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:47,919 Speaker 1: front of me of sorts? Well, again I go back 324 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:52,640 Speaker 1: to you know, are having a real differentiated offering. So 325 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:58,679 Speaker 1: pluto um has over a hundred channels of linear UM 326 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:01,480 Speaker 1: sort of programming as well us thousands of TV shows 327 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:05,000 Speaker 1: and movies on demand. The product is very different than 328 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:08,159 Speaker 1: anything else out there. And I think the fact that 329 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:10,639 Speaker 1: we've been the number three free app on Roku since 330 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 1: um sometime in Q three or Q four of last 331 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:17,280 Speaker 1: year is a testament to the fact that UM Roku 332 00:19:17,359 --> 00:19:21,119 Speaker 1: users love um Pluto. UM Roku is a great partner 333 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:23,920 Speaker 1: of ours UM and we work very closely with them. UM. 334 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:27,399 Speaker 1: I think they've built a tremendous business UM and they're 335 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 1: clearly one of the leaders in the whole O T 336 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:34,040 Speaker 1: T megatrend that's happening right now, UM you know. And 337 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:38,080 Speaker 1: and moreover, in addition to being differentiated UM you know, 338 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:40,800 Speaker 1: I think just as you're looking at this trend of 339 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:45,280 Speaker 1: O T T with advertising dollars following eyeballs UM for 340 00:19:45,359 --> 00:19:48,320 Speaker 1: people to all the people who are watching UM you 341 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:51,119 Speaker 1: know through ot T means there's you know, just this 342 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:55,160 Speaker 1: big trend of consumers and advertisers moving UM in that direction. 343 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:57,640 Speaker 1: And I think a rising tide lifts all boats. So 344 00:19:57,800 --> 00:20:00,919 Speaker 1: I think, you know, inevitably there's going to be you know, 345 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:04,520 Speaker 1: some places where you overlap a bit with you know, 346 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 1: your your partners. But we're very excited about the relationship 347 00:20:09,080 --> 00:20:10,640 Speaker 1: that we have with them, the fact that we've got 348 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:14,240 Speaker 1: a differentiated product from what they offer UM and the 349 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:17,080 Speaker 1: fact that this is a really big, fast growing space 350 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:19,679 Speaker 1: where there's gonna be a lot of winners, and I 351 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:23,240 Speaker 1: think you being free is a big advantage in that space. 352 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 1: But I also wonder how much longer are you really 353 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:29,520 Speaker 1: going to be free? I wonder if do you see 354 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 1: the next stage of growth as well? You're gonna have 355 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 1: to start getting some of the more premium channels, and 356 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:40,520 Speaker 1: that's gonna involve passing a charge over to subscribers. Right. Well, 357 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:44,320 Speaker 1: so nothing scales like free an instant. So the fact 358 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:47,199 Speaker 1: that you can instantly have over a hundred channels in 359 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 1: an app, you know, the couple of clicks of you know, 360 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:52,919 Speaker 1: an app store or a default experience. That way, we 361 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:56,880 Speaker 1: may be powering UM that allows you to scale your 362 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:00,960 Speaker 1: audience very rapidly. UM. And so AT is a great 363 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:04,160 Speaker 1: place to be UM. We have long had a vision 364 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:08,199 Speaker 1: for the company as being a global freemium TV service. 365 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:12,880 Speaker 1: Uh So right now we're laser focused on the free opportunity. 366 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:16,000 Speaker 1: We think it's been under appreciated opportunity, and we think 367 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 1: there's huge benefits to being a free service. Ultimately, free 368 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:22,960 Speaker 1: is important. It gets you in the door, but people 369 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 1: walk right out of the door or back out the 370 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:29,880 Speaker 1: door if if the product and the content aren't really good. UM. 371 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 1: But we have had this vision of being a freemium 372 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:36,199 Speaker 1: service UM. And we think that at some point we 373 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:39,879 Speaker 1: will launch some type of premium tier. UM. The faster 374 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:43,960 Speaker 1: and the larger that we grow UM the funnel, if 375 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:48,000 Speaker 1: you want to call it that of free users, UM, 376 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:50,880 Speaker 1: the more people that we can convert to a premium 377 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:53,360 Speaker 1: tier when we when we do launch that premium tier. 378 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:57,640 Speaker 1: So so I could conceivably be a Pluto tv uh 379 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:00,600 Speaker 1: user and then I'll take some h you with that, 380 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:04,680 Speaker 1: or I don't know, was some new BuzzFeed channel that 381 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 1: hasn't been invented yet which would sort of mirror the 382 00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:11,720 Speaker 1: plan going on over at Amazon Channels where it seems 383 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:13,560 Speaker 1: to be one of the key trends emerging in the 384 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:15,960 Speaker 1: O T T space right now, is this notion of 385 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:20,679 Speaker 1: a rebundling that some companies are meant to play the 386 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:25,679 Speaker 1: role of the aggregator. Could Pluto b one, Absolutely, And 387 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 1: I think that there's a wide variety of ways in 388 00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:32,919 Speaker 1: which we could get into the premium um side of things. UM. 389 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:37,480 Speaker 1: You know, ala carte up selling of channels is one way, 390 00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:40,440 Speaker 1: and I think Amazon has done a great job with that. 391 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:44,080 Speaker 1: But like you mentioned with BuzzFeed, maybe there are new 392 00:22:44,119 --> 00:22:47,000 Speaker 1: bundles that have not yet been invented. UM. Maybe there's 393 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:51,720 Speaker 1: opportunities to upsell um skinny bundles, whether created by us 394 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:55,400 Speaker 1: for in partnership with one of the skinny bundle providers, UM, 395 00:22:55,440 --> 00:22:58,280 Speaker 1: so that you suddenly expand your Pluto bundle of a 396 00:22:58,359 --> 00:23:01,640 Speaker 1: hundred free channels into having dozens of additional pay TV 397 00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:04,480 Speaker 1: channels on top of that, all in one place. UM. 398 00:23:04,560 --> 00:23:08,800 Speaker 1: And you know, there's there's all sorts of different opportunities. 399 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:13,680 Speaker 1: I think as we think about how the television industry 400 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:16,879 Speaker 1: not only goes over the top, but gets bundled and 401 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:21,720 Speaker 1: remixed into a completely new form than it was before. 402 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:23,480 Speaker 1: And I think that's part of the excitement of being 403 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:27,400 Speaker 1: in this space. Another opportunity for you guys as international. 404 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:30,399 Speaker 1: Some of your backers are some pretty big overseas companies. 405 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 1: Will we see Pluto going overseas anytime soon? Yeah, we 406 00:23:35,160 --> 00:23:39,399 Speaker 1: actually have an office in Berlin, UM and UH. Like 407 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:41,439 Speaker 1: I said, we've had ambitions not only to be a 408 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:44,360 Speaker 1: freemium service over time, but to be global UM and 409 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:47,800 Speaker 1: so UM we have a team in Berlin that has 410 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 1: been working on bringing Pluto to Europe and UM. As 411 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:55,960 Speaker 1: you note, we've got great strategic investors over there as well. 412 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:59,280 Speaker 1: So we see now that we've got the strategic leverage 413 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:03,080 Speaker 1: of working with companies like Sky and Proceedin who can 414 00:24:03,119 --> 00:24:05,960 Speaker 1: be extremely helpful to us UM as leaders in their 415 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:08,760 Speaker 1: fields in Europe as we expanded to Europe. UM, but 416 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:11,960 Speaker 1: also you know, the operational leverage to start doing that 417 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:15,639 Speaker 1: because a lot of our channels and content um work 418 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 1: for other markets. Of course, you know, to be successful 419 00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:22,720 Speaker 1: globally in TV, you also need to be very local, 420 00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:25,320 Speaker 1: So we need to bring on local content and local 421 00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:29,360 Speaker 1: channels too. But the channels, many of the channels can 422 00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:32,440 Speaker 1: travel well. Um. You know, we've built a technology platform 423 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:35,720 Speaker 1: and a product that can travel well and so um 424 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:39,840 Speaker 1: the combination of great partners and what we've already built 425 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 1: for the US market, I think puts US in a 426 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:45,240 Speaker 1: good position to now start expanding abroad. How big is 427 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:48,679 Speaker 1: the opportunity are we talking about? You know what we 428 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:52,280 Speaker 1: saw out of Netflix where obviously they grew quite a 429 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 1: base in the US, but ultimately was, as we can see, 430 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:59,000 Speaker 1: starting to get dwarfed by the international opportunity. Does the 431 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 1: day come We're plut is even a better known brand 432 00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:06,720 Speaker 1: outside the US. I absolutely do think the the opportunity 433 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:11,000 Speaker 1: outside of the US is huge, um it um. It's 434 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:14,360 Speaker 1: it's tough to say what percentage of our total business 435 00:25:14,359 --> 00:25:17,960 Speaker 1: could come from outside of the US prior to to 436 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:21,680 Speaker 1: launching our first market outside of the US. But you know, 437 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:25,480 Speaker 1: TV is a big global industry, right and the US 438 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:28,320 Speaker 1: is um you know kind of less than the majority 439 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:30,320 Speaker 1: of that of course, So I think that you know, 440 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:32,480 Speaker 1: just with our business, if you think about us as 441 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:36,359 Speaker 1: a you know, a combination virtual MVP D and cable 442 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:41,040 Speaker 1: Networks group UM that can deliver this free and ultimately 443 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:45,720 Speaker 1: freemium TV service with unique channels UM in a variety 444 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:48,520 Speaker 1: of markets around the world, the you know, the business 445 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:53,080 Speaker 1: opportunity is massive and the international component of that UM 446 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:57,400 Speaker 1: is very significant. Well, look forward to watching your progress 447 00:25:57,400 --> 00:25:59,280 Speaker 1: in the coming months and years. It's gonna be an 448 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:02,880 Speaker 1: interesting right Thanks for coming in, Tom, Thank you Eddie. 449 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:08,320 Speaker 1: This has been another episode of Strictly Business. Tune in 450 00:26:08,359 --> 00:26:11,919 Speaker 1: next week for another helping of scintillating conversation with media 451 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:14,879 Speaker 1: movers and shakers, and please make sure you subscribe to 452 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:19,200 Speaker 1: the podcast to hear future episodes. Also leave a review 453 00:26:19,240 --> 00:26:21,520 Speaker 1: in Apple podcast let us know how we're doing it.