The entertainment industry is at a turning point. While traditional subscription-based streaming services (SVODs) remain popular, younger audiences—Gen Zs and millennials—are shifting towards free, ad-supported content and social media platforms for their entertainment. According to Deloitte’s 19th Annual Digital Media Trends Survey, rising subscription costs, personalized content on social platforms, and the influence of digital creators are driving a new era of media consumption.

Findings from Deloitte’s Digital Media Trends Report

1. Rising Costs Are Driving Consumers Away from SVOD Services

• 47% of consumers believe they pay too much for streaming services.

• 41% say the content isn’t worth the price, a 5% increase from 2024.

• A $5 price hike could cause 60% of consumers to cancel their favorite streaming service.

• The average SVOD subscriber now pays $69 per month for four services, up 13% year-over-year.

What This Means

Streaming services are facing the same affordability issues that once plagued cable TV. Consumers, especially younger generations, are seeking lower-cost or free alternatives, making it harder for premium services to justify price hikes.

2. Free Ad-Supported TV (FAST) Gains Popularity

• Two-thirds of Gen Zs and millennials subscribe to free ad-supported streaming (FAST) services.

• 54% of SVOD subscribers now have at least one ad-supported tier, an 8% increase from 2024.

• Gen Xs and Boomers are also adopting ad-supported models, with 58% choosing these options.

What This Means

Ad-supported streaming is becoming a dominant alternative as consumers look for ways to reduce costs while maintaining access to content. Streaming providers need to balance pricing, content value, and ad experience to retain subscribers.

3. Social Media Overtakes Traditional TV in Relevance

• 56% of Gen Zs and 43% of millennials find social media content more relevant than TV shows or movies.

• 50% of younger audiences feel more connected to social media creators than TV personalities or actors.

• Gen Zs spend 54% more time on social platforms than the average consumer.

What This Means

Younger viewers gravitate toward short-form, algorithm-driven, and interactive content. Traditional TV and streaming services must integrate social-style engagement and personalization to stay relevant.

4. Social Media Drives Purchasing Decisions More Than Streaming Ads

• 63% of Gen Zs and 49% of millennials say social media ads and product reviews influence their purchases.

• In contrast, streaming video ads influence only 28% of Gen Zs and 25% of millennials.

• AI-powered algorithms help social platforms serve hyper-personalized content, making their advertising more effective.

What This Means

For brands and advertisers, social media is now a more effective marketing channel than traditional streaming platforms. Streaming services must enhance personalization and engagement to compete for ad revenue.

5. The “Churn and Return” Cycle Persists

• 39% of consumers have canceled at least one paid streaming service in the last six months.

• Over 50% of Gen Zs and millennials frequently cancel and switch services.

• 24% of consumers re-subscribed to a service they previously canceled within the last six months.

What This Means

Subscription fatigue is forcing streaming services to rethink customer retention strategies. Offering flexible pricing, exclusive content, and bundled services could help reduce churn.

6. AI and Personalization Are the Future of Entertainment

• AI-powered recommendations make social media content feel more personalized and engaging.

• Streaming services struggle to replicate this level of personalization at scale.

• Younger viewers demand tailored content experiences, favoring platforms that deliver highly relevant content efficiently.

What This Means

To compete with social media’s algorithm-driven engagement, streaming services must leverage AI to improve content discovery and ad targeting. Failure to do so risks losing younger audiences permanently.

Deloitte’s report highlights a fundamental shift in media consumption—from paid streaming to free, social-driven entertainment. Younger audiences prioritize affordability, relevance, and interactivity, challenging traditional streaming models.

To stay competitive, entertainment providers must:
Embrace ad-supported models to offer lower-cost or free options.
Enhance AI-driven content personalization to keep viewers engaged.
Integrate social media strategies and influencer partnerships.
Rethink pricing structures to prevent high churn rates.

The future of entertainment belongs to platforms that adapt to consumer preferences—and that means leveraging AI, social engagement, and value-driven content strategies.

Awakened Films, a renowned New Jersey-based video production company and woman-owned business, is expanding its expertise into social media marketing. With a reputation for emotional storytelling and high-quality visuals, the company now offers strategic social media services to help brands grow their digital presence on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Why This Expansion Matters

The digital landscape is shifting—businesses need more than just polished corporate videos. Today’s audiences engage with short-form, authentic, and platform-native content. Recognizing this, Awakened Films now helps brands not only create compelling videos but also strategically distribute and optimize them for social platforms.

"As digital marketing evolves, our clients need more than just great anchor videos; they need a partner who understands how to use the power of storytelling in short-form bites," said Gillian Schuler, Co-Founder and Senior Producer at Awakened Films.

New Social Media Marketing Services

1. Strategy-Driven Campaign Development

• Deep-dive research into target audiences, competitors, and platform trends.

• Strategic content planning for consistent and engaging social media presence.

2. Custom Video Content Creation

• Cinematic, scroll-stopping videos designed for social platforms.

• Content formats include behind-the-scenes, brand stories, and customer testimonials.

• Optimized for high engagement and brand storytelling.

3. Channel Management & Optimization

• Scheduling, posting, and caption creation tailored for each platform.

• Thumbnail design and quarterly performance tracking.

• Optimization for maximum reach and audience engagement.

Why Choose Awakened Films?

With nearly two decades of experience, Awakened Films has built a reputation for high-quality production and storytelling. Their impressive portfolio includes Church & Dwight, TripAdvisor, Summit Health, Columbia University, and the National Kidney Foundation.

"Awakened Films is well known for its corporate and commercial storytelling, but we're more than just a traditional production company," said Jason Schuler, Co-Founder and Creative Director. "As video specialists, we craft content that's not only visually compelling but also strategically built for social platforms—so our clients can show up consistently with minimal investment."

The Future of Social Media Marketing in NJ

For businesses looking to launch a campaign or build a long-term content strategy, Awakened Films is now the go-to social media marketing agency in New Jersey—blending heart, strategy, and cinematic quality in every post.

The Pedowitz Group (TPG), a leader in revenue marketing transformation, has officially reached Platinum-tier status in HubSpot’s Solutions Partner Program. This achievement highlights TPG’s expertise in enterprise CRM and marketing automation migrations, particularly in helping businesses transition from legacy platforms like Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Eloqua to HubSpot.

What This Means for Enterprises

HubSpot’s Solutions Partner Program is a global network of marketing, sales, customer service, and CRM implementation experts. Platinum-tier partners must meet strict performance benchmarks, demonstrating proven success in delivering scalable, high-impact solutions.

"At The Pedowitz Group, we focus on enabling companies to turn their marketing efforts into true revenue-driving engines," said Jeff Pedowitz, CEO and President of The Pedowitz Group. "Achieving Platinum status is a reflection of our team’s ability to deliver transformative enterprise solutions. This milestone underscores our commitment to helping businesses optimize their marketing, sales, and customer success functions with cutting-edge technology."

Achievements That Led to Platinum Status

1. Expertise in Large-Scale Enterprise Migrations

• Successfully transitioned enterprises from Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Eloqua to HubSpot.

• Ensured seamless CRM and marketing automation integrations to support revenue operations.

2. Revenue-Driven Marketing Transformation

• Helped enterprises modernize their marketing strategies to drive measurable revenue growth.

• Implemented data-driven customer engagement and automation solutions.

3. Expanding HubSpot Practice for Enterprise Clients

• Built a specialized team of HubSpot experts focused on complex CRM transitions.

• Developed custom solutions tailored to enterprise marketing and sales needs.

Industry Recognition and Future Growth

"We're happy to recognize The Pedowitz Group for their outstanding achievement of tiering to Platinum and excited to see them continue to grow in the HubSpot Solutions Partner Program," said Angela O’Dowd, Global Vice President, Solutions Partner Program at HubSpot.

By achieving Platinum-tier status, The Pedowitz Group reinforces its position as a trusted enterprise partner for businesses looking to streamline their revenue operations through best-in-class marketing automation and CRM strategies.

Orange 142, a division of Direct Digital Holdings and a leader in digital marketing for destination marketing organizations (DMOs), has announced a strategic partnership with Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company specializing in tourism industry analysis. This collaboration provides DMOs with sophisticated attribution capabilities and economic impact dashboards, allowing them to connect their paid marketing efforts directly to visitor metrics and economic outcomes.

"Destination marketers are under increasing pressure to demonstrate the ROI of every marketing dollar spent," said Lindsey Wilkes, SVP of Business Development at Orange 142. "Our partnership with Tourism Economics transforms how DMOs measure success, moving far beyond traditional metrics. This gives our clients the data they need to optimize campaigns, justify budgets, and secure stakeholder support for their tourism initiatives."

Benefits for Destination Marketing Organizations

Through this partnership, DMOs can access advanced attribution models and economic impact insights that directly tie their advertising and digital strategies to measurable outcomes.

1. Measuring the True Impact of Paid Media

• Total Visitors from Media – Track visitors arriving at destinations as a direct result of media campaigns.

• Total Visitors from Website – Measure real people who visit after engaging with a destination’s website.

• Cost Per 1000 Visitors – Assess marketing spend efficiency in driving actual visitation.

2. Understanding Visitor Behavior and Economic Contributions

• Average Length of Stay – Identify which campaigns drive longer visits and higher spending.

• Point of Interest Visitation – Track the most-visited attractions to refine promotional strategies.

• Economic Impact Data – Validate tourism’s contribution to local economies, including job creation and tax revenue.

The Role of Tourism Economics’ Media Impact Calculator (MIC)

Tourism Economics’ Media Impact Calculator (MIC) is at the core of this analysis, enabling DMOs to:

• Quantify the economic impact of their paid media campaigns.

• Optimize marketing efforts based on real-world performance data.

• Identify opportunities for increased engagement and visitation.

"Destinations must demonstrate returns on their paid marketing investments with increasing precision," said Chuck Davison, Vice President, Attribution Solutions at Tourism Economics. "The MIC unlocks a powerful solution that helps DMOs connect the dots between campaign touchpoints and real-world economic impact. We're proud that this partnership with Orange 142 equips destination marketers with more actionable intelligence to make tailored, informed decisions."

Why This Partnership Matters for DMOs

This collaboration is particularly valuable for tourism boards that rely on tax revenue and local business support. With detailed economic impact data, DMOs can:

• Secure funding by demonstrating tourism’s economic contributions.

• Show the impact of visitor spending on local business growth and job creation.

• Optimize campaigns to attract high-value visitors and increase overall tourism revenue.

"When starting our journey with Tourism Economics, it was exciting to know that Orange 142 was a partner so that we could get the full benefit of their robust offerings," shared Michael Snyder, Director of Operations at Visit South Jersey. "As a smaller DMO, it's nice to have a media partner that can help us walk through the attribution and will go over learnings and how we can best apply them to future campaigns."

By combining Orange 142’s expertise in digital marketing with Tourism Economics’ industry-leading data and attribution solutions, this partnership delivers unprecedented insights for DMOs. With access to more actionable intelligence, destination marketers can make data-driven decisions that maximize marketing ROI and drive sustainable tourism growth.

Wistia, a leading video marketing platform for businesses, has released its 2025 State of Video Report, offering insights from 14 million videos, 100,000 businesses, and a survey of 1,300 professionals. This year’s findings highlight three major trends shaping video marketing:

1. AI’s rapid adoption in video production

2. Shifting engagement and conversion trends

3. Increasing video investments despite economic concerns

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to revolutionize video production, businesses are leveraging it to create high-quality videos at scale. Meanwhile, marketers are adapting strategies to optimize engagement and maximize ROI in an evolving digital landscape.

AI is Transforming Video Creation, Making It Faster and More Accessible

AI is making video production more efficient and democratizing access to high-quality content. Open-source AI video tools are gaining traction, allowing marketers to create, edit, and optimize videos with minimal technical expertise.

AI Adoption Trends in Video Marketing

• 41% of marketers now use AI for video creation, up from 18% in 2024.

• AI-powered pre-production tools, such as scripting and brainstorming, are widely adopted.

• AI-driven post-production features like voice dubbing, captions, and visual generation are helping brands enhance accessibility and global reach.

Top AI-Powered Features Used by Brands

• AI Captions (60%) – The most widely adopted AI tool, with caption use increasing 572% since 2021.

• Voice Dubbing (38%) – Enables brands to scale content across multiple languages.

• Language Translation (31%) – Expands audience reach by breaking language barriers.

"AI is completely changing the game for video," said Chris Savage, CEO and Co-Founder of Wistia. "Now, anyone—not just professionals—can make high-quality videos. AI-driven tools like dubbing and translation are making it easier than ever for brands to reach global audiences."

Engagement and Conversion Strategies for Video Marketing Success

As video marketing evolves, marketers are focusing on engagement and conversion rates to gauge success.

Metrics Marketers Prioritize

• Engagement Rate (34%) – Measures how much of a video viewers watch.

• Conversion Rate (29%) – Tracks viewer actions from interactive elements.

Performance Insights by Video Length

• Videos under 1 minute – 50% engagement rate (highest overall).

• 1 to 3 minutes – 46% engagement rate.

• 3 to 5 minutes – 45% engagement rate, though experiencing a 10% decline due to the rise of short-form content.

• 5-30 minute videos – Strong engagement despite an overall downward trend.

Top-Performing Video Types

• How-To Videos – Short videos under 1 minute reach an 82% engagement rate, while longer versions (5-30 minutes) hold at 58%.

• Company Culture, Educational, and Product Videos – Consistently achieve around 50% engagement rates for videos under 5 minutes.

Optimizing Videos for Conversions

• Lead generation forms within videos have declined, but conversion rates have increased by 11%.

• Call-to-Action (CTA) Placement is crucial—

  • In short videos (under 60 seconds), CTAs in the first quarter of the video convert nearly 40% of viewers.

Despite Economic Concerns, Businesses Are Increasing Video Investment

While many industries face economic uncertainty, video marketing continues to see strong investment and growth.

Budget Trends

• Only 5% of companies are reducing video budgets in 2025.

• 57% of businesses are increasing video investment, seeing strong ROI.

• Primary drivers of video production:

  • Company goals and objectives (60%)

  • Product or service launches (52%)

Challenges in Video Creation

Despite increased investment, some challenges persist:

• Company size and resources (58%)

• Cost constraints (38%)

• Technical capabilities (25%)

Interestingly, idea generation and executive buy-in are no longer major hurdles, indicating that businesses recognize the value of video marketing and are actively prioritizing it.

The 2025 State of Video Report highlights how AI is making video creation more efficient, engagement strategies are evolving, and brands continue to invest in video marketing. As short-form content grows and AI-driven video tools expand, businesses must adapt their strategies to stay competitive and drive results.

RYA™, a leading Creative AI tool for marketers, has announced a strategic partnership with behavioral intelligence experts Qrious Insight and human insights firm Southpaw Insights. This collaboration enhances RYA’s AI-generated campaign ideation by integrating powerful consumer behavioral data with aspirational survey insights.

By combining real-world decision-making behaviors with AI-driven creativity, brands can now execute hyper-personalized marketing campaigns backed by a deeper understanding of their audiences. This unprecedented mix of qualitative and quantitative data enables marketers to develop campaigns that resonate with consumers on a data-driven and emotional level.

AI Meets Behavioral Intelligence: A Game-Changer for Marketing

Traditionally, marketing success relies on a combination of creativity and audience insights. RYA’s partnership with Qrious and Southpaw elevates this process by integrating real-world consumer behavior trends into its AI-powered campaign generation.

How This Partnership Enhances RYA's AI Capabilities

• Qrious' behavioral data integration – Provides first-hand consumer insights, tracking actual decision-making patterns.

• Southpaw Insights' expertise – Ensures the accurate collection and interpretation of audience data.

• Aspirational survey data from RYA – Incorporates billions of consumer desires and preferences into AI-driven ideation.

"Marketing has always been about finding creative solutions that resonate with target audiences. With AI, we can do this better and faster. Our partnership with Qrious and Southpaw takes this to the next level," said Mark Himmelsbach, Co-Founder of RYA.

Hyper-Personalized Audience Insights for Smarter Campaigns

Marketers using RYA now have access to hyper-personalized consumer insights, allowing them to design campaigns tailored to specific audience segments with unprecedented accuracy.

Benefits for Marketers

• Audience-Centric Creativity – AI-generated campaigns now integrate real-life consumer behavior, ensuring greater engagement and impact.

• Data-Backed Decision Making – Marketers can validate campaign concepts with deep consumer insights before launching.

• Accelerated Campaign Iteration – Combines AI-driven ideation with behavioral intelligence, shortening time-to-market for high-ROI campaigns.

"Qrious' advanced consumer data provides rich, first-hand insights into true consumer behaviors, motivations, and decision-making," said Himmelsbach. "Southpaw Insights ensures we collect and interpret this data effectively. This synergy allows us to generate original marketing concepts that deliver measurable results."

By integrating AI-powered campaign ideation with behavioral intelligence, RYA’s partnership with Qrious and Southpaw sets a new standard for data-driven creativity. Marketers now have a powerful tool that bridges the gap between audience desires and real-world decisions, ensuring high-impact, high-ROI marketing strategies.

Thumzup Media Corporation, a rising leader in social media branding and programmatic marketing, has announced its upcoming Lifestyle AI Agent Marketplace alongside the patent-pending Gibberlink Advertising™ (GibberAds™) system. This AI-powered ecosystem aims to redefine personalized lifestyle planning, offering consumers tailored experiences while unlocking new monetization opportunities for businesses and influencers.

The Lifestyle AI Agent Marketplace: Personalized Planning with AI

The Lifestyle AI Agent Marketplace is designed to help users curate unique experiences in travel, dining, wellness, entertainment, and more. Powered by proprietary AI technology, the platform personalizes recommendations based on real-time consumer data.

Features & Benefits

• AI-Powered Lifestyle Planning – Users access specialized AI assistants to plan trips, dining experiences, wellness activities, and more.

• Premium AI "Swarm" Subscription – Multiple AI agents collaborate to create a customized, data-driven itinerary tailored to user preferences.

• Hyper-Personalized Offers – Businesses receive real-time consumer insights, allowing them to deliver exclusive, demand-driven promotions to engaged users.

"Our Lifestyle AI Agent Marketplace is poised to redefine how people plan experiences and how businesses engage with them," said Robert Steele, CEO of Thumzup Media Corporation. "By integrating AI-driven personalization with real-time business insights, we empower consumers, reward influencers, and enable businesses to thrive in a smarter, more dynamic marketplace."

GibberAds™: AI-Driven Advertising for Real-Time Engagement

Thumzup’s Gibberlink Advertising™ (GibberAds™) system matches consumers with exclusive, time-sensitive promotions based on their preferences and activities.

How It Works

• AI-Generated Real-Time Offers – Businesses send personalized discounts and exclusive deals to Thumzup users based on their lifestyle plans.

• Influencer-Driven Demand Generation – Social media influencers help create demand for promotions via AI-powered marketing tools.

• AI-Optimized Advertising – Brands gain access to real-time audience insights for smarter, more effective ad campaigns.

Real-World Use Cases: Transforming Lifestyle Planning

Thumzup's AI marketplace provides seamless, customized lifestyle experiences while unlocking business growth opportunities.

Example Scenarios

Sarah’s Ultimate LA Weekend Escape ($1,000 budget)

• Activates AI swarm to plan an upscale getaway.

• AI books luxury accommodations, fine dining, and cultural events.

• Local businesses send real-time offers for exclusive experiences.

Lily’s Holistic Wellness Day ($600 budget)

• AI finds yoga and meditation retreats.

• Dining AI Agent books organic dining options.

• Wellness providers send personalized self-care promotions.

Mark’s Active Weekend Experience ($800 budget)

• AI finds marathons, boot camps, and adventure activities.

• Dining AI Agent recommends athlete-friendly restaurants.

• Local businesses deliver exclusive, AI-targeted fitness offers.

New Monetization Opportunities for Influencers & Businesses

The Thumzup AI ecosystem offers multi-sided revenue opportunities for marketers, influencers, and businesses.

Monetization Channels

Influencer Affiliate Program – Influencers earn commissions for every AI agent download via unique referral links.
Business AI Accounts – Brands gain access to real-time consumer insights and AI-powered ad tools.
Transaction-Based Monetization – Thumzup generates revenue through per-transaction commissions.

With the launch of the Lifestyle AI Agent Marketplace and GibberAds™, Thumzup is poised to disrupt the digital marketing landscape. By blending AI-driven personalization with real-time business insights, the platform delivers an unparalleled experience for consumers, businesses, and influencers alike. As Thumzup continues to innovate in AI-powered marketing, it is positioning itself at the forefront of a multi-billion-dollar industry.

Customer feedback is essential for business success, but traditional surveys often fail to capture real customer sentiment. Hark Insights, an AI-powered platform, is changing this by transforming raw feedback into actionable customer stories. This article explores how Hark Insights enables brands to go beyond numerical ratings, capturing voice and video feedback to drive meaningful decisions.

The Limitations of Traditional Customer Feedback

• Surveys often provide numerical scores without context.

• Brands struggle to understand the reasons behind customer sentiment.

• Text-based feedback lacks the emotional depth of real customer voices.

How Hark Insights Transforms Feedback into Actionable Stories

• AI-Powered Theme Identification: Instantly surfaces key themes from large datasets.

• Voice & Video Feedback Analysis: Captures tone, emotion, and real customer experiences.

• Real-Time Insights: Helps brands quickly identify and respond to emerging trends.

Applications Across Business Functions

1. Customer Experience (CX) Teams

• Quickly understand and address pain points.

• Improve responsiveness with real-time customer insights.

2. Product Development

• Identify feature gaps and usability concerns from real-world feedback.

• Use direct customer insights to refine future product enhancements.

3. Marketing & Advertising

• Leverage authentic customer voices in campaigns.

• Create more engaging and relatable messaging based on real feedback.

Hark’s AI Chat & Search Features

• AI Chat for Customer Feedback Queries: Get instant answers to specific customer concerns.

• Advanced Search Capabilities: Easily locate key trends and customer themes.

• Multimedia Integration: Shareable insights with voice and video examples for better storytelling.

Why Hark Insights is Different from Traditional VoC Tools

• Moves beyond text-based sentiment analysis.

• Captures feedback in customers' own words, tones, and environments.

• Identifies hidden trends that traditional tools might miss.

Hark Insights represents a new era in customer feedback. By turning raw data into actionable stories, brands can better understand their audience, improve CX, enhance product offerings, and create more compelling marketing campaigns. Businesses that embrace AI-powered customer insights will gain a competitive advantage by responding to real customer needs in real time.