Content Valuation Strategies for Digital Subscription Platforms

Kübler Raoul, Seifert Rouven, Kandziora Michael


Abstract
For digital video subscription platforms, creating and managing content portfolios are critical to acquire new customers, retain existing customers, leverage cross-sales, and generate advertising revenues. We treat content portfolios as a form of pure bundling which may vary in composition and attractiveness over time. Therefore, evaluating the value contribution of each content piece is essential to manage a platform’s portfolio efficiently and to understand how a specific content piece contributes to the bundle’s attractiveness. In this article, we develop an ROI content-valuation framework for a digital film subscription platform. This framework describes how a single piece of content diffuses through consumers’ journeys and influences subscription fees through acquisition and retention as well as revenues from cross-sales and advertising. This conceptual approach allows us to address the heterogeneity across content and platform contingencies such as exclusive availability and platform specifics, and link them to revenue streams. Building on this framework, we offer avenues for future research andprovide potential lead performance indicators together with their operationalization, enablingall parties involved in the production, marketing, distribution, and sales of contentto determine the platform-specific value of a content piece.

Keywords
Video on demand; Business models; Content strategy; Portfolio valuation



Publication type
Research article (journal)

Peer reviewed
Yes

Publication status
Published

Year
2021

Journal
Journal of Cultural Economics

Volume
2021

Start page
1

End page
32

Language
English

ISSN
0885-2545