Technology

Marketing Expert at UMD Smith Breaks Down Historic Olympic Viewership

Published

3 months ago

August 22, 2024

COLLEGE PARK, Md., Aug. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — NBCU’s record-breaking Olympic viewership, driven by the allure of Paris and expert streaming strategies, marks a pivotal moment in sports media. Marketing professor Bobby Zhou at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business notes, “The reception to these Olympic Games symbolizes a craving and desire from viewers for a moment of peace and joy.”

As Team USA delivered the gold medal count win at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, NBC Universal also took home top honors in viewership ratings.

Recently published Nielsen ratings and internal NBC data indicate an average audience of 30.6 million viewers tuned in for one of the world’s most significant media events across its linear TV properties and streaming service Peacock.

The results are in stark contrast to the 16.9 million viewers who tuned in for the Tokyo Games and similar to the Rio and London Games, with 27.5 million and 30.3 million viewers, respectively.

So, what were the difference makers this time around? Zhou credits three main factors: an enticing Paris backdrop, ideal time zones for viewers and the Olympics’ innate potential to create a moment of unity.

The first factor points to Paris’s position as a global center for art, fashion and culture and its reputation as one of the most “romantic” cities in the world (the Paris Games set a new record for the most marriage proposals ever at an Olympics with nine reported engagements) that naturally was set to draw eyes. The second factor has a more discernable and straightforward impact on viewership figures—the six-hour time difference played well with Western audiences.

However, the third factor, the Olympics establishing a “moment of unity” for the world, is an underappreciated aspect concerning viewership, says Zhou.

“Compared to three or four years ago, there’s so much that’s happened and continues to happen worldwide,” says Zhou. “We are looking at ongoing wars in different regions, division among groups and ethnic backgrounds, climate change and the battle against infectious diseases like Covid-19. The reception to these Olympic Games symbolizes a craving and desire from viewers for a moment of peace and joy.”

Equally instrumental in generating high viewership figures was NBCU’s implementation of its streaming service, Peacock, for Olympic coverage. NBCU reports that the 23.5 billion minutes streamed of the Paris Olympics is a 40% increase from all prior Summer and Winter Olympics combined. At its essence, those figures support major audience trends with sports, drawing viewers in droves to streaming services in an effort to not miss important action, says Zhou.

“Sports is some of the last remaining content online where folks just have to watch it live,” says Zhou. “There is so much uncertainty and excitement embedded within that. People need to tune in to know if their team or athletes are winning.”

Peacock’s multi-viewing capacity also deserves recognition, according to Zhou. The streaming service managed up to 3,200 events throughout the Games, and its Gold Zone, a “live whip-around show that features the most exciting Olympic moments,” nearly quadrupled its viewership over the two weeks, attracting one in five viewers. Additionally, over a quarter of Olympics viewers on Peacock watched via Multiview, with half of the time spent in the featured live events and half watching in the quad box view.

“This is where the contemporary platform for digital content stood out. Gold Zone synthesizing the most exciting moments across different sports provided a transformational platform to educate viewers about things they otherwise would never have been exposed to,” Zhou says.

Eyeing the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics and the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, Zhou believes NBCU’s task is to retain viewership and build on the momentum it generated this summer. The company must continue to leverage Peacock by showing off the most exciting moments from the Games and bringing interesting individual stories to life, he says.

“Consumers love stories. They want to know how an athlete proposed to their partner at the Games or the obstacles someone overcame just to compete in Paris,” says Zhou. “But the key is curation. How can NBCU and Peacock identify the most relevant, exciting and interesting content and keep it front and center with audiences? That’s the way forward.”

About the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master’s, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.

Contact: Greg Muraski, gmuraski@umd.edu

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SOURCE University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business

Technology

Orion Innovation Names Brian Bronson Chief Executive Officer

Published

1 hour ago

November 15, 2024

Technology Industry Executive and Leader to Drive Next Phase of Company Growth

EDISON, N.J., Nov. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Orion Innovation (“Orion”), a leading digital transformation and product development services firm, today announced the appointment of Brian Bronson as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. With over 25 years of leadership experience across global technology sectors, Bronson will lead Orion’s next phase of growth and transformation, focusing on expanding the company’s digital capabilities and market presence. Brian succeeds Raj Patil, who will transition to an advisory role with the company and One Equity Partners.

“Brian’s impressive track record of driving profitable growth and leading large-scale organizational transformation makes him the ideal leader for Orion’s next chapter,” said Carlo Padovano, Partner at One Equity Partners and Lead Director of Orion Innovation. “His deep expertise in product engineering, GenAI adoption, and digital transformation perfectly aligns with our vision for Orion’s future.

On behalf of the Orion Board, I’d like to thank Raj for his leadership and dedication in helping develop Orion into a market leader. Raj will transition to an advisory role with the company and One Equity Partners.”

“I’m honored to take on this role and excited about the tremendous opportunities ahead for Orion,” said Bronson. “The company has built an impressive foundation with a blue-chip roster of clients, a global delivery platform, and a talented team with deep domain and engineering expertise. I look forward to working closely with our employees, clients, and partners as we deliver transformative solutions to our clients, drive innovation, and scale our capabilities.”

Before joining Orion, Brian served as EVP of US Telecom, Media, and Entertainment at Capgemini. Additionally, he led the integration and execution of Capgemini’s global engineering services business across the Americas and Asia. This included driving growth in many industries leveraging innovative capabilities tied to 5G, connectivity, and software product engineering. Previously, as President & CEO of Radisys, a leading provider of open telecom solutions, he led the company’s strategic transformation from a hardware company to a provider of cutting-edge software and enabling technologies for the telecom, technology, and medical industries. This transformation culminated in the sale of Radisys to Reliance Industries in 2018, marking a successful exit for the company.

About Orion Innovation

Orion Innovation (“Orion”) is a leading digital transformation and product development services firm. Rooted in engineering and design thinking, along with a unique combination of agility, scale, and maturity, its team of approximately 6,400 associates helps Fortune 1000 companies improve efficiencies, enhance customer experiences, and develop new digital offerings. Through its delivery centers in North America, EMEA, India and Latin America, Orion serves clients across Telecom, Media & Technology, Sports & Entertainment, Professional Services, Financial Services, and Healthcare industries. For more information, visit www.orioninc.com.

About One Equity Partners

One Equity Partners (“OEP”) is a middle market private equity firm focused on the industrial, healthcare, and technology sectors in North America and Europe. The firm seeks to build market-leading companies by identifying and executing transformative business combinations. OEP is a trusted partner with a differentiated investment process, a broad and senior team, and an established track record generating long-term value for its partners. Since 2001, the firm has completed more than 400 transactions worldwide. OEP, founded in 2001, spun out of JP Morgan in 2015. The firm has offices in New York, Chicago, Frankfurt and Amsterdam. For more information, please visit www.oneequity.com.

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Technology

Morrison Securities launches one of Australia’s first plug-and-play global trading to 15 countries with ViewTrade

Published

1 hour ago

November 15, 2024

SYDNEY, Nov. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Equities clearing business Morrison Securities (“Morrison”) is launching one of Australia’s first plug-and-play global trading to 15 countries with trading technology provider ViewTrade.

This will mean Morrison’s 38,000+ active clients trading $30 billion annually will only need to go through KYC once and then will be provided unprecedented rapid global trading access.

Morrison will now also offer enhanced global equity and options trading, fixed income, ETFs, seamlessly integrate domestic and global trading, and choice between fully disclosed or omnibus operating models.

ViewTrade has calculated that implementation of solutions like this across all of Australia’s global trading could generate efficiencies of nearly $240 million annually.

A business the size of Morisson launching this solution is a watershed moment for enhancing global opportunities for Australia’s wealth management sector, according to ViewTrade.

Nigel Singh, CEO of ViewTrade International Australia, said: “We are excited to work with Morrison Securities. Together, we are unlocking a world of investment opportunities for Australians. By accessing global markets, firms can offer their clients more diversified portfolios, reducing risk and protecting wealth. This benefits both domestic and international clients. We invite other firms to join us in this partnership and unlock the potential of global market access.”

William Slack, CEO of Morrison Securities, said: “We’ve designed a solution that integrates global market access into our domestic offering for a superior customer experience. With our combined expertise, we’re confident in delivering an efficient, scalable solution tailored to the specific needs of our clients.”

Laksh Gangwani, Chief Revenue Officer – APAC and Middle East at ViewTrade, added: “We are thrilled about the partnership with Morrison Securities as they launch one of Australia’s first plug-and-play global trading solutions to 15 countries. Morrison’s integrated approach to technology, compliance, and operations is enabling investors to complete KYC once, while accessing multiple markets and asset classes with ease. This will ensure Australian investors can build diversified international portfolios with ease.”

ViewTrade (www.viewtrade.com) is a global leader in investment and trading infrastructure solutions that power cross-border investing for financial services firms throughout the world. ViewTrade provides the technology, support, and brokerage services that business innovators need to launch or enhance retail investing experiences. For more than 20 years, ViewTrade has partnered with over 300 clients – from technology startups to large banks, brokers and advisors – to deliver innovative investment solutions and exceptional customer service.

Morrison Securities (https://www.morrisonsecurities.com/) Established in 1985, Morrison Securities is an Australian Broking firm specialising in trading, execution, and clearing services tailored to advisory firms and wholesale clients. They partner with firms to navigate operational challenges and help them realise their full potential. Their comprehensive suite of solutions covers seamless international market access, advanced equities and options trading, capital raising and DVP settlement services, integrated APIs, and stock lending. With a platform-agnostic approach and enterprise-level client service, they prioritise operational excellence and long-term partnerships.

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SOURCE ViewTrade

Technology

Australia’s least-favourite chores just got easier with Roborock’s Black Friday & Cyber Monday deals

Published

1 hour ago

November 15, 2024

SYDNEY, Nov. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Roborock, the global best-selling robot vacuum brand[i], is thrilled to announce its exclusive deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2024.

Starting from 21 November to 4 December 2024, Roborock is offering significant discounts on a wide range of popular models, with savings of up to $700 – including popular models such as the S8 MaxV Ultra, Qrevo MaxV, Q8 Max+, Qrevo Master, Qrevo S, and Flexi Pro.

In a recent survey conducted across Australia, Roborock found that 27% of Australians would happily skip cleaning their floors forever, with many Aussies also admitting to neglecting high-maintenance tasks such as vacuuming, mopping, and appliance cleaning. With these cleaning challenges in mind, Roborock is offering unbeatable savings on popular models across Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with savings of up to $700.

The deals are available at Robrock Australia’s Official Online Store, Roborock’s Amazon storefront and all authorised retailers.

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals

S8 MaxV Ultra – (SAVE $700) – MSRP $2,999 / Promo: $2,299The S8 MaxV Ultra is the company’s most powerful one-stop cleaning solution, combining the company’s most sophisticated deep cleaning technology with user-friendly features. The model introduces a unique robotic arm and an extra mop that efficiently cleans challenging areas with complete corner cleaning capabilities. Newly launched.Qrevo Master – (SAVE $700) – MSRP $2,699 / Promo: $1,999Newly launched and the most advanced model in the mid-range Qrevo series, the Qrevo Master is built for those who seek top-of-the-line cleaning technology at a mid-range price point. With high-powered suction, deep corner cleaning capabilities, and complete self-maintenance features, it’s designed to tackle the toughest cleaning challenges effortlessly.

Qrevo MaxV – (SAVE $700) – MSRP $2,199 / Promo: $1,499Offers users a complete hands-free floor cleaning experience at the mid-range price point, taking both vacuuming and mopping off your plate while combining powerful cleaning functions, self-maintenance capabilities, and intelligent features such – as pet recognition from flagship models – into one convenient cleaning package.

Qrevo S – (SAVE $400) – MSRP $1,499 / Promo: $1,099Newly launched, the Qrevo S is ideal for those looking for their first robot vacuum that excels at both vacuuming and mopping with self-maintenance features. It blends cleaning performance with a streamlined design for everyday cleaning.

Q8 Max+ – (SAVE $500) – MSRP $1,299 / Promo: $799The Q8 Max+ delivers high-performance cleaning with enhanced navigation and automatic dirt disposal. It’s equipped with powerful suction and a flagship roller brush system making it perfect for homes with mainly hard floors, ensuring a deep and thorough clean.

Flexi Pro – (SAVE $300) – MSRP $999 / Promo: $699 (Available starting 14th November)The Flexi Pro is a versatile handheld vacuum option designed for deep floor cleaning and tight spaces. Capable of handling both wet and dry messes, and the ability to clean itself after every clean-up, the Flexi Pro tackles all types of messes with ease.

According to Roborock’s recent survey, garages are the dirtiest spaces in Australian homes, with 46% of respondents admitting they need more attention. Other problem areas include bathrooms (41%), kitchens (38%), and even kids’ playrooms (32%). Given the demands of busy lives, it’s easy to see why some chores fall through the cracks.

With these exclusive Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers, Roborock makes it easier than ever for Aussies to maintain a clean and comfortable home – without the hassle. Whether it’s tackling neglected garages, high-traffic kitchens, or hard-to-reach corners in the bathroom, Roborock’s innovative products are ready to take on the task.

For more information on Roborock products, please visit https://au.roborock.com

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

The Roborock survey was conducted by TGM Research and involved 1,028 nationally representative respondents across Australia. The survey aimed to understand the cleaning habits, preferences, and challenges faced by Australians ahead of the launch of Roborock’s Qrevo Master, Qrevo S and H5.

About Roborock  

Roborock is a leading smart cleaning brand renowned for its intelligent cleaning solutions. With a steadfast dedication to becoming a global leading smart appliance player, Roborock enriches liveswith its innovative line of robotic, cordless, wet/dry vacuum cleaners, and washer-dryers. Rooted in a user-centric approach, our R&D-driven solutions cater to diverse cleaning needs in over 15 million homes across 170+ countries.  Headquartered in Beijing and with strategic subsidiaries in key markets, including the United States, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, and South Korea, Roborock is dedicated to elevating its market presence worldwide. For more information, visit https://au.roborock.com/. 

[i] [1] The data comes from Euromonitor International (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. The sales figures of robotic vacuum cleaners worldwide in the first three quarters of 2023 (in RMB hundred million) were used for calculation. Roborock ranks first in the industry. Robotic vacuum cleaner refers to vacuum cleaners that automatically move around rooms using sensors to clean floors. The research was completed in February 2024.

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SOURCE Roborock