Marketing Forecast from Ad-ology

Empowered consumers looking for digital entertainment are expected to drive expenditures in this category, globally, through 2015. This news comes from PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) in the firm’s newly released Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2011-2015. Analysts predict global entertainment and media spending will rise from $1.4 trillion (2010) to $1.9 trillion in 2015.

TV continues to be a key way for advertisers to reach consumers. But content providers can also find an audience willing to pay for access to unique and engaging programming. While the pay TV market was originally owned by cable companies, the number of providers in this sector has grown in recent years and so has the competition.

Ad-ology Research recently updated their Industry Marketing Insights report for Fair and Festival Organizers. The following are the predicted Top 3 Opportunities/Challenges from the report for this industry for the upcoming 12 months:

There may be thousands of people playing Angry Birds on their mobile phones, but for many gamers there is no substitute for a good console. New research from The Nielsen Company shows that a significant number of gamers will ante up for the latest console models as soon as they are available.

Consumers have access to more free and low-cost digital entertainment options than ever before. Many of these options stem from online formats like movies, TV shows, and even social networking. Yet only 17% of consumers say these entertainment sources are ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’. This low level of appreciation presents an opportunity for marketers to position themselves as merchants of quality content.

According to a new study from NPD Group, 12% of Americans entertained at home more this year than in years past, while 37% say they are entertaining at least as often as prior years. And while the entire dinnerware segment continues to show declines, the casual segment — which represents more than half of all sales — grew by 4% in a 12-month period. “Consumers continue to spend more time at home, and entertaining at home is a cost-effective way of getting together with family and friends,” says the company in its report. In addition, kitchen and dining home fashions purchases for special occasions are on the rise almost across the board from birthdays and bridal showers to Mother’s Day and holidays.