Background
The creators behind a successful reality competition series aimed to level up both the budget and producer fees for the show’s third season. They hypothesized that adding leading international talent would expand the show’s global reach, thereby increasing its overall value to the platform’s subscription base and potential advertisers.
By quantitatively demonstrating how these cast additions would elevate audience demand worldwide, the producers were able to negotiate higher budget and producer fees for the upcoming season.
Challenge
Increasing Budget Requirements: While the first two seasons performed well, the production team believed that truly global appeal - bolstered by well-known international competitors - would justify a higher production spend.
Quantifying Global Potential: Executives needed convincing data to support the argument that tapping well-known sports figures and personalities from different regions could significantly boost audience engagement, both domestically and abroad.
Proving ROI to the Streamer: The show’s creators had to show the platform that a larger financial outlay would yield proportionally higher returns in both subscription revenue and ad sales.
Solution
Content Valuation Framework
Using granular audience demand data, Parrot Analytics projected how much incremental revenue the show could generate by featuring recognized international talent. This analysis included:
Subscription Growth: Calculating potential new sign-ups from regions where the new cast members have strong followings.
Advertiser Appeal: Mapping out the additional ad inventory value, assuming higher global streaming hours from newly engaged viewers.
Talent Synergy Modeling
Global “Star Power” Assessment: Identified cast members from various countries with substantial social media footprints and sports fanbases. The data indicated that certain personalities could yield a +144% lift in global demand.
Market-Specific Impact: Forecasted how each new participant would drive viewership in their home market and among audiences, contributing directly to monetizable streams.
Outcome Simulations
Season-to-Season Growth: The company compared the baseline performance of prior seasons to multiple “what-if” scenarios. With strong international contestants, projections showed revenue per season potentially surpassing $120 million once the brand reached peak global attention.
Advertiser Forecast: By estimating global hours viewed, the team illustrated how a robust cast could command premium advertising rates due to higher watch times and broader audience segments.
Outcome
Armed with credible, data-driven projections, the production company successfully demonstrated that the new cast’s international star power would make the upcoming season a “must-watch” event. As a result, the streamer agreed to a significantly higher production budget, seeing clear alignment between added costs and anticipated global revenue gains.
By leveraging data to show the tangible benefits of international casting, the creators validated their vision of a globally resonant reality competition - and secured the resources needed to bring that vision to life.
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