Surviving in the streaming industry and what to look out for in 2026, ft. Accedo’s co-founders Michael Lantz and Fredrik Andersson
Tue Jan 20 2026
In this episode of Accedo Playback, host Neil Van Zyl is joined by Accedo co-founders Michael Lantz and Fredrik Andersson for a forward-looking conversation on where the streaming industry is headed and what video businesses should be preparing for next. Drawing on decades of industry experience, they reflect on how recent market shifts are influencing strategic decision-making across OTT, and what these changes mean for sustainable growth in the years ahead.
The discussion offers practical perspectives on how streaming services can navigate increasing complexity, balance innovation with profitability, and make smarter long-term choices around monetization, technology, and operations. You will gain insight into how industry dynamics are evolving, where real opportunities may emerge, and how media organizations can position themselves to stay competitive as the market continues to mature.
This episode is aimed at anyone looking to better understand the strategic forces shaping the future of OTT and to gain informed, experience-driven guidance on how to adapt in an increasingly fragmented and fast-changing video landscape.
00:55 Reflections on the biggest macro surprises in 2025 and how they will shape 2026
03:50 What types of M&A could actually deliver value next year?
06:45 Why sports rights remain so valuable
11:50 Advice for those starting an OTT service: strategy before tech
14:30 What could be the best-positioned niches for 2026
16:50 Agentic AI use cases in 2026; how will Accedo Compose help?
25:28 What is the industry paying too much attention to, and what isn’t getting enough focus?
30:10 Final remarks and what to look out for in 2026.
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In this episode of Accedo Playback, host Neil Van Zyl is joined by Accedo co-founders Michael Lantz and Fredrik Andersson for a forward-looking conversation on where the streaming industry is headed and what video businesses should be preparing for next. Drawing on decades of industry experience, they reflect on how recent market shifts are influencing strategic decision-making across OTT, and what these changes mean for sustainable growth in the years ahead. The discussion offers practical perspectives on how streaming services can navigate increasing complexity, balance innovation with profitability, and make smarter long-term choices around monetization, technology, and operations. You will gain insight into how industry dynamics are evolving, where real opportunities may emerge, and how media organizations can position themselves to stay competitive as the market continues to mature. This episode is aimed at anyone looking to better understand the strategic forces shaping the future of OTT and to gain informed, experience-driven guidance on how to adapt in an increasingly fragmented and fast-changing video landscape. 00:55 Reflections on the biggest macro surprises in 2025 and how they will shape 2026 03:50 What types of M&A could actually deliver value next year? 06:45 Why sports rights remain so valuable 11:50 Advice for those starting an OTT service: strategy before tech 14:30 What could be the best-positioned niches for 2026 16:50 Agentic AI use cases in 2026; how will Accedo Compose help? 25:28 What is the industry paying too much attention to, and what isn’t getting enough focus? 30:10 Final remarks and what to look out for in 2026.