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MEDIAPRO Group and Blue Ocean Media Partners partner to boost and expand the worldwide leading audiovisual business portfolio in the Middle East

Raffaele Annecchino, former Paramount International President and CEO, announces his consultancy firm, Blue Ocean Media Partners alongside a strategic partnership with Mediapro Group

MEDIAPRO Group and Blue Ocean Media Partners partner to boost and expand the worldwide leading audiovisual business portfolio in the Middle East

10 October 2023, Former President and CEO of Paramount International, Raffaele Annecchino, launches Blue Ocean Media Partners, a highly specialized consultancy firm in the Media and Entertainment industry based in Dubai and Madrid.

Blue Ocean Media Partners has signed a strategic partnership with MEDIAPRO Group, one of the biggest worldwide audiovisual companies to boost and expand their entire business portfolio across the Middle East including broadcast services and new businesses from eSports to gaming. 

“I am excited to bring all my global experience, expertise, and networking into Blue Ocean Media Partners with a C-suite executive leadership team to drive innovative and transformative strategies across the media industry for our clients. Our main objective is to support companies to achieve long-term growth and financial sustainability during these evolving times,” said Raffaele Annecchino, President and founder of Blue Ocean Media Partners. “We are thrilled to partner with Mediapro Group to boost the entirety of their business offerings in the Middle East, one of the most thriving markets globally.”

Tatxo Benet, CEO of GROUP MEDIAPRO, highlights “Annecchino’s extensive experience and transversal nature is a unique opportunity to strengthen the group’s presence in the Middle East, building on the great work done by Mediapro Middle East so far and expanding from this base.”

The consultancy firm provides a unique global network in the  media industry  across Europe, Middle East, the US, UK, LATAM, Asia and Africa. Raffaele Annecchino leads a team of highly skilled consultants with diverse backgrounds and expertise in the media industry located in key international markets.  

As President and CEO,  he has successfully led Paramount International, one of the world leading media companies driven by a global portfolio of consumer brands and streaming platforms, including Nickelodeon, MTV, Paramount, Showtime , Paramount + and PlutoTV among others. Under his guidance Raffaele Annecchino has boosted the growth of the streaming platforms PlutoTV and Paramount+ internationally, introducing innovative partnership models with key  global and local SVOD and AVOD players.

About Blue Ocean Media Partners

Blue Ocean Media Partners is a highly specialized consultancy and advisory firm in the media and entertainment industry that offers to its clients a variety of services to strengthen companies business, levering industry expertise, innovation, and partnerships to fuel transformative growth.

Blue Ocean Media Partners main areas of expertise include Corporate strategy, international expansion and  strategic partnerships. Blue Ocean Media Partners also represents a large library of premium content, including movies, series, kids animation, factual; for distribution across streaming  (SVOD, AVOD, FAST), Free to Air channels and Pay TV, among others.

About MEDIAPRO GROUP

GROUP MEDIAPRO is a leader in the unique European audiovisual sector in content integration, audiovisual production and distribution. It is present worldwide through its 52 offices in 4 continents. It provides the creativity and technical solutions needed to design, produce and distribute any audiovisual or multichannel project anywhere in the world. It is a leader in Europe and unique in integrating content with production and distribution services.

GROUP MEDIAPRO participates in the production of 14 national soccer competitions around the world and accumulates extensive experience in producing events of major sporting competitions such as the UEFA Champions League, Confederations Cup, FIFA World Cup, CONMEBOL, FIBA, Euroleague, Pan American Games, Arab Games, African Cup of Nations and Formula 1. It has extensive experience in the creation and production of sports thematic channels. Its teams of professionals are behind the creation of 15 thematic channels such as OneSoccer (Canada), Golf TV (USA), Porto TV (Portugal), Eleven JPL (Belgium) or LaLiga TV and GOL Play in Spain.

GROUP MEDIAPRO, through The Mediapro Studio, is also one of the most important content creators in the world, with projects for HBO, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Turner, DirectTV, Movistar, FOX, Viacom and Televisa.

Through the Innovation area, the group leads the eSports sector in the Spanish market with Liga de Videojuegos Profesional (LVP), the largest Spanish-language eSports organization in the world, and Ubeat, an entertainment platform for youth audiences. Through VISYON and the Innovation area, an immersive creative company pioneer in the development of solutions, the group develops projects related to Artificial Intelligence, immersive realities and OTT.

News & Insights

MEDIAPRO Group and Blue Ocean Media Partners partner to boost and expand the worldwide leading audiovisual business portfolio in the Middle East

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Contact

Venture Capital and Private Equity

Overview

Private equity (PE) firms need a consulting partner that can help them increase confidence, reduce risk, and achieve positive outcomes. Blue Ocean Media Partners is a leading strategy consulting firm that has been working with PE firms for over 30 years. We provide comprehensive support across the full transaction cycle, from identifying attractive companies to commercial due diligence, portfolio company value growth, and exit support.

How we help

  • Identifying attractive companies: We help PE firms identify attractive companies by conducting market research, financial analysis, and due diligence.
  • Commercial due diligence: We perform commercial due diligence on potential investments to assess the business model, competitive landscape, and market opportunity.
  • Portfolio company value growth: We help PE firms grow the value of their portfolio companies by providing strategic advice, operational improvement, and financial planning.
  • Exit support: We help PE firms exit their investments by identifying buyers, negotiating deals, and managing the transition process.

Music & Audio

Overview

The music and radio industries are facing a number of challenges, including:

  • The changing consumption habits of younger generations.
  • The decline of physical music sales.
  • The rise of streaming services.
  • The disruption of new technologies.


Blue Ocean Media Partners helps music and radio industry leaders navigate these challenges by providing strategic advice and counsel.

How we help

  • Understanding the changing consumption habits of younger generations: We help clients understand how iGen, Gen Z, and millennials are changing the way they consume music.
  • Managing the decline of physical music sales: We help clients develop strategies for managing the decline of physical music sales and transitioning to a digital-first business model.
  • Profiting from streaming services: We help clients develop strategies for profiting from streaming services, such as by negotiating favorable deals with distributors and developing exclusive content.
  • Navigating the disruption of new technologies: We help clients understand the implications of new technologies, such as AI and blockchain, and develop strategies for using these technologies to their advantage.

Benefits of working with Blue Ocean Media Partners

  • We have a deep understanding of the music and radio industries and the challenges facing all players.
  • We have a proven track record of helping clients succeed in this dynamic market.
  • We offer a comprehensive suite of services to meet the needs of all clients.
  • We are committed to providing our clients with the best possible advice and support.


If you are interested in learning more about how Blue Ocean Media Partners can help you with your music or radio business, please contact us today.

eSports & Video Games

Overview

The video game business is facing a number of challenges and opportunities, including:

  • The rise of eSports.
  • The development of virtual reality.
  • The changing monetization strategies.
  • The evolving distribution channels.

Blue Ocean Media Partners helps video game industry leaders navigate these challenges and opportunities by providing strategic advice and counsel.

How we help

  • eSports: We help clients understand the eSports ecosystem and how to participate in it.
  • Virtual reality: We help clients assess the potential of virtual reality and develop strategies for its adoption.
  • Monetization: We help clients understand the changing consumer preferences and develop monetization strategies that are both effective and sustainable.
  • Distribution: We help clients understand the evolving distribution channels and develop strategies for reaching their target audiences.

Benefits of working with Blue Ocean Media Partners

  • We have a deep understanding of the video game business and the challenges facing all players.
  • We have a proven track record of helping clients succeed in this dynamic market.
  • We offer a comprehensive suite of services to meet the needs of all clients.
  • We are committed to providing our clients with the best possible advice and support.


If you are interested in learning more about how Blue Ocean Media Partners can help you with your video game business, please contact us today.

Movies & Film Industry

Overview

The movie business is facing a number of challenges and opportunities, including:

  • The changing consumer habits, such as the rise of SVOD and the decline of the sell-through model.
  • The windowing discussion, which is about how to release movies to different platforms at different times.
  • The emergence of new technologies, such as VR and AR.
  • The growth of the Chinese market.
  • The fatigue of movie franchises.


Blue Ocean Media Partners helps movie industry leaders navigate these challenges and opportunities by providing strategic advice and counsel.

How we help

  • Content management: We help clients understand the value of their content and how to optimize its monetization.
  • Windowing strategies: We help clients develop and implement windowing strategies that maximize the value of their content.
  • Home entertainment: We help clients maximize the value of their home entertainment business.
  • Economics/business model: We help clients understand the economics of the movie business and develop sustainable business models.
  • Operations: We help clients reduce costs and improve efficiency.
  • Growth strategy: We help clients develop and execute growth strategies.

Benefits of working with Blue Ocean Media Partners

  • We have a deep understanding of the movie business and the challenges facing all players.
  • We have a proven track record of helping clients succeed in this dynamic market.
  • We offer a comprehensive suite of services to meet the needs of all clients.
  • We are committed to providing our clients with the best possible advice and support.

Sports & Live Events

Overview

The sports and live entertainment industry is facing a number of challenges and opportunities, including:

  • Fan segmentation and lifecycle management: How to maximize the engagement and spending of current fans and cultivate the next generation of fans.
  • Direct-to-consumer digital strategies: How to build meaningful direct digital, social, and mobile relationships with fans alongside traditional linear rights relationships.
  • International go-to-market strategy: How to reach, engage, and monetize fan bases outside of home markets.
  • Live event revenue and fan experience maximization: How to drive attendance, per-caps, and overall fan experience at games, events, and facilities.
  • Rights value maximization: How to maximize the value of live game, digital, and other rights.

How we help

  • Fan segmentation and lifecycle management
  • Direct-to-consumer digital strategies
  • International go-to-market strategy
  • Live event revenue and fan experience maximization
  • Rights value maximization

Site Based Entertainment

Overview

The site-based entertainment industry is growing rapidly, but it is also a very competitive market. Blue Ocean Media Partners helps clients navigate this complex landscape by providing end-to-end support at any stage of the site-based entertainment life cycle.

How we help

  • Commercial case development/revamp: We help clients understand their target audience, the use cases for their site, and how to stand out from the competition. We also help them develop a financial plan and prove ROI.
  • Financial performance evaluation/improvement planning: We help clients understand their key performance metrics, identify areas for improvement, and develop plans to improve their financial performance.
  • Growth plan/market capacity: We help clients understand the market potential for their site, select the right locations, and develop a growth plan.
  • Marketing/product offering: We help clients develop a marketing strategy that resonates with their target audience and optimize their pricing and distribution strategies.

Television & Broadcasting

Overview

The TV industry is undergoing a major transformation, with traditional pay TV losing subscribers and over-the-top (OTT) services gaining traction. Blue Ocean Media Partners helps clients navigate this complex journey by providing insights and strategies for success.

How we help

  • Free to Air Operators – We can help identifying the best strategies to transition value from the traditional ad sales business to the AVOD, FAST arena; identifying winning partnerships to secure long- term growth and cost efficiencies.
  • Pay TV providers: We help pay TV providers understand the future of the industry, forecast subscriber trends, and develop strategies to compete with OTT in the new streaming arena.
  • Investors: We help investors identify good investment opportunities in the TV ecosystem and assess the risks and rewards of each investment.

Streaming & OTT

Overview

The traditional methods for reaching, engaging, and monetizing consumers are breaking down. Blue Ocean Media Partners helps clients navigate this complex journey by providing end-to-end support around the launch and growth of global direct-to-consumer digital services, focusing on over-the-top (OTT) services.

How we help

Commercial case development: We help clients answer key strategic questions, such as:

  • What is the core value proposition of our service offer?
  • How do we manage contention between OTT and other content distribution channels?
  • What is the audience/subscriber potential for our service offer?
  • What mix of business models should we employ?
  • What level of investment is required?

 
Content and feature planning: We help clients prioritize content and features, and assess their relative value to prospective subscribers.

Pricing and packaging: We help clients price their service and develop pricing tiers that maximize revenue.

Tactical subscriber growth support: We help clients drive incremental subscription and reduce churn.

International expansion: We help clients take their domestic service international and prioritize markets for localization.

EDUARD MARTÍ

senior partner, content

As Blueocean Media Partners client advisor, Eduard is responsible for supporting and guiding clients editorially from high-potential content opportunities, negotiating favourable licensing agreements with major distribution companies and securing exclusive content for broadcast.

He leads the trends, insights and data analytics of the media, content and entertainment landscape, keeping abreast of the latest genre trends and developments across multi-platforms.

Eduard further works closely with clients in understanding the optimum monetisation through windowing strategies. His expertise in developing business growth on the FAST market stems from his experience in a variety of markets creating a portfolio of competitive channels.

As an accomplished executive in content strategy, multi-platform programming, and rights management on acquisitions in a transforming era, Eduard´s established track record in the entertainment industry includes international companies from Paramount, FOX, and Mediaset across Free to Air, PayTV, FAST channels and SVOD services. This experience and knowledge has built a strong network of client relationships globally.

Eduard completed an MBA in media companies after graduating as a Telecommunications Engineer, between Madrid, Barcelona and Rome.

 

POLINA YAKOVLEVA

senior partner, business

Polina Yakovleva leads Blueocean Media Partners Content sales and partnerships business.

As a former Director of Content Acquisitions and Programming at Paramount Global, Polina has established a large network of contacts across major content distribution platforms and has negotiated multi millions contents deals with the major streaming plaftorms, free to air networks and pay tv channels across the international markets

With more than 15 years of experience in the media industry, Polina will provide to Blueocean Media Partners clients a strategic advise to define the most efficient content strategy and and then negotiate and obtain the best content agreement across the main international distributors.

RAFFAELE ANNECCHINO

MANAGING PARTNER AND CEO OF BLUE OCEAN MEDIA PARTNERS

Raffaele Annecchino, Managing Partner and CEO of Blueocean Media Partners is a reputable leader in the media and entertainment industry having led as President and CEO of Paramount International, one the world’s largest media and entertainment companies.

During his career Annecchino has led a unique ecosystem of free to air (as Channel 5 in the UK, Network 10 in Australia, Telefe in Argentina and Chilevision in Chile), Pay TV networks (as Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central) and Streaming platforms amnong others. He has driven the transformation of the company towards streaming positioning Paramount+ and Pluto TV as leading players, introducing innovative and transformative strategies that drove long-term growth and financial sustainability.

Annechino has served on the boards of Viacom 18 India, SBS Media in South Korea, and in the newly created streaming platform SkyShowtime. Annecchino is an MBA graduate from I.E Business School and has completed the Media Executive program at renowned Harvard Business School and INSEAD Fontainebleau.