Ben Woods

Ben is a Creator Economy Analyst at MIDiA. He holds a BA in American literature with creative writing from the University of East Anglia. Before joining MIDiA, Ben spent 13 years as a journalist, where he won several industry awards. He previously worked as the tech and media correspondent for the Sunday Times and The Telegraph. His focus spans the creator tools industry, social video platforms, and streaming TV services. He is also a big video games and anime fan.

The age of the premium content creator is here – but will audiences buy into it?

Cover image for The age of the premium content creator is here – but will audiences buy into it?
Ben Woods
Audience Insight
Video
Creator economy
What makes a content creator popular? At first glance, this question feels easy to answer. Successful creators often have distinctive characteristic that propel their success. MrBeast is known for his stunt video format, Twitch streamer Shroud has impeccable gameplay on first person shooters, and Antony Fantano’s candid take on music draws millions of subscribers on YouTube.
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AI prompting is an art form that will reshape creation

Cover image for AI prompting is an art form that will reshape creation
Ben Woods
Product Strategy
creator tools
AI
Key takeaways from this blog: Generative AI is reshaping creative workflows, with MIDiA’s research highlighting how AI-only video production is already achievable The next creative divide will be defined by prompting skill level: those who can expertly translate vision into AI prompts will be ahead of the curve and set the standard for creators As AI tools evolve, MIDiA foresees a new generation of AI-native creators poised to redefine professional-grade output Who will be left behind by the AI revolution? Many industries are predicted to pivot towards autonomous workflows that will streamline some jobs out of existence.
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Video creators: Tell us how you create for a chance to win a slice of our $1,000 prize pool

Cover image for Video creators: Tell us how you create for a chance to win a slice of our $1,000 prize pool
Ben Woods
Audience Insight
Video
Creators
After a successful launch last year, MIDiA is returning with a new survey to ensure the voice of video creators is heard loud and clear across the industry. To achieve this, we are calling on all video creators – no matter their skill or what they create – to complete a quick survey to ensure the industry is armed with the information it needs to support creators now, and into the future.
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The BBC, Channel 4, and the risk of giving too much to YouTube

Cover image for The BBC, Channel 4, and the risk of giving too much to YouTube
Ben Woods
Business Strategy
YouTube
Netflix
Key insights from this blog: As YouTube has skyrocketed in popularity, it has become an unexpected challenge for the UK's public service broadcasters These broadcasters are also facing challenges from streaming services, which can afford bigger budget productions and big-name talent MIDiA explores how public service broadcasters can avoid pitfalls and survive in an evolving television landscape The BBC, Channel 4, and ITV have made some great strides adapting to a world where YouTube is becoming front and centre of TV viewing.
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