Questex VP and Market Leader Kevin Gray’s Exclusive Interview with MarTech Pulse on Streaming Industry
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In an exclusive interview with MarTech Pulse, Questex’s VP Kevin Gray shares insights on StreamTV Show growth, streaming industry trends, AI’s impact, and evolving monetization strategies shaping the future.
What would you say are the main highlights of this year’s StreamTV Show, and how do they reflect where the streaming industry is headed?
In short, one of the main highlights is the overall growth that we’re seeing. The show is expected to grow its attendance 60% YOY to almost 3,000 attendees, and this is aligned with where the wider entertainment industry is headed. We’ve finally reached a tipping point, where the majority of viewing now occurs in streaming rather than on linear broadcast and cable. The other highlight is the convergence of programming, technology, and advertising. As studios and publishers grow B2C models, it’s no longer enough for them to solely focus on their content. They need to be aware of the technology and the monetization strategies, and they need to partner with all of the distribution platforms to best set them up for success.
How has StreamTV Show evolved alongside the industry, and what role does it play today for streaming decision-makers?
StreamTV Show has evolved in step with the streaming industry itself. In the early years, the focus was on disruption — the rise of OTT, the shift from linear, and the race for subscribers. As the industry matured, so did the conversations. Today, the event reflects a far more sophisticated ecosystem — one centered on monetization strategy, advanced advertising, data intelligence, content optimization, and sustainable growth.
At its core, StreamTV is simply the marketplace for the streaming economy. We have thousands of content buyers, technology buyers, and media buyers attending the event to meet with suppliers and learn about the future of the industry. These individuals in charge of buying decisions are sometimes separate from one another in an organization, but more now than ever, executives buy across multiple functions. It’s increasingly common for a studio exec to not only acquire content but also purchase technology and monetization solutions. Conversely, brand execs might not only invest in media spend, but they might also purchase or develop an episodic series as part of a branded content strategy. All of this represents the convergence and consolidation taking place in the ecosystem, and why StreamTV Show is the perfect one-stop shop for these conversations to take place.
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Based on the conversations happening at StreamTV Show, what themes or challenges seem most top of mind for industry leaders right now?
It goes without saying that AI is, of course, top of mind. Generative AI has significant potential to lower production costs for studios, as well as for brands/advertisers. In particular, on the Advertising side, the streaming television industry sees a massive opportunity targeting the SMB market that has historically been dominated by social platforms. The combination of lower production costs through AI, alongside easy-to-use self-serve platforms that are being created, could lead to significant growth. Beyond that, the rise of the creator economy is taking center stage, and everyone is trying to figure out their strategy this year. From exclusive deals with major creative studios, to podcasts and the role out of vertical video strategies within their apps, the industry is currently experimenting across the board to see what works. To compete with YouTube and social platforms, companies must identify what truly works.
How are advertising, monetization, FAST, and hybrid models shaping the dialogue at the event this year?
Advertising and monetization are huge, especially across FAST. Currently, the amount of advertising dollars the streaming industry receives is not representative of the amount of viewing time that has shifted over. This is bound to catch up, but in the meantime, everyone is trying to figure out how to best fill inventory, and also, how to best drive outcomes using new data targeting and commerce tools.
Looking ahead, which conversations from this year’s StreamTV Show do you think will matter the most?
It’s less about the conversations on stage, and more about the partnerships that are being formed on the show floor. Streaming services, platforms, and channels are looking for partners that can help them navigate the new era. They’re looking to partner with each other to bundle services, inventory, or to redistribute library content. All of these conversations will be moved forward at StreamTV, and those that aren’t here will get left behind.
With increasing EU regulations on local content investment and US streaming dominance, how is StreamTV Europe addressing regulatory compliance and support for European creators?
We’re doing this by showcasing the importance of local content and why it needs to be embraced. As EU investment requirements evolve, StreamTV Europe creates a space for platforms and producers to discuss how to meet those obligations while strengthening regional production. That’s reflected in sessions like “Local Stories, Global Impact: The DNA of EMEA Originals,” where leaders from Movistar, Beta Film and Warner Bros. Discovery examine how European originals are developed, financed and positioned for wider distribution.
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How is AI driving personalization, ad optimization, and content strategies in the streaming ecosystem, based on discussions at the event?
AI is being discussed less as a buzzword and more as an operational advantage. Across the ecosystem, platforms are leveraging AI to power deeper personalization — refining recommendations, optimizing homepages, and predicting churn with greater precision. On the advertising side, AI is accelerating smarter audience segmentation, dynamic ad placement, and real-time yield optimization. The focus is on delivering better outcomes for brands while improving the viewer experience through more relevant ad loads. Lastly, with regards to content strategy, AI is helping inform acquisition decisions, forecast demand, and identify audience trends earlier. It’s providing executives clearer signals on where to invest and how to maximize return.
Thank you, Kevin Gray, for taking the time to share your insights with us.
Write to us [wasim.a@demandmediaagency.com] to learn more about our exclusive editorial packages and programmes.
Kevin Gray is the publisher of FierceMarkets’ Telecom group publications, and in this role oversees the editorial, operations, and sales functions of the group. He has been with the organization since 2010, previously serving as an associate publisher, managing the sales team for FierceTelecom, FierceCable, and FierceOnlineVideo. Kevin has a B.A. in Business Administration from Methodist University, and lives in Springfield, Virginia with his wife, son and daughter.
Produced and managed by Questex, StreamTV Show is the streaming television industry’s largest annual gathering in North America, bringing together 3,000+ executives, content leaders, technologists and advertising decision-makers shaping the future of streaming. Held June 16–19, 2026 in Denver, the event draws executives, speakers, sponsors and attendees from companies including A&E, Comcast, Crunchyroll, Fox, Google TV, NBCUniversal, Roku, YouTube and more. StreamTV Europe extends the brand globally, convening the European streaming ecosystem in Lisbon, Portugal from April 13–15, 2026, for region-specific insights, partnerships and deal-making. More than a market and expo, StreamTV is where meaningful conversations turn into real business outcomes and long-term strategy.
Designed as a true community for the streaming ecosystem, StreamTV combines forward-looking sessions with high-impact networking that connects buyers, sellers and innovators across content, technology and monetization. Supported by StreamTV Insider, the industry’s daily news and insights publication, the Show’s influence extends year-round.
