Moderated by Paul Erickson of Erickson Strategy + Insights LLC, the panel featured Sean Booker from Vizio, Brandon Melchior from Sling TV, and Larry Baird from Crackle Plus. Together, they explored how data-driven strategies and user-centric innovations are reshaping the way audiences engage with digital content.  We’ve taken a few snippets from an in-depth conversation with the industry’s brightest.

The discussion kicked off with a focus on leveraging data to enhance content discovery. “Smart use of data in interesting ways can yield predictive results that effectively surface content to customers,” noted Paul Erickson, setting the stage for the panel’s insights. Sean Booker of Vizio emphasized their commitment to making content discovery effortless. “Pushing notifications on when and what to watch – making it easy and user-friendly is where we’re trying to push the boundaries,” Booker explained, highlighting Vizio’s proactive approach to personalized content recommendations.

Brandon Melchior, representing Sling TV, elaborated on their strategy of embracing user flexibility. “We embrace churn and know it’s a reality,” Melchior stated. Sling TV’s approach includes empowering users with the ability to subscribe, pause, or cancel their subscriptions seamlessly. Beyond traditional content offerings, Sling TV enriches user engagement with features like arcade games, anecdotal stories, and interactive sports viewing experiences. This strategy not only enhances user satisfaction but also fosters long-term loyalty.

For Sean Booker, engagement serves as a critical metric of success. “Engagement is a scorecard on customer satisfaction and loyalty,” Booker affirmed. He outlined Vizio’s pillars of success: delivering premium content, deepening content offerings, and innovating with a fresh user interface. This year alone, Vizio has introduced over 50 new apps, underscoring their commitment to enriching the viewing experience through continuous innovation.

Larry Baird from Crackle Plus echoed the panel’s emphasis on innovation, highlighting the importance of a dynamic user interface. “Our focus is on delivering premium content and offering a fresh UI that’s innovative,” Baird explained. Crackle Plus aims to captivate users with compelling content choices and intuitive interfaces that keep them engaged and coming back for more.


As the session concluded, it was clear that personalized content discovery is not just a trend but a pivotal strategy in the competitive streaming landscape. By harnessing data insights and fostering user engagement through innovative features, companies like Vizio, Sling TV, and Crackle Plus are at the forefront of shaping the future of digital entertainment.

The insights shared at this session underscored a shared commitment among industry leaders to continuously evolve and meet the ever-changing demands of modern viewers. With personalized recommendations, flexible subscription models, and intuitive interfaces, these companies are redefining how audiences discover and engage with content, ensuring a richer and more rewarding entertainment experience for all.