From Eurovision to Beyond, Israel’s Digital Media Sector Takes Center Stage

The millions of music fans worldwide who tuned into the 64^th Eurovision Song Contest were treated to far more than well-choreographed pop performances and show-stopping acts like Madonna’s appearance onstage at the event’s Expo Tel Aviv venue.

Dyed-in-the-wool Eurovision fans who flocked to Israel for the event and those who watched from afar all caught a glimpse of the dynamism, creativity, and cultural vitality that animate life in Israel – from the historic and holy sites of Jerusalem to the galleries of Tel Aviv, and from the musical performances of 2018 Eurovision winner Netta Barzilai and Israel’s 2019 contestant Kobi Marimi to the enticing stagecraft and multimedia effects put together by the event’s organizers.

Take the eye-catching backdrops developed by Israel-based Wally Interactive, which showcased the Israeli digital media sector’s impressive fusion of creative power and technological prowess. While Eurovision offered the latest reminder of this sector’s capabilities and global reach, Israeli digital media companies have amassed a long track record of successfully delivering innovative solutions to users across a wide span of industries.

From innovative broadcasting solutions to mold-breaking marketing technologies to emerging fields like augmented reality (AR), Israel’s digital media ecosystem is disrupting classic divides between art and science, new and old, and legacy and emerging industries.

Israel is home to more than 1,000 new media companies, as well as R&D facilities for leading new media corporations including AOL, Amazon, Google, Facebook, eBay, and many more. Groundbreaking digital technologies, including USB flash drives, AOL Instant Messenger, and voicemail were all developed in the Startup Nation – and as industries look to unlock the promise of the latest exciting tech fields, Israeli new media companies are still at the forefront of innovation. Here’s a look at just a few of them:

• Promotheus develops promotional video content for clients including top global brands like ESPN, Red Bull, Tencent, and Disney. But Promotheus more than just a content creation company: It’s very much a tech startup, with an in-house R&D team that builds innovative solutions – including AR, real-time graphics, and promo automation – that are integrated into client content.
• LiveU’s technology enables live video streaming for broadcasters in TV, mobile, online, and social media, using wireless networks to stream content in real time with low delay and continuous transmission. The company’s 5G-ready technology is used by more than 3,000 customers in over 100 countries to cover major events including presidential elections, the Olympic Games, the Super Bowl, the World Cup, and much more. Major global clients include Sky News, Tencent, Euronews, the Humane Society of the United States, and the University of Southern California.
• A growing number of brands are recognizing that user-generated content (UGC) is an authentic, highly engaging way of telling a brand’s story, and It is enabling companies to leverage truly appealing UGC with an AR platform that allows customers to insert themselves into branded video content. Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, Old Spice, Head & Shoulders, WB, and Warner Music group are among the brands using Fuse.It.
• Founded in 2011, Applicaster built a platform called Zapp that enables users to prototype, test, maintain, and distribute consumer apps. Prominent users include DirecTV, Fox, and Viacom.

Eurovision may be over, but with its vibrant tech ecosystem and rich portfolio of media innovators, there’s no doubt that Israel will continue to shine on the global stage – and thanks to the new media technologies pioneered in the Start-Up Nation, the many companies who utilize Israeli media solutions will be able to keep themselves in the spotlight, tell stories that matter, and engage audiences for years to come.

Interested in learning more about Israel’s new media sector? Check out the Digital Media department of the Israel Export Institute, which is managed by Ms. Noa Avrahami.

For more information, please contact your local Israel Economic Attaché.