“We have a really positive working relationship with Clusters; it’s a very productive and efficient co-operation based on an understanding of our needs, flexibility and tailor made solutions.”
Sylwester Molenda
Research, Innovation & Insights Director at Discovery Poland
Our partnership in brief
Clusters supported Discovery Poland through audience segmentation projects designed to strengthen portfolio strategy and support key commercial decisions. By building a deeper understanding of viewer behaviour across factual, lifestyle and sports channels, the work enabled Discovery Poland to optimise channel positioning, launch new networks with confidence, and avoid audience cannibalisation. The segmentation became a strategic tool informing programming, marketing and rebranding decisions, while also helping to provide a clear, evidence-based narrative in negotiations with cable providers. The outcome was stronger portfolio targeting and improved alignment with priority commercial audiences.
The challenge
Discovery Poland is a subsidiary of Discovery Networks, and is a portfolio of television channels involving factual, lifestyle and sports.
Discovery Poland wanted to gain a better understanding of their audience in order to optimise their portfolio, in particular looking to buy new channels that were outside their usual genres. Where Discovery was traditionally a set of factual channels, they were now looking to introduce lifestyle and sports channels. They also wanted to present a stronger, evidence-based growth story in contract renegotiations with cable providers.
Discovery Poland needed a deeper understanding of their audience before launching new channels in order to avoid cannibalisation of their existing channels.
The solution
In 2011, Discovery Poland appointed Clusters to run an audience segmentation to give them a better definition and understanding of their core audiences. Following several successful years working with the first segmentation, a second segmentation was carried out in 2015 due to significant market changes. The biggest change was the analogue terrestrial TV switch-off – everyone had to change to digital – which drove a change in viewing habits. Furthermore, Discovery had bought Eurosport and Olympic rights since the first segmentation and had become a much broader portfolio of channels, beyond just factual and entertainment.
The latest segmentation was designed specifically around their new expanded portfolio. Clusters uncovered 10 segments; seven that applied to both pay and free TV, and three that applied to pay-TV only.
For us, understanding consumer behaviour has always been a key business priority. We chose to work with Clusters as they proposed a deeper understanding of consumers through a segmentation of the Polish population, based on TV viewing habits. They delivered a tool that strategically helped us optimise channel and portfolio targeting by identifying key viewers for each network.
The results
By taking an in depth look at the types of people who watched their channels, Discovery Poland were able to uncover one high-value segment who spend a substantial time watching Discovery This information was crucial for proving the power of Discovery’s portfolio in affiliates’ eyes.
What’s more, Discovery used the segmentation to launch channels and grow market share without cannibalising their existing channels. Following the segmentation, Discovery Poland managed to successfully launch Dlife (a channel with a female audience) and rebrand DWorld into DTX (channel for younger men), significantly increasing share growth with the key ad sales target of men 16-49. Both of the networks complemented Discovery Poland’s factual offer and so broadened the portfolio reach.
We still use the segmentation provided by Clusters today to inform channel launches as well rebranding or repositioning of existing ones, programming choice (production, acquisition etc) and media choice in marketing communication. It’s been an invaluable addition to our strategic tools.
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If you’re looking to optimise your portfolio, strengthen your strategy or better understand your audience, we’d love to discuss how insight-led decisions could support your goals.
Our work
Testing health app propositions to maximise market reach
Clusters partnered with a health innovation organisation to evaluate four new health and wellbeing app concepts prior to launch.
Building a segment-driven strategy in a competitive automotive market
Clusters partnered with a leading automotive parts and accessories retailer to develop a fully segment-driven UK growth strategy across online and in-store channels.
Quayside Clothing: Scoping the market
Clusters supported Quayside Clothing in identifying new growth opportunities through targeted market intelligence designed to strengthen positioning in a competitive ecommerce landscape.
Institute of Directors: Price and proposition testing
Clusters supported the Institute of Directors in reshaping its membership offer through pricing and proposition testing designed to identify the most compelling packages and optimal price points. Building on earlier strategic research, the study explored how current and prospective members responded to different membership propositions and what they considered fair value.