Digital signage providers increasingly find themselves competing against streaming-based screen networks such as Atmosphere.
These providers offer a familiar format: looping viral-style video content with advertisements inserted between clips. Venues recognize the model, and many have already adopted it.
For digital signage providers targeting these venues, the challenge is immediate. If they cannot offer a comparable video and advertising experience, they risk losing the deal before the conversation fully begins.
One of our partners faced exactly this situation.
They were approaching venues already using Atmosphere and similar streaming-style screen networks. Again and again, the same objection surfaced. The venue wanted the same type of continuous video loop with ads included. Without a way to replicate that structure, the partner was losing those opportunities.
The Challenge
Streaming content providers offer a bundled programming model. In the case of Atmosphere, this consists of looping viral YouTube-style videos with advertisements inserted between segments.
However, based on our experience and discussions with our partners:
- Atmosphere allows only limited curation of video types
- There is no control over which ads are shown
For a digital signage provider building and managing their own screen network, this presented a clear limitation. They could not guarantee the exact content experience, nor could they control the advertising appearing on screens.
When competing against established streaming providers, lacking a comparable structure meant losing deals, even when the broader digital signage offering was strong.
The NoviSign Solution
We worked directly with the partner’s team to demonstrate how this model could be recreated using NoviSign’s capabilities.
By combining:
- The YouTube widget to stream selected YouTube videos
- The Slideshow widget to sequence multiple videos and insert their own advertisements between them
Our partners have built a continuous looping video and ad experience comparable to the streaming format venues were accustomed to.
This approach enabled them to:
- Select specific YouTube videos to display
- Structure multiple clips into a repeating loop
- Insert their own advertisements between video segments
- Maintain full control over both content and advertising
Instead of relying on a closed streaming feed, they could curate and manage the entire experience themselves.
The Result
With this structure in place, the competitive landscape changed.
Our partners were able to return to venues that were previously committed to Atmosphere and similar providers and present a comparable experience, while clearly demonstrating control over content and advertising.
The conversation shifted from a defensive position to a competitive one.
By solving the exact format requirement that had previously blocked deals, they removed a critical barrier in their sales process.
After replacing Atmosphere in multiple locations with their own NoviSign-powered solution, our partners significantly grew their network and added hundreds of new screens under management. The ability to match the familiar video and ad loop, while retaining control, directly enabled that expansion.
Why This Matters for Digital Signage Partners
Streaming screen networks have popularized a specific content model. Venues expect a continuous loop of short-form video content with ads inserted between segments.
To win against Atmosphere and similar providers, digital signage partners must be able to match that structure without surrendering control.
This use case demonstrates that partners can:
- Replicate the familiar video and advertising loop
- Compete directly with pre-packaged streaming networks
- Maintain ownership over both programming and advertising
- Remove a common competitive objection in hospitality and other venues
In summary, matching the expected video and ad loop while keeping control allowed the partner to replace Atmosphere and expand their network.