Daniel Djahjah on Building LATAM’s Streaming Community at Streaming Media 2025

Building a thriving streaming ecosystem across Latin America requires more than just technology; it demands a connected community where businesses can collaborate and grow together. At the recent Streaming Media 2025 event, Daniel Djahjah, Director of Partnerships for ABOTTS, sat down with Future Frames producer Doug Daulton to explore how the organization is fostering exactly that kind of environment. Their conversation delved into the origins and expansion of the Brazilian and Latin American Association for OTT and Streaming, its core mission to unite the industry, and the transformative role of artificial intelligence in content management and localization.

Djahjah described ABOTTS not as a traditional association, but as a vibrant community. He explained that it brings together a wide array of participants, from vendors and technology providers to streaming platforms and business leaders. This diversity is its strength, enabling connections between local and international players across every segment of the industry. Whether a company needs expertise in distribution, digital rights management, content delivery networks, or programmatic advertising, ABOTTS acts as a central hub to link the right partners. The fundamental goal is to join forces, helping international companies enter the Latin American market and assisting regional businesses in finding both local and global opportunities.

Daulton likened the organization’s role to that of an interpreter for a group of people touching different parts of an elephant, each perceiving a different object. ABOTTS, he suggested, helps everyone understand how all the pieces connect to form the whole. Djahjah fully agreed, emphasizing that the community exists to fill a critical gap. Instead of dealing with separate, siloed groups for pay TV, regulation, or technology, members benefit from a single, structured association dedicated to the entire streaming business.

Originally launched in Brazil six years ago, ABOTTS is now broadening its reach. The organization is actively expanding into Argentina and Mexico, with ambitions to weave a network throughout the entire LATAM region. This growth isn’t just about geography; it’s also about deepening engagement on both B2B and B2C levels. A key part of this strategy involves forming alliances with global organizations like Rise and Women in Streaming Media, and participating in major industry events such as NAB and IBC. Djahjah highlighted that attending Streaming Media is a crucial component of this outward-looking approach.

The conversation then turned to the value of smaller, more intimate industry gatherings. Daulton pointed out that these events often foster the best opportunities for genuine connection, the kind of hallway or bar conversations that are harder to come by at massive conferences. Djahjah echoed this sentiment, sharing a piece of wisdom from his father: the best business deals are often sketched out on a napkin over a cup of wine or water. He firmly believes in the power of a handshake and personal trust, with the formal contracts being finalized afterward.

When asked about prevailing industry trends, Djahjah commended the curated nature of the Streaming Media panels, which skillfully balance perspectives from direct-to-consumer services, B2B solutions, and technology vendors. He expressed particular interest in the discussions around AI, as well as the growing trends of “shopification” and interactivity. He finds it fascinating how a simple consumer action, like voting on a show like The Voice, relies on a complex, interconnected backend involving multiple companies and APIs working in concert.

The dialogue then focused more intently on artificial intelligence. Daulton observed that while generative AI captures headlines on the creative side, its most immediate impact may be in operational areas like data management, where it can identify patterns and automate tasks far more quickly than a human alone. He stressed that this is less about job replacement and more about providing professionals with a superior toolkit. Djahjah concurred completely, drawing from his previous experience at Pluto TV. He explained that AI dramatically simplifies complex processes like analyzing content profitability and managing programming cycles, which traditionally required constant manual adjustment on legacy systems. AI is already delivering tangible results by boosting productivity and creating greater efficiency, which is fundamentally good for business. However, he cautioned that human oversight remains essential, and the long-term trajectory of AI still holds many uncertainties.

Daulton provided a concrete example involving archive management. Corporations with vast libraries of low-resolution content can now use AI to upscale and identify valuable assets suitable for repurposing. This turns previously overlooked material into a potential revenue stream. Djahjah added that these tools are vital for making old content viable again in today’s market.

Sharing a real-world application, Djahjah recounted his experience with AI dubbing and localization. In the past, international distribution involved handing off a series or movie to a broadcaster, who would then manage the dubbing process independently. The rise of FAST channels and growing YouTube consumption for long-form content has shifted this dynamic. Content owners now want to retain control of their assets, deciding on the fly whether a title warrants a premium human dub, fast subtitling, or a cost-effective AI dub. This flexibility makes content more accessible and opens the door to more business.

Daulton built on this point, noting that AI reduces the friction in the localization process. Where a budget might have previously allowed for only three languages, AI can now provide a cost-effective first pass for many more, enabling content owners to test five or ten new markets. A human expert can then refine the AI’s work to ensure quality. Both Djahjah and Daulton agreed that this evolution doesn’t eliminate human jobs. Instead, by making the initial stages of localization more affordable, AI actually increases the total volume of work available. As video consumption grows globally and content reaches more markets, the entire industry stands to benefit from this expanded capacity.

(Source: Streaming Media)