D1.1 PlaySCAPES: Set-the-Stage Report on Sustainable Climate Transition and VOD platforms

StreamSCAPES brings together twelve partners from academia and the creative and cultural industries (CCIs) to explore how European Video-On-Demand (VOD) services can contribute to a sustainable climate transition (SCT). Recognising the growing role of VOD platforms within audiovisual ecosystems, the project investigates how technologies, business models, and consumption practices can support environmental sustainability across the value chain.

This deliverable summarises the activities and outcomes of Work Package 1- PlaySCAPES: Stakeholder Workshops, designed to foster dialogue between academia, policymakers, and industry actors. Five online workshops were held between June and September 2025, gathering 24 participants to discuss the social dimensions of sustainability, production and distribution practices, and relevant policy frameworks. The discussions were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis.

The results highlight increasing awareness of sustainability issues in the VOD sector but also reveal significant gaps in data, shared knowledge, and harmonised measurement frameworks. Participants noted that while major broadcasters are advancing in carbon accounting, smaller platforms face financial and structural barriers. Sustainability was viewed as both a challenge and an opportunity for innovation, reputation, and audience engagement. The workshops underscored the need for collective approaches, harmonised standards, and cross-sector collaboration to ensure a consistent transition across production, distribution, and policy levels. Ultimately, the findings show that achieving sustainability in the VOD ecosystem requires not only technical solutions but also coordinated governance, shared accountability, and the transformation of fragmented initiatives into common frameworks and goals.