Data is Not a Byproduct—It's the Product: Applying Data-as-a-Product Thinking in Media & Entertainment

Metadata

Publisher: SMPTE
Doc Type: Journal Article
Content Type: Original Research
Abbreviated Title: SMPTE Motion Imaging Jour.
Volume: 135, No. 2, pp. 32–41
Abstract: The Media & Entertainment industry is generating more data than ever before, yet much of it remains underutilized. Decades of centralized architectures, fragmented and siloed ownership, and tool-driven initiatives have produced data lakes and dashboards, but not the trusted, scalable insights the industry needs. At the same time, the rise of artificial intelligence has made the availability of high-quality, accessible data more critical than ever. This paper argues for a shift to a Data as a Product (DaaP) approach, supported by a Data Mesh architectural framework, as a path to unlocking value and securing the necessary trust. By treating data with the same discipline as software products, complete with ownership, lifecycle management, service-level agreements (SLAs), and feed-back loops, organizations can establish trust, reusability, and accountability. The paper outlines the three planes of a Data Mesh (infrastructure utility, mesh experience, and data product experience), defines what constitutes a true data product within this model, and highlights rights management as a representative use case where productization resolves longstanding pain points. Finally, the paper examines barriers to adoption and offers a road map to success. Benefits include faster insights, reduced costs, new monetization opportunities, AI readiness, and productivity gains. For Media & Entertainment companies facing rising complexity and competition, DaaP is no longer optional. It is a business imperative.
Publication Date: 2026-04-01
DOI: 10.5594/JMI.2026/STQB7558
ISSN: Print: 1545-0279 | Electronic: 2160-2492
Link: https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2026/STQB7558
Author(s): Dan Gesshel
Keyword(s): DAAP, Data Mesh, Media and Entertainment, Content Supply Chain, Data Architecture, Data Governance
Copyright: © 2026 SMPTE

Source Data (JSON)

Full registry record with provenance metadata. Open directly: /api/doc/10.5594-JMI.2026-STQB7558.json

Reference this Doc

Plain text (ISO 690 compliant)

Preview:

Dan Gesshel; Data is Not a Byproduct—It's the Product: Applying Data-as-a-Product Thinking in Media & Entertainment, MIJ 2026, Volume 135, Number 2 (pp. 32 to 41); SMPTE, 2026. Available at https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2026/STQB7558

Snippet:

Dan Gesshel; Data is Not a Byproduct—It&#x27;s the Product: Applying Data-as-a-Product Thinking in Media &amp; Entertainment, MIJ 2026, Volume 135, Number 2 (pp. 32 to 41); SMPTE, 2026. Available at https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2026/STQB7558

HTML (ISO 690 compliant)

Preview:

Snippet:

<span class="citation">Dan Gesshel; <cite>Data is Not a Byproduct—It&#x27;s the Product: Applying Data-as-a-Product Thinking in Media &amp; Entertainment</cite>, MIJ 2026, Volume 135, Number 2 (pp. 32 to 41); SMPTE, 2026. Available at <a href="https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2026/STQB7558" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2026/STQB7558</a></span>

SMPTE's HTML Pub

Preview:

Dan Gesshel; Data is Not a Byproduct—It's the Product: Applying Data-as-a-Product Thinking in Media & Entertainment, MIJ 2026, Volume 135, Number 2 (pp. 32 to 41); SMPTE, 2026
doi: 10.5594/JMI.2026/STQB7558
url: https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2026/STQB7558

Snippet:

<li>
Dan Gesshel; <cite id="bib-10-5594-jmi-2026-stqb7558">Data is Not a Byproduct—It&#x27;s the Product: Applying Data-as-a-Product Thinking in Media &amp; Entertainment</cite>, MIJ 2026, Volume 135, Number 2 (pp. 32 to 41); SMPTE, 2026
<span class="doi">10.5594/JMI.2026/STQB7558</span>
</li>