In an increasingly digital world , what are some of the key challenges facing the broadcast and media industry , and what do operators need to do to stay relevant and connected to their audiences ? Angeline Poh : Rising competition from new entrants and overthe-top ( OTT ) players has led to increased market fragmentation , as consumers have more platforms and content to choose from . This makes it challenging for media companies looking to break into the market and get the attention of audiences , as they will have to learn to navigate in a complex and evolving market environment .

At the same time , this presents new and exciting opportunities . The industry is now at the cusp of the digital transformation , and we see great potential for media companies to harness technology to understand and engage their audiences , as well as to create and deliver content . Data is another powerful tool that can enable content creators to better understand and engage with audiences in today ’ s digital age , and to help them make more informed creative and business decisions .

At the end of the day , we believe that compelling content , brought together by talent , driven by innovation and powered by technology , is what is needed to win in today ’ s media landscape . IMDA is working with our media players and partners to invest in growing these capabilities . Our aim is to enable our media companies to seize the opportunities in a digital economy and become one of the leaders in content and innovation .

Angeline Poh , assistant chief executive for Content & Innovation , Info-communications Media Development Authority ( IMDA ), is making an address at today ’ s Morning Plenary . Here ' s what to expect …

What role does IMDA play in helping Singapore ' s broadcast and media industry move into the digital domain ? Poh : IMDA has an exciting role to play in spearheading Singapore ’ s digital transformation as part of our Smart Nation vision . We want to better prepare Singapore for a digital economy in response to the changes in the media and tech landscape .

One of the ways we are helping our media industry respond to the evolving landscape is by creating platforms and opportunities to encourage the cross-pollination of ideas and expertise between media and tech talent .

Nurturing a talent pool equipped with future-ready skills is another key aspect . Scholarships and talent development programmes such as the SkillsFuture Study Awards for the media and ICT sector , TechSkills Accelerator ( TeSA ) and Media Education Scholarship ( MES ) aim to help our talent upskill themselves to be ready for a digital economy . IMDA also rolled out initiatives such as the Story Lab to encourage skills in script-writing and storytelling , as good storytelling skills are important in this digital age where content is king .

We have also established partnerships with international broadcasters such as Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific , Fox Networks Group and HBO Asia , to hone the

❝ IMDA has an exciting role to play in spearheading Singapore ’ s digital transformation as part

of our Smart Nation vision .❞

capabilities of our talent in tapping technologies such as virtual reality ( VR ) and 4K / Ultra HD ( UHD ) to create even more engaging content .

IMDA is also directing its efforts in deepening the digital capabilities of our SMEs . To do this , we launched the SMEs Go Digital programme , where IMDA will help SMEs build their digital capabilities and deploy digital technologies . This will enable SMEs to become more efficient and provide better service offerings for sustained

growth in the digital economy .

Data will also become an increasingly important source of comparative advantage in the digital economy . It will be a strategic asset for companies to optimise or even transform the way we do business , or even lead to completely new businesses . To achieve this , IMDA has established a Data Innovation Programme Office ( DIPO ) to catalyse the adoption of data-driven innovation for our companies . We want to help businesses harness the value of data to enable better business decisions , and generate new transformative business opportunities .

Our enterprises , including broadcast and media businesses , are the heart of vibrant economies . To stay competitive and grow in the digital economy , businesses need to develop deep capabilities , not only in their own domains but also in new skill sets relevant to this digital age . IMDA is committed to driving Singapore ’ s digitisation efforts , and we are optimistic that our media talent and businesses will be able to harness the new opportunities available in a digital economy to create new value for audiences .

❝ Data will also become an increasingly important source of comparative advantage in the digital economy .❞

More and more new media players such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are entering into the market — what does their presence mean for local producers and media players ? Poh : While the entrance of new media players could be seen as a challenge for local media players due to the intensifying competition , it has at the same time opened up new opportunities for collaboration and business , and also created

a growing demand for unique and original stories .

For instance , Singapore ’ s national broadcaster Mediacorp secured a deal with Netflix to introduce more than 20 of its Chinese TV series on the global platform . A drama series titled Perfect Girl by one of our indie production companies , BananaMana Films , was also acquired by players such as Netflix and Viki . These are the ways in which local media players or producers can work with new media players to strengthen or widen their own offerings , and tap new business opportunities to create win-win situations .

We are confident that our local media players will continue to be able to ride on such opportunities and navigate in the new media landscape by forming strategic partnerships with new entrants in the market that will benefit all parties and their consumers .

Contact : jessie @ editecintl . com