38 TUESDAY
@ ConnecTechAsia2018 www . apb-news . com
26 June 2018
4K / UHD creates a new landscape for broadcasters and consumers
BY GRAEME STANLEY
It is hard to escape the fact that the TV landscape is changing , and faster than ever before . Consumers no longer care how they get their favourite content , and they want to be able to enjoy high-quality productions and compelling content in a way that is convenient . This holds especially true for Asia .
A recent Dataxis report highlighted that the number of pay-TV subscribers in Asia owning a 4K / Ultra HD ( UHD ) set-top box ( STB ) reached 53.6 million at the end of 2017 . At that time , more than 30 pay-TV operators had launched 4K / UHD STBs in Asia .
Consumers in Asia , as well as globally , have an overwhelming choice of 4K / UHD hardware , ranging from game consoles and STBs to QLED and premium 4K / UHD TV sets . Momentum for broadcasters launching 4K / UHD services in Asia is also gaining pace , providing consumers with greater direct access to the highest quality content . However , access to 4K / UHD services on mainstream channels is still limited , as it is in other territories .
A key element of the 4K / UHD drive is high dynamic range ( HDR ), which aims to show viewers a more realistic image composed of greater contrasts and luminosity . If you put an HDR image next to a standard dynamic range ( SDR ) image , regardless of screen size , there is no doubt that consumers will clearly see a more life-like image with the HDR picture .
As one of the world ’ s largest 4K / UHD broadcasters and producers of native 4K / UHD HDR content , Insight TV is leading innovation by pushing the distribution chain harder than ever before . We are at the forefront of the 4K / UHD TV revolution , making 4K / UHD HDR programmes that appeal to all demographics .
Just last year , we signed a significant distribution contract with SK Broadband through our partnership with Thema TV , which sees the Seoulbased telco distribute 4K / UHD channel on its IPTV platform , B tv UHD , and on its over-the-top ( OTT ) service , South Korea ’ s largest media conglomerate , to co-produce Breaking
OKSUSU . In January , we signed our first distribution deal in China with Limits , two one-hour films that examined how athletes in PyeongChang
Belcor Media , providing its 4K / UHD content to audiences in China . used technology to maximise their
Key to supporting the growth of performance . The films were broadcast in January and February this year , the 4K / UHD industry are the partners ’ ability to support both HD and 4K / on Insight TV ’ s channel across Asia , UHD offerings , enabling a consumer- Europe and the US , as well as on CJ focused approach to product and E & M ’ s South Korean network . services . By starting with an HD service and migrating over time to the mean that consumers in Asia and
Content partnerships like this
4K / UHD service , viewers are already around the world can access localised content that resonates with its familiar with a brand and its value as they migrate to 4K / UHD . audiences .
A clear benefit that Insight TV The future of TV is provides is ownership of its content clearly bright , and as and our willingness to enter into broadcasters make co-production partnerships in the the transition from regions and territories in which we
HD to 4K / UHD services , consumers will operate . We know how important having compelling content to differentiate ourselves is . In addition , to program-
have greater access we support eight languages and are mes , all in adding new language services on a the highest quality . regular basis . We have also announced a major production partnership with CJ E & M , Graeme Stanley is COO of Insight TV .
How AI will change the way we spend our leisure time
|
BY CHARLES DAWES
Viewers are now faced with a conundrum — hundreds and thousands of content choices . As a result , people are spending more time searching for content they want to watch . This , in turn , leads to show-dumping because audiences simply cannot find the content they want easily .
There is an existing gap between viewer expectation and the current limitations of the discovery experience available . Fortunately , the advancement of technology , such as artificial intelligence ( AI ), has changed the way that we consume entertainment .
Predicting real behaviours with AI
AI is increasingly being adopted to improve customer experience , and many are already familiar with concepts such as chatbots , real-time product recommendations
|
and smart homes . We can harness AI ’ s ability to study and derive patterns from human content consumption and viewing patterns to drive automated decisions that can be highly customised for the individual .
Content providers are looking at investing in AI by aggregating data and analysing key behavioural patterns that can be used to predict consumer behaviour such as what different viewers want to watch at different times of the day . For example , a white-collar professional may be more inclined to watch a news programme in the morning , while preferring to watch TV dramas or movies in the evening .
By considering all these behavioural data , AI can perform predictive content discovery and provide highly customised recommendations for every viewer based on their lifestyle and preferences .
|
Charting the course for entertainment with AI
AI is no doubt actively shaping the way that we consume entertainment . At the same time , broadcasters will be able to reach their target audience at the right time , place and device , thus minimising show-dumping and maximising viewership .
The next step for both content providers and consumers to consider is how AI is elevating voice search capabilities such as those being used in Apple ’ s Siri and Amazon ’ s Alexa . A research by Tivo found that more than half of the survey respondents stated a desire to use voice for TV viewing and that it would be their ideal way to find content on TV 1 . This apparent demand is setting the stage for yet another new era
1 Television Content Discovery : The Need for Improved Usability and User Experience , TiVo , 2016
|
of enter tainment discovery that will have profound impact for both consumers and content providers .
To find out more , visit us at BroadcastAsia2018 booth 4C2-01 .
Charles Dawes is senior director , international marketing , Tivo .
|