2 EDITORIAL

Despite being in the digital domain , some of us are looking back at the ’ 80s and ’ 90s with a fond sense of nostalgia . We used to rush out to the record stores to buy the latest cassette tapes and CDs of our favourite artistes . We marvelled at the handy little device we called the pager , which probably formed the first personal , machine-to-machine communications platform connecting us to those we know .

Watching TV , in those days , was almost a sacred ritual — the TV set took centre stage in the living room . The role of ‘ broadcaster ’ belonged almost exclusively to the terrestrial TV station that owned the main distribution pipeline and essentially controlled what we watched through its linear scheduling . How times have changed ! The introduction of the iPhone in 2007 heralded a new era of smart , connected devices which has , in turn , brought forth an irrevocable wave of how TV and media content are being consumed .

If the definition of a ‘ broadcaster ’ can simplistically be defined today as an organisation or person who transmits content to mass audiences , are the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video broadcasters in their own right ?

Add to the mix content aggregators such as Facebook , Twitter and YouTube , and the modern definition of ‘ broadcaster ’ becomes even more muddled .

Facebook , not content with offering Facebook Live , a live video streaming platform , is reportedly developing a video-centric app for TV set-top boxes . Apps that allow individuals to ‘ broadcast ’ user-generated content are sprouting out by the dozens .

The bigger picture is how content , in all its guises , is being made available on a multitude of platforms , often at a low cost-point , and sometimes even free , for consumers .

This is a juggernaut that will be very difficult to stop . As we enter an increasingly digitised world defined by the Internet of Things ( IoT ) and an escalating level of automation , viewers will become more discerning than ever — voluntarily or otherwise .

As everyone will be connected to everyone in the digital domain , increasingly powerful analytics will allow media companies to recommend or suggest content closely aligned with viewing histories ; specific content can be targeted to niche audiences with unerring accuracy .

Audiences themselves will enjoy almost absolute

control over how they consume their content — and the worry is that this may continue to deviate away from traditional linear platforms .

Will audiences truly care to differentiate between a terrestrial broadcaster and a Netflix-like operator , or will their choice of ‘ broadcaster ’ boil down to who can offer them the content they want , on their terms ?

While many may argue that OTT should still be seen as being complementary to traditional broadcast TV , are we portending a new era where OTT will eventually usurp traditional broadcast TV as the main content consumption platform — and are traditional broadcasters ready for this potential mega shift ?

This is not to suggest that traditional broadcasters are heading for an untimely demise ; they will still have a role to play , albeit in a different role than their existing one .

Describing broadcast companies as increasingly becoming media distribution platforms that offer exclusive programming that is not available to Netflixand Amazon-type services , Andrew Anderson , head of broadcast operations at Australia ’ s Seven West Anderson , reminds us that broadcasters do still own large broadcast platforms that the likes of Netflix and Amazon do not have access to .

Content will still be key to win the battle for eyeballs , Anderson emphasised , although he was quick to point out that without embracing OTT , broadcasters would find it next to impossible to survive .

As APB wrote last month , ‘ if it ain ’ t broke , consider breaking it ’. The blunt truth which Dr Ahmad Zaki Mohd Salleh , group GM , engineering , Media Prima , was at pains to point out , is that existing broadcast models purveying just linear TV are not working anymore .

His advice : Re-look at internal processes , re-train and re-strategise your core operations .

Indeed , embracing IT and IP to re-work existing business models will decide if broadcasters will sink or swim in the new digital age .

SHAWN LIEW MANAGING EDITOR

March 2017 ( volume 34 issue 2 )

EDITORIAL managing editor Shawn Liew , shawn @ editecintl . com contributing editor ( technology ) Karl K Rossiter , karl @ editecintl . com contributing editor Shirish Nadkarni , shinads @ yahoo . co . uk reporter Josephine Tan , josephine @ editecintl . com

CORRESPONDENTS

■ India Shirish Nadkarni , shinads @ yahoo . co . uk

■ USA Mike Feazel , mfeazel @ gmail . com

PRODUCTION production editor Zuraini Ridzwan , zuraini @ editecintl . com junior sub-editor Genevieve Chan , genevieve @ editecintl . com senior multimedia designer Raymund Jaudian , raymund @ editecintl . com multimedia designer Waldomar Zuniga , waldomar @ editecintl . com ad / office administrator Irene Lok , irene @ editecintl . com accounts manager Tan Hui Min , huimin @ editecintl . com

MARKETING director - sales & marketing Jessie Tan , jessie @ editecintl . com manager - sales & marketing Lynn Chee , lynn @ editecintl . com

CIRCULATION & PROMOTIONS executive - circulation & promotions Jared Han , jared @ editecintl . com

PUBLISHING publisher / editorial director Andrew Yeo , andrew @ editecintl . com

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