At the international IBC Show conference in Amsterdam, Mike Darcey suggested that despite an exponential expansion in available programming, television may be reaching a steady state. The former chair of Arqiva and previously chief operating officer at Sky is an articulate commentator on the television industry. In his talk, he argued that on balance we may have already seen the most significant structural change.
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Spanish broadcasters are working on a national pilot of the DVB-I standard for service discovery to assess its suitability as a strategic tool for improving the visibility, access, and relevance of audiovisual media services. The nine-month trial will involve a collaboration of public and private broadcasters, consumer electronics manufacturers, technology and service providers, broadcasting network operators, and regulators. Spain is the latest country to explore the potential of DVB-I, following early trials in Italy and Germany. A trial is also planned in France. Ireland and a number of other countries are also testing the technology.
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The transition to online media delivery may seem technologically inevitable but putting a timescale on it is more challenging. The BBC has made noises about this for a while but still has no published plan. The head of the BBC was once again in front of a government committee defending his wicket recently, facing some fairly simple questions, but it seems the answers will have to come from government.
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ITV is celebrating 70 years since the launch of commercial television in the United Kingdom on 22 September in 1955. ITV is offering an online collection of programmes covering its history, reflecting the changes in television and society over that period. It is fascinating to see how the technology and presentation of television have changed over the decades, yet in many ways the elements were there at the time. As television faces its future on the internet, it is fitting that these tributes can now be seen online.
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Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, says that public service media in the United Kingdom is fighting to be seen and heard in an increasingly competitive market. Speaking to television executives at the Royal Television Society Cambridge Convention, she said that it is fighting with one arm behind its back, dealing with funding shortfalls, changing viewing habits, and regulation that has not kept pace with the media revolution. Public service media providers responded by calling for concessions but have yet to show how they will work together to compete with their online rivals.
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Television delivered over the internet can offer increased flexibility and functionality. A usability study commissioned by Ofcom suggests that for some older users this often comes with increased complexity, unfamiliar navigation, and usability barriers that undermine confidence and independence. The research explores whether these challenges are inevitable or can be overcome through better design, based on an understanding of viewer learning, habit, and behaviour.
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