BCI annual conference...2008

a bientot

Did any poster attend the conference over the past few days....
What did Boxer say on their future plans?

Elmo

I was at it. Waste off time from a television point of view. Very much about Radio and Transmission.

Lucy Gaffney knows nothing and isn't all that interested in knowing anything. She was asked about the IFB's new TV channel and she hadn't heard anything about it, on the panel was the chairperson of the BCI Conor J. Maguire, Alex Pumfrey from UK Digital and James Cridland from BBC Music and Audio. Well informed of the issues in the UK but had little to say about Ireland.

New media was the most interesting bar the presentation from Bebo which was a sales pitch from Philip Macartney, Joanathan Marks was very good really interesting he is Media Anthropologist from Netherlands and Helen McQuillan raised good issues surrounding Media Literacy in Ireland.

I went to the Community Media workshop on audience measurement. Helen Manchester from Open University gave a good work shop and highlight the difference between aduience measurement and satifaction which is how Community TV/Radio should aim its research.

Great Expectations wasn't very good Gary Healy (PWC) gave a very long presentation and it wasn't all that interesting. Michael O'Keeffe, Willie O'Reilly and Adian Moynes talked about Radio in the main. Niamh Farren (DCTV) was able to include community TV.

Over all I was very dissappointed with the conference. RTE TV, TV3, TG4, the IFB, Channel 6, UPC and Intermission Studio where not in attendance. Setanta, City Channel and DCTV where available for some questions.

Overall it was about platforms and radio. To be honest it signalled the death of Irish TV. So does the Medium matter? Yes if it is Radio no if it is TV.

scath

Sound like I didn't miss much then to save up to go to the conference. Did get that impression when Lucy did the radio interview a few weeks back that she just knew the bare minimum. This is more Boxer ABs expertise. As such Communicorp are new to it. I would think, may be no harm having a Swedish exec over here to help guide them along as an assistant and let Lucy get on with the main business ie Telecoms and Radio. I see TV3 have got the license renewal. See;THE BROADCASTING COMMISSION OF IRELAND RENEWS TELEVISION PROGRAMME SERVICE CONTRACT OF TV3http://www.bci.ie/news_information/press200.html

Guess now, word back from Competition should be in next week or two with the green light. That means would signal ramp up including their website to perhaps include news etc..or maybe like threetext.

I think between Boxer, RTÉ and the Dept of Comms there's alot to do to fine tune the ASO and DTT promotion and DTT will need cross channel advertising.Features like Amigo TV from Alcatel on the DTT box may assist take-up as the first box to market to enable real interactive TV-buddy-to buddy chat over the TV set via the DTT headset, keyboard and internet as DVB-T over IPTV.

I predict usb DVB-T sticks if promoted could be a winner also for DTT for the laptop market, given video contention rates, could steal a big march on Sky IPTV

Will DVB-T become the next included feature on laptops and PCs as Europe switches over to digital?

My own thinking is phased switchover is best taking from the Finnish experience, that 6 months transmitter DSON-ASOFF is sufficient and that early blank screen late adopters will inform those in later areas and will reduce expense on broadcasters of simulcasting and help drive the business case ie uptake. 3 years should be the overall target with TV info campaign focusing on coverage and switchover maps of who is affected.

Also will quickly release spectrum back to ComReg for rollout of MTT (DVB-H) or whatever alternative use.

watty

There are already PMPs and mobile phones with DMB and now some with DVB-t. Looks like DVB-h could be marginalised. In Germany the Mobile TV operations (DVB-h pay TV) is losing market to LG phones with DVB-t with free TV and better coverage.

DVB-h was envisaged as being within TV spectrum. The existing top end of TV (maybe 750MHz .. 862MHz) is likely to be auctioned for mobile data. Maybe more if Ofcom in UK gets their way.

Elmo

As was pointed out at the Conference people don't care how they get TV as long as they get it.

The average person out there does care what form of TV they have, again as pointed out at the conference there are many people out there that think UPC Analogue is digital tv.

Content is King and no one spoke of the dreadful lack of choice between Irish channels, its not just UK channel we need we also need a new company producing Irish TV. PRODUCING PRODUCING NOT REBROADCASTS OF AMERICAN TV.

Yes I know the caps is on, it on to show how annoied I am with Irish TV.

scath

By Competion, I mean Competition Authority, refering to Channel 6. The only way you'll see more Irish TV is the entry of another market player like RTL with an Irish Five version. They could make some Irish programming. But again, what's the chances of that. Who will buy TV3 when Doughty are done with it? Setanta or Sky I wonder or ITV? I suppose. Can't see why Five wouldn't go for the Irish market, maximise their brand, and keep alot of UK programming. Also always a possibility of City Channels having a National Channel made up of local content with some national programming to supplement it and INN as news provider? I see City Channels as a potential national channel over time. How as TV6 or Channel 5. Channel 4 also have Buzz TV. Buzz TV and Bubble Hits could be good complimentary channels if cross promoted.

Elmo

Channel 4 also have Buzz TV

Channel 4 do not own Buzz TV, wikipedia is wrong, C4 happen to have a link to BUZZ TV on their Northern Ireland site.

I see City Channels as a potential national channel over time. How as TV6 or Channel 5. Channel 4 also have Buzz TV. Buzz TV and Bubble Hits could be good complimentary channels if cross promoted.

Yes UPC should really re-launch City Channel. UPC City&Country maybe or something like that.

The only way you'll see more Irish TV is the entry of another market player like RTL with an Irish Five version.

No if RTL came into Ireland they would do what they have done in other countries such as the UK by promoting cheap US imports, FIVE is TV3 the only difference is that it doesn't show Corronation Street.

Buzz TV and Bubble Hits could be good complimentary channels if cross promoted.

I think TV3 will buy Bubble Hits before DH sell. Buzz TV is just pure rubbish and should be taken of the air.