Broadcast News

Bookmark and Share
12/04/2002

BBC chief believes digital can offer a TV "renaissance"

In spite of the present troubles with ITV Digital and the negative undercurrent in the media sector, the Chief Executive of BBC Technology has told the NAB conference in Las Vegas that the media technology market will triple to over £30 billion a year in 2007 – bolstered by a resurgent digital platform.
Philip Langsdale offered an upbeat message to business representatives from across a sector that has been depressed of late as a result of reduced advertising revenues. Mr Langsdale described how the speed of technological innovation and fluctuating market forces had seen an end to some companies and placed many more into a precarious position.
"Big players who were making a splash at NAB only a year ago have disappeared, seemingly without trace. Even the US coastguard can’t find them on the radar. Two years ago everything was on the up and everybody was upbeat. That changed pretty fast, as stock prices and advertising revenue plummeted. The world also had then to face the consequences of the terrible events of September 11," Mr Langsdale said.
He went on to say that a revitalised digital network would be good for audiences and could not only co-exist 'with free-to-air networks' but cement their future. The key to the success of both would the progress of interactive technology and the speed of conversion.
Mr Langsdale continued: "Far from sounding the death knell of free-to-air networks, digital technology actually offers a renaissance… Anything less than (speedy digital uptake), and people won’t pay, as the digital television market is already demonstrating in the UK."
The BBC chief acknowledged that the perceived benefits of digital had taken a battering and for broadcasters to succeed, he said, there must be good content, rapid conversion to digital and technical application to "drive down production costs".
"The experience of ITV Digital shows what happens when you have limited distribution capability and a limited subscriber management system. The cost of maintaining subscriptions far outweighs any benefit to consumers. Those consumers switch off," he said.
"We believe that low-cost linear television has a strong future, alongside services that achieve high revenue per user. The market will polarise between the two. We are confident that there will be an enduring role for free-to-view TV networks as providers of content for mass audiences."
BBC Technology, www.bbctechnology.com
(GMcG)
VMI.TV Ltd

Top Related Stories
Click here for the latest broadcast news stories.

06/02/2018
Nominations For RTS Television Journalism Awards 2018 Announced
The Royal Television Society (RTS) has announced the nominations for the RTS Television Journalism Awards 2018. The awards ceremony, sponsored by Gues
13/04/2016
Production News : Nominations Announced For RTS Scotland Awards 2016
The Royal Television Society (RTS) has announced the nominations for this year's RTS Scotland Awards 2016. The awards cover all forms of production in
11/04/2017
RTS Announce Scotland Awards 2017
The Royal Television Society (RTS) has announced the nominations for the RTS Scotland Awards 2017. The awards cover all forms of production in Scotlan
02/10/2015
RTS North West Announce Awards Shortlist
The Royal Television Society (RTS) North West Centre has announced the shortlist for its annual awards at an event hosted by CBBC presenter Lauren Lay
29/09/2017
RTS Announces Nominations For North West Awards 2017
The Royal Television Society (RTS) North West Centre has announced the nominations for its annual awards, at an event sponsored by Audio Network. Cat
01/10/2004
BBC closes Technology deal with Siemens
The BBC has completed the procurement for a 10-year Technology Framework Contract (TFC) with Siemens Business Services, worth almost £2 billion. As pa
04/11/2014
Production News - RTS Announces Craft & Design Awards Shortlist
The Royal Television Society (RTS) has announced the shortlist for the RTS Craft & Design Awards 2013/2014. The winners will be announced at a ceremon
21/05/2015
RTS Announces Winners Of Scotland Awards 2014
The Royal Television Society (RTS) has announced the winners of the RTS Scotland Awards 2014. Chaired by April Chamberlain, the awards cover all forms
01/05/2001
BBC TECHNOLOGY AND IBM FORGE ALLIANCE
BBC TECHNOLOGY and IBM have announced an alliance to deliver rich media solutions and services to customers in Europe and the Americas. The alliance w
23/03/2001
LANGSDALE APPOINTED HEAD OF BBC TECHNOLOGY
PHILIP Langsdale, currently Director of BBC Distribution and Technology has been appointed Chief Executive of recently approved subsidiary company BBC
16/06/2004
BBC 'disappointed' by Bectu ballot treat on BBC Technology sale
The BBC has expressed "disappointment" that Bectu is threatening industrial action over the sale of BBC Technology. Yesterday, the union had claimed t
24/05/2002
BBC's business-to-business broadband capability launched
BBC Worldwide, the BBC’s main commercial arm, have launched BBC Preview – the first business-to-business broadband application that allows internation
27/11/2003
BBC Technology to be sold; Bectu issue strong condemnation
The BBC are to sell their wholly-owned commercial subsidiary BBC Technology, subject to final approval by DCMS Secretary of State Tessa Jowell. The mo
12/03/2003
BBC move to pull plug on encrypted digital satellite
The BBC have announced that from May 30 they will, for the first time, broadcast their eight TV channels unencrypted on digital satellite. This decisi
09/10/2008
BBC HD Makes Its European Debut As BBC Worldwide Launches Channel Portfolio In Scandinavia
BBC Worldwide Channels has announced plans to launch a portfolio of BBC-branded thematic channels into Scandinavia. The channels will be available thr