Broadcasting

The entire broadcasting value chain from production and editing, through play-out and storage, to transmission and reception is moving from analogue to digital; for broadcasters, this transformation is creating a rich mix of opportunities and challenges.

Digitisation allows broadcast media to be more easily created, manipulated (both by ‘professionals’ and by ‘amateurs’) and distributed (e.g. over IP and mobile networks).  New types of service enhancements - interactive programming and advertising, electronic programme guides, and high definition TV – are being made possible; and, across the globe, these changes are driving innovation in pay-TV and FTA markets.

Faced with rapid change and increased competition, if broadcasters are to prosper in a digital environment, they must transform their businesses - for example, by planning and executing investments in new technologies, designed to support well thought-out strategies and service propositions. Others are certainly not standing still, with many new entrants now capable of competing with traditional broadcasters: programme-makers can distribute programming directly via the internet; telecoms companies are launching IPTV networks; and consumers are storing and sharing content (which they have either originated or captured), using video-sharing and P2P networks.

Power in the value to chain is shifting towards consumers as they take more control of their media consumption, through time-shifting, non-linear TV and content portability which together allow them to watch what they want, when, where and how they choose.

Spectrum helps clients to respond to these widespread changes, to manage effectively their media assets effectively, to build appropriate technology relationships, and to handle skillfully the transition to new distribution channels and new broadcast formats, such as HD.

Our projects have, for example, covered the creation of digital migration strategies; the scoping of channel propositions; the preparation of platform launches; the development of regulatory and public policy positions; and the modelling of the economics of transmission.

Recent clients include broadcasters - such as the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, RAI, ESPN, NBC, Globo, PBL, Seven Network, and Television New Zealand; network / platform operators - such as Astro, AUSTAR, BSkyB, StarHub, Telefonica and National Grid Wireless; and governments, regulators, and public agencies, - such as the DCMS and Ofcom (UK), HKBA (Hong Kong), MCH (NZ) and MDA (Singapore).