all about digital content
February, 2009
Deloitte study shows online viewers aren't influenced by advertising, or does it?
Fri, 02/27/2009 - 11:00 — benzross
(cc) by-sa n0nick/flickrIt could be bad news for digital content creators hoping to monetise their videos using advertising around the content (as opposed to, e.g. product placement or subscriptions), with a new report by Deloitte calling into question the effect that such ads have on consumers. According to New Media Age the report suggests that consumers aren't influenced by advertising trying to change their view of a product, or just fix a brand in their minds.
Or does it?
What would an ITV / Channel 4 / Five merger mean for digital content?
Thu, 02/26/2009 - 11:28 — benzross
(cc) by-sa shaz wildcat/flickrWith the Guardian reporting that ITV has suggested, as one of the radical solution for the future of Britain commercial broadcasting, a merger with Channel 4 and Five, it's a good time to ask what that would mean for digital content in the UK.
Have your say about Britain's Digital Future
Wed, 02/25/2009 - 18:33 — benzross
(cc) by Jason Cartwright/flickrThe UK Government has announced its new site - Digital Britain Forum - for gathering the population's views on the Digital Britain Framework. If you've been asleep, the Digital Britain Framework outlines the government's vision for the future of broadband in the UK, including some aspects of the content provision.
You can read the report at the site, and leave your feedback. It's your chance to have your say - positive or negative - about this important paper, so don't miss out.
Expanding Universe launches Breathe - interactive murder mystery
Wed, 02/25/2009 - 12:29 — benzross![arg: (cc) by [177]/flickr](http://benzross.com/dcontent/sites/default/files/images/arg.thumbnail.jpg "arg: (cc) by [177]/flickr")
(cc) by [177]/flickrMulti-platform development and production house Expanding Universe is set to launch an interactive murder mystery at the end of the summer, Broadcast reports.
With a slimline 4 x 15-minute running length for the video side, and a live denouement, the meat of production will be in interactive web, mobile and real-life elements, including club-night parties - which hints at a potential revenue stream if these attract enough players.
Expanding Universe is a newly established (summer 2008) company specialising in developing and delivering immersive experiences across a variety of media channels. They recently announced a co-development deal with FremantleMedia, creating a number of formats across genres for the UK and international markets.
BBC Trust to debate web tv platform Canvas
Tue, 02/24/2009 - 20:12 — benzross
(cc) by-nd Tim Loudon/flickrNew Media Age reports that the BBC Trust has begun consultation about Project Canvas - a mooted BBC development to create an open platform for online video available to all (UK?) broadcasters.
Comparisons are being drawn with Project Kangaroo, but the connection is only loose - indications are that this platform would not include the apparatus for commercialisation, though nothing suggests other broadcasters would be unable to add these to the offering; it all depends on how the project develops.
It's early days, but they have gone to the Trust first, whose job it is to determine whether such a development would be in the interests of the Licence Fee Payers - though there's nothing to stop the Competition Commission, who ultimately sunk Kangaroo, from entering the fray as well.
Can MSN become the home for Digital Content in the UK?
Tue, 02/24/2009 - 10:14 — benzross
(cc) by totalAldo/flickrThe Independent reports that Ashley Highfield has announced his intention to make MSN the 'home of online television'.
Highfield has recently joined Microsoft UK, previously having been head of 'Future Media' at the BBC, and briefly being head of the failed commercial video venture, codenamed Kangaroo, which BBC Worldwide (the BBC's commercial arm), ITV and Channel 4 had intended to launch as a joint-venture to deliver video direct-to-consumer online after their free catch-up windows. He's widely credited with delivering very successful refreshed of the BBC's online properties, not just with the staggeringly successful iPlayer, but also with the refresh of bbc.co.uk with its focus on simplicity and user personalisation.
Channel 4's multi-platform production Routes to move to television
Tue, 02/24/2009 - 09:56 — benzross
(CC) by-sa videocrab/flickrRoutes, Channel 4's innovative, sprawling, complex and fascinating multi-platform production, will be making the move to Channel 4 television, when some shorts will feature in C4's '3 Minute Wonders' strand, Broadcast reports.
Fruit TV launched as online-only LGBT channel
Tue, 02/24/2009 - 09:55 — benzross
(cc) by The Wandering Angel/flickrManchester-based independent TV and radio producer Made in Manchester Productions has announced its intention to launch an online-only channel featuring audio and video content aimed at the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community. A great example of using the web to target niche markets, and provide programming that might not have the clout to attract the hundreds of thousands of viewers that a mainstream channel needs to claim success, but which could be of huge interest to certain parts of the audience.
It isn't yet clear what the funding model will be, though they have said there will be exclusive programming available for free. It strikes DCU that this could well attract sponsorship from a number of advertisers, both those keen to attract the pink pound and non-profits who want to target this community.
The launch is pegged for 2009 and can be found at www.fruittv.tv.
Welcome to Digital Content UK
Mon, 02/23/2009 - 11:04 — benzrossWhether you're a digital content creator, a media professional interested in moving into working online, or simply a consumer of digital content, this is the place for you.
Who is Digital Content UK
Digital Content UK is the brainchild of Ben Ross, who has been working in Digital Content as long as there has been such a thing, for companies such as the BBC, joiningthedots.tv, TVF International and as a freelancer advising companies on how to use digital to engage a 21st Century audience. He started the site after being disappointed by the lack of focus on editorially-driven media online, and a failure to recognise the difference between the innovative ways creative people are delivering stories to their audiences and the (frequently just as clever) output of advertisers trying to push a brand. This site is about the first: people trying to push the boundaries of interactive entertainment and information delivery.