Archive for January, 2006
Since I am constantly coming across new articles and podcasts that discuss media 2.0 and media convergence, I wanted to share a few recent ones that might be of interest:
Media Revolution: Podcasting Part I
In part one of a two-part article, learn about the who, what, why and how behind the newest form of media information and entertainment — podcasting.
Media Revolution: Video Podcasting Part II
In part two of this two-part article Steve Garfield and David Tames focus on video podcasting.
Captain Crunchberry Gang
Another interesting podcast discussion where Mike Arrington of TechCrunch fame joins Dan Farber, Mike Vizard, Doc Searls, and Dana Gardner for a rowdy trip down the Yellow Brick Road to OZ, where Mickey and Goofy are caught smoking dope with Steve Jobs on the iTunes back lot. Or something like that. (Warning: this description bears no actual resemblance to the show contents.)
Web threatens TV:Â report
Canadian broadcasters are among the most vulnerable to an onslaught of new technology that is changing how people watch TV, warns an IBM report titled “The End of Television as We Know It: A Future Industry Perspective”. For another report on the study, read BackStage’s article.
Digital Rights Management (DRM): Media Companies’ Next Flop?
Big media players are accustomed to watching the ratings for the most popular music, video and book content, but perhaps they should pay more attention to how consumers feel about three letters at the bottom of most charts — DRM, which stands for digital rights management.
I’ve also added these to the Resources web page. If you know of other resources that provide an interesting or different perspective, please send me an email.
Enjoy!
January 31st, 2006
As I mentioned in my previous post, we are asking participants to prepare a 10-minute presentation. I know that we all like suggestions. So, here is my wish list of some of the presentations I’d love to see:
- How Is Digital Content Delivered – An overview of some technology, tools, bandwidth requirements, etc.
- Bit Torrent - Is it inherently evil? What is it and how does it work?
- Streaming vs. Download-and-Play - What are the pros and cons to these video distribution models?
- Video Formats and Standardization - Will there be a universal video format? How do we best deal with competing formats/codecs in the interim?
- Video Resolutions and Their Impact on Bandwidth Costs - Will we have different resolutions for different programs, e.g. talk shows vs. movies.
- High-Definition - How is this new media format affecting content producers and content distribution?
- Commercial vs. Amateur Content Production - There are several topics that can be covered under this topic, for example:
- Blogging
- Podcasting
- Videocasting / VideoBlogging
- The Future of Copyright and Distribution Rights – How will ‘territories’ and ‘media’ formats be monitored/controlled in an increasingly digital world?
- DRM - Is there a DRM system that consumers will accept and be willing to pay for or will consumers only pay for DRM-free content? Here’s an interesting article about this: Digital Rights Management (DRM): Media Companies’ Next Flop?
- Gaming Companies: The Entertainment Studios of the Future? – As gaming companies expand their entertainment offerings to music, films, etc., they are starting to look more like entertainment companies. So, are these companies the ‘Studios’ of the future?
- Mobile Phone Standards and Walled Gardens - How can content-providers gain access to walled gardens and what format standards will be required?
- Games on 3G Next-Gen Mobile Devices – As games move onto Mobile handsets, will this create a new competitive market for mobile revenues?
- Home Theatres and Their Impact on Social Networks – Will home theatres create a new kind of social networking? Will groups get together for “Movie/TV Series Nite”?
- The Long Tail – (This concept can be applied to just about any area of new media development.) In the past, revenues have been focused on the head of the curve, but with new distribution models, the ‘Long Tail’ is looking quite attractive. How will this change organizations’ long-term strategies? Read Why Practically Everyone Is in Dogged Pursuit of the Long Tail.
I am planning a presentation entitled, The Charts – The Entertainment Market Numbers and Opportunity. I will look at the some of the latest market research figures and present a summary of What Is and What Is Projected.
Hopefully, this preliminary list will get you thinking about areas you would like to talk about! Please also note that this list is by no means exhaustive and you are not limited by it. If you have a topic that you are more comfortable discussing, just prepare that. I merely want to get people thinking about some potential discussion points.
I do look forward to hearing some interesting and insightful presentations!Â
January 30th, 2006
I have thought more about the VidCamp Agenda and here is where things stand at the moment.Â
Initially, we will break up into six smaller groups (~12 people each) in the morning and start with Speed Networking. Each person will have 2 minutes to present him/herself to another person. After this, the group will be asked the question, What is Media Convergence? Each person will have 2 minutes to come up with a definition and then the group will have 5 minutes to come up with a group definition of media convergence. After this, each group will be ‘merged’ with another group (of 12) and have 5 minutes to create a new media convergence definition base on the resulting group definitions. This process will be repeated until finally, the whole group (i.e. the 75 people merge and a definition is created for the day. The groups will then be disbursed and new/different groups will be assembled. In these new groups, we will repeat the Speed Networking with 1 minute/person. Then the group process will be repeated with the question, What hurdles and challenges are currently present?, with the final result being the top 5 challenges and hurdles. I anticipate that this will take most of the morning, including brief coffee breaks and some general networking time.
During lunch (or ideally beforehand), I would like for all participants to think about a ‘presentation/talk’ focused on how these challenges and hurdles are affecting their industry and/or what they are doing to address some critical new media issues. (In preparation for VidCamp, IÂ will be putting together a wishlist of ideas/topics I’d like to see, but I do encourage others to share their thoughts, as well!)
After lunch, there will be 15-minute sponsor presentations to the entire group showcasing what they are doing in this industry space and how they can be a beneficial resource/partner to those attending. Following all the sponsor presentations, we will have a 15-minute break for any Q&A and general networking. After the sponsor presentations, we will ask participants to make 10-minute presentations (either previously-prepared or impromptu ones based on the day’s activities). We will plan for ~5 presentations/hour, with a break every hour for participants to ask questions and network. Depending on the number of presentations, this timing may change. However, given this general structure, I envision that we will have approximately 3-5 sponsor presentations and up to 15 participant presentations. To allow for a free-flow of ideas and conversations, I do plan to have several short breaks.
My goal for the day is to create a Vancouver-based ‘brain-trust’ where people understand what various Vancouver companies are doing in the new media space and what challenges they face. I also want to facilitate concrete professional connections, where everyone can meet someone who might be able to augment their area(s) of expertise.Â
My ultimate goal is to get Vancouver organizations working together so that we can become a North American Centre of New Media Excellence. Vancouver has all of the requisite industries present and I strongly believe that we are extremely well-positioned to make it happen. We simply need to join together and support each other as we build this new industry and market.
Those are my latest thoughts on the process and the outcomes. If you have some specific wishes, I’d love to hear them and if there is something specific you would like to see happen, please let me know and I would be more than happy to consider it.
January 30th, 2006
For anyone interested in more information about sponsorship packages and levels, there is now a Sponsorship web page with more detailed information about sponsorship opportunities and benefits, as well as information about who will be attending.
If you need more information or are interested in collaborating in other ways, please contact us. Thank you for your support!
January 25th, 2006
I’ve added a new VidCamp web page called “Resources“. This page will highlight media 2.0 articles, blog entries, podcasts, videocasts, and other online resources for those interested in media 2.0 or those planning to attend VidCamp.
The following links are a first-cut and by no means exhaustive. I do hope you find them interesting and thought-provoking. Enjoy!
Reinventing Media: A Panel Discussion
This podcast of a panel discussion, led by grassroot media pioneer Dan Gillmor and consisting largely of audience questions, brings together entrepreneurs from different areas of the internet media world to discuss issues surrounding the explosion of online media.
Emerging Video Trends
In this podsession, Om Malik and Niall Kennedy sit down to discuss the current and future state of video creation and distribution technologies.
Media 2.0
The media industry is changing. Radical technological, management, and business model innovation is reshaping all segments of the value chain. This is the result of nothing less than a fundamental inversion of mass media economics, as well as the strategies that dominated those economics.
New Media Deal, Part I
The New Media deal is that we as American consumers are willing to share a certain amount of personal information in exchange for even better content, more personalized services, or even more targeted marketing — again, as long as those things aren’t too intrusive and provide adequate value.
New Media Deal, Part II – the We Media Deal
The We Media Deal has two components to it: (1) the value of the service to you increases in lock-step as you contribute more data to it, and (2) the more transparent the value exchange, the more willing you are to share your data.
The Future of Media, Part I
Fred Wilson has seen the future of media and here is what it looks like.
The Future of Media, Part II
Fred Wilson continues his look at the future of media.
The Future of Media…Looks Just Like the Past but Different
Mark Pincus posits that the future of media is found in the past.
The Trends and Issues Likely to Shape ‘06 Biz
“If 2005 was the year that digital broadband technology took the media and entertainment industries by surprise, then 2006 will be the year it takes control.” In this article, Diane Mermigas presents some interesting projections of what we can expect in the coming year.
Building a Better Movie Business
It’s the iconic American industry. But audiences are vanishing, piracy is soaring, and new technology is treacherous. Can Tinseltown innovate its way out of trouble?
Peer-to-Peer: The Problem is the Solution
The future of film distribution will take a cue from the pirates of today.
Searching for Success in the Interactive Age
Flooding the market with downloads of existing content and breaking up media conglomerates is no way to nurture a digital broadband revolution. Such knee-jerk responses by established media companies to unprecedented technology-driven changes in their business must soon give way to a more thoughtful harnessing of the shifting dynamics and demands of interactivity.
Mass Media’s Last Blast
I want my MTV — and my TiVo, Palm Pilot, iPod, podcast and, of course, blog. So does America still have any interest in the big, lumbering, predictable media of Hollywood and Manhattan?
Future of Internet TV Is Coming Into View
No single company put everything together into a magical product at the Consumer Electronics Show this year, but you didn’t need much imagination to connect the booths and see the Internet TV networks of the 21st century struggling to be born.
Mobile Biz Gets Moving
A quick look at the numbers: currently, only 3.1% of the 16 million cell phones in Canada can play video, and only 10% of those users ever tune in, according to mobile shop QuickPlay Media. But, by 2008, roughly 90% of the projected 18 million cell phones will be video capable.
Mark Cuban Maverick Mogul
As he builds his own digital version of the vertically integrated movie studio, Broadcast.com founder Mark Cuban is questioning everything about the business–and naturally ticking a lot of people off.
Survey Points to Big Jump in 2006 Canadian Ad Budgets
Canadian companies are plumping their marketing budgets amid a buoyant economy and the rapid expansion of on-line marketing.
New Podcast Ad Network Launches
The still nascent podcasting ad industry has a new player. Kiptronic, a San Francisco-based startup company, has launched a new ad network which will allow podcasters to dynamically insert audio advertisements within podcasts as they are downloaded.
CBS to Launch ‘Micro-Series’ on Television and Internet
Continuing the evolution of television marketing, CBS said a “micro-series” will air in seven installments of a minute or less and be available online and by cell phone.
AtomFilms to Launch Studio for Online Content
As the Internet has become the people’s stage and online video takes off, AtomFilms has launched what could be one of the first of many new studios dedicated to the production of video for the Web.
I will keep adding more resources and links as they become available. If you know of any articles, podcasts, or other references that should be added to the list, please drop me a line!
January 23rd, 2006
I received a call today from Shaw and they have kindly agreed to support VidCamp with our marketing and promotional activities! Keep an eye out for the 3 1/2 minute VidCamp profiles in the weeks prior to the event!
Many thanks to Shaw for responding so quickly to our sponsorship inquiries and for their support!
January 19th, 2006
I have received several questions from people asking specifically about VidCamp’s agenda and structure. While I do want to keep the “Agenda” open to accommodate a free-flow of ideas and directions, here are my current thoughts for the event.
VidCamp will be an all-day event that will take place from 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM. There will be a facilitator who will introduce the concept of open discussions and assist in brainstorming. The morning will include discussions, both as a group and in smaller sub-groups, about general industry questions such as:
- What is media 2.0/media convergence?
- What are some of the biggest challenges and hurdles presented by these new opportunities?
- How will these changes affect “my” industry?
- What are organizations doing to prepare for these upcoming changes?
In the afternoon, those attending can share, in smaller groups, their insights and thoughts regarding specific area(s) of expertise as it pertains to the questions discussed in the morning sessions.
Since I do want VidCamp to deliver thought-provoking and intelligent exchanges, I am quite open to changing this structure or discussing other questions. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.
January 19th, 2006
I’m quite excited by the responses I’ve received so far and am now focusing my efforts on inviting people to attend, publicizing the event, and approaching sponsors to help cover the costs for space and food. I plan on contacting local telcos, cable networks, various technology and new media associations, as well as entertainment consulting firms and analysts.
If you know of a company that might be interested in becoming a sponsor, please let me know.
January 17th, 2006
It’s been a week since my last post and I’ve been looking at venues trying to find the best space and location for a stimulating and thought-provoking discussion. I’ve decided on the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. The location is in downtown Vancouver, BC, and the spaces are nicely setup to foster open communication and dialogue!
The date for VidCamp is Friday, February 17, 2006. That’s only a month away!
Now that I have a date and location, I can begin the next steps of pulling everyone (and everything) together! I will be sure to keep you posted on my progress and if you have any thoughts or recommendations, please don’t hesitate to send me a note!
January 17th, 2006
VidCamp - The Media 2.0 unConference will be modeled much like FooCamp, BarCamp, Seattle Mind Camp, BrainJams, the upcoming Moose Camp 2006, and many such other “Camps” that have recently taken place in technology centers around the world. The goal of VidCamp is to bring together a group of smart, curious and bold people to brainstorm and share their knowledge and passions for where Media 2.0 is headed and the potential opportunities.
Over the past couple of months, I have watched as most of the major US broadcasting networks and studios have created some form of an “Interactive Media/Digital Entertainment” division. Journalists have been writing about how Apple iTunes is shaking up the “legal” online landscape (we can discuss bit torrent at a later time 
) and many of the larger media corporations are fervently looking to create and to understand which business models will be successful (i.e. profitable)Â in the future.
As a result, some of the latest and hottest “buzz words” have become:
- PodCasts and Vlogs/VideoCasts
- DRM – Digital Rights Management
- VOD – Video-on-Demand
- HD – High-Definition Content and Formats
- DVRs – Digital Video Recorders
- Broadband and Mobile Interactive Content
- IPTV
- Webisodes and Mobisodes
- P2P – Peer-to-Peer Networks, e.g. Bit Torrent
- Social Networking
- Piracy
And, that’s just to name a few!
Recently, while reading several entertainment, digital media and technology predictions for 2006, CES announcements, and reviewing some upcoming conference agendas, I realized that with everyone talking about Media 2.0, it would actually be nice to participate in an event where people from the broadcasting, hi-tech, film, television, podcasting, interactive media, mobile, gaming, animation and other industries could discuss future trends, challenges and opportunities in an open and collaborative forum.
So, I decided to launch VidCamp, the Media 2.0 unConference! As stated above, the goal is to bring together a group of smart, curious and bold people to brainstorm and share their knowledge and passions for where Media 2.0 is headed and the potential opportunties. The plan is to hold VidCamp within the next 8 weeks; so any thoughts, suggestions and assistance you can offer are greatly appreciated!
I am very much looking forward to meeting and discussing these exciting, new frontiers with a diverse and enthusiatic group of people! If you are interested in being part of this event, please drop me a line. I’ll be sure to keep you posted on our progress and how VidCamp unfolds!
January 9th, 2006