Guy Berger, Rhodes University 2-4 February 2006 “The evolution of the media through convergence”. “Dialogue between telecom and media regulation stakeholders in times of convergence: challenges and prospects for Africa”, Cotonou, Benin, Panos Institute West Africa
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Guy Berger, Rhodes University 2-4 February 2006 “The evolution of the media through convergence”. “Dialogue between telecom and media regulation stakeholders.
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Guy Berger, Rhodes University2-4 February 2006
“The evolution of the media through convergence”.
“Dialogue between telecom and media regulation stakeholders in times of convergence: challenges and prospects for Africa”,
Cotonou, Benin, Panos Institute West Africa
Looking ahead…
Scenario thinking:• “We overestimate the changes
that will occur in 2 years, but we under-estimate those in 10”. - Pete Rinearson
• Eg. CD in 2016?
Coming up:
1. Origins
2. Converging industries
3. Device convergence
4. Production convergence
5. Money and mergers
6. Impact on regulation
7. Policy, law and regulation
8. Conclusion
1. ORIGINS1. ORIGINS
Currency of a term:
• The word arose in the 1990s.
• Part of the wave of the Internet
• Hype came with $$ signs …& went…
• Yet Internet continues to expand.
• Some aspects are slowly becoming commmercially sustainable.
• Convergence is coming of age.
Convergence outgrows the Net
• Convergence today is not just about Internet – it impacts on the “old” mass media.
• As convergence grows, stand-alone & single media enterprises will not survive.
• = sustainability challenge to a small newspaper or radio stations AND to cumbersome state-owned broadcasters.
• Convergence affects ALL media: big/small, old/new, local/global, physical or electronic, profit/public-service, individual/institutional
Concept:
• Convergence simply means the coming together of formerly separate things.
• But: “We are virgins” about “convergence”
• The complication is that it covers lots of processes …
Foundation & floors
Culture
Finance
Regulation
Production+distrib
Devices
Media sector
ICT sector
Technology
2. INDUSTRIES 2. INDUSTRIES CONVERGECONVERGE
1. Ways of seeing …
• Services: Telecoms – voice & data• Media: content on many platforms• Focus: changing core business (eg. Google)• Corporate: mergers and alliances• Devices: fax-copier, camera-phone, phone-pda,
PC-TV• Mobile & fixed (note wireless ≠ mobile)• All are due to DIGITALISATION
Converging tech, services, devices
Network
ServiceDeviceMobile
PDA
Phone
Credit card
iPod
Laptop
Camera
Broadcast
VoiceContent
VideoData
Enterprise
Management
BroadbandData Networks
PSTNIPWireless
Note:
Between AND Within
Source: Telkom
A global network of signals
• Convergence means linking and merging in a common, integrated, system…
• But it’s NOT 100% seamless – there are different technical standards, languages, cultures, platform strengths. Therefore, differences persist. THUS:
• Convergence = patchwork of connections.
• NOTE: divergence does not disappear!
History: once upon a time
telcom s I T m edia
Computers infiltrate
telcom s I T m edia
Internet is born:
telcom s
I T= I CT
m edia
I nternet
What was seen as a voice network grew to include data distribution between computers
ICT&Telecom business blur
EBay buys Skype Google also into VOIP
Two principles operating
telcom s
I T= I CT
m edia
I nternet
Traditionally: 1 to 1 comms
Many to Many comms (P2P) begins to emerge
The media gets interested
telcom s
I T= I CT
m edia
I nternet
??
Media joins the party …
telcom s
I CT
m edia
internet
Adding a different principle
telcom s
I CT
m edia
1 to 1 comms 1 TO MANY = MASS COMMS
internet
many to many comms
Using Internet for “new media”
telcom s
I CT
m edia
new m edia: W W W
TRIO now offers all 3 principles of comms:Eg. TV broadcasters display audience SMS
Question?
Media joins the party – but … As an equal player – or, As subordinate to the Telcos? Or ICT
companies – (eg. Google News)? Who moves the most? And takes
over/on the character of the others in the process?
But there’s more …
• Prominent in “media” is Broadcasters now transmitting content by telecoms.
• This is sending audio & video via cables (wired) on the WWW – streaming or downloadable.
NOW: the wireless WWW is fast extending where & when this content can be accessed.
And more …
• There is also growth in non-WWW wireless publishing via GSM & 3G (SMS, MMS).
i.e. It’s convergence, but not IP-based!
• Plus there are non-broadcasters pushing “broadcasting” content on telecoms! Individuals, firms, political parties, telco’s…
• = Very different from the previously separate worlds of Telecom, IT and Media!
• = BIG competition for Satellite!
Eg. Vodacom - 3G
SA cellphone firm now offering:
$2 a day access to MobTV–
E! Entertainment, FashionTV, Uefa Champs League, Sky News, Fox, Yebo Entertainment, Mini-soaps (eg. Sunset Hotel).
Telkom SA – doing trials on subscrip-tion TV via broadband cables.
And yet more …
• Besides mobileTV on 3G, there’s also: IPTV (via wired or wireless Internet)
• Yet, there is not only Telecoms and Broadcasting convergence … as important as this is.
• There’s also convergence within the Media sector – eg. between Print & Broadcast, and Radio & TV. (esp USA)
Plus …convergence:
• … between real-time transmission (traditional broadcasting) and time-shiftable content (used to be only with tapes, records, newspapers).
= (PVRs, Video-on-demand – which kills watershed hour regulation).
• … between content push & pull directions (= interactivity)
• … between consumers & producers.
What goes at the Centre?
PDACell Phone
Cordless PhoneBase Station
xDSLAccess Point
InkjetPrinter
Scanner
Home Audio System
ComputerDigital Camera
MP3Player
What goes at the Centre?
PDACell Phone
Cordless PhoneBase Station
xDSLAccess Point
InkjetPrinter
Scanner
Home Audio System
ComputerDigital Camera
MP3Player
What goes at the Centre?
PDACell Phone
Cordless PhoneBase Station
xDSLAccess Point
InkjetPrinter
Scanner
Home Audio System
ComputerDigital Camera
MP3Player
The Centre is variable!
PDACell Phone
Cordless PhoneBase Station
xDSLAccess Point
InkjetPrinter
Scanner
Home Audio System
ComputerDigital Camera
MP3Player
Viewpoint: Mass media
telcom s
I CT
print
W W W
broadcast
Other new media exploited
telcom s
I CT
broadcast
W W W ,em ail-new s-letters,PDAs,phones,billboards.
print
Print & broadcast blur
telcom s
I CT
print
new m edia
broadcast
Dog and tail
• Which platform is primary in general?• Who moves towards the other?• Who wags what?• In the whole converged media pack, what
platform is top dog?• In a given media company, what is the primary
platform?• What when “alien” players intrude?• Do we “protect” old media (PBS, National Telco) –
or should they have to compete fairly with others?
Summing up:
• Telcoms and IT industry create Internet.
• Media industry joins the party, mainly with Internet, but also other new ICTs.
• Lines within the media industry itself start to blur.
• New competitors all-round: (eg. BT to buy ITV?; BSkyB already bought ISP Easynet)
3. DEVICE 3. DEVICE CONVERGENCE CONVERGENCE
On the consumption side
• Questions: – Top connected device: PC or TV? Lean forward or
back?– Convergence of Cellphone & Laptop/PDA?– True multi-media converges text, audio, etc.– Will it be “killer app”, killing off mono-media?
• Consumer Protection:– Tariff controls when there’s monopoly?
• Child protection:– What to do about porn online & on cellphone?
6. IMPACT ON 6. IMPACT ON REGULATION REGULATION
Who may do what, and how
Some Mass Media Areas:
Newspapers Radio TV
Telecoms Internet ISPs
Degrees of control:
REGULATION (eg. Licensing, censorship, police)
SELF-REGULATION (industry, codes of conduct)
LAISSEZ FAIRE
(market, citizens, parents)
SA regulation: back then …
telcom s
I BA
broadcast
S atra
Regulatory convergence: now …
telcom s broadcast
I casa
Regulatory convergence: tomorrow?
telcom s broadcast
I casa
SA 2005: Govt power
• Policy directions - Telecoms:– ICASA must follow everything.
• Policy directions – Broadcasting:– Limited to broad issues and to:
• Radio frequency spectrum• Local content • Universal service coverage targets
– ICASA must consider any policy direction issued by the Minister
SA 2005: Regulations
• Making regulations - Telecoms:– ICASA regulations must be approved by the
Minister
• Making regulations – Broadcasting:– ICASA make regulations (not local content) – No requirement of Ministerial approval.
• Regulator council appointments issue.
• What power set-up prevails with convergence?
Complications for 2006:
• New ministerial power – unconstitutional?• Licensing Content Producers?
– Will SABC need licence to broadcast through other means? Eg. Via Wifi spectrum?
– Offshore originators? Businesses? Individuals?
• Consumers?– Need to pay TV licence for viewing via PC or cell?
• Owners? – Cross-ownership? Foreign ownership?
2006:Tech Neutral regulation?
• Should all (and any) channels equally attract:– Local content/ownership obligations?– Universal access?– Language mix requirements?– Electoral balance?
• Or should it be specific providers (eg. SABC, community broadcasters) who have conditions, irrespective of channel?
• Desirability of content regulation? Practicality?