The Stage has posted some sad news today, I haven’t checked the other news channels but I’m sure it will be everywhere. I’m personally quite sad, as they brought us some of the best dramas & soaps around. I’m really looking forward to watching stylista But I’m guessing tough times need radical change! Advertising revenues just can’t make up for their operational costs!

This is my opportunity to discuss the traditional workflow as this is going to be massively effected! Here is a basic overview of traditional broadcasting! It was: writer/ development of script, Broadcaster reviews, changes and develops. Then broadcaster gives the blessing for the project to air. Broadcasters then awards a production company for some work! This is very basic and high level, and I will go into much more detail in another blog! The changes in broadcasting will be integrating IPTV, and delivery of the programmes & adverting models over the web and other syndication methods! Yes yes, I will draw a diagram so we can see the new business model…

Here is what the stage have reported!

Five has become the latest broadcaster to unveil job cuts, announcing that up to 87 positions out of its current 354 workforce face redundancy. Dawn Airey Photo: Five Its plans follow news yesterday that ITV is to make a further 600 employees redundant, in addition to the 1,000 posts that were lost last year. In an announcement today, Five said it had outlined “proposals for a comprehensive restructuring plan”, which it said would “strengthen the company by increasing both its efficiency and profitability”. Five chair and chief executive Dawn Airey said the industry was in the “midst of one of the most difficult financial environments in history”. “Five has therefore taken the necessary step to review all operations to ensure we continue to work as effectively and efficiently as possible,” she said. “I am confident we are putting in place a new, streamlined structure which will ensure we remain the most agile and effective commercial broadcaster in the country.” In its statement, Five said several key departments had been “earmarked for integration”, including the creation of a new creative unit that will incorporate on-air and off-air marketing and creative services functions.

Cool, so any chance of seeing channel 6 sometime soon?

One of the ways to make a lot of money is content syndication and licensing. Every network, broadcaster and even online publisher has an acquisitions department or person whose job it is to acquire content.

Now one of the main problems of Digital Distribution is “rights control”. This is affecting the catalogues of online video companies or digital distribution companies and sometimes called aggregators. Here is the problem, the Hollywood Studios are not really giving full access to their catalogue online yet, as they want to see how they can protect their digital rights in each territory and I’m not sure they trust the current solutions available on the market. They want to see control over the way the content is managed and distributed. So.. what are the current solutions??

There are three major players in the market trying to solve this on a global level:-

1. Apple TV

2. Vudu

3. Xbox 360

IGNentertainment has put together a cool video showing us these products. Although it’s a little old now, it should give you an idea of what’s in store for the future.

What do I keep shouting about?? common already, go build an online channel, get a subscriber base and start making money from online advertising and content licensing.

Another great example of content syndication on a smaller level is the “How to” sites. They are selling their content to every niche that’s out there! OK it’s not going to the Xbox 360′s of the world but it’s definitely going to other websites and online publishers.

Enjoy!

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