William Cooper (Informitv)
 | Dr William Cooper is an internationally recognised consultant and commentator on the convergence of broadband and broadcast communications. As Head of New Media Operations at the BBC and Head of Interactive at BBC Broadcast, he operationally managed the launch of interactive television services across multiple channels and platforms and was closely involved in the launch of the Freeview digital terrestrial television platform. He now runs the Informitv consultancy and edits the weekly online newsletter Connected Vision which has around 10,000 subscribers worldwide. He is a regular chair, moderator and speaker at international conferences, with papers published at both the NAB and IBC broadcast conventions. William provides thought leadership and advises on strategy and implementation around broadcast and broadband convergence. Supported by an international network of industry specialists, informitv provides confidential consultancy services worldwide. Clients range from small start-up ventures to major multinational corporations. |
Abstract
| Keynote: Connected Thinking
The future of television is inevitably connected to the internet. Just as the smart phone is displacing the traditional telephone, so the smart television will transform the dumb display into a multifunction screen with which users can interact and transact. We have seen and heard this all before, with the long-held promise of interactive television, but now broadband networks are enabling consumer electronics companies to extend the video viewing experience to diverse digital devices and displays with or without regard to broadcast television. The implications for the traditional television industry are profound and raise many critical questions. Is this a real threat or a possible opportunity for broadcasters? How should they respond to these over the top claims on their traditional television territory? Will scheduled channels maintain their dominance or will video increasingly be viewed on demand? What are the prospects for public service broadcasting in Europe? What do viewers really want from television? Where is the vision? This keynote presentation looks forward to the future with twenty predictions for the next ten years in television. |