This article, written by Dr Roland Beutler (SWR) who is the chairman of SP-TB, gives an overview of the first activities of the group and presents in particular the results of a survey that was carried out among EBU Members, network operators and manufacturers. Significant changes are closing in on broadcasters around the world, driven by the revolutionary developments of the Internet.
Traditionally, broadcasting referred to the distribution of linear audio and video content to mass audiences. However, the habits of viewers and listeners are changing. Devices such as PCs, laptops, tablet computers and smartphones are enabling access to broadcast content in a non-linear fashion via fast Internet connections. Time-shifted, catch-up and on-demand consumption of media content are becoming more and more popular.
Broadcasters' decisions taken today will have an impact on their future
In particular, the terrestrial broadcasting platform is being affected by these kinds of changes. Consequently, broadcasters need to carefully analyse their future needs in terms of (i) what kind of services they will need to provide and (ii) which platforms could be used to distribute these offers to viewers and listeners, in the next 10 years and beyond. The crucial question in that respect is what role the terrestrial platform will then play. Any decision to favour one option or the other is of strategic importance for broadcasters. In order to safeguard their interests in the future, the right decisions have to be taken now. |  |
Realising the importance of this issue, EBU Technical has established the so-called Strategic Programme on Terrestrial Broadcasting (SP-TB) to work on this. Clearly, the topic is of interdisciplinary nature. Assessing the future role of the terrestrial platform is not just talking about spectrum demand alone and it is not only about considering the technical specifications of broadcasting systems. Rather, content-related issues are also relevant as well as market trends and changes in the regulatory frameworks.