The New Gatekeepers
The future scoped out at the first Showcomotion Children's Media Conference in 2004 is here. Multi-channel and broadband are an every day reality for most young consumers; video-on-demand is taking off.
What follows is multi-distribution across an amazing array of technologies. Mobiles and iPods could well be kids' viewing consoles of choice and content will be available via download to their PC or PVR. Television broadcasters and television commissioners are just one component in a multiplicity of outlets.
Young people don't care about distribution models or modes of consumption. For the most part they just follow the content that interests them.
It's the content producers who need to get a purchase on the new modes of distribution - and the broadcasters who need to consider their role and their brands in this new media land-scape. If BT, AOL, Google, Yahoo are the new gatekeepers, how will that affect what kids see in the future?
How will television content producers negotiate with new commissioners and distributors? Is the old symbiosis with broadcasters about to be split as new players enter the commissioning field? And will the business model overtake creativity and quality of content as the main driver?
Key contributors will address these and many other questions over the two days of the conference. I urge you to join us and look forward to seeing you in July.
Anna Home OBE
Showcomotion Children's Media Conference Chair
