In a debate that basically boiled down to broadcast technology versus content held on Friday, 12 September at the International Broadcast Convention (IBC) in Amsterdam, content came out the winner. If broadcasters have the right content, they need not be threatened by digital platforms such as the Internet and handheld devices in this age of universally available technology.
The panel consisted of experts from around the world, including MPEG founder Dr Leonardo Chiariglione. Discussion focused on whether broadcasters were managing to ride technological innovation or were being swamped by it.
In the debate ITV executive chairman Michael Grade referred to social networking sites such as YouTube as “parasites”. For full story see November/December issue of Screen Africa.
A number of South Africans are attending IBC, one of the premier broadcast technology trade shows in the world. Representatives from Spescom, Sony South Africa, Macro Video, BSS Broadcast, SABC and M-Net, among others, have been spotted at the show.
