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Andy Fry
Test patterns
Media consumption is changing, but is that good or bad for TV?
The perils of product placement
I don’t dislike brands. But there are a few forms of marketing that irritate me. Top of the list is cold calling from companies when I’m eating my dinner – closely followed by those annoying pop-up ads that scroll down across the screen just as I’m about to click my cursor on something else. Other irritants are brands in the classroom, confusing product variants and checkout assistants who offer me a half-price chocolate orange when I’m buying a newspaper.
So what were consumers willing to pay for in 2009?
It’s that John Lennon time of year again – when we cast our minds back over the last 12 months and reflect on our achievements. Personally, I find it hard to think back further than last weekend. But after an online refresher, the most obvious thing that strikes me about 2009 is the way the economics of content creation and distribution has been transformed by digital media.
Emily Bronte. And Vampires. Don’t Forget the Vampires.
Recently, I watched ITV’s new adaptation of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, and was puzzled to see an opening sequence in which some unseen person or creature thrashes menacingly through the undergrowth.
Reading the signs
Over 12,000 executives made the pilgrimage to MIPCOM in Cannes this year, which is a good number considering society is on the verge of collapse. It’s too early to know how much business they did – but there’s no question the market threw up some interesting stories.
Getting past history
I’ve always believed that a grasp of history is a useful thing. But the truth is, it can be a burden in the world of business.
The sky is falling
Every year I write at least half a dozen features in which someone, somewhere will opine that broadcasters have become more risk averse. In fact, people have been saying it for so long that I’m amazed channel chiefs even bother leaving their homes – for fear that the sky might fall on their head.
Making sense of new technology
One of the problems with working in the audiovisual industry is that we all inhabit a technological bubble. Gadgets that we see at conferences and expos are always on the verge of ‘changing consumers behavior forever.’ Reports about Japanese or Korean innovations are always filled with overblown forecasts about revenues and growth.
How to make a winning format
Producers and broadcasters like formats for three reasons — they’re a proven proposition, viewers like to watch them live, and because hits can generate a huge financial upside.
When it comes to drama, viewers don’t care
As a Brit, I know I should like BBC wildlife shows and Channel 4 sitcoms. And I should probably bolster ITV’s ad story by watching endless Agatha Christie murder mysteries.
Another BRIC in the wall
Don’t you just hate acronyms?
It’s bad enough having to decode my kids’ text messages without industry experts bombarding me with terms like ARPU, KGOY, WiMAX, VoIP and MMORG.
What future for public broadcasting?
LONDON — While trawling the globe for stories in the run-up to this year’s MIPTV, I couldn’t help but notice that most of the world’s public-service broadcasters are suffering from severe financial cramps at the moment.
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