The need for collaboration in the global media industry
24/11/2023
By Contributor
Published: November 24, 2023 Updated: November 27, 2023
Writing exclusively for TVBEurope, media analyst Paolo Pescatore takes a look at the partnership between BT and Telstra Broadcast Services, and explains why companies leveraging each other's expertise and assets can help them meet customers' ever-changing needs
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin>
On Tuesday, BT and Telstra Broadcast Services (TBS) announced a strategic alliance for an initial five-year period. Both companies will combine their global media network teams, network infrastructure, and localised expertise.
This is a significant move considering the current market challenges in media and broadcast. As previously noted at key industry events this year, including both NAB and IBC shows, there are too many companies currently chasing too few dollars in the industry. While there has been a general positive buzz with a return to in-person events, all players are struggling in a challenging macroeconomic environment, and it has become harder for providers to get deals over the line. Consequently, finding budget is no easy feat, with many companies placing an ever-greater emphasis on cost efficiencies and the retention of customers.
Following, as it does, news of Vantiva's acquisition of CommScope Home Networks, it is apparent that the move towards an era of consolidation and establishing partnerships is well underway. The lesson is always that those who move early will be better positioned to integrate and execute further down the line.
BT strengthens its global presence For BT, the alliance makes perfect sense. It allows the company to focus on its core strengths and cater to the UK market. Over the last few years, BT's Media and Broadcast unit has overhauled and transformed its operations, which has led to the emergence of Vena, an intelligent IP-native media platform providing the flexibility of cloud-like services with the reliability of a dedicated broadcast network. The company is successfully migrating existing and new customers onto this platform, with some significant names, including ITV, Freeview, Racecourse Media Group using the service.
Paolo Pescatore This strong endorsement validates the unit's decision to focus on the UK market. However, seeking to grow internationally and replicate its UK success has not been as straightforward.
While the Vena platform is undeniably best in class, as underlined by strong support from its UK customers, there are wider challenges to consider when it comes to expanding the service to other countries. In each market, you need to consider that there are typically high barriers to entry, different operating structures, different regulations, and different configurations of networks. The rise in IP workflows and distribution that allow for the transport of broadcast signals over the Internet (and precisely what the success of Vena embodies) has also led to the introduction of new, agile competitors.
Considering all of this and the significant investment needed to grow internationally as well as maintaining and developing a global media network fit for the future, a decision to form an alliance is logical. Furthermore, it fits nicely into the new strategic focus for BT's Business division, which is where the Media and Broadcast unit sits. During a recent analyst session, BT Business CEO, Bas Burger, outlined the new strategy and vision for the operation with a customer-led approach. What is the best approach for better outcomes for our customers? it asks before concluding that partnering is the best route forward if a solution is not to be developed in-house.
The tie-up with TBS is the first real example of executing this new business strategy. BT has freed up much-needed resources to cater for the UK market. It also indicates the company's seriousness in partnering with other organisations worldwide to meet its objectives and goals.
Fuelling TBS's expansion For TBS it is a win-win scenario too. The company gains access to BT's best-in-class offerings to bundle and sell with its own capabilities on the global stage (especially in the area of sports broadcasting and live events). It is clear that the tie-up is all about TBS further expanding into an increasingly global footprint, which has been a strategic priority for the company for a few years now. Indeed, TBS believes the deal will increase its global footprint by 50 per cent and expand its customer base to more than 170 broadcast and media organisations worldwide.
Arguably, and in the wider industry context as mentioned earlier, the tie-up with BT has come at the right time in light of many companies struggling to get deals over the line. It has been harder for some providers to do it all: increase revenue, maintain existing customers, and, in turn, close deals. Hence, the growing importance of scale to better compete on the global stage. The hope is that the two companies working together can offer enough incentives to get those deals over the line while maintaining the existing business.
A good example is the current footprint of customers they both serve respectively. TBS is currently active in Australia, Europe, and North America and is keen to expand into Asia Pacific, where BT Media and Broadcast already has a significant presence. The latter represents a key target region for both entities and includes the dynamic markets of India, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.
In support of this goal, according to the press release, TBS will add more personnel to the local team i
LINK: | https://www.tvbeurope.com/media-delivery/the-need-for-collaboration-in... |
See more stories from tvb |
More from TVB Europe
17/10/2024
Opinion: The transformative impact of remote production and cloud migration on the media industry
John Wastcoat, SVP business development and marketing at Zixi, highlights how me...
17/10/2024
How cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos captured the colour of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Zambarloukos details the cameras and lenses he used to capture Tim Burtons spook...
17/10/2024
EMG/Gravity Media names Eamonn Curtin as chief commercial officer
He takes up the role immediately, having spent the past 10 years as global client director at EMG/Gravity Media By Jenny Priestley Published: October 17, 202...
17/10/2024
Council pulls plug on Mo-Sys Plumstead Power Station deal
Mo-Sys planned to refurbish the Grade II listed site, opening eight studio stages By Matthew Corrigan Published: October 17, 2024 Mo-Sys planned to refurb...
16/10/2024
ARRI launches 14-strong Ens Prime lens range
Ens lenses feature a magnification ratio of 1:4 on most focal lengths, equivalent to 10 close focus on the 32mm, which, said the company, is only 3.7 from the ...
15/10/2024
Making the dragons fly
Martin Pelletier, visual effects supervisor at Rodeo FX, explains how House of the Dragon's fantastic flying beasts are able to take to the air By Matthew ...
15/10/2024
Adobe adds Gen AI video extension capabilities to Premiere Pro
The company has also unveiled updates to Frame.io and plans to help 30 million people develop AI literacy and content creation skills by 2030 By Jenny Priestle...
15/10/2024
Watch: What caught our AI at IBC
Watch a panel featuring TVBEuropes content director Jenny Priestley discuss some of the biggest talking points from IBC2024 By TVBEurope Staff Published: Oct...
15/10/2024
Ofcom extends Channel 4's licence for a further decade
The new licence is designed to support Channel 4's digital content and distribution strategy, while safeguarding its investment in UK content, said Ofcom B...
14/10/2024
UK creative industries named as growth driver' in government's Industrial Strategy
A green paper published today outlines the governments aim to attract investment...
11/10/2024
Watch: Oscar-winner Edward Berger discusses new film shot in Apple Immersive Video
Apple Immersive Video leverages ultra-high-resolution 3D video and Spatial Audio...
10/10/2024
Real SFX opens at Bottle Yard, wins green business award
The special effects company joins more than 15 businesses based at the Bristol creative hub By Matthew Corrigan Published: October 10, 2024 The special ef...
10/10/2024
How BBC Studioworks built a flyaway kit for It Takes Two
TVBEurope talks to the team at BBC Studioworks about the technology included in a new flyaway kit for BBC Twos Strictly Come Dancing spin-off, It Takes Two By ...
10/10/2024
SMPTE appoints Sally-Ann D'Amato as interim executive director
DAmato joined SMPTE in 2001, rising to become director of events and governance liaison in 2016 By Jenny Priestley Published: October 10, 2024 Updated: Oct...
10/10/2024
Pixel Power expands software-defined media product portfolio
The company, which is now being led by Thorsten Sauer, has taken over management of networked multiviewer and monitoring platform R&S Prismon By Jenny Priestle...
09/10/2024
Pinewood Studios to open new Indie Film Hub in 2025
The hub will provide filmmakers with access to the Pinewood Studios ecosystem from camera hire to drone photography and post production By Jenny Priestley Pu...
09/10/2024
SMPTE awards Marina Kalkanis Presidential Proclamation
The award was established in 1982 and recognises individuals of established and outstanding status and reputation in the motion picture and television industrie...
09/10/2024
TVBEurope October/November 2024 issue out now
The latest issue includes features on the US presidential election, IBC2024 Best of Show Awards winners and tackling the industry skills gap By Matthew Corriga...
09/10/2024
Government inquiry for Marlow Film Studios
The company remains confident in the strength of its case, which, it said, includes significant investment benefits to the local and national economy By Matth...
08/10/2024
Avid acquires Wolftech to transform newsroom workflows
The strategic acquisition aims to enable users to leverage emerging technologies to build and evolve modular workflows, from lens to edit and beyond, said Avid ...
08/10/2024
Arjan van Westerloo appointed president of new NEP European cluster
The role follows a reorganisation of NEP Groups European business structure By Matthew Corrigan Published: October 8, 2024 Updated: October 9, 2024 The...
07/10/2024
Meta unveils tool that creates 16 seconds of AI-generated video
Movie Gen has four capabilities: video generation, personalised video generation, precise video editing, and audio generation By Jenny Priestley Published: O...
07/10/2024
Rotolight enters administration amid hopes brand can continue
The family-run business has supplied lighting for numerous feature films and TV series By Matthew Corrigan Published: October 7, 2024 Updated: October 8, 2...
04/10/2024
BBC Coronation coverage nominated for Tech Emmy
The nominees for the new Excellence in Production Technology are Christmas at Graceland, The Coronation of H.M. King Charles III and The Santa Clauses By Jenny...
04/10/2024
Meet the motion capture technology co-programme leader
Connell Pavey, co-programme leader for the University of Salford's new course in motion capture technology tells TVBEurope how his passion for creativity le...
03/10/2024
Lawo unveils latest addition to HOME app family
Its feature set is closer to what a vision mixer provides than to what operators traditionally expect from a downstream keying function, said the company By Ma...
02/10/2024
Hollywood of the north' finally gets greenlight
The Littlewoods Building transformation will include two film studios as well as office and workshop spaces By Jenny Priestley Published: October 2, 2024 U...
02/10/2024
EVS completes MOG Technologies acquisition
The acquisition will deliver strategic benefits, such as expanded product and solution offerings, an increase in EVS R&D centres, and broader support services ...
02/10/2024
Survey finds worsening mental health in film and TV industry
Releasing the data, the Film and TV Charity also announced plans to develop pan-industry mental health standards ahead of a revamp of its Whole Picture Toolkit ...
01/10/2024
The Final Cut
As Deadpool & Wolverine debuts on digital streaming, TVBEurope revisits our conversation with the film's editor Shane Reid, to hear how he combined the film...
01/10/2024
Moments Lab adds AI-powered content discovery to Adobe Premiere Pro
The plugin enables editors to quickly access, discover, and clip the best moments identified by AI in their recent or archived footage By Jenny Priestley Pub...
30/09/2024
Meet the senior manager of space operations training
Anne Lellinger, senior manager of space operations training at SES, tells TVBEurope how shes spent 20 years delivering TV content to homes across Europe By Con...
30/09/2024
Submissions open for Best in Market 2024 Awards
All entrants - whether they are selected as a winner or not - will receive a nominee badge to promote their entry and will be included in a nominee feature arti...
27/09/2024
Plan for West Midlands studio complex revealed
The facility will include four sound stages, workshops, production offices, make-up and dressing rooms, and support services By Matthew Corrigan Published: S...
27/09/2024
Disguise announces Be Seen. Be Heard event to promote industry diversity
Aiming to be a catalyst for change, the event features a diverse line-up of industry voices By Matthew Corrigan Published: September 27, 2024 Updated: Sept...
26/09/2024
Medina Studios project wins IOW council approval
The proposal include four sound stages, two workshops and production support facilities at Kingston Marine Park in East Cowes By Matthew Corrigan Published: ...
25/09/2024
BIMM unites campuses under MetFilm School banner and launches new MetStudios brand
The plans aim to boost education in creative digital media, responding to growin...
25/09/2024
James Cameron joins board of AI visual media company
According to the company, Camerons appointment to its board is a significant step forward in Stability AI's mission to transform visual media By Jenny Prie...
24/09/2024
The security super service provider
Trusted Partner Network president Terri Davies talks to TVBEurope about the importance of collaboration and certification in ensuring security in the media indu...
24/09/2024
Stirling Studios project takes next step with funding approval
Stirling Studios aims to deliver one of the biggest film studio campuses in Scotland, bringing an estimated 4,000 jobs over 25 years in key film and production ...
23/09/2024
Salford University to provide UK's first mo-cap diploma course
Applications are open for the two-year diploma, which will commence in September 2025 By Matthew Corrigan Published: September 23, 2024 Applications are ...
23/09/2024
Into the IBC maelstrom
TVBEurope's Matthew Corrigan reflects on his first visit to IBC By Matthew Corrigan Published: September 23, 2024 Updated: September 24, 2024 TVBEur...
20/09/2024
CVP announces second Education Festival
The free event for students and educational leaders will feature over 70 workshops, seminars and demonstrations By Matthew Corrigan Published: September 20, ...
20/09/2024
Meet the lead engineer
Jayne Hilton, Lead Engineer at Globecast, explains the importance of communication and openness to TVBEurope By Matthew Corrigan Published: September 20, 202...
19/09/2024
Bottle Yard Studios sale can proceed
The sale will ensure the studios continues to achieve its potential into the future, said the council By Matthew Corrigan Published: September 19, 2024 Upd...
17/09/2024
How Rodeo FX blended science fiction and reality for Saudi Odyssey
The advert was worked on by Rodeo FXs teams in Montreal and Paris By Jenny Priestley Published: September 17, 2024 The advert was worked on by Rodeo FX...
17/09/2024
IBC2024 reports more attendees and exhibitors than 2023
Organisers have also confirmed the dates for IBC2025 By TVBEurope Staff Published: September 17, 2024 Organisers have also confirmed the dates for IBC2025...
17/09/2024
Word cloud: Sum up IBC2024 in one word
By TVBEurope Staff Published: September 17, 2024 Updated: September 18, 2024 During the TVBEurope team's meetings with vendors at IBC2024, we asked e...
16/09/2024
Rise Awards 2024 nominations announced
The awards recognise women and companies who are stand-out performers, innovators and leaders in the industry By TVBEurope Staff Published: September 16, 202...
16/09/2024
TVBEurope Best of Show IBC2024 winners announced
By Jenny Priestley Published: September 15, 2024 Updated: September 18, 2024 Future's Best of Show at IBC2024 awards have been announced, with exhibi...