OTTAWA – The 2007 Canadian Association of Broadcasters convention happens right in Ottawa this November and look for the group to focus on the future and how it will affect policy.
Entitled Broadcasting, Redefined, the annual convention will look at, says the CAB web site:
* The impact of new technologies and platforms, including broadband, the Internet, high-definition television, and digital radio
* The new consumer, whose needs and expectations are being constantly redefined by innovative content offerings and delivery systems
* The adoption of new business models and partnerships in an ever-changing marketplace
* The need for a copyright framework that recognizes the impact of new technologies and business imperatives on broadcasters
* The development of new policies and regulations that will allow this country’s private broadcasters to thrive in an increasingly complex global business environment
This year’s Plenary Sessions examine the industry’s “big picture” issues, including the impact of public policy on broadcasting, the latest in copyright and regulatory reform, and the future of traditional media in a “new media” universe, says the web site
The sessions will be:
Public Policy, Redefined
Minority governments have proven their ability to move on specific legislation, but the jury is still out on whether they can tackle the big issues. Can a coherent agenda for change make it through a minority House, and can contentious policy issues be effectively dealt with? Can issues that aren’t front page news get the attention they deserve, and what are the implications for broadcasting?
Copyright, Redefined
As business models evolve and broadcasters distribute content via multiple platforms, does it make sense to add additional tariffs for the use of music in different media such as the Internet? How do we move away from a “layered” rights payment approach to one that reflects the real value of music to broadcasters, the importance of broadcasting to content creation, and one that encourages new ways of reaching new audiences?
Regulation, Redefined
The CRTC has undertaken a comprehensive review of broadcasting rules to streamline the regulatory system for audio and video services. These reviews are taking place as consumers are using regulated and unregulated distribution platforms, and while open distribution platforms are proliferating. How are the ways we achieve our policy objectives changing, and what levers will regulators have available to them in the future?
Media, Redefined
Industry leaders discuss the future of the Canadian media business. What products and services will they be rolling out? How will they use new media to increase value and grow their business? What are the bright spots today, and where are the trouble spots tomorrow?
The concurrent sessions to be offered this year address key issues facing Canada’s private radio, television, and specialty and pay sectors They are outlined as follows:
Canadian Radio Formats: Is Content Regulation Stifling Innovation?
Is Canadian content regulation discouraging diversity and innovation in radio? What strategies are radio operators using in international markets to distinguish themselves from other radio stations, and from open distribution platforms?
Content and Carriage: The New Balancing Act
Can broadcasters sustain their current rate of investment in Canadian content if carriage rules disappear? Can content and carriage be rebalanced in an open distribution environment, and will market forces be able to fulfill the objectives of the Broadcasting Act?
TV.2011
A look at the implications of the 2007 TV Policy. What does it mean for the future of local broadcasting, Canadian content, HDTV, broadcasters’ relationship with BDUs and, above all, for Canadian audiences?
Recalculating ROI: The New Advertising Paradigm
How are broadcasters and agencies harnessing the power of new media to bring together advertisers and audiences? Is reaching the largest possible audience still the only strategic objective for broadcasters? How are advertisers extending their ownership over content to meet their objectives?
(Over)Paying the Piper: The Rising Cost of Music for Radio
Content quotas, music from unregulated sources, and soaring copyright liabilities combined with significant increases to Canadian Content Development are forcing radio broadcasters to make tough strategic choices. What can be done to get the cost of music back in line?
Open Questions about Open Platforms: The Shifting Value Chain
Mobile content distribution, internet-based BDUs, subscription VOD and user-generated content are just a few of the services and platforms that are redefining content distribution. What do they mean for broadcasters’ relationships with producers, BDUs, advertisers, and consumers?
Canadian Broadcasting and Industry Canada: On the Same Wavelength?
Industry Canada’s 2007 Spectrum Policy Framework sets out the guidelines by which broadcasting spectrum will be reassigned in the coming years. Does the framework adequately consider broadcasters’ business challenges and content issues?
Regulating the French-Language Market: Time to Think Outside the Box?
Do broadcast regulations sufficiently take into account the challenges that face French-language private broadcasters in Canada? In a media environment with fewer and fewer borders, is it time to re-examine the regulatory framework that governs French-language broadcasting in Canada?
Radio Leaders Panel
In this session, industry leaders discuss key developments in Canada’s private radio sector: the transition to digital terrestrial radio; the move to a new ratings measurement system; and the role of private radio in Canadian content creation.
New Media, New Programming Strategies
Canada’s private TV sector spent over $1.8 billion on Canadian content last year. How are open platforms, user-generated content, and ‘niche content communities’ reshaping broadcasters’ program financing strategies? Will it be in-house or independent production that rules in the future?
The Ratings Revolution: A Survival Guide
From measuring online activity to the latest agency obsession with “live" audiences to the rollout of people meters, this session takes a hard look at the revolution in audience measurement, and what broadcasters need to do to stay on the winning side.
Register now at www.cab-acr.ca
