Trying to spot the opportunity

More than 11 years ago, I submitted my university dissertation which posed the question 'what would happen to public service broadcasting, given the threat posed to traditional media by the convergence of television, computer and telecoms technologies'.

With that notion of convergence looking set to become a reality in 2010 (reports are suggesting 20% of new televisions will have some form of Internet connectivity), the key debate won't be about PSB, but about the nature of platforms.


Will platforms be open, or closed? Will we simply see sets with web browsers, or are we set for another battle of proprietary Internet-enabled platforms (Canvas, Freesat, ConnectedTV, A.N. Other) which will echo previous platform scraps like VHS v Betamax or Blu-Ray v HD-DVD?

I'm hoping the lessons have been learned. We seem to have a suitable way of delivering video content already - and we've developed a certain fondness for the way the web works, so why reinvent it?


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