The Digital Tsunami

We live in an age of rapid change and transformation.

Broadcasters are burdened with expensive electronic news-gathering technology – camcorders, edit bays, and live trucks; with inefficient workflows and with the nearly obsolete, linear news show format. Technologies like smartphones are replacing camcorders, edit bays, and live trucks, and IP delivery between the news scene and station, is replacing microwave and satellite. News broadcasters are reorganizing their newsrooms and resources to focus on mobile journalism or mojo as it is popularly known.

With DAS implemented across the country, well almost, and the DTH industry having matured over the last couple of years, Indian broadcasting can claim to be digitized. However, data over the last three quarters points to a trend that as data gets cheaper and smartphone and smart TV penetration grows, video OTTs may begin to be getting preferred more and more by consumers than DTH TV subscription. No doubt, the OTT services will need the support of highly efficient CDNs (content delivery networks).  And as of now, the delivery cost of content on TV is still cheaper compared to an OTT platform, where a user not only has to pay for subscription, but also has to pay for data.

The Indian viewer, like his counterparts, all over the world, is looking at Wi-Fi and the Internet as the primary way to live. As a fallout, the dish antenna seems to be on the path of a gradual demise, be it for direct-to-home services, cable services, or terrestrial broadcasting. One single bill is what the viewer wants to pay. He is happy to bid goodbye to the roguish cable operator, as he was to the telephone linesman as the mobile services became popular and affordable.

The battle for fixed line broadband has begun, and it will lead to transformation of TV networks as the year 2018 advances. As Internet speeds build, the frustrated viewer will no longer need to abandon streaming. Cord cutting is the next lifestyle looking to be embraced.

We wish our readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!