DASS awarded grant to study effects of digital TV

By 2012 television services in the UK will go completely digital, TV region by TV region. The old analogue television signal will be switched off and viewers will need to convert or upgrade their TV equipment to receive digital signals, whether through their aerial, by satellite, cable or broadband.

Hand in hand with this digitalisation of TV will come an evolution in the way that TV is produced, and also experienced by audiences. There will be a greater synergy with other types of digital technologies such as web and mobile phones.

Researchers in the Media, Information and Communications area of the Department of Applied Social Science, have been awarded £180k by the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to explore the impact of television’s digitalisation and its convergence with digital media on the future of public service broadcasting.

The competition for AHRC grants is fierce, with only 12% of applications receiving funding. London Met’s Dr James Bennett and Paul Kerr will work with the University of Sussex on a two year project exploring how independent media companies adapt to and exploit the possibilities of ‘multiplatform’ television.

The bid follows on from the successful 2007 ‘Television Goes Digital’ Conference organised by DASS staff and will involve further international events at London Met, including a conference set to attract key media players from the BBC, Channel 4, media regulator Ofcom and producers in the independent television and digital media industries.

The project will examine how television’s digitalisation places pressure on, as well as provides opportunities for, those engaged in the production of public service content.

Researchers said: ‘Our study focuses on TV organisations’ adoption of multiplatform production and commissioning strategies as a response to these challenges. More specifically it examines how these changes are also experienced by programme-makers themselves. The team will conduct field research, interviews and analysis of programming from independent television and digital media companies, examining the way public service broadcasting circulates as a culture outside of the BBC and Channel 4. The final project will include a report to industry stakeholders that will help shape public debate on the future of public service broadcasting.’

28 January 2010