Convergence of Broadcasting, Internet, and Telecom in South Africa:

Today and tomorrow

Convergence of Broadcasting, Internet and TelecomInternational Experience and China's path. 8th Asia Media Forum 2010

Asia Media Research Centre conference, Communications University of China, Beijing

28 November, 2010, Guy Berger, Rhodes Univ, South Africa

In a nutshell…

1. There is a bad cost-benefit ratio for digital transition in TV in African countries.

2. So analogue TV is likely to continue to predominate for up to another decade.

3. This is a technological choke on full convergence of TV with internet.

4. BUT mobile industry & UGC may be the key5. Some South African illustrations of all this…

Deadlines & dollars

• ITU deadline for Africa: 2015 -2020• Much confusion on relevance to radio• Much confusion on consequences• Huge expense anticipated:– Digitising production in broadcasters, incl archives– Digitising terrestrial signal transmission– Digitising reception – STB costs

• = Serious disincentives to Digital Migration

Also, a lack of incentives

• NOT a technical shortage of analogue frequencies for TV in much of Africa

• NOT a major demand:– by TV stations or entrepreneurs for more channels– by the public for digital TTV

• Elites already get digital TV (incl HD) via satellite• Tech standards for DTT keep changing, and…– While new TV sets will receive digital signals only,– There’ll be a large market of redundant equipment.

State of play: first steps

• Policy frameworks have been agreed in African regions & deadlines often pre-2015!

• Regulators have issued papers, licensed some multiplexes (eg. Tanzania)

• Mauritius BC is first – but there are STB standards problems, cost of dual illumination

• South Africa: pilot testing using DVB and DVB2• SABC has piloted extra digital channels, but

sustainability is an issue

Silo scenario, not convergence

• In South Africa, the worlds of digital broadcasting and broadband internet have separate policy frameworks.

• In SA, the advisory body for digital migration (the “Digital Dzonga”) has been narrowly broadcast-centric, not comms-centric.

• So the set-top box is seen only as a digital decoder, not as a computer for return path…

Change & African broadcasters

• African broadcasting is driven by state-services, not market dynamics = S L O W.

• State-broadcasters are under pressure to change due to pluralistic competition

• Huge obstacles to becoming (a) Public service (b) Communication (c) (multi)Media. (PSCM)

• To take on digital terrestrial TV broadcasting on top of this, is a project too far for many…

A personal prediction

• Taking the next DTT steps means $$$, time-consuming law-making and regulation, plus licensing of players, & huge tech roll-out.

• It is guaranteed that 90% of African countries will NOT meet 2015 deadline.

• By then, undersea IP cables will be pumping,• By then, private sector mobile companies &

users will be using 4G networks…

Broadcasters & new media today

• Broadcasters are indeed already using SMS convergence for user interaction, and cellphones for call-in. BUT: not much more.

• Limited use of social media by broadcasters.• AND little exploitation of cellphones for

distributing audio & AV content, or UGC.• Example of Vodacom (largest cellular operator

in South Africa)…

Vodacom – 3G offering (1)

• TV: On Demand! (Partnership with UK’s On Demand group)

• Stop, play or resume functionality• Selected HBO, MTV and Disney shows: eg. The

Sopranos, Entourage, Sex and the City, Desperate Housewives, Lost, South Park, The Hills and music videos.

• R75 a month, no charge for data usage

Vodacom – 3G offering (2)

• Also: DStv Mobile (3G version)• SuperSport, Channel O, Trace TV, Cartoon

Network, Boomerang, CNN, Africa Magic, E! Entertainment, SawSee, M-Net, KykNET, VUZU, MK,HBO, Sky NEWS, E! Entertainment, Fashion TV (FTV), TellyTrack, UEFA Champions League, Fox, Ministry of Sound, Chilli TV, Yebo Entertainment, Yebo 1 and Yebo 2

• R59 a month

Broadcaster DStv using DVB-H

• MultiChoice-owned DStv Mobile • DVB-H-enabled cellphone or via a proprietary mobile

television decoder, the R599 Drifta, relays the signal to WiFi-capable laptops, personal computers, tablets and smartphones.

• SuperSport 1, 2, 3 and Blitz, Africa Magic, Channel O, eNews, Cartoon Network, Trace and DStv Events.

• R36 a month from April 1

Mobile and the future?

• *If* there is uptake of mobile offerings (pull & push signals) to handhelds, cellphones could become the new STB equivalents.

• The return path is built into the phone.• If this path is via wireless internet access, then

mobile broadcasting will also need to compete with internet downloads.

• So, ‘broadcast content’ will also be pulled by consumers… and they have very wide choice.

Other players in the game

• Grocott’s Mail mobi site:

• Nîche is realtime content

There is traditional news

• Text, photos,• AND video

• And UGC• Plus transactions by

realtime “specials” • Eg. before bananas

go rotten, get them shifted; create instant markets.

And direct webcam-casting

Let’s imagine…

• Not just pull & push news about Water issues.• Not just the individual personal/social news• But also P2P info AND comms like: –Where do municipal bosses get their water?

“Send us your video, and let’s talk about it”– Exams: audio tips (incl from youth!)– Video footage of Matric dance dresses,

wedding and funeral videos, etc.

Conclusion

• Broadcasting in Africa, especially state-owned, will increasingly lag behind, rather than lead or take advantage of convergence.

• Telecom operators will lead the process, but other media – newspapers and newcomers (UGC) – will likely get involved, using internet to communicate via video/audio.

• Logic may be analogue switch-off for wireless internet rather than digital TV broadcasting….

• Thank you• G.Berger@ru.ac.za