'UK Online Is Nowhere' Says C4 Boss

I went to NESTA this morning to hear Andy Duncan, C4's boss, describe his vision for a Digital Britain.  Duncan said that big UK media should, 'collectively be embarrassed', about fighting each other over vested interests and consolidation while missing the impact of the web.  Rows which have been partially responsible for the UK being, 'commercially nowhere', when it comes to the global online geography.  'We are in danger of being like the US railroad operators at the end of the last century, which found themselves looking excessively inward - and then the car came along'.  The weighty speech came ahead of the long-awaited Digital Britain report from the UK Government's DCMS (which today the FT says might include Universal Broadband) and the next stage of Ofcom’s Public Service Broadcasting Review.  When considering its strategy to reignite the country's economy, said Duncan, the Government should recognise that the creative industries 'fluffy' image belies its value to UK PLC, two million jobs and sixty billion quid to be precise.  In fact, he said that the UK's media industries could replace the gap left by the country's decimated financial services sector.  But only if there is some very serious change.  In a world, 'where children don't differentiate between content they see on the web and TV', the C4 boss said, 'broadband and broadcasting' are effectively the same thing.  Now that the media ecology has changed to be no longer just content but, 'content plus tools' that allow citizens to 'create services of their own design', the UK could create a, 'digital tools industry' of great value building on its creative excellence.  As ever it comes down to the numbers.  Duncan's financial shorthand is that, 'ten years ago television advertising market in the UK peaked at over £3.5 billion'.  While online advertising didn't exist.  Today the TV market has shrunk to £3bn making it the same size as the online market.  And most of that cash goes to US companies (and one in particular) not into, 'quality British content'.  Inspiring stuff.

Comments

[Rory MacDonald]

'broadband and broadcasting are the same thing'
Maybe I am taking this out of context, but WHAT????

The rest of what you have summarised sounds 'inspired' as you say:
(Viewing 'content', 'tools' and 'services' in the loosest possible context), I particularly like:
'content plus tools' that allow citizens to 'create services of their own design'.

This is a freeculture vision. However, this vision requires 'broadcasters' to accept a major
rethink content licensing to accommodate it.

[James Cherkoff]

Yes, yes, I know. It's soundbite heaven. But coming from a Grand Fromage of UK TV it sounded quite radical. And let's face it post iPlayer the notion that TV on your PC might be popular is hardly controversial. The best part of the talk was its rantiness. Safe to say the man's not a fan of ISPs.

I think it's interesting because C4 isn't going to go bust. But it's right in the heart of the storm and how it proceeds will be interesting. Duncan clearly sees Digital Britain as a major turning point.

[Rory MacDonald]

Personally, i reckon Channel 4 would make a prime target for a Fox buyout.
(You heard it here first).

[James Cherkoff]

LOL ;-)