Posted: 31/03/2017
A recent Think with Google trend shows that 6 out of 10 people prefer online video platforms to live TV. Does this mean broadcast television is on the way out? Will all programmes be formatted for pure online viewing in the future? Will the rest of the BBC channels become online only, like BBC3?
Well, I believe the answer is clearly no. There will always be a need for television broadcast, even if people are preferring to watch more and more content online. It’s the same as with cinema: people may begrudge paying absurd prices to watch movies on the big screen, yet we still do it. Some video experiences just need to be seen on a 35ft screen. With surround sound audio. And the lights turned out… and freshly-made popcorn (well, ok, you get the idea). The same goes for broadcast TV programmes.
Online video platforms aren’t suitable for all shows
Shows like BBC’s Planet Earth II need to be viewed on the biggest television screens to really capture the atmosphere. Live sports is another spectacle that needs to be broadcast and watched in the moment – especially if you want to keep up with your social circles and the buzz surrounding these shows in the immediate aftermath.
The introduction of online video platforms for catch up in the last decade or so has actually revolutionised viewing habits. It enables people to be flexible with their schedules and not be fixed to a TV for a certain time, or have to negotiate recording devices. It also means people can be more selective about what they watch, and wait for recommendations from friends or social media before committing to a programme.
Use online video platforms for promotional content
Moreover, online video platforms can actually help programme makers get more out of their content. Most shows record surplus amounts of content that usually ends up on the cutting room floor. Yet, by using online video platforms to host this media, digital teams can edit together short highlights, promos, and behind-the-scenes content from the broadcast television show. This will instantly make the main broadcast more sensational while the additional content is shared online.
More and more TV programmers are using the Forscene platform as a way to do this quickly and easily. Uploading video into Forscene is so fast, you can practically live-stream it through, regardless of your internet connection. In the Forscene Editor, you can view your video on another device and begin to edit it while it comes in. How come? Because Forscene converts everything to a proxy format while it’s in the cloud. Due to the super-small file size of the proxy, you can view, edit and share video in the Forscene cloud on any device. Then when you’re ready to distribute your video to whatever platform you wish, it takes a click of a button and published with its original resolution restored.
The fact is, if you are a programme maker using Forscene, you may already have your video content archived in Forscene from your post-production. In that case, by the time the show is ready to air on TV, you can have your promotional content ready for internet publishing.
To learn more about how you can use Forscene to exploit your video to maximise your audience, book a demo.
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Jon Hanford - Group CTO, Deltatre