Necessary Critiques

Winston Churchill once said, “Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary.” This is the attitude we adopted on Thursday as we pitched our web feature to our peers.

There was a positive response to our idea, but concerns were raised as to whether it was too amateurish for Screen Hub.

In response to this, we will strive to use the most authoritative sources possible in our articles, and design the site in a sleek, streamlined and professional manner.

For more information on our pitch, check out our handout!

The Globalisation of Intellectual Property

If you read anything online asking why Netflix isn’t in Australia, you will see the same answer repeated: they don’t have the appropriate ‘streaming rights.’

This begs the questions: what are ‘streaming rights’? who are they governed by? and, what happens if they are breached?

Streaming rights appear to be integral to how the online mediascape in Australia will change in the next few years, so this is definitely something which ought to be addressed in our feature.

To further my understanding of this area of law, I set up a meeting with Jeremy Kriewaldt, a partner of the law firm Atanaskovic Hartnell. His explanation was as follows:

JEREMY: Copyright and [intellectual property] law is really all about the same thing, that is protecting the form of a work...Licenses are sold by the producers of a film or TV show to distribute it. The film itself is the intellectual property of the actors, composers, editors, director, but they all signed away their rights to the producers. Licenses cover things from cinema viewings to videotape, or sorry – DVD formatting and release... so that's what these mythical 'streaming rights' are. Nothing special, just ordinary licensing agreements...

Problem with online distribution is that each country has its own copyright laws, and while these have been unified to an extent through the Berne Convention, it’s still a bit of a mess. To really get in there look at the [Copyright] Act and the Convention, that will show you how geographically divided it all is.

Jeremy was very helpful, and a very charming, well-spoken and charismatic man. Our feature website could definitely be more dynamic and engaging if we could include a video interview with him regarding copyright law. This would also make our feature more authoritative – hearing the explanation directly from an expert.

Do you think videos work well in online features? Would you watch it, or skip right on to the next page?

Appealing to 'Generation Now'- But at What Cost? The Future of the Australian Broadcast Industry

Willy Wonka knew that the impact of bratty kids wanting it now could destroy an industry.


As Generation Y, we have a similar gratuitous desire to access the latest episodes of our favourite television shows- now. But at what cost is fulfilling this desire going to have on our Australian Broadcast industry?

Currently in Australia, accessing content online can be difficult and sometimes Generation Y must grudgingly rely on television to provide our craving fixes. Within this distinct lack of online streaming services available, what would happen if a service became available which made accessing content easily accessible? 

Netflix is one internet provider of on-demand internet streaming, which has been discussing entering Australia. They have already secured the domain name of '.au' and according to a 2011 US study by Schonfeld, Netflix significantly impacted the marketplace, with 50% of TV viewers sourcing content from the internet.  Already available in the United States, Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, United Kingdom and Ireland, Netflix's appeal and success is its fixed rate service, allowing individuals to cheaply, easily and legally have any show they desire… by a simple mouse ‘click.’


And the Australian market wants it.

To Generation Y its an exciting blessing, of all their teen drama angst questions being answered now. Finaly we can know before the TV dwellers whether Blair will stay with Chuck. 

Ultimately, a service appealing to the gratuitous desires of generation Y and Z wanting content now, could however lead to the collapse of the Australian broadcasting media industry. With a large decrease in television viewers, the advertising industry could abandon television and move to online advertising- chasing the crowd in the search of greater economic revenue. By content being readily accessible and unrestricted by the regulations of television, watching local Australian content would decrease in Australia; in favour of other shows. 

Unrestricted by the Australian television and movie industries (broadcast, cinemas, distributors, etc.) content regulations, copyright issues and fixed advertising time, how can the Australian industry adapt to remain competitive in this changing environment?


Like Willy Wonka, it is therefore important that 'down the shoot' wanting it now must go. By identify how other media-landscapes have coped with the introduction of internet streamers, our team aims to predict and develop a possible innovative strategy to protect the future of our Australian industry.

Sources:
http://techcrunch.com/2012/01/08/how-people-watch-tv-online/
http://foglicious.tumblr.com/post/15846954971/fav-movie-bitch-veruca-salt-willy-wonka-and-the
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/netflixs_big_data_plans_to_take_over_the_world.php