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Week ending August 25, 2012

Deloitte - The rise and rise of ‘second screening’ - August 21, 2012
from Laura Parsons/Deloitte

- Use of other screens while watching TV: a source of excitement or concern?
- Nearly half of all 16-24 year olds use messaging, email, Facebook or Twitter to discuss what they are viewing on TV
- 80 per cent talk to other people in the same room while watching TV, another means of distracted viewing-

The rise of ‘second screening’ - the use of other screens, such as laptops, smartphones and tablets while watching TV – is a source of excitement and concern for many in the TV and technology industry according to a new report from Deloitte launched this week.

Nearly a quarter of all respondents (24%) use second screens. The most active second screening takes place among young people, nearly half of all 16-24 year olds use communication tools such as messaging, email, Facebook, or Twitter to discuss what they are watching on TV*. The vast majority of over 55s (79%) never talk about what they’re watching on TV on the internet.

There is muted appetite for interaction with TV programmes. Only one in ten people browse the internet for information about the programme they are watching. Some viewers (40%) like being able to send their comments in to a live programme. However, 68% would not want the websites for products, personalities or adverts that have just been shown on television, to automatically appear on their computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Paul Lee, director of technology, media and telecommunications research at Deloitte, comments: “Second screening’s impact is far greater in driving conversations about a programme, as opposed to interaction with it. Second screening may well end up with a similar status as eating in front of the TV: an everyday experience for some; absolutely unthinkable for others. One thing is certain: it is here for good.

“Browsing the web whilst watching television is undertaken “frequently” by a third of the sample. This might be a brand new technology-enabled distraction or it might simply represent the swapping of an analogue distraction for a digital one. Browsing while watching television typically means flitting between a preferred set of websites, often comprising news, sports, e-commerce. Time spent on these may be a substitute for reading newspapers and magazines, or looking through catalogues.”

Assessing the return on investment

Any investment in second screen content is likely to reduce resources for the first screen, television content. So programme makers face a predicament. Should they invest all their funds and creative energies in making main screen content as good as possible? Or should they blend the first and second screen experience, creating more impact in the currency of additional or more attentive viewers, and therefore greater revenue potential?

Paul Lee concludes: “The challenge for second screen content today is that it is likely to be relatively expensive as we are still in an experimental, bespoke phase. Every pound spent on second screen content may be a pound diverted from the first screen; in order to justify the investment content creators need to get the balance right between all screens.

“In time, creating official second screen experiences should become more formulaic and more easily reduced to a template. The more standardised second screen content creation becomes, the easier it should be to attain a positive return on investment.”

Robert Zaal appointed as the new director of Radio Netherlands Worldwide - July 27, 2012
from RNW Press Office

HILVERSUM – The Supervisory Board of Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) has appointed Robert Zaal as director of RNW 3.0 . From November 1, the 48-year-old will lead the implementation of RNW’s new direction, focussed on free speech. As of 2013, RNW will operate primarily in Africa and the Arab world, but also in countries such as China, Cuba, Venezuela and Mexico.

The chairman of the board, Bernard Bot, is pleased with the appointment. In a statement, Bot said, “after the most turbulent and painful period in RNW’s history, the organisation is now almost ready to embark on its new future. Robert Zaal has extensive experience in the areas of free speech, media and management. He’s the right person in the right place.”

Robert Zaal said he was pleased with the step. “It’s an honour to be able to contribute to promoting free speech around the world. This is more than just a regular job for me. It will be a challenge, together with the new editor-in-chief, to steer RNW in this new phase. There’s a good plan for RNW 3.0 and we will implement it in a serious and business-like fashion.”

RNW’s current director, Jan Hoek, remains responsible for activities related to the winding down of the old organisation, including the Social Plan and the closure of the relay stations. Jan Hoek and Robert Zaal will meet shortly to discuss the details and timing of the transfer.

Robert Zaal began his career as secretary of the Dutch Journalists’ Association. Later, he became the director of the regional broadcasters’ association, ROOS. For the past nine years, Zaal has been director of RTV North Holland, which recently acquired the Amsterdam television channel AT5, together with the AVRO broadcasting organisation and the Amsterdam newspaper Het Parool. Zaal is married and has three children.