The world's most influential media, entertainment & technology show
RAI Amsterdam | 13 – 17 SEPTEMBER 2019
Over the five days of the conference over 1,400 delegates and guests from across the globe will hear from our outstanding line-up of 400+ speakers, enjoy fantastic networking opportunities and be inspired to embrace the changes in our industry.
Combining a world-class exhibition with free-to-attend feature areas and events, the IBC Exhibition provides the perfect platform for you to network and build relationships with suppliers and customers, discover the latest trends and technologies and drive your innovations and strategy.
5 Days
1,700+ Delegates
400+ Speakers
100+ Sessions
Facebook head of communications Nick Clegg has dismissed allegations that the social media network was used to help influence the Brexit referendum result.
The social media giant has come under scrutiny by Brexit opponents questioning what role Russian forces played in the Brexit vote through the promotion of stories online using Facebook to push issues including immigration to sway opinion.
Speaking during an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Clegg argued that Facebook and other technology firms required greater regulation.
He said there was a “pressing need” for new rules and regulation, notably on privacy, election rules and on the use of people’s data as well as what constitutes hate speech.
There’s “no evidence” Russia influenced Brexit says Facebook’s global affairs head @nick_clegg. “The roots to British euroscepticism go very deep” #r4today #Brexit https://t.co/liD8RQyF7B pic.twitter.com/2IinKfYvGW
— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) 24 June 2019
He said: “Facebook has a heavy responsibility to protect the integrity of elections from outside interference.
“I also think we have a duty to explain fact from some of the allegations that have been made.”
Clegg explained how he can understand why the British public wanted to hold Facebook responsible, particularly after the Cambridge Analytica scandal, however, he added the roots of British Euroscepticism existed long before Facebook launched, according to a report by Reuters.
He said: “I understand why people want to sort of reduce that eruption in British politics to some kind of plot or conspiracy - or some use of new social media through opaque means.”
Clegg was UK deputy prime minister from 2010 to 2015 and a strong campaigner to remain in the European Union.
He said any claim that that data was used in the Brexit referendum was also false and argued attitudes had been influenced far more by “traditional media” over the last 40 years than by new media.
The BBC reported, that when as asked whether Facebook should not be fixing some of these issues itself, Clegg said it was not something big technology companies “can or should” do on their own.
He added: “It’s not for private companies, however big or small, to come up with those rules. It is for democratic politicians in the democratic world to do so.”
But stressed companies like Facebook should play a “mature role” in advocating regulation.
Read more Zuckerberg concedes Facebook regulation
Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos is confident audiences will pay for multiple streaming services and dispelled rumours of data harvesting and investing in sports media rights.
Sarandos told delegates during SeriesFest in Denver, Colorado, the strategy the streaming giant has employed to build its comprehensive content library won’t change despite the influx of new competition.
He said: “Picking content and working with the creative community is a very human function.
“The data doesn’t help you on anything in that process but it does help you size the investment. Sometimes we’re wrong on both ends of that, even with this great data. I really think it’s 70-80% art and 20-30% science.”
Addressing the formidable competition set to rival Netflix, Sarandos is confident this business model will give Netflix an edge against its competitors, according to a report by Deadline.
He added: “The thing that’s interesting about all these upcoming services, as well as the services that are in the market today, is that mostly they have none of the same programming.
“Nothing that’s on Disney+ is going to be on Netflix and nothing that’s on Netflix is going to be on the [Comcast and WarnerMedia services]. They’re going to be very unique.”
During the interview, which was carried out by Liberty Global chief executive Mike Fries, Sarandos dispelled rumours that the streaming giant would pursue the rights to broadcast live sporting events and offered reassurances that the firm has no plans to venture beyond its current business model.
The arrival of Apple TV Plus and Disney+ raises the question on Netflix’s pricing model, however, despite its gradual monthly price increase, Sarandos said Netflix is “still pretty cheap,” he added: “I honestly think about it not in terms of price but in terms of value.
“If people are getting the value for the dollar, they should track each other really closely.”
Netflix has been building its content empire and pushing into more original programming with its weighty investment in content that topped $12 billion in 2018 and is expected to grow to $15 billion this year, according to Wall Street analysts.
Last month IBC365 reported the forecast that Disney+ would take on Netflix and Amazon as it is expected to add 19.2 million subscribers in Western Europe by 2024, according to Digital TV Research.
The forthcoming streaming service is expected to hit the market on 12 November and will significantly enhance the OTT market, however, analysts do not expect Disney to surpass the popularity and subscriber base of Netflix by 2024.
The BBC will broadcast the 2019 Wimbledon Championships in high-definition live for the first time across its TV, radio and digital channels.
The BBC Sport’s digital service will transmit every match from Wimbledon’s 18 courts live and on-demand on its iPlayer service as well as on the BBC Sport website and app.
While, for the first time in broadcasting history, every match will be broadcast live in high-definition (HD) when the tournament commences on 1 July.
The Centre Court matches will also be available in ultra high-definition (UHD) and HD on BBC’s iPlayer which can be activated by pressing the red button on the controller. BBC Sport director Barbara Slater said: “Wimbledon is the centrepiece event of the sporting calendar and it will be brilliant to welcome back our unrivalled team of experts this year alongside some new faces.
“The BBC’s offering this year will bring our audiences exceptional coverage and bring them closer to the court action than ever before.”
Virgin Media had a UK first last month after it utilised hybrid log gamma (HLG) technology to broadcast French Open tennis matches from Roland Garros in ultra-high definition (UHD) and high dynamic range (HDR). Tennis fans were able to enhance their viewing experiences for all matches that played on the redeveloped Philipe Chatrier courts.
UK TV personality and former professional tennis player Sue Baker will lead the Wimbledon 2019 Championship TV coverage across BBC One and BBC Two, with Clare Balding presenting daily highlights on BBC Two.
Tennis legends including John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Boris Becker and Billie Jean King and Grand Slam winners Tracy Austin, Pat Cash and Kim Clijsters, as well as Tim Henman, will all give their expert analysis.
Three-time Wimbledon champion McEnroe will also present a BBC Radio 5 Live show each Thursday of the tournament.
BBC championing change
Last month the BBC launched a new line up of women’s sport this summer with live coverage, new commissions and leading talent across its TV, radio and podcast channels.
The new BBC season titled Change The Game promises to broadcast the most comprehensive schedule of live sport and is dubbed the “biggest destination for all women’s sport action this summer.”
The live action is complemented by additional content including documentaries, podcasts and online strands which have all been commissioned as part of Change The Game campaign to celebrate the upcoming season of sport.
Read more: BBC to “change the game” for women’s sport
The Australian public broadcaster is seeking to cut its payments to pay-TV provider Foxtel in a move to recoup its finances after the Coalition government froze its $1 billion annual budget.
The Australia Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is negotiating with New Corp-owned Foxtel to end its yearly $4 million deal enabling Australian viewers to watch the public broadcaster’s content on the platform.
ABC managing director David Anderson delivered the news to staff yesterday during a meeting held under Chatham House rule, saying the ABC “would prefer to pay nothing to be on Foxtel,” according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
Anderson said: “We’re going through that with them and negotiating how we can reduce that cost.”
The ABC hopes to cease its payments to Foxtel in a bid to minimise savings that would otherwise affect content creation or staffing.
However, the decision would still impact how Australian audiences can access the public broadcaster’s programming.
The ABC is facing cuts totalling around $84 million as part of an indexation pause introduced by Australia Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull’s government in the 2018 Federal budget. If the inflation rate comes in at 3%, this would mean cuts to expected funding of $15 million in the first year, $28 million in the second and $41 million in the third, the SMH estimated.
News Corp reported $539 million in pro-forma revenue for its pay-TV arm in the first three months of the financial year, which was down 13% compared to the same time last year.
However, if Foxtel loses the ABC payment it would represent a “modest annual cut,” which comes at a time when the business is facing competitive pressure from streaming services such as Netflix.
The ABC’s $4 million annual payment to Foxtel is portioned across its third parties, including satellite providers, for hosting ABC’s services on its platform.
Ending the retransmission agreement with Foxtel was one of the recommendations in a 2014 efficiency review of the ABC and SBS.
Anderson has been discussing how to reduce the cost with Foxtel since the end of 2018 and is looking to get rid of the fee entirely. He is also looking at efficiencies by combining more back-end operations with SBS, he said during the meeting.
An ABC spokesman said the broadcaster was considering “various savings measures to meet funding cuts with minimal impact to our content, services and staff, in accordance with our ongoing obligation to find efficiencies”.
He said: “We are currently in discussions with Foxtel regarding the costs associated with the retransmission of ABC services.”
A Foxtel spokesman confirmed the discussions are ongoing: “We are making good progress but those discussions have some way to go and it’s not appropriate to comment at this stage.”
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