Gerry OSullivan is outgoing SVP Global TV and Entertainment, Deutsche Telekom and is chairing the debate Are Telcos the Transformers of the Future of TV? on Sunday 15, at 13:00. He has had executive management of commercial, editorial, creative, operational and technical teams for leading broadcasters and MSOs across three continents and offers a unique perspective on how digital content and new technologies can support and create new revenue streams for the business.
Q: You are chairing the debate Are Telcos the Transformers of the Future of TV?' Without wishing to pre-empt the session, what is your opinion? Are they? Are you?
A: I think they could be, they have the large customer bases already in place, they generally have the deep pockets required and understand the technical and marketing challenges in communicating with their customers. The issue is do they want to be the transformers by being prepared to commit themselves to invest in content and innovation for the mid to long term.
Q: When it comes to competing with broadcasters, is it about offering premium content or is it about offering services?
A: This is one of those it's and' not or' answers. So yes it's about offering premium content and services...oh and by the way and clever marketing and providing choice for customers and attractive price points and 1st class customer care and a constant stream of innovative experiences etc.
Q: What remain the barriers to entry to those wishing to enter the broadcast' space?
A: Getting all of the above correct all the time and doing it better than your competitors.
Q: How much of a concern is the uneven broadband landscape in Europe? What, if anything, should be done about it?
A: It will need to evolve naturally unless certain governments can push it forward which is unlikely in the economic times we find ourselves in. However, there is a great opportunity for the Telcos and the Pay TV providers to bring bundled TV and Broadband services across Europe which hopefully will accelerate broadband. The Telcos also have the new emerging mobile spectrums which may become the primary broadband service in parts of Europe.
Q: At the IBC Leaders' Summit you're on the panel discussing engaging the connected viewer. Is it still correct to be talking about the second screen, or should we now be simply talking about multiple screens?
A: It's an easy to use term that everyone has picked up, but to me we now have an increasing number of glass screens in the home (presently six in my house) from 4 inches to 50 inches all needing amazing content, fantastic easy usability, connectivity and each needs to be able to serve as a companion to the other.
Q: As audiences get more demanding and apps etc get more complex and fully-featured, is monetisation of companion screen content a problem?
A: Those who do it well, get everything right, the content, the usability and a real understanding of how customers want to interact with digital content will have no problem monetising these experiences. Unfortunately, like the internet in total there will be a lot of rubbish out there. Also it depends on your definition of monetisation, everyone wants to see direct revenues from these services, and if you can get it fine, but many of these services monetise by being excellent marketing tools for acquisition and customer loyalty.
Q: The number of people actually using the connected aspects of their connected sets is still rather small (around 5%). Is this a developing problem? Or is such tentative consumer behaviour expected?
A: So far, I haven't been impressed with what I've seen with what the user has been presented in terms of experience on the connected TVs. Some look like my four year old would have done a better job. The intelligence, customer understanding and attention to detail required for a good experience is very underestimated, I've been privileged to work with the best in the business during my career.
Q: Stereo 3D. Dead, dying, or just resting?
A: None of the above. It's evolving and remember has arrived five to ten years before many of the industry experts' predicted it would be in peoples homes. The content is now catching up with the technology and the user experience needs to be continually improved. But its here, and if you choose to want to see how Andy Murray's serve actually bends as if you were actually there at Centre Court Wimbledon or how that twenty foot putt actually made it into the hole, you now have a choice its always been about choice.
Q: Finally, what future developments in television technological or otherwise excite you?
A: 3D Printers. MIT research into holographic screens. Musion' experiences.
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
28/04/2024
Mediahaus delivers the first SRT live-streaming sports production over 5G with U...
26/04/2024
Sundance Film Festival CDMX 2024 kicks-off today with screenings in 5 theaters in Mexico City and the opening-night film, FRIDA, directed by Carla Guti rrez...
26/04/2024
[Editor's Note: This interview is part of a larger feature about the women d...
26/04/2024
Once again this year, SGL Carbon opened its doors to interested children and young people. On the occasion of the German Girls and Boys Day, which took place on...
26/04/2024
Orders1 of $5.5 billion; book-to-bill of 1.06x
Revenue of $5.2 billion, up 17%,...
26/04/2024
Five Considerations For Communications Modernization In The 21st Century
In the digital-enabled battlespace, the Joint Force needs to shoot, move and communica...
26/04/2024
CBS Sports has launched Champions League as a new, 24-hour streaming channel that will serve as the year-round destination for nonstop highlights of the UEFA ...
26/04/2024
Despite tough competition in the streaming space, Roku reported solid results in Q1 2024, beating revenue expectations, with total net revenue up 19% YoY to $88...
26/04/2024
LONDON AND TORONTO Pinewood Toronto Studios has appointed Sarah Farrell as general manager of the Studios in downtown Toronto....
26/04/2024
Quantum to Offer Advanced Filesharing Technology and Performance in StorNext and...
26/04/2024
FilmLight Colour Awards welcomes 2024 entries and introduces new Emerging Talen...
26/04/2024
Picture Shop Announces Chris Evans as Head of Unscripted
Brie Clayton April 26, 2024
0 Comments
Picture Shop announced Chris Evans will lead Unscripte...
26/04/2024
Participate in a Survey - The Impact of AI on Media and the Creative Industry
Pascal Wagner April 26, 2024
0 Comments
By participating in this survey,...
26/04/2024
Toy maker Mattel said it is working with Samsung to launch its first free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels later this year....
26/04/2024
Trusted Media Brands (TMB) said it named Marty Moe as president....
26/04/2024
Ron Howard is the director on Jim Henson Idea Man, a documentary that premieres on Disney Plus May 31. Henson of course created Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Big...
26/04/2024
The ice continues to melt under the regional sports network business as the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League have made a long-term deal to broadcast...
26/04/2024
Heading into the upfronts, Warner Bros. Discovery said it launched Olli, a first-party data platform advertiser can use for converged, targeted advertising camp...
26/04/2024
CBS has renewed the drama The Equalizer, which will see season five on in 2024-2025. Queen Latifah stars....
26/04/2024
The CW has entered into an exclusive multiyear broadcast partnership for the Miss USA Pageant and the Miss Teen USA Pageant. The 73rd Miss USA Pageant will air ...
26/04/2024
Fuse Media isn't mincing words in a campaign urging its young viewers to register and participate in the 2024 elections....
26/04/2024
Dead Boy Detectives, a series from Neil Gaiman about a detective agency staffed by ghosts, debuts on Netflix April 25. George Rexstrew and Jayden Revri are in t...
26/04/2024
The Story Collective has gradually repurposed the former Mortlake Brewery to include production offices, workshops and sound stages
By Matthew Corrigan
Publi...
26/04/2024
Perkett joins the company following a 25 year career in product management, product marketing, engineering and user experience (UX) across multiple industries
...
26/04/2024
Teradek, the industry leader in wireless video transmitters and receivers, announced today the launch of new Bolt 6 LT 750 and Bolt 6 Monitor Module 750 RX with...
26/04/2024
NEW YORK Amagi has appointed Richard Perkett chief product officer (CPO)....
26/04/2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has announced the results of the 2024 NAB Radio and Television Board of Directors elections. The...
26/04/2024
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. & NEW YORK Mattel has announced a deal to launch its first three 24/7 free ad supported streaming (FAST) channels on Samsung TV Plus, Samsung...
26/04/2024
PORTLAND, Maine Viewers here can now receive the NextGen TV signals of five local stations with the launch of ATSC 3.0 service from host station WPFO, which is ...
26/04/2024
TORONTO Rogers Communications has signed a 10-year agreement with Comcast to bring the latest Xfinity products and technology to Canadians....
26/04/2024
Calrec is very pleased to announce the benefits of its highly flexible approach to customer service has been recognized with a third award for the Argo range. T...
26/04/2024
New Adobe Photoshop with Advanced Generative Fill and Generate Image Brings New ...
26/04/2024
Trends And Takeaways From NAB Show 2024
Melanie Ciotti April 25, 2024
0 Comments
NAB's Eric Trabb (right) awards SNS with two NAB Show Product of ...
26/04/2024
Sony's Ci Media Cloud Keeps NHRA Moving
Brie Clayton April 25, 2024
0 Comments
Cloud-Based Media Asset Management and Collaboration Platform Accel...
26/04/2024
Capitol Broadcasting & Leadership Triangle Collaborate for Third Year
Capitol B...
26/04/2024
The staff at CBC Radio have been hard at work creating several new features for listeners and viewers. Several debuts are taking place this spring.
I have nev...
26/04/2024
26 Apr 2024
Cricket Finds Its Digital Home in Bangladesh: VEON's Banglalink...
26/04/2024
NBA Playoffs 2024: ESPN Rolls Out Huge Production Operation for Busy First Round Tech deployments include miked on-field personnel, shot-distance tracking, AR g...
26/04/2024
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs: ESPN Ops Team Navigates Both Sides of the Border With ...
26/04/2024
Behind the Scenes at the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit (Photo Gallery) After just the first round, the 2024 NFL Draft has already made quite an impression in Detroi...
26/04/2024
NFL Draft 2024: Van Wagner Powers Onsite Entertainment Experience for Record Cro...
26/04/2024
Rohde & Schwarz presents spectrum dominance in all domains at AOC Europe Rohde & Schwarz demonstrates the next generation of SIGINT/EW systems and sensor fusi...
26/04/2024
MCine Mauritius is to use Qube Wire for all future DCP deliveries across their e...
26/04/2024
Skeem Saam' May Spoiler: Has Lehasa killed Khwezi?The Skeem Saam' May teasers mention Lehasa being apologetic about killing someone. Is it his baby mam...
26/04/2024
Skeem Saam: Thursday's episode, 25 April 2024 [video]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African s...
26/04/2024
Prison Journalism: Some issues to considerWesley Leong was incarcerated at the age of 15 in 1996 at Pollsmoor Prison. He is currently part of Restore's rese...
26/04/2024
Tonight on Scandal: A line is crossed and a mother starts to lose focusDon't miss Friday, 26 April's riveting episode of South African soapie Scandal! o...
Gerry OSullivan is outgoing SVP Global TV and Entertainment, Deutsche Telekom and is chairing the debate Are Telcos the Transformers of the Future of TV? on Sunday 15, at 13:00. He has had executive management of commercial, editorial, creative, operational and technical teams for leading broadcasters and MSOs across three continents and offers a unique perspective on how digital content and new technologies can support and create new revenue streams for the business. 
