12
NEWS & VIEWS
November 2017
Embracing new technologies to
enhance storytelling capabilities
To enhance storytelling capabilities
while embracing emerging tech-
nologies, Discover y Networks
Asia-Pacific (DNAP), a division of
Discovery Communications, has
established a strategic alliance with
Singapore’s Info-communications
Media Development Authority
(IMDA). The year-long partner-
ship between DNAP and IMDA is
designed to upskill and co-create
content using advanced tech-
niques and technologies, includ-
ing 4K/Ultra HD (UHD) and virtual
reality (VR).
Driven by Discovery Networks
International (DNI) and DNAP, the
US$5-million partnership is aimed
at nurturing new and upcoming
producers, as well as give Singa-
pore’s producers the opportunity
to showcase their expertise to a
global audience.
Bryan Seah, head of original
content, South-east Asia, DNAP,
told APB: “Discovery has had a long
history of bringing together emerg-
ing technologies with quality story-
telling, and Discovery VR continues
that rich tradition. Although much
of the focus at the moment is on VR
hardware and one-off experiences
on VR, we are excited to go a step
further by creating VR films with
strong narratives and storylines
that bring viewers into unexplored,
unexpected worlds.”
Earlier in June this year, DNAP
conducted a series of workshops,
which shed light on the latest
technologies and insights into VR
and storytelling. The workshops,
according to DNAP, concluded with
a number of pitches from Singa-
pore production companies, where
four shortlisted films will premiere
Virtual reality (VR) and Facebook Watch
are some of the new technologies
and delivery platforms that Discovery
Communications has embraced to deliver compelling content to a
global audience across all platforms. APB prompts Bryan Seah, head of
original content, Southeast-Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, and
Fred Graver, senior vice-president, digital and social content, Discovery
Communications, for more insights about their latest projects.
❝ Although much of the focus at the
moment is on VR hardware and one-off
experiences on VR, we are excited to
go a step further by creating VR films
with strong narratives and storylines
that bring viewers into unexplored,
unexpected worlds. ❞
— Bryan Seah, Head of Original Content, South-east Asia,
Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific
❝ Creating shows for Watch allows
us to connect with Facebook’s wide
audience, proving once again the
value of our brands and content
across a variety of platforms. ❞
— Fred Graver, Senior Vice-President,
Digital and Social Content, Discovery Communications
on the Discovery VR application
globally. While the formats —
long- or short-form — have yet to
be determined based on the four
shortlisted films, DNAP is planning
to share the films later this year.
Seah continued: “Currently, we
White Paper @
www.apb-news.com
Protecting premium sports rights in an
era of rampant piracy
v
The decline in pay-TV subscriptions
in many parts of the world has led to
the emergence of massive online au-
diences for live sports events. While
this is creating new revenue streams
and direct customer relationships
for sports rights holders, traditional
broadcast and new over-the-top
(OTT) revenues are increasingly
threatened by surging consumer reli-
ance on illegal sources of streamed content. This is fuelling an
urgent need for new tools and services that can be used by
rights holders and distributors to fight piracy on a global scale.
In the first of a three-part white paper series, Nagra
analyses the threat piracy poses to rights holders who rely
on revenue from live streaming of sports events.
are delivering a robust program-
ming line-up of more than 140
experiences, with new content
added regularly across platforms.
We have seen strong responses
from our audiences, as well as
advertisers. Globally, there has
been four million downloads of
our Discovery VR apps, and over
141 million views to date.”
In August, social media plat-
form Facebook launched Watch, a
new video platform for shows to be
streamed on Facebook. Available
on Facebook’s apps, desktop site
and on TV apps, Facebook Watch
consists of shows that are made
up of episodes — live or recorded
— and follow a theme or storyline.
Following the establishment
of Facebook Watch, Discovery
Communications has also an-
nounced its support for the new
video streaming platform by de-
veloping mid-form shows for the
Facebook community. In addition,
the broadcaster will produce shows
both inspired by iconic Discovery
Communications’ propertie