UK TV Technology Industries Must Collaborate to Keep Innovating and Stay Globally Competitive

UK TV Technology Industries Must Collaborate to Keep Innovating and Stay Globally Competitive

LONDON, May 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --



The highly anticipated conclusion of the 18-month collaborative industry project, the
Future of Innovation in Television Technology (FITT) taskforce, was released today at the
DTG Summit in London. Presenting the findings, Ed Vaizey MP, Minister for Culture,
Communications and Creative Industries, said:



(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140520/687103-INFO )




"The FITT report helps to clarify a number of important issues, opportunities and
challenges facing the UK television industry. We will take careful note of the specific
recommendations for government and will work closely with the industry-led Next Generation
TV Planning Programme."



The report covers new reviews of Consumer Trends, the Evolution of Devices and
Applications, Computing for the Creative Industries, Data Management and Future Networks
and Infrastructure. The Steering Group made 13 recommendations based on the evidence from
this work. These include the establishment of a Leaders Assembly to guide a Next
Generation TV Technology Planning Programme; a Technology Advocacy Programme for
innovators to share newly-developed technologies and applications, and a cross-industry
working group to respond to the challenges of big data in television.



Many of the recommendations were guided by consumer trend data and projections that
showed that although viewing to the main television set remains stable, it is increasingly
augmented by viewers choosing to watch on any device, any time both inside and outside of
the home. The taskforce believes that these trends coupled with the increasing
connectivity of devices, people and content creates massive business potential for UK
media companies. However, consumer anxieties about privacy remain the biggest barrier to
realising these ambitions, and this highlights the need for transparency from providers -
potentially delivered via an industry-led review of self-regulation - and digital literacy
programmes for consumers.



Dr. David Docherty, Chairman of the FITT taskforce and of the DTG, said in response to
the report and recommendations:



"The UK TV industry is an amazing success story, with an enviable heritage of
innovating in television technology. But it's facing unprecedented challenges to its
ability to compete, let alone lead. The FITT report is testament to the resolve that
exists within the industry to deliver innovation that consumers and viewers want and to
keep the UK TV technology industry globally competitive."



The final report is available online at: http://dtg.org.uk/innovation.



Notes to the editor



About the Future of Innovation in Television Technology taskforce:



The Future of Innovation in Television Technology taskforce was an 18-month
collaborative industry project chaired by the DTG. Launched in Sep 2012 by Ed Vaizey MP it
was tasked with identifying specific measures aimed at leveraging the UK's track record of
innovation in television technology to create sustainable economic growth. Directed by a
Steering Group of industry executives, the research was guided by five workstreams led by
separate advisory groups looking at: consumer trends; the evolution of devices and
applications; computing for the creative industries; data management; and future networks
and infrastructure. The final report was published at the DTG Summit on 20 May 2014, with
recommendations for government, industry and academia.



http://dtg.org.uk/projects/innovation.html



ABOUT THE DTG
The DTG is the industry association for digital television in the UK, providing the
foundation for Freeview, Freesat and YouView and supporting the development of Sky, Virgin
Media, BT, TalkTalk, Connect-TV and VuTV.



In collaboration with industry the DTG has helped ensure a great consumer TV
experience by developing and publishing its technical specification, the D-Book, which has
been deployed in over 100m terrestrial televisions, set-top-boxes and recorders since the
introduction of digital TV in 1998.



Central to digital TV in the UK for nearly two decades, the DTG is currently embracing
the convergence of content and networks across industries and focussing on the efficient
delivery of video to all screens - mobile, tablet and TV, in all formats - standard, high
and 4k definitions.



It's supporting the next generation of digital TV and related technologies though its
work in the following areas: Broadcast AV; Connected AV; Mobile AV; Spectrum; and Ultra
HD.



http://www.dtg.org.uk



DTG SUMMIT 2014:



The DTG Summit 2014 is the annual conference of the DTG. This year's theme is "What is
the real future of TV?"



http://www.dtg.org.uk/dtg/summit.php




PRESS CONTACT:
David Harding, Head of Communications, DTG
dharding@dtg.org.uk




Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140520/687103-INFO


Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140520/687103-INFO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
DTG

CONTACT: David Harding, +44-(0)20-7840-6514


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