Introduction

Summary

Two shifts are transforming television: digitisation and globalisation. Internet-based video delivery, the uptake of cloud computing in the industry, mobile video consumption, and the rise of streaming platforms, are all phenomena connected to the process of digitisation. Internet protocol (IP)–based video transport is powering the transition from broadcasting to streaming, thereby changing the way content is distributed and accessed. The use of cloud computing is growing fast because it delivers an unprecedented amount of computing power and capacity to media firms at a fraction of the infrastructure costs (Chapters 3, 4, and 8). Video is increasingly accessed via mobile devices, and streaming is among the most popular activities for mobile users (Chapter 6). The digital shift is evolving business models. Platforms dominate television’s streaming age the way networks prevailed in the broadcasting era (Chapters 3 and 4). Media conglomerates are edging towards a direct-to-consumer (DCT) business model, revolutionising the way content rights are distributed and monetised (Chapters 3 and 9).