Events

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A Sandpit is a new type of interactive environment, which involves 20 – 30 invited participants, comprising facilitators and a number of independent stakeholders. An essential element is an inter-disciplinary mix of participants, to drive free-thinking and new approaches to addressing particular challenges.

The aim is to identify joint development opportunities and to enable knowledge transfer and ideas exchange on a specific topic. Sandpits use a variety of innovative tools and techniques where analysis, creative exchange, innovation, risk taking and even play can flourish. Sandpits offer a dynamic and highly visual environment where ideas can quickly be modelled, built up, knocked down and reshaped until finally the strongest emerges.

The University of Wales, Newport held a number of Sandpits at its Creative Capital event in London between 11th and the 13th May 2009. One of the Sandpit’s entitled “Redefining Broadcasting” included 22 representatives from across industry, policy makers and the research councils. This included representatives from the BBC, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Technology Strategy Board, EPSRC, S4C, Move Networks, UK government representatives amongst many others.

The Purpose:

• The purpose of the Sandpit was to explore the creative and commercial challenges that are faced by broadcasting in an increasingly convergent digital world.

• To address challenges from the perspectives of content producers, distributors and users, with particular emphasis on future business models and innovation-led regional and international development.

The two key questions which were asked to the group towards the end of the Sandpit session were:

Which issues in Broadcasting would you like to be addressed? (Answers are listed below)

• How can quality content be funded?
• Business model construction
• What might the future broadcast value chain look like
• Business models which give fair payment to all contributors?
• A new business model that funds content providers
• How we develop new working processes to service multiplatform content
• Skills that will be needed to adapt to the future
• Agreed standards for technology in the broadcast industry
• How to develop a working ecosystem where all parties can benefit

How do you think the Institute of Advanced Broadcasting can help and what should it be doing with you? (Answers are listed below)

• IAB can act as an independent facilitator
• Bridging the gap between industry and the public sector
• Become a trusted source of information
• Locking technology, economics and creativity
• Dissemination of informed research into new models
• It needs to be a “bridge” between industry, academia and government informing what can be achieved and assisting with commercially driven projects
• Engaging content developers, rightsholders, broadcaster and other distribution platforms to develop new business models
• Industry driven research projects
• It can be a focus point for the issues, bringing the right disciplines with industry and other users
• By testing ideas in small test areas and evaluating the results

Image Gallery from the Event

Sandpit May 09

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