The Summit will bring together broadcasters, new media operators, advertising, marketing and media agencies and sports federations and rights owners. They will examine the way that changing tastes and media consumption habits impact on the audience for sport and, consequently, the business models and revenue streams of media and marketing organisations.
The emergence of sites including YouTube is among the key issues facing the sector. They allow users to by-pass the established sports media value chain by posting content which can be viewed free by audiences anywhere in the world.
Among the panellists will be Robert Waterman, whose SecondsOut.com portal has exclusive rights to leading boxing matches. He says: “They are not just taking some of he value but all of it.”
The social networking debate is set to be one of the highlights of a packed conference programme which will be chaired by former BBC Director General Greg Dyke who said|:
“The emergence of new forms of digital media and significant changes in media consumption habits mean that the old rules no longer apply.
“The Summit will address some fundamental questions about the current and future value of sport to broadcasters, sponsors and advertisers alike. It promises to be a fascinating and invaluable day for all the individuals and groups with an interest in the changing relationship between sport, the media and marketing.”
The conference is based on the understanding that digital television, broadband internet and the growing potential of mobile are significantly altering media consumption patterns. These changes are creating massive commercial opportunities and challenging established broadcasters and advertisers to re-think their strategies. The Summit sets out to identify what this means for the role and value of sport as media content.
Among the questions to be addressed are:
• Can sport retain and build its value and relevance as content in a digital media world?
• How will developing technologies impact business models and advertising opportunities around sport?
• Who will hold the balance of power in sports media?
• What’s the role of public broadcasters in the future of sport?
• New media: a lifeline or concrete boots for ‘minority’ sports?
• Will new media mean new competition and further inflation in sports rights fees?
The conference aims to deliver clarity in a challenging and fast-changing environment, insight to assist commercial development and an understanding of new marketing and advertising opportunities for sports content.
