Page 4 - March 2016 Special Report

Rumor has it that a known media conglomerate, one close to all our hearts, has joined forces with Google and has already come up with an effective and working version of one of these “super boxes” - a box that will be able to access cable, internet (via Ethernet or wi-fi) and cellular data systems in order to access content. Now sports can be live (with just a slight delay) or time shifted on demand. This a la carte way of doing things will, initially, not generate the cash flow our industry is currently accustomed.
For the freelancer it means pressure to reduce our cost to the productions, cheaper equipment provided to do our work as well as new and not well considered working conditions. The industry will still need technical crew, but what shape and how these crews will be structured and handled is still the subject of experimentation and debate. Because of this, we will need to be receptive to finding ways to work with our employers, because if they can not be competitive and deliver a product that attracts viewers, and as a result not make a profit, then they will fail. If they fail, we fail, since we are all in the same boat when it comes to the changing broadcast distribution system we all depend on for our livelihood.
1,2,3 - http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2015/10/26/Media/ESPN.aspx 4,6 - http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/fcc-votes-approve-controversial-set-867364 5 - http://nerdist.com/fcc-ruling-cable-apple-tv-android-tv-google-amazon/
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