Explorations of the simultaneous convergence and collision of the traditional and new media worlds
I’m Alan Sawyer and I am a consultant specializing in traditional and new media.
I offer consulting, research, analysis and training services for media and new media clients. I'm always open to interesting career opportunities, too.
I have specific expertise related to new media in Canada and the implications of the Broadcasting Act with respect to new media.
In addition to independent producers and private broadcasters, I've worked with various corporations and industry organizations including AVAC, the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA), the CRTC, the Documentary Organization of Canada, Interactive Ontario, MoboVivo, Telefilm Canada and TELUS. I am also an application reviewer for the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund.
I have an extensive background in the area of
digital content and bring a unique combination of technical and business
perspectives to my analysis of the Canadian media industry, the convergence of telecommunications and media, and emerging
technologies and business models. In a not-so-distant past life I was a senior management consultant with IBM's Business Consulting Services in the Media and Entertainment and Digital Media practices.
As an application reviewer for the Bell Fund, I'm always aware of emerging trends in new media and convergent properties.
I am a member of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) and Two Solitudes is a member of Interactive Ontario.
I've delivered keynote addresses at the Tela Viva Congresso TV 2.0 conference in Brazil (2007) and at the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA) lunch at the 2006 Banff World Television Festival. I have given talks at the 2006 Infopresse Journal Future of Television conference, the Canadian Institute's 2006 Film and Television Industry Conference, the Canadian Satellite Users Association 2005 conference and the Central Canada Broadcast Engineers 2004 conference.
I have participated as a panelist or moderator at the Banff World Television Festival in 2009, the Insight Telecommunications Forum 2008, the Playback Mobile Forum in 2006 and 2007, the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA) Prime Time 2007 and 2009 conferences, the International Institute of Communications Canadian Chapter 2008 Conference, Insight Information's Telecommunications and Broadcasting Current Regulatory Issues and Policy conference in 2007, the 2006 Media in Canada Forum, the 2007 Atlantic Film Festival Strategic Partners conference, the Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada's 2006 Interactive to the Max Big Day, the 2007 Canadian Digital Broadcasting Summit, the Computer Animations Studios of Ontario (CASO) Jump Start program, Insight Information's Entertainment Industries conference in 2006, 2007 and 2008, and the Interactive Ontario annual conference in 2006, 2008 and 2009.
I co-chaired Insight Information's Entertainment Industries Conference in 2007 and 2008 and will be doing so again in 2009.
I developed the conference program for the ICE 2007 new media conference run by Interactive Ontario.
I've shared my vision of the future media world with the next generation of industry professionals, guest lecturing to the Management and Regulation class of Ryerson University's Radio and Television Arts program and presenting to the CFTPA's Mentorship Program at their Jump Start '08 conference.
"Always a great guest" — Kim Parlee, co-anchor, The Close, Business News Network
"A keen observer" — Andy Bell, co-anchor, The Close, Business News Network
CBC Newsworld,
Conventional broadcasting "crisis",
(with co-guest Norm Bolen),
March 29, 2009
CRTC New Media hearing begins,
February 17, 2009
CRTC BDU decisions,
October 30, 2008
CRTC announces New Media review,
October 16, 2008
The National (CBC News),
CRTC BDU hearings,
April 8, 2008
CRTC BDU hearings,
April 7, 2008
Canadian cell and Internet usage,
July 18, 2007
Business News Network,
Possible TELUS takeover of BCE
June 22, 2007
Business News Network / CTV News,
Media mergers, convergence
May 15 , 2007
CBC Newsworld,
Astral purchase of Standard Radio,
April 12, 2007
Report on Business Television,
NBC announces massive job cuts
October 23, 2006
I have
written for Broadcast
Engineering Magazine, Playback Magazine, The Toronto Star
and hosted the INside Tracks podcasts for the IN 09 conference and the
ICE Cubes podcasts for the ICE 2007 and ICE 2008 conferences.
Computer Animation Studios of Ontario Jump Start,
Panelist,
June 19, Toronto
Insight Entertainment Industries Summit,
Conference co-chair,
October 19-20, Toronto
My December 2008 submission in response to CRTC Broadcasting Public Hearing CRTC 2008-11 (Canadian broadcasting in new media) is available in PDF format here.
The submission that I wrote on behalf of MoboVivo for the above proceeding is available in PDF format here.
My July 2008 submission in response to CRTC Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2008-44 (Call for comments on the scope of a future proceeding on Canadian broadcasting in new media) is available in PDF format here.
The Two Solitudes report, Changing Channels: Alternative Distribution of Television Content, produced for the CRTC that's referenced in the CRTC publication Perspectives on Canadian Broadcasting in New Media is available from the CRTC website here.
I co-authored (with Michael Hennessy of TELUS) a whitepaper entitled "A Friendly Future for New Media" that was presented at the nextMEDIA and Banff World Television Festival conferences in 2008. The paper can be accessed here.
Alan Sawyer
Phone: (647)
477-6187
Toll free: (800) 315-0608
