Two Solitudes — digital media consulting services

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 digital media / new media / interactive media and its impact and inter-relationship with traditional media, especially in broadcast-related forms. While other consultants dabble in this space, this is my principal area of practice.

Services offered

I consult on all aspects of cross-media, trans-media and interactive-only projects from creative content to business and marketing plans.

My specialty is strategic consulting and analysis, but I also take on appropriate research projects and offer training services for clients wishing to examine and explore the changing worlds of traditional media and digital media. I also help broadcasters and producers scope out interactive project components and find appropriate companies with which to partner on these initiatives.

Are you interested in what the new Canada Media Fund means for you and your projects? I can help there, advising you on what you need to know and what you need to do. Through my work with the Bell Fund, the Independent Production Fund Web Series Pilot Program, and having provided advice and insights in a private session to the CMF board, I'm on top of what's happening in the digital media content space in Canada. For TV producers and broadcasters, I can help you find the right partner, develop the right creative, and make the right deal for your CMF projects. I also have relationships with many of the top interactive / digital media content creators in Canada. Click here for more details about this service offering.

Clients

In addition to independent producers and private broadcasters, I've worked with various corporations and industry organizations including the Canada Media Fund (CMF), the Canadian Media Production Association [formerly the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA)], the CRTC, the Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC), Interactive Ontario (IO), The National Film Board of Canada (NFB), the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC), and Telefilm Canada. I am also an analyst for the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund.

About me

Alan Sawyer image 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 analyst for the Bell Fund, I'm always aware of emerging trends in new media and convergent properties. I'm also an advisor to the Independent Production Fund Web Drama Series Pilot Program.

I have specific expertise related to new media in Canada and the implications of regulatory policy (under the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Acts) with respect to digital media.

Two Solitudes Consulting is a member of Interactive Ontario.

What others have said about me

“He was instrumental in opening us up to new ideas and ways to bridge old and new media constructs. I highly recommend him as a thinker and facilitator”

“Always insightful and ahead of the curve”

“His knowledge of broadcasting, new media and telecommunications industry is among the best in Canada”

“… not only possesses an extensive depth of knowledge in digital content, but he is also masterfully skilled at moderating his contemporaries”

“Alan is an excellent resource. Clear minded, focused and thorough”

“The horizons are broad on Alan's insight into both the present and the future of the television industry at home and abroad”

“He’s a cut-through-the-clutter type of thinker with a high-level perspective on all things digital content and distribution. His dedication to high standards of quality and excellence also make him a pleasure to work with”

LinkedIn users can read more recommendations here

Conference participation

I have participated as a panelist or moderator at the Banff World Television Festival in 2009 and 2010, the Canada 3.0 conference in 2010, the Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA) [formerly the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA)] Prime Time 2007, 2009 and 2010 conferences, the 2010 Canadian Telecom Summit, the Computer Animations Studios of Ontario (CASO) Jump Start program (2009), the Interactive Ontario annual conference in 2006, 2008 and 2009, the International Institute of Communications Canadian Chapter 2008 Conference, the Insight Telecommunications Forum in 2008 and 2009, Insight Information's Entertainment Industries conference in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, the 2010 mesh conference, the Playback Mobile Forum in 2006 and 2007, the Insight 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 2007 Canadian Digital Broadcasting Summit and the Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada's 2006 Interactive to the Max Big Day.

I've delivered keynote addresses at the Tela Viva Congresso TV 2.0 conference in Brazil (2007), the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA) lunch at the 2006 Banff World Television Festival, 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've shared my vision of the future media world with the next generation of industry professionals, guest lecturing annually 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.

Recent and upcoming events

Canadian Telecom Summit,

Panelist, The Broadband Connected Home,

June 7-9, Toronto, ON

Banff World Television Festival + nextMEDIA,

Moderator, Webisodes vs. Episodes,

June 13-16, Banff, AB

Toronto iP3 Forum,

Delegate,

June 21, Toronto, ON

IN|10,

Moderator, From Conception to Inception: the Anatomy of Cross-Platform Projects panel,

September 13-14, Toronto, ON

Merging+Media Conference + Masterclass,

Advisory board member, moderator (Hybrid Biz Models panel), masterclass mentor,

October 28-29, Vancouver, BC

Insight Canadian Telecommunications Forum,

Moderator, The Future of Programming Distribution,

November 9-10, Ottawa, ON

Publicly available papers

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.

In the media

I’m frequently interviewed by TV, radio, newspaper and magazine journalists and have been quoted in newspapers across Canada from Halifax to Victoria including the National Post, The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, The Ottawa Citizen, The Montreal Gazette, La Presse and the Vancouver Sun. I've also been quoted in Playback Magazine, Broadcast Dialogue, ITWorldCanada, Maclean's Magazine and on many blogs.

"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