I offer consulting, research, analysis and training services for media and new media clients.
Recently, I collaborated with Michael Hennessy of TELUS to create a whitepaper entitled "A Friendly Future for New Media" that was presented at the nextMEDIA and Banff World Television Festival conferences. The paper can be accessed here.
In addition to independent producers and private broadcasters, I've worked with various corporations and industry organizations including TELUS, the CRTC, Telefilm Canada, Interactive Ontario, the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA), and the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund.
Are you looking for the Two Solitudes Changing Channels report produced for the CRTC that's referenced in their Perspectives on Canadian Broadcasting in New Media publication? It hasn't been publicly released by the CRTC yet. Stay tuned.
In my spare time, I'm articulating a view of the future of the media world (working title is "Media 3.0", though there's got to be something better). Learn more about it as changingchannels.ca.
I’m Alan Sawyer and I am a media strategist, futurist, consultant, research analyst and, occasionally, a freelance writer and journalist.
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.
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 Central Canada Broadcast Engineers 2004 conference and the Canadian Satellite Users Association 2005 conference.
I was a panelist at the 2006 Playback Mobile Forum, the iSUMMIT 2006 new media conference, the 2007 Canadian Digital Broadcasting Summit and the 2007 Atlantic Film Festival Strategic Partners conference.
I co-chaired Insight Information's 2007 Entertainment Industries Conference (opening remarks here) and have moderated panels at the 2006 Media in Canada Forum, the Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada's 2006 Interactive to the Max Big Day, the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA) Prime Time 2007 conference, Insight Information's Telecommunications and Broadcasting Current Regulatory Issues and Policy conference, Insight Information's 2006 Entertainment Industries conference, the 2007 Playback Mobile Forum and ICE 08.
I programmed the ICE 2007 new media conference for 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.
I have written for Broadcast Engineering Magazine, Playback Magazine, The Toronto Star and I authored the inaugural issue of the CFTPA's in-house Producer TechTalk publication.
I am a member of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) and Two Solitudes is a member of Interactive Ontario.
Some of my media appearances:
The National (CBC News),
Topic: CRTC BDU hearings,
April 8, 2008
Guest, CBC Newsworld Business Report,
Topic: CRTC BDU hearings,
April 7, 2008
Guest, Canada AM
(video link is on right side of Canada AM page)
Topic: Canadian cell phone and Internet usage,
July 18, 2007
Guest, Business News Network,
Topics: possible TELUS takeover of BCE
(implications for TV and converged services),
June 22, 2007
Interview (about 8 seconds out of 3minutes),
Business News Network and CTV News,
Topics: media mergers, convergence
May 15 , 2007
Guest, CBC Newsworld Business Report,
Topic: Astral purchase of Standard Radio,
April 12, 2007
Guest, Report on Business Television,
NBC announces massive job cuts...
what does it mean for Canadian media?,
October 23, 2006
Host, ICE Cubes podcasts, ICE 2007 and ICE 2008 conferences
Recent and upcoming events:
Banff World Television Festival,
Insight Information Entertainment Industries Conference 2008,
(read my opening remarks as 2007 co-chair here)
October 22-23rd, Toronto
My blog:
View my Media 3.0 blog online or subscribe 
Contact me:
Alan Sawyer
Phone: (647)
477-6187
Toll free: (800) 315-0608
