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.
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.
I also consult on all aspects of cross-media 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.
“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
In addition to independent producers and private broadcasters, I've worked with various corporations and industry organizations including the Canada Media Fund, Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA), the CRTC, the Documentary Organization of Canada, Interactive Ontario, MoboVivo, The National Film Board of Canada, Telefilm Canada and TELUS. I am also an analyst 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 analyst 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 Consulting is a member of Interactive Ontario.
I have participated as a panelist or moderator at the Banff World Television Festival in 2009, the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA) Prime Time 2007 and 2009 conferences, 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 Playback Mobile Forum in 2006 and 2007, 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 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 co-chaired Insight Information's Entertainment Industries Conference in 2007, 2008 and 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 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.
"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
Industry Minister varies CRTC
Globalive decision,
December 11, 2009
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 hearing,
April 8, 2008
CRTC BDU hearing,
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, CARTT, 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.
Moderator, A National Digital Strategy For Canada – A Creative Imperative panel,
February 17 - 19, Ottawa
Panelist, The Broadband Connected Home,
June 7-9, 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
Two Solitudes Consulting Inc.
Phone: (647)
477-6187
Toll free: (800) 315-0608
