News Corp: What’s Next?

Jon Miller from News Corporation started his session with an uplifting message. “New devices are allowing us to better enjoy the video content…I would say we are now just entering a video age.”  Miller has been working in internet and TV industry for three decades and now oversees the digital strategy of News Corporation, the international media conglomerate.

Miller says the biggest change happening in News Corporation, like many other media companies, is that the company now produces contents for different platforms. “It’s a very different world. Now you have these truly global platforms that literally reach billions of people.” 

But for company like News Corporation, the real challenge is not only producing and distributing contents that are suitable for these global platforms, but more importantly to find solution to win the competition with them.

“Apple profit from selling hardware, so keep content prices low will help them sell the package.” Miller said competitions from new technology companies forced distributors to seek new business models.

To make that change, Miller suggested us to first understand the next generation of consumers.  He used his personal experience of watching his teenage son using computer as an example. “Three instant message windows open, youtube on, emailing, and when asked what he was doing, his answer was homework.” Miller said the next generation’s ability to consume media is much greater, “they are born to be multi-tasking”.

When asked what will drive growth in the TV industry in 2012, Jon Miller immediately answered “portable devices”. “TV is no longer a device, it has become a concept and it goes wherever the best screen is available.”