Interactive Narrative in Digital Broadcasting a L FREW Phd 2020

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Interactive Narrative in Digital Broadcasting a L FREW Phd 2020 Interactive Narrative in Digital Broadcasting A L FREW PhD 2020 2 Interactive Narrative in Digital Broadcasting Anna Louise Frew -- A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of Manchester Metropolitan University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Art Postgraduate Arts and Humanities Centre 2020 3 4 Dedication I dedicate this work to the friends and family who sadly passed away in the course of writing this thesis. Nathan Wynn Harrison, who was just four years old in August 2016. Robert Wynn Harrison, my Grandfather, who passed away not long after Nathan. Charlotte Holt, a dear friend who passed away in September 2019. 5 6 Acknowledgements Firstly, I would like to thank my supervisory team. My Director of Studies Jim Aulich and supervisor Joe McCullagh who have been with me from the start, helping to keep the project on track and to the point. Gavin McDonald, who joined after the RD2 process and provided the theoretical knowledge in the team. A thank you to Clinton Cahill who saw me through six years of the course and was involved in the initial formulation of the project after teaching me at MA level too. Finally, David Jackson, the most recent addition to the team whose practice-based expertise meshes well with my own and brought some needed clarity at the end stages. A special thank you to Myna Trustram whose support has been invaluable along the way. I would like to thank the staff at the British Broadcasting Corporation’s Research and Development department for their generous contributions with their time and support throughout the project. In particular, Ian Forrester, who has been crucial in realising this project and always helpful with providing materials and his time for interviews. A thank you to Lianne Kerlin, Rhianne Jones, Andy Brown, Phil Stenton, Dan Tucker, and Tony Churnside who have all helped along the way with the project. A thank you to Julius Amedume the director of one of the case studies who was happy to make time in his busy day to be interviewed and for his permission to include the short’s script in the thesis. A final thanks to Oliver Spall, who no longer works at the BBC but took the time to talk to me in-depth about my findings. From my personal life, I’d like to thank my husband who completed his own PhD during this project. His practical support, taking more than his fair share of child care, advising me on the technical aspects of writing up, and his emotional support on this long journey has been brilliant. A thank you to both my own parents and my parents in law who have provided me with resources from a laptop when my old one broke down, through to a roof over my head when I’ve needed it. Your help has been essential. Finally, thank you to my cats Pangur Bán and Katten Jansson, who have made many valuable contributions to the accuracy of my grammar in the thesis. All errors and inaccuracies are theirs. 7 8 Abstract This thesis is focussed on an application of audience data in developing media form Implicitly Interactive Pervasive Narrative (IIPN). IIPN is a digital broadcast that uses data about the audience and/or their environment collected pervasively, in real-time, to tailor the narrative it is delivering. The audience has a sit back experience whilst an algorithm personalises their story. IIPN is currently produced by research and development departments. This thesis asks two research questions: To what extent is current narrative theory useful in examining IIPN? And, what are the key production benefits and drawbacks to working with IIPN? To answer these questions, it examines two prototypes made by the British Broadcasting Corporation’s Research and Development (BBC R&D) department. The project makes contributions to knowledge in three areas. One is in ascertaining to what extent current narrative theory is useful in examining IIPN. The next is a theoretical model proposal for studying IIPN based upon these findings. Finally, the project identifies key production benefits and drawbacks to working with IIPN. The theory-based contributions of the project are achieved through a literature review which revealed there is not a narrative theory dealing with IIPN specifically. The literature review goes on to inform a model proposal that is tested in the two case studies. The proposal is composed of three parts. The first is to consider the ‘pre-narrative’ elements of the IIPN, the second is to compare several outputs from the IIPN. Both these steps include the third element which is how audience data is affecting them. The production-based findings were gained through applying the model proposal in the case studies, aided with interviews with staff from BBC R&D. The findings are pulled together into a matrix which details the benefits and drawbacks to IIPN and includes a range of ways to mitigate the drawbacks. As IIPN is in its infancy as a technology, both the model proposal and the production findings help to define the field and act as a first step towards creating a toolkit for working with IIPN. 9 10 Table of Contents Dedication ............................................................................................................................... 5 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................. 7 Abstract ................................................................................................................................... 9 Table of Contents .................................................................................................................. 11 List of illustrations ................................................................................................................. 18 List of Tables ......................................................................................................................... 23 Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................ 25 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 26 Research questions and objectives ....................................................................................... 26 The basic principles of IIPN ................................................................................................... 27 The difference between implicit and explicitly interactive narrative ................................ 30 Types of data and objects in an IIPN ..................................................................................... 35 Structure of the thesis .......................................................................................................... 36 1 Definition of Pervasive Media, Implicit Interaction, and Related Terms .......................... 44 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 44 Narrative ............................................................................................................................... 44 Implicit and explicit interactive digital narrative ................................................................... 45 Pervasive media .................................................................................................................... 46 Other terms related to pervasive media ............................................................................... 48 11 Personalised media ............................................................................................................ 48 Location-based narrative ................................................................................................... 48 Mixed reality storytelling ................................................................................................... 49 Perceptive media and the BBC Research and Development department ............................ 49 Use of the term perceptive media in a marketing context ................................................ 50 Other terms related to perceptive media at the BBC ........................................................... 52 Object-based ..................................................................................................................... 52 Responsive ......................................................................................................................... 54 Conclusion: Definition of an implicitly interactive pervasive narrative ................................. 55 2 Historical Context of IIPN .............................................................................................. 57 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 57 Generative narrative and machine learning ......................................................................... 57 Hypertext .............................................................................................................................. 61 Transmedia storytelling......................................................................................................... 62 Social media and news broadcasting .................................................................................... 66 Social media and entertainment broadcasting ..................................................................... 68 Social media as a platform for narratives
Recommended publications
  • East Tower Inspiration Page 6
    The newspaper for BBC pensioners – with highlights from Ariel online East Tower inspiration Page 6 AUGUST 2014 • Issue 4 TV news celebrates Remembering Great (BBC) 60 years Bing Scots Page 2 Page 7 Page 8 NEWS • MEMORIES • CLASSIFIEDS • YOUR LETTERS • OBITUARIES • CROSPERO 02 BACK AT THE BBC TV news celebrates its 60th birthday Sixty years ago, the first ever BBC TV news bulletin was aired – wedged in between a cricket match and a Royal visit to an agriculture show. Not much has changed, has it? people’s childhoods, of people’s lives,’ lead to 24-hour news channels. she adds. But back in 1983, when round the clock How much!?! But BBC TV news did not evolve in news was still a distant dream, there were a vacuum. bigger priorities than the 2-3am slot in the One of the original Humpty toys made ‘A large part of the story was intense nation’s daily news intake. for the BBC children’s TV programme competition and innovation between the On 17 January at 6.30am, Breakfast Time Play School has sold at auction in Oxford BBC and ITV, and then with Channel 4 over became the country’s first early-morning TV for £6,250. many years,’ says Taylor. news programme. Bonhams had valued the 53cm-high The competition was evident almost ‘It was another move towards the sense toy at £1,200. immediately. The BBC, wary of its new that news is happening all the time,’ says The auction house called Humpty rival’s cutting-edge format, exhibited its Hockaday.
    [Show full text]
  • The True Story of Mission to Hell Page 4
    The newspaper for BBC pensioners – with highlights from Ariel online The true story of Mission to Hell Page 4 August 2015 • Issue 4 Trainee Oh! What operators a lovely reunite – Vietnam War TFS 1964 50 years on Page 6 Page 8 Page 12 NEWS • MEMORIES • CLASSIFIEDS • YOUR LETTERS • OBITUARIES • CROSPERO 02 BACK AT THE BBC Departments Annual report highlights ‘better’ for BBC challenge move to Salford The BBC faces a challenge to keep all parts of the audience happy at the same time as efficiency targets demand that it does less. said that certain segments of society were more than £150k and to trim the senior being underserved. manager population to around 1% of But this pressing need to deliver more and the workforce. in different ways comes with a warning that In March this year, 95 senior managers Delivering Quality First (DQF) is set to take a collected salaries of more than £150k against bigger bite of BBC services. a target of 72. The annual report reiterates that £484m ‘We continue to work towards these of DQF annual savings have already been targets but they have not yet been achieved,’ achieved, with the BBC on track to deliver its the BBC admitted, attributing this to ‘changes Staff ‘loved the move’ from London to target of £700m pa savings by 2016/17. in the external market’ and the consolidation Salford that took place in 2011 and The first four years of DQF have seen of senior roles into larger jobs. departments ‘are better for it’, believes Peter Salmon (pictured). a 25% reduction in the proportion of the More staff licence fee spent on overheads, with 93% of Speaking four years on from the biggest There may be too many at the top, but the the BBC’s ‘controllable spend’ now going on ever BBC migration, the director, BBC gap between average BBC earnings and Tony content and distribution.
    [Show full text]
  • Captioning and Subtitling for D/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Audiences Captioning and Subtitling for D/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Audiences
    Soledad Zárate Captioning and Subtitling for d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Audiences Captioning and Subtitling for d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Audiences Captioning and Subtitling for d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Audiences Soledad Zárate First published in 2021 by UCL Press University College London Gower Street London WC1E 6BT Available to download free: www.uclpress.co.uk Text © Author, 2021 Images © Author and copyright holders named in captions, 2021 The author has asserted her rights under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work. A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from The British Library. This book is published under a Creative Commons 4.0 International licence (CC BY 4.0). This licence allows you to share, copy, distribute and transmit the work; to adapt the work and to make commercial use of the work providing attribution is made to the authors (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work). Attribution should include the following information: Zárate, S. 2021. Captioning and Subtitling for d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Audiences. London: UCL Press. https://doi.org/10.14324/111.9781787357105 Further details about Creative Commons licences are available at http://creative commons.org/licenses/ Any third-party material in this book is published under the book’s Creative Commons licence unless indicated otherwise in the credit line to the material. If you would like to reuse any third-party material not covered by the book’s Creative Commons licence, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder.
    [Show full text]
  • A Quantitative Analysis of Red Button Television Content in the UK
    Pushing the button: A quantitative analysis of red button television content in the UK Submitted in partial fulfilment of the Requirements of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. July 2014 Andrew Fox 1 Table of Contents Abstract p. 8 Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Introduction p. 10 1.2 Technohype p. 11 1.3 Internet Television p. 13 1.4 Television and Interactivity p. 14 1.5 Research Aims p. 17 1.6 Field Interviews p. 18 1.7 Thesis Structure p. 18 Chapter 2: Theoretical framework and literature review 2.1 Introduction p. 20 2.2 Has the sociological position of television changed? p. 20 2.2.1 ‘The Death of Television’ p. 21 2.2.2 Convergence p. 23 2.2.3 Uncertain future p. 26 2.3 Is interactive television happening and if so why? p. 29 2.3.1 Institutional attitudes p. 29 2.3.2 Regulatory policy p. 33 2.4 What does interactivity mean for television? p. 38 2.4.1 Participatory experience p. 39 2.4.2 Individualistic experience p. 43 2.5 What does interactivity mean for television content? p. 46 2.5.1 Enhanced content p. 46 2.5.2 Freedom of choice p. 48 2 2.6 What does interactive television mean for the audience? p. 50 2.6.1 A more questioning audience p. 51 2.6.2 An everyday experience? p. 52 2.6.3 Choice means responsibility p. 55 2.7 What does interactive television actually offer? p. 57 2.7.1 Defining ‘interactivity’ p. 58 2.7.2 Forms of interactive TV p.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report and Accounts 2007/08 the BBC Executive’S Review and Assessment 07 08
    PART TWO: Annual Report and Accounts 2007/08 The BBC Executive’s review and assessment 07 08 Director- General ’s introduction 01 About the BBC 02 BBC & me 04 BBC Executive Board 24 BBC at a glance 26 Review of services Future Media & Technology 29 Vision 32 Audio & Music 38 Journalism 44 Commercial activities 52 Engaging with audiences 54 ...quality programming that informs Performance us, educates us and more often BBC People 58 than not, entertains us. These three Operations 62 Statements of Programme Policy tenets are as important today as commitments 2007/08 70 when they were first uttered around Finance 80 years ago. Financial overview 82 Governance and financial statements 86 Getting in touch with the BBC 148 Other information Inside back cover THE DIRECTOR -GENERAL 01 WELCOME When I wrote to you a year ago, our award- Despite these difficulties, the BBC has had a downloads and streams. And it’s still growing. winning Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston year of outstanding creative renewal. From There is no evidence that it is impacting was still missing. We didn’t know if we would Cranford to Sacred Music to Gavin and Stacey, our linear television and radio ratings which ever see him again. And then, what we’d all television has lived up to our aim – to delight remain very strong. been hoping, working and praying for: Alan’s audiences. And we have seen the nation share tired but smiling face as he was led to freedom. some of the events that unite us all – from the With Freesat now launched, complementing Concert for Diana to Wales’ triumph at the Six our popular Freeview service, it’s clear But within a few days, we had fresh problems Nations Rugby championship.
    [Show full text]
  • Transforming ITV ITV Plc Report and Accounts 2010 117
    ITV plc ITV 2010 accounts and Report ITV plc The London Television Centre Upper Ground London SE1 9LT www.itv.com investors: www.itvplc.com Transforming ITV ITV plc Report and accounts 2010 117 Financial record 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 ITV today Broadcasting & Online ITV Studios £m £m £m £m £m ITV is the largest commercial ITV content is funded by advertising and ITV Studios comprises ITV’s UK production Results Revenue 2,064 1,879 2,029 2,082 2,181 television network in the UK. sponsorship revenues as well as viewer operations, ITV’s international production competitions and voting. ITV1 is the largest companies and ITV Studios Global Earnings before interest, tax and amortisation (EBITA) before exceptional items 408 202 211 311 375 It operates a family of channels commercial channel in the UK. It attracts Entertainment. Amortisation of intangible assets (63) (59) (66) (56) (56) including ITV1, and delivers the largest audience of any UK commercial ITV Studios produces programming for Impairment of intangible assets – – (2,695) (28) (20) broadcaster and has the greatest share of content across multiple platforms ITV’s own channels and for other UK and Share of profits or (losses) of joint ventures and associated undertakings (3) (7) (15) 2 8 the UK television advertising market at via itv.com and ITV Player. international broadcasters. 45.1%. ITV’s digital channels continue to Investment income – – 1 1 3 ITV Studios produces and sells grow their audiences and most recently A wide range of programme genres are Exceptional items 19 (20) (108) (9) 4 programmes and formats in saw the launch of high definition (HD) produced, including: drama, soaps, Profit/(loss) before interest and tax 361 116 (2,672) 221 314 the UK and worldwide.
    [Show full text]
  • Part Two: Annual Report and Accounts 2008/09
    SHARING IDEAS/ CREATING VALUE/ Part Two: Annual Report and Accounts 2008/09 The BBC Executive’s review and assessment BBC EXECUTIVE’S REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT 2008/09/ 001 002 / / OVERVIEW BBC PURPOSES / FINANciaL perForMANce / THE YeaR EW AT A GLANCE / DIRECTOR-GENERAL ForeWorD / RVI DELiveriNG creative FutureS / PARTNERSHIPS / E OV 020 / PERFORMANce OBJectiveS / teLeviSioN / RADIO / FUTURE MEDIA & TecHNOLogY / JourNALISM / coMMerciaL / 084 / GOVERNANCE Executive boaRD / SUMMarY GoverNANce report / 094 / ResPONSIBILITY OperatioNS / 104 / FINANCIAL stAteMENts OvervieW / RISK ouTLOOK / HigHLigHTS / auDitoRS’ STATEMENT / SUMMarY FINANciaL StatEMENT / IFRS / coNtact US / otHer INForMatiON / OVERVIE W/ 003 / EW RVI E OV 004 / BBC PURPOSES/ 005 / FINANCIAL PERFORMANce/ 006 / THE YEAR AT A GLANCE/ 008 / DIRECTOR-GENERAL FORewoRD/ 012 / DELIVERING CREATIVE FUTURes/ 014 / PARTNERSHIPS/ OVERVIE W/ OvervieW/ purpoSES AND FINANciaL perForMANce/ BBC purpoSES/ THE BBC’S Six pubLic purpoSES – buiLT ON our priNcipLES to ‘INForM, EDucate AND ENtertaiN’ – UNDerpiN ALL THat WE DO, AND HELP US to FocuS ON OFFeriNG everYONE IN THE UK MEMorabLE AND DIStiNctive coNteNT AND ServiceS THat ENricH THeir LiveS. SoME HigHLigHTS FroM THIS Year INCLUDED: 004 CITIZENSHIP COMMUNITY The BBC has a worldwide reputation for its The UK is an incredibly diverse place, and we aim reportage and analysis of the world we live in. Our to reflect this diversity at national, regional and / UK-wide, international, national and local channels local levels. We offer services in English, Scottish EW and services cover a wide range of stories tailored Gaelic and Welsh, and programmes in over 30 RVI for a diverse range of users. This year we led the languages from Bengali to Urdu.
    [Show full text]
  • Information Report - Media
    London Project April 2011 Information Report - Media Television and BBC In March 2011 we went on a class-trip to London for six days. Milena, Daniel and I worked on the theme “Media“. In London we divided up our themes into “The Royal National Theatre“, “Television and BBC“ and “Local Entertainment“. I will concentrate on television in Britain and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). One day we had a backstage tour in the BBC television Centre with two guides whose names were Kevin and Kay. They showed us different parts of the Television Centre and we received a small insight into the processes in a TV-studio. Most of the report‘s information is based upon the BBC Television Centre itself, but it also contains some information from the BBC‘s homepage and wikipedia.com . The purpose of this report is to inform about the following aspects: - television in general - BBC and its history - BBC Backstage Tour Television in general: Television is a well-known mass media which has been available since the late 1920‘s. In the United Kingdom the first British television broadcast was made by Baird Television‘s and was transmitted over the BBC radio transmitter. Since the founding of television a lot of things have changed: firstly, only some rich people and families could have a television at home. However, television became a media which was placed in homes, businesses and institutions. Notably, television is used for entertainment and news. Since the 1970‘s there has been a further technical development. First, there were video cassettes, then laserdiscs and today everyone uses DVD‘s or Blue-Ray Discs.
    [Show full text]
  • Concurrency in Auditory Displays for Connected Television
    Concurrency in auditory displays for connected television Alistair Francis Hinde Doctor of Philosophy University of York Electronics September 2016 Abstract Many television experiences depend on users being both willing and able to visually attend to screen-based information. Auditory displays offer an alternative method for presenting this information and could benefit all users. This thesis explores how this may be achieved through the design and evaluation of auditory displays involving varying degrees of concurrency for two television use cases: menu navigation and presenting related content alongside a television show. The first study, on the navigation of auditory menus, looked at onset asynchrony and word length in the presentation of spoken menus. The effects of these on task duration, accuracy and workload were considered. Onset asynchrony and word length both caused significant effects on task duration and accuracy, while workload was only affected by onset asynchrony. An optimum asynchrony was identified, which was the same for both long and short words, but better performance was obtained with the shorter words that no longer overlapped. The second experiment investigated how disruption, workload, and preference are affected when presenting additional content accompanying a television programme. The content took the form of sound from different spatial locations or as text on a smartphone and the programme's soundtrack was either modified or left unaltered. Leaving the soundtrack unaltered or muting it negatively impacted user experience. Removing the speech from the television programme and presenting the secondary content as sound from a smartphone was the best auditory approach. This was found to compare well with the textual presentation, resulting in less visual disruption and imposing a similar workload.
    [Show full text]
  • BBC Online and BBC Red Button Consultation Questions 24 October 2012
    BBC Trust service review: BBC Online and BBC Red Button Consultation Questions 24 October 2012 Getting the best out of the BBC for licence fee payers Introduction to the consultation Background At the BBC Trust it is our responsibility to get the best out of the BBC for licence fee payers. One of the ways we do this is by carrying out an in-depth review of each of the BBC’s services at least once every 5 years. This time we are looking at BBC Online and BBC Red Button services. We want your views on these services and your suggestions on how they can be improved. This consultation remains open until 23rd January 2013 and we must receive your response on or before this date. How to take part in the consultation When you open this document you may receive a notification from Word which appears as a yellow banner at the top of your screen. To be able to enter your responses in this document you may need to click on ‘Enable Editing’. Once you have completed your response, save this document to your computer and email back to us. The consultation questionnaire is divided into 2 parts. The first part (questions 1-5) asks series of questions about BBC Red Button, the second part (questions 6-16) asks about BBC Online. You can answer as many or as few questions as you wish. There is also space for you to raise any other points not covered by our questions. Once you have completed this questionnaire, you can email it to: [email protected] Or post it to: BBC Online Review BBC Trust 180 Great Portland Street London W1W 5QZ You can also complete and submit the questionnaire online at: http://consultations.external.bbc.co.uk/bbc/online-redbuttonreview 24 October 2012 - Download 1 To request the questions in audio or braille please call 0800 0680 116 or Textphone 0800 0153 350.
    [Show full text]
  • Home Brewed Success Page 6-7 on the Up: Deficit
    The 60-plus web resistors Learn more 8-9 November 2009 Number 8 Home brewed success page 6-7 On the up: deficit With highlights from Ariel falls as shares recover Page 3 News Memories of Bush and Maida Vale Did you work at Bush House, left, or the Maida Vale studios? If so you may have memories and perspectives to flesh out the histories of two important BBC centres. Recently the BBC marked 75 years at Maida Vale, a former ice rink, taken over by the BBC in 1934. It is the home of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, seen unloading their instruments in 1935, right, and hosted many famous performances and recordings. Outside its classical remit, it was used for John Peel’s Radio 1 sessions, and was home to the Radiophonic Workshop. And as the big West One building project progresses, World Service is working on its plans to commemorate Bush House as a BBC building. Some PROSPERO departments have already moved, with November 2009 the final phase planned for 2012. Prospero is provided free to Creative approach to history retired BBC employees. It can also be sent to spouses or puts memories at its heart dependants who want to keep The BBC Heritage website has been the day that WW2 broke out (September in touch with the BBC. It relaunched with expanded content – and 3 1939), exploring how the war radically includes news about former in every key section there are windows changed the BBC’s relationship with How to inviting perspectives and memories from government as well as home and colleagues, pension issues, former staff.
    [Show full text]
  • Public Broadcasters the Internet and Democracy
    Public Broadcasters, the Internet, and Democracy Comparing Policy and Exploring Public Service Media Online Hallvard Moe Dissertation for the degree philosophiae doctor (PhD) University of Bergen Public Broadcasters, the Internet, and Democracy Comparing Policy and Exploring Public Service Media Online Bergen, 2008. Copyright: Hallvard Moe (Part I, and Part II, Article 1); Sage Publications (Part II, Article 2, 4, and 5); Intellect Books (Part II, Article 3). Public Broadcasters, the Internet, and Democracy Comparing Policy and Exploring Public Service Media Online Hallvard Moe Dissertation for the degree philosophiae doctor (PhD) University of Bergen Abstract This thesis is a study of public service broadcasting facing a digital media system. Its focus is on internet services since the mid-1990s. With a comparative design, the thesis discusses how public service broadcasters seized opportunities and handled challenges related to the internet, and how national and supranational regulatory regimes and policy actors coped with public service broadcasting venturing online. I concentrate on publicly owned former monopolists, assessing four such institutions in three states: the British BBC, Norway’s NRK, and the ARD and the ZDF in Germany. I argue that traditional practices of media policy do not suddenly change in the digital era. Rather, settings for public service are to a large extent still defined within well-established frameworks, and dependent on the conditioned legacies of each state’s political culture. Discussing similarities and differences in the development of the institutions’ inter- net activities, and their corresponding national regulations, I find the de- velopment characterized by ad hoc solutions. This also applies to the EU policy regime, built on a competition law-logic.
    [Show full text]