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FIAT/IFTA 2007

October 21st, 2007

Digitization was the buzz word at the 2007 FIAT/IFTA conference.  The archivists have all pretty much realized that going digital was beyond inevitable, but critical to their ongoing viability.  As such, the floors were teaming with representatives from Sony, Technicolor, Blue Order, to name just a few, who had generously sponsored the event.

Patrick Walker, Head of Content Partnerships, EMEA/Google, was the keynote speaker.  Another American living abroad, his opening remarks focused mainly on YouTube and its social impact on the new order. Creating content is out; hosting content is in.  Funny, he did not mention the recent announcement that Google and IBM are planning to join forces and build a huge data center over the next two years to enable cloud computing (30 acres outside of Dallas, Texas, where all broadband pipes lead apparently, is the site of their next venture).  Instead, he presented the archivists with views into the wacky world of Chris Cocker (“Leave Britney alone!”) and some very amusing parodies that have been posted, and finally, portions of the BBC news archive.  Shocking!  The crowd was stunned.

In all their efforts to raise funds and to justify digitization, business partnerships have eluded many archives.  If Google/YouTube is looking for content, then our news and television archives are an oasis.  More and more people are hanging around in hammocks, waiting.

I had lunch with Pam Fisher of Moving Image Research the other day and she told me was willing to digitize hours of video content for free in return for a percentage of the revenue she is certain it will generate.  There, I said it.  Someone should call her and offer up just a small portion of their archives as a safe experiment.  I think you’ll find that small wins will justify the digitization of your entire collection.

Entry Filed under: video digitization, moving image archives