At the NextTV Summit, part of Future's NYC TV Week in New York this week, the panel “RIP Broadcast TV?” looked at the viability of the original TV platform in the era of streaming TV. It also discussed how broadcast TV is extending its reach on newer platforms. Rob Weisbord, chief operating officer and president of broadcast at Sinclair Broadcast Group, spoke about the importance of the broadcast “ecosystem” in retaining its relevance, including diginets and mobile apps. “We look at everything as spokes to a wheel,” he said. 

That includes Sinclair streaming network Stirr and news app NewsOn. 

As much as the major subscription streamers dominate the traditional primetime, Weisbord said consolidation is inevitable for that sector. Programming costs, he added, mentioning Netflix movie The Gray Man, are not sustainable, and perhaps the streamers will consider licensing content to station groups. 

Jim Long, CEO of LocalBTV/Didja, said Sinclair has the right idea about connecting with viewers on all platforms. “Sinclair is doing exactly what they should be doing,” he said. “Be where the consumers are.”

The panelists made the point that, as much as viewers rely on Netflix, Hulu and other subscription streamers, those platforms don’t provide local programming. “Localism is the most important thing to us,” said Kevin Dunaway, VUit VP, affiliate relations & content development, adding how VUit has 300 station partners. “We want to partner with [stations] because that content is important to all those areas.”

Dunaway made the point that a local programming event, be it a sports game or a parade, can often get significant viewership beyond the event’s home market. 

With viewers facing so many viewing options, some say there’s greater demand for local content. “We always say that content is king, but maybe it’s even more true than before,” said Stephane Guez, CTO at Dalet. “If you don’t do it well, people are going to click somewhere else.”

ATSC 3.0 looks to enhance local broadcasters’ relationships with viewers, and users, in their communities. Guez called ATSC “just another way to make it easier to combine traditional broadcast and IP distribution.”

Another unique selling point for local broadcast is over the air, and free. “We have a very attractive proposition,” said Weisbord. “We have 50 plus years of heritage doing this and nothing replaces that heritage.” 

David Bloom, senior contributor, NextTV, moderated the panel. 

This article originally appeared on TV Tech sister brand NextTV.

NEW YORK--The Next TV Summit will be presented on Thursday, Nov. 1, at the Westin New York as the closing event for Future’s NYC Television Week. Multichannel News asked Joe Schramm, president of Schramm Marketing Group, and the producer of the Next TV Summit, what attendees can expect at this year’s event.

MCN: What’s the focus of this year’s Next TV Summit?

Joe Schramm: The Next TV Summit is about planning for what the business of TV and video will become by 2021. The industry is disrupted, and is more competitive and requires strategic decisions for what’s ahead. So, our theme is, “mapping for the future of TV & video.” We take a holistic view of the fresh growth opportunities throughout the industry where individuals and companies can successfully compete for customers, viewers and advertisers. There’s been more change in the industry in the last three years than the 30 years I’ve been here — I’ve never seen as much change as there is currently. It’s hard to keep up. In one single day, an attendee at the Next TV Summit can get a good understanding of how these changes affect their professional success in the next three years.

MCN: What topics are you addressing at the summit?

JS: We mix giants of traditional TV with leaders in nontraditional and digital media, data and technology. We address revenues and financial requirements needed for successful launches of new services, as well as identify how to select content in an environment of multiplying platforms like over-the-top, mobile, smart TVs, TV-connected devices, VR, and AR. There’s a panel on the shifting landscape of content distribution, and there will be two super sessions, one on technology and OTT and the other focused on marketing and advertising. In addition, there will be keynote discussions with leading executives from Google, Nielsen and NCTA–The Internet and Television Association, as well as a duo of interviews with former cable TV CEOs who are now reinventing and adapting their careers by innovating new businesses ready for tomorrow’s TV and video environment.

MCN: What are some highlights that attendees can expect at the Next TV Summit?

JS: The whole agenda is exciting, but some of the highlights include NCTA president and CEO Michael Powell, who will share where cable is leveraging new opportunities. Jen Koester of Google will focus on distribution models and Andrew McCollum of Philo discusses the “affordable” option for consumer access to video. There’s a unique set of back-to-back fireside chats about innovation, adapting and reinventing one’s self, featuring John Hendricks, the founder of Discovery Channel, and Jon Klein, former CNN president. The closing features a presentation of recent viewership findings from Peter Katsingris of Nielsen.

MCN: Who should attend this summit?

JS: Anyone who intends to still be working in the TV and video industry in three years, including managers and senior executives as well as newcomers from traditional media, new digital media platforms, technology, advertising, audience research and measurement.I would especially encourage women and people of color who want to be part of this business in 2021.

The Next TV Summit will be held Nov. 1 at the Westin New York Hotel, 270 W. 43rd St at Eighth Avenue. Doors open at 8:30.

To register, click here.