CMS to CME

Well, I’ve just undertaken the only kind of facelift I’ll ever have: a digital and conceptual one. Firstly, the digital: I’ve migrated to WordPress. So, you’ll see alot more functionality, like categories on posts and (coming soon) subscription. I have to finish the categories, and add more resources, but there are plenty of new items to feast your cross-media minds on. Also, I haven’t been able to migrate the comments (which isn’t a big deal as I don’t have many!). I’ll be entering them manually.

The second facelift: conceptual. After many months contemplating the shift I’ve made the framing switch from ‘cross-media storytelling’ to ‘cross-media entertainment’ (CME). These are the reasons:

  • The phenomenon I’m looking at involves properties|franchises|works that have components that are traditional narratives & games. ‘Storytelling’ implies I’m looking at the traditional narratives only.
  • CME are experienced/realised by audiences through narrativisation and gameplay. Once again, storytelling implies the former only.
  • CME puts the focus on the form of ‘entertainment’ in general.
  • CME is more accessible for industries and disciplines.

I will keep the crossmediastorytelling.com URL, I still love it, but if you use that address it will forward you here. Also, I should note that the narrative aspects of CME will be the focus of my academic research (my PhD). So ‘polymorphic narrative‘ is still relevant too. Hope you enjoy the new-look site and resources. Please feel free to contact me with your own suggestions for inclusion.

Cross-Media Focus in Big Business

News from itvt is that at least 3 companies that are shifting their business emphasis to address cross-media (edited quotes):

Discovery Communications has consolidated its digital media operations via the formation of a global New Media group. 

“To expand our reach as the leading global real-world media and entertainment company, it is crucial that we capitalize on the possibilities new media affords to showcase our brands, content and businesses,” Baer said in a prepared statement. “Our goal is to develop leading-edge applications that take full advantage of quality Discovery content on multiple platforms, emphasizing the flexibility and utility of our programming while maximizing the benefits of new platforms.”

Warner Bros. Entertainment has consolidated all its businesses that are involved in the digital delivery of consumer entertainment content into a new group, called Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

According to the company, the establishment of the group signals recognition of “ongoing changes in the way consumers view entertainment product”; heralds a desire on the part of the company to “maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios to make [its] content available to audiences through as many channels, platforms and devices as possible”; and “furthers the company’s mandate to harness the benefits of emerging technologies, as well as manage the risks these technologies pose to the economic value of the content.”

MTV Networks has promoted Jason Hirschhorn to the newly created role of chief digital officer. He will be responsible for developing and carrying out cross-platform strategies for growing MTV brands–including its Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and Spike channels, as well as its various music channels–across all current and future digital platforms. Whether it is through a broadband network, a wireless application, interactive television or online gaming,” he continued, “our goal is to live at the cross-section of entertainment and communications where we can continue delivering the most unique experiences to all of our audiences.”

Very good.

Mobile Phone TV and Media-Specific Traits

I mentioned earlier that Channel 4 was commissioning mobile content. Well, Channel 4 has launched their Mobile TV channel, and it is the same ol stuff, but ON YOUR PHONE! You can view the mobile site online: which is showing clips from Lost. Vodaphone 3G customers can view the clips for free until Jan 06. Other news is that:

Sky and Vodafone launched a mobile television service called Sky Mobile TV with 19 channels earlier this week.

All Vodafone 3G customers will be able to watch up to 19 channels, including 24-hour news, sport, entertainment and documentaries from channels including Sky News, Sky One, Sky Sports, Discovery and Living TV.

Repurposing again, which is good. But gee, where are the shows that are made for mobisode delivery? This same argument has been going on in academia regarding interactive storytelling: if you can print out the pages of a website and read the story just like print, then it isn’t a hypertextual/cybertextual work. Pure/real interactive works only make sense in their mode of delivery, they are media-specific. I’m not all for that theory, but I understand the principle. What are the defining characteristics of stories on mobiles then? What is a story, game or artwork that only works on a mobile like? What is it about a mobile phone that is unique? Mobile phones are portable; you can have conversations with people; can receive and send SMS, MMS, tones, images; can have GPS; surf web; can download java, games, etc. So, how can you use these attributes to create unique storytelling?:

1) can receive story updates anywhere (not limited to computer, TV etc);
2) can receive story updates in SMS, phone, MMS form;
3) can forward story components to friends on the same device;
4) can converse with characters and other players (represented by humans or bots), textually, aurally & visually;
5) can have GPS (location) triggered events;
6) can contribute to a story with captured images, video, text and audio;
7) can play games as part of story and vice versa;
8) can be directed to websites for clues & downloads etc;
9) can download storyworld elements for the phone (eg: wallpaper, ring-tone etc.).

Most of these break the fourth wall, of the storyworld. This means that the stories or games need to be realistic, or an ‘alternate reality’. Which then means that the interactions need to be plausible and urgent. Given the activity a mobile phone can be utilised for, shows currently being delivered on mobile phones seem like corpses.