ANALYSIS: METAVERSE

gaming community’s book and focus on creating interactivity, Moote emphasised.

“Broadcasters must pay attention to the current issues of network speeds and latency. Learning how to understand and respect the gaming world will also help to gain the trust of younger viewers and provide the all-important brand recognition required to keep these viewers,” he said.

While 3DTV ultimately proved to be more hype than reality, broadcasters will continue to explore new technologies that can drive down operating costs and potentially give them an advantage in the race for eyeballs.

broadcasters in 2010, when a slew of 3DTV screens hit the market, driven largely by the popularity of Avatar.

While that 3D experience proved to be a short-lived one, the 3D space Moote refers to is about creating a world filled with interactivities. To build this world, broadcasters need to seek assistance with newer production styles and move away from just making TV programmes.

“When developing a new programme — not necessarily just a TV show — broadcasters must plan from day one, how the content will live across the metaverse, social platforms and TV. During the planning process, they should also have technology people in the room to provide assistance and guidance as to what is possible and practical,” said Moote.

With the wearing of 3D glasses contributing to many viewers’ refusal to accept 3DTV as a companion platform to consume content, it is also worth noting that the metaverse is not restricted to VR and what may amount to cumbersome headsets for some viewers.

As Access Partnerships noted in its white paper, the possibility remains that the metaverse will prompt the creation of completely new forms of technology. For instance, Disney has filed a patent with the US patent office for a virtual world simulator, which will incorporate 3D projections to create a virtual environment around multiple visitors without the need for headsets.

Bondee, the social media app, is another example of how broadcasters can create a community of viewers and fans, starting with an element of gaming that does not require headsets to be used. Hardware aside, broadcasters will do well to take a leaf out of the

Therefore, while questions will continue to be asked about the feasibility of metaverse in the broadcast and media space, broadcasters are likely to continue to explore the possibilities offered by the metaverse, as Parminder Singh, Chief Commercial Officer and Digital Officer, Mediacorp, told APB+, “Mediacorp has taken deep strides in exploring new digital technologies and assets across our multiple platforms, keeping pace with the vast and exciting potential that these may hold for our industry.

“We are currently in the midst of developing innovative solutions and strategies to harness the power of the metaverse and other emerging platforms and technologies for our clients, and will share them in due course.”