[ecrea] CFP: Connected Viewing – Research on Emerging Trends

CFP: Connected Viewing – Research on Emerging Trends
DATES: October, 2011-August 2012
Media industries are undergoing dramatic changes as digital distribution and social media transform almost every aspect of the entertainment business.  The Media Industries Project (MIP) of the Carsey-Wolf Center at UC Santa Barbara (http://www.carseywolf.ucsb.edu/mip), in collaboration with Warner Bros., is assembling a team of researchers for a large-scale project to investigate “connected viewing.” Specifically, we are examining emerging trends in digital distribution, cloud storage technologies, and multiple screen exhibition practices. We are also interested in new forms of audience activity and the cultural implications of connected viewing. As patterns of media use are transformed by innovative search and discovery technologies and social networking sites begin to figure more prominently as delivery platforms, connected viewing becomes increasingly significant for content providers, distribution networks, and consumers.  We encourage proposals to study these issue!
 s from various perspectives and methodologies, but are especially receptive to research questions that have clear implications for the media industries. We plan to choose 4-5 research projects that will comprise our team by October 20, 2011. The final dossier will be delivered in August, 2012. Principal investigators will have the opportunity to interact with digital distribution executives at Warner Bros. during the course of their research, and will receive funding for their work.
Possible areas of research include:
•       Connected viewing and social media (Flixster, Facebook, Flickme, etc.)
•       Content ownership and sharing (UltraViolet, iTunes, KeyChest, etc.)
•       Industry designed interactive programming and connected viewing events (BD Live, Live Tweeting events, HBO Connect, etc.)
•       Digital distribution trends and technologies
•       Consumer adoption and consumption of digital media
•       Connected viewing and fandom
•       Search and discovery
•       Gaming and connected viewing
•       Global connected viewing initiatives and audiences
•       Future models of connected viewing
Investigators will present their research to Warner Bros. executives at a workshop in August, 2012. They may then publish their funded research after the team’s final presentation. In addition to scholarly articles or books, possible results/deliverables might also include new models for connected viewing, sharing, and/or viewer engagement; web-based projects related to social networking and connected viewing; or large-scale analytical surveys, among others. Interdisciplinary research and all imaginative approaches are encouraged.
All participants must be able to attend two research summits in Southern California in 2012 – one in early February and the other in August. Funding will be available for travel.
Proposals should include:
•       A 100-word abstract on the same page as your contact and biographical information (name, email address, phone number, affiliation, brief bio).
•       A current CV.
•       A separate 1,000-word (maximum) project proposal detailing your research area and proposed outcome(s).  Proposals should describe the research project, its current status, related publications (either published or in progress), and an anticipated project timeline.
•       A project budget. Funding is available for all projects selected to be part of the team. Awards will likely be in the $5,000-$10,000 range but could potentially be larger if warranted by the scope and requirements of the project.
Send complete applications and direct all inquiries to Dr. Elissa Nelson at: (enelson /at/ carseywolf.ucsb.edu)<mailto:(enelson /at/ carseywolf.ucsb.edu)>
Timeline (all final deadlines for work submission are firm – there will not be any extensions granted):
•       Deadline to submit proposals: October 15
•       Anticipated decision/notification: October 22
•       First research summit: February, 2012
•       Final presentation of research outcomes: August, 2012




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