BMI-TechKnowledge expects to see a "slow initial uptake" of emerging digital media (EDM) solutions - whether they are Internet Protocol TV, mobile TV, online or mobile music, or user-generated content.
However, the trickle is expected to become a flood towards the end of the forecast period - between 2009 and 2011 - and beyond, says the African ICT market analyst firm.
BMI-T's "Emerging Digital Media: Opportunities and Challenges" report identifies the main players in the market and develops forecast scenarios on how the segment will grow, and which technologies are likely to succeed over the next five years.
Astrid Hamilton, ICT analyst and author of the report, says the youth are expected to make up the core of early adopters of mobile media.
"EDM will change the way consumers and providers interact, whether it be listening to and purchasing music, accessing TV and video, or other forms of entertainment such as gaming, gambling and sharing personal content.
"Users will have far greater control than ever before."
The report also looks at how social networking and user-generated content is changing the manner in which people communicate and consume media.
"Interactivity is an important facet and users of these social networking sites are free to choose whether to consume or contribute, or more usually, both," adds Hamilton.
On the horizon
BMI-T says more middle and lower income users will become part of the digital media ecosystem as new (lower-cost) pay TV services come online with the new broadcast licences being made available by the sector regulator, telecommunications prices drop and broadband penetration increases.
As technology giants in more developed countries begin offering a range of Internet Protocol TV services (Skype is the most recent example), SA is still without such an offering.
However, it is expected that Telkom will soon roll-out Web-based TV, following "positive trial results".
MultiChoice's Mobile TV entered the market late last year, via a two-channel MTN offering. These kinds of mobile digital broadcast services are expected to increase as new cellphones hit the local market.
The BMI-T report comes days after mobile social networker MXit connected its three millionth customer, illustrating modern communication trends.
Share