Message from the Executive Director: SMPTE's Role in Evolving Distribution
Barbara H. Lange
One of the amazing things about our business is how fast things change. My baseline is always January 2010 when I arrived at SMPTE. Hard to believe but the smartphone was only about two-and-a-half years old, and the first-generation iPad was still on the launch pad (pardon the pun). We were still watching quite a bit of linear television, as the online streaming services were still building up their momentum. Hulu, one of the first services, launched in 2007. As a streaming service, even Netflix only got its start in 2012 with House of Cards. In the meantime, traditional broadcast and cable have had to make major adjustments to compete. Recently, I attended the SMPTE Hollywood Section’s media tech career day for students. During my opening remarks, I asked the students if they knew what the term linear television meant. The answer revealed not a single hand was raised!