The New Media Industry in British Columbia

1
The New Media Industry in British Columbia

• May 5, 2005
• ISRN Conference, Toronto
• Lynda Brown
• Executive Director, New Media BC
• Executive Producer, Vancouver International
  Digital Festival

2
/Definition

• New Media is the use of new and emerging
  interactive digital media for the purposes of
  entertaining, educating or informing

3
/Who is New Media BC?_

• Not for profit industry association
• 200 member companies
• To grow and support the industry
• Research, networking events, training, mentoring
  programs, advocacy, lobbying, strategic direction

4
/BC Industry Highlights_

• 800 companies close to 1200 including
  supporting services
• Employs 14,000 people in FT positions
• Three quarters of companies export
• 81 of companies are producing own IP
• Over 1 billion in annual revenues

5
/Age_

• 62.9 of companies are less than 6 years old
• The average company is 6.5 years old
• Nearly one third of companies started during the
  boom period of the late 1990s
• Start-ups are involved in web
  development/design mobile content
• eLearning game development
• digital film and animation

6
/Work_Force/Numbers_

• Industry employs 14,000 people in FT positions
• Rapid growth in games sector 1000 predicted
  new hires in next year
• Outside of games sector, most positions are in
  small companies (fewer than 10 people)
• Significant contract labour
• 81 of respondents employed between 1 to 5
  contractors

7
/Growth_Expectations_

• Highly optimistic, almost one in two expect
  growth of 25 or more in the next 18 months.
• Nineteen percent anticipate growth of 100 or
  more.

8
Salary Survey Results

• Average Base Pay for the Following Positions
• Creative Director 74,000
• Art Director 67,500
• Sr. Designer 55,000
• Int. Designer 43,000
• Jr. Designer 30,500
• Production Designer 52,000
• QA Lead 58,250
• Content Strategist 60,900
• Sr. Information Architect 64,000
• Information Architect 55,000
• Sr. Usability Specialist 65,000

9
/Sectors_

• Within BCs digital media realm there are many
  thriving subsectors including
• Video Games
• Animation and Digital Film
• eLearning
• Mobile Content
• Interactive Design

10
Why a Market Map?
11
Other Growth Sectors eLearning

• BC also boasts a thriving eLearning industry
• More than 80 companies working in this area
• Home of large international companies such as
  Bridges.com and Web CT
• For more information www.elearningbc.ca

12
Other Growth Sectors Wireless

• 200 companies in BC
• Nearly 25 of which develop and/or publish
  content for mobile applications
• Emerging mobile content cluster

13
BC Mobile Industry Map
14
Key Challenges

• 1. Lack of Financing
• 2. Economic Volatility
• 3. Lack of Access to Markets
• 4. Lack of Business Network
• 5. Human Resource needs

15
Lack of Financing - Strategies

• Business partnering
• VC education
• Company education
• Subsidies and credits
• Lobbying and advocacy

16
Economic Volatility - Strategies

• Global market
• Government advocacy
• Long term vision and strategic direction
• Cross-fertilization

17
Lack of Access to Markets - Strategies

• Coordinated trade and marketing activities
• International Partnering Forum (VIDFEST)
• Business matchmaking
• Buyer workshops (TradeRoutes)
• Exploring consortium models

18
Lack of Business Network - Strategies

• Networking events
• Personal introductions
• Peer to peer mentoring
• VIDFEST
• National opportunities

19
Human Resource Needs

• Research and competencies
• Graduate program in digital entertainment
• Stronger linkages between industry and academia

20
Vancouver International Digital Festival

• June 15th 17th, 2005
• 5 Streams Interactive Design, Digital Film,
  Animation, Video Games, Mobile Content
• Creative Exchange Keynote Panels Master
  Classes
• Screenings Digital Film, Animation, Experimental
• International Partnering Forum
• And the VIDFEST Gala!