MTM Selected Issues 2:
Media Over IP: Access Beats Content?

Master - WS '22/23

C. Loebbecke

2 SWS

Fridays, 12:30 - 5:30 pm, max. 5 sessions!
Start: Oct. 07, '23
Location: Pohligtr. 1, groundfloor

Held in English (some understanding of German will be helpful!)

Overview

This is a practice-oriented master level discussion course! First, we will understand different 'Media over IP' distribution approaches - how does the content come to our eyes and ears? - and reflect the relevant technologies and players involved in distributing 'Media over IP'. We will investigate the different technological, economical and managerial concerns from the perspectives of various kinds of providers and reflect those against a set of consumer perspectives. In particular, we will investigate 'Media over IP distribution' as stand-alone business (e.g., Akamai) or additional distribution infrastructure (e.g., RTL, WDR). We will also take the perspectives of infrastructure service providers (e.g.,  Zattoo, Google / YouTube) and telco operators (e.g., Telekom, NetCologne). These are only examples from the German scene. Students are welcome to bring other kinds of players to the discussion!

Second, we will think through the potential and the constraints of mass media / TV providers offering / producing "IP-only content". We will not dig into the technical production challenges, but – as in the distribution part – focus on the business concepts.

The main learning goals are (1) reflecting upon the omnipresent term 'Media over IP' in detail (do not forget the 'media'), (2) expand our business view of media ecosystems to the level of distributing / providing access to content incl. so-called Over-The-Top (OTT) services, and (3) applying academic analytical concepts and tools to deliver rigorous scenarios for a portfolio of media providers.

Important: We will begin already on October 07, '22 and hence will finish early in the semester, see dates below. The first (online) session is a full session, not just a kick-off. In order to get the discussion going right away, we require a Pre-Assignment due on October 05, '22 - details see below.

Dates (max. 5)

Oct. 07, Oct. 21, (Oct. 28), Nov. 11 OR Monday Oct. 31 (to be decided in the first session), Nov. 18 (WDR guest lecture / visit), Dec. 02, - all '22 and Jan. 20 or Jan. 27 - both '23; max 5 sessions.

PLUS: We are considering to organize one onsite visit to a major media company active in 'Media over IP' together with the course MTM Selected Issues I. The date will depend on the company on any Friday between 12:30 and 5:30 pm in the semester. If it will be on an Issues I session date, it will be voluntary, but highly recommended for Issues II students (and vice versa).

Pre-Assignment due Oct. 05, '22, 11:00 am via eMail from your sMail account.

Suggestion: Watch the one hour video session about "Media Over IP" that took place online during the ANGA Convention 2021; it is required during the course and may help you with the Pre-Assignment. The video is in German...

Required Tasks:

(1) For the three companies Deutsche Telekom, Akamai, and Zattoo, elaborate on their business model only in the context of distributing 'Media over IP'. What media product / service does the company sell over IP to whom? Distinguish B2B and B2C? Who are the companies' customers (remember from EMS: customers are those who pay to Deutsche Telekom, Akamai, and Zattoo in this assignment... What do the customers pay for (not how much)? What does the company's 'Media over IP' turnover depend on - volume, number of customers, number of content viewers, hours of content viewing, kilometers of connection? What else? Where does the company get the content that it distributes via IP? [about 300 words per company],

and

(2) Briefly reflect whether you have used any of the three above companies in your private media consumption. Why or why not? If not, what did you use instead? The answer to the latter is not YouTube or Netflix..., but the distribution infrastructure (hardware / software) that brought your favorite content to your eyes and ears [about 50 words per company that you used].

(3) What are the differences for RTL if they distribute your favorite series to you via satellite or cable on the one hand or via IP (WLAN, telecommunication providers) on the other hand? [about 150-300 words].

Formal requirements
- State your name, matr.-number, sMail address, and study program and its start date on top of the first page; then continue typing, no cover sheet!

- Have only your name in the header of each page.
- Have an empty line before the task, copy the task, and in the next line start the answer. After a task, have one empty line before typing the next task and the answer.

- Do not start a new page for every new task.

- Times New Roman (TNR) 12, single-spaced.

- Have 2 points (2 pts.) before and after each (1) paragraph.

- Scientific writing style - no jokes, no slang, hardly any passive voice.
- References IN THE TEXT (no footnotes), no 'ibid.' - s. some Anglo-American academic management journals.
- NO author first names, NO repetition of reference titles in the assignment text.
- For formatting the reference list, see our website.
- Consistent format (including spacing, etc.).
- Page numbers of references only for word-by-word citations.
- Complete reference list formatted appropriately with all required information per file (see mtm.uni-koeln.de) - even if it is only one source.

Delivery
Please send an eMail from your sMail account to claudia.loebbecke<at>uni-koeln.de and irina.boboschko<at>uni-koeln.de; attach a non-protected word file (.doc or .docx)
- Subject line: MTM-Issues2-Pre-Lastname (your lastname only, no accent, etc.)
- File name: MTM-Issues2-Pre-Lastname.doc(x) (your lastname only, no accent, etc.)

Course Grading

- 25%: Pre-Assignment

- 25%, individual: Intermediate Assignments
- 30%, individual: Active participation throughout the sessions - building on assignments / having digested the material

- 20%, individual: Final Assignment and presentation
It is required to at least 'pass' (grade 4.0 or better) each grading element for passing the course.
'Alle Prüfungselemente müssen mindestens bestanden sein.'

Required Course Registration:

(1) Hand in Pre-Assignment by Oct. 02, '23, 11:00 am (minimum passing that grading element) AND thereupon (2) register for the exam on KLIPS by Oct. 14, '22, 11:00 am.

If you are interested in taking the course, please send an eMail from your sMail account to three persons: claudia.loebbecke<at>uni-koeln.de, astrid.obeng-antwi<at>uni-koeln.de, and irina.boboschko<at>uni-koeln.de. The eMail must list the course for which you want to register, your first name, your last name, your 'matr.-number', and your study program. We suggest that you also add a phone number so that we can help on short notice.

We confirm the receipt; then you have your seat secured.
However, the registration only becomes binding for you, once you have handed in the Pre-Assignment latest on Oct. 2, '23 (see above). Hence, on Oct. 03, '23, we will list you as course participant in KLIPS and by Oct. 14, '22 you will then have to register for the exam of the course ('Prüfungsanmeldung') via KLIPS. We will help and double check, if / after you have handed in the Pre-Assignment.

For any course related questions, please contact claudia.loebbecke<at>uni-koeln.de from your sMail account.

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