Dear visitor,


Happy New Year!
The whole media management academy team is sending you their best wishes for a healthy and successful 2010, for you and for those you love. Already we’ve started the last year of the first decennium of the 21st century… I have the feeling that we’ll be living in science fiction circumstances before we even realise it, don’t you?

Just look around you and see how our world is changing. Comparing today’s media world with the one we knew in the nineties is like delving into an ancient era. Content-wise but certainly on a technical level so many things have completely changed and more than ever I’m convinced that we’re only seeing the beginning of the modern communication age. Connected-TV and lots of other promising developments will change our viewing and consuming patterns considerably and will force the media makers and managers to adopt a challenging new way of thinking to stay in touch with their audiences.

The prediction that after a horrendous 2009 the year 2010 would already show signs of serious economical recovery seems to have been too optimistic. However, in spite of the harsh circumstances, the European Audiovisual Observatory recently announced that 245 new TV channels have been created, now reaching the total of 7.200! 24 European countries have introduced DTT and 730 channels are currently transmitted via digital terrestrial means in Europe. The cable market is consolidating while the number of IPTV, satellite and mobile TV operators continues to increase. In other words: there’s still success waiting for those who dare, for who have the talent and a sense for innovation.

The most striking phenomenon of the past few months is the increasing pressure on the public broadcasting system. Very serious cuts have been made to some annual budgets (in some cases up to 50%), rather large numbers of employees are threatened to loose their jobs and the management structures of many public broadcasters are being investigated, subject to changes and downsizing. Political interference is rising and the discussion about the necessity of a public broadcasting system seems to be imminent.

All these issues are being discussed at etma during the onsite sessions of our Media Management Online Training (DLP) and during the ensuing online learning process.
Our programme manager keeps a finger on the pulse of the most recent media developments and invites top specialists to share their information and discuss with the students. We aim to deliver top class information to top class participants.

In about one month’s time we will have our fourth and final onsite seminar of the first etma DLP cycle. We do hope that by then the snow here in Strasbourg will have disappeared. The end of May 2010 will see the first cohort of etma graduates receive their well-deserved diploma. This first year of media management training has been very special for all of us. Together with the tutors, the academics and the participants we embarked on an adventurous trip. Now that the coast is within sight we can happily claim that the trip was worth our while and already we’re looking forward to set sail for the second voyage.

Of course we went through a learning curve and the results of this process will be reflected in the second cycle of the Media Management Online Training that will be launched on May 15th, 2010. I hereby invite you to step on board to accompany us on our upcoming journey to more knowledge and better management skills for the digital media. In case you'd like to join us, the application form can be downloaded from this website. Don’t forget that the Early Bird rates still apply and some scholarships are available.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon,