We are still facing several challenges, mostly because we are so far ahead of the field in IPTV broadcasting. Much of the technology we need is either not available, or is aimed at big mainstream broadcasters, with big mainstream prices to match. We have already had to think “outside the box”, developing much of our technology in-house, to get to where we are now. We are currently working along with software development partners to create a basic asset management and broadcast automation system which is simultaneously simple to deploy and affordable for small community stations. That will enable us to move to the next level with our programme scheduling.

Another area that really needs addressing, as more small IPTV stations follow our lead, and open up online around the world, is the issue of content licensing. There are still no perfect licensing options for video broadcasting, as the system is very much stuck in the BBC/ITV/Videotape era, having not been properly updated since the last century. Whilst community and online radio has been able to move forward thanks to new online licensing agreements with PRS, PPS, and MCPS, TV, movie and Video rights are still mostly controlled by individual production companies which benefits no one except copyright lawyers. Content creators lose out, small broadcasters lose out, and people like us end up spending inordinate amounts of time chasing production company executives who often don’t have the information about the vintage programming we want to screen, and, frankly, have better things to do!