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 BC’s 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.cawww.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 15 th – 17 th, 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!