Screen Digest
Encyclopedia
Screen Digest Ltd is a company providing business intelligence
, research and analysis on the global media markets based in London
, United Kingdom
, that has grown out of a monthly journal of that name that was founded in 1971. It was acquired by the technology researcher iSuppli in 2010.
; at the time, its concept and design was unusual and created by Chittock together with his business partner and wife Joy Chittock. Initially it was a straight news digest containing concise abstracts across the range of media, including film and cinema, television and in particular the nascent video sector and with strict editorial emphasis on the relevance and brevity of stories (using what Chittock called the "so what?" test - every entry was supposed to pass this).
From the first issue, it has been characterised by the use of icons to identify the broad media subject area of each news story and the inclusion of contact information for companies and organisations mentioned in news items. Other features from the start were the inclusion in the subscription of a free binder and detailed annual index, based on the concept of acting as a journal of record.
In February 1972 a four-page centre section on yellow paper was introduced, initially to carry a page of reference material and articles from members of the industry. Among early contributors were Robert W Sarnoff, then chairman of RCA
, film director and teacher Thorold Dickinson
and the BBC
director-general Charles Curran
. This has since developed into a data-related eight-page section based on the company's recent research. Also in that month David Fisher
joined as news editor and played a major role in shaping the almost academic standards of what was really a commercial publication. He became editor in July 1974 and still holds that position.
In the mid 1970s, Chittock and Fisher produced a daily half-hour closed-circuit radio programme for delegates at the 1976 British Industrial Film Festival in Brighton
and repeated the exercise the following year's 18th International Industrial Film Festival at the National Film Theatre in London.
In 1976 Screen Digest formed an alliance with Nord Media, a London-based research business owned by Ebav, an audio-visual company jointly owned by the Scandinavian enterprises Esselte
and Bonnier. The partnership ended in May 1980.
Chittock sold the company in July 1996 to a management team comprising David Fisher, Allan Hardy, Ben Keen and Mark Smith. At that time the company had one full-time employee. Since then Screen Digest has expanded its consultancy and report publishing activities, as well as developing an extensive set of continuously updated online information and data services on Advertising, Broadband Media, Cinema, Games, Mobile Media, Television, Television technology and Video. Screen Digest now counts over 50 full-time employees, with bases in New York and California in the USA and Melbourne, Australia, as well as London.
In 2007, Screen Digest acquired the US video market research company Adams Media Research (AMR), and established Screen Digest Inc. The Global Media Intelligence (GMI) division was formed in 2007 to supply reports on media companies for corporate investors.
In May 1981 Screen Digest was involved in conference organisation for the International Video Week, co-ordinated by The Economist
and held on the South Bank, London. The event was staged again the following year. Several industry lunches were also held in London around this time at which guest speakers included Buckminster Fuller
and Rosita Sarnoff, granddaughter of David Sarnoff
.
In 1996 Screen Digest became responsible for arranging the conference programme for the annual European Video Perspective (PEVE) home entertainment conferences and in 2007 acquired the sole ownership of the event.
the camera closes in on a film fan at a premiere screening, who is holding a copy of a magazine called Screen Digest. There is no connection and it is believed that the film version was created by the MGM props department as no trace has ever been found of a historical film magazine of that name.
20 minutes into the 1949 film "Tension" Richard Basehart is seen holding a copy of Screen Digest. It is priced at 25c and Ann Sothern is the cover girl.
Business intelligence
Business intelligence mainly refers to computer-based techniques used in identifying, extracting, and analyzing business data, such as sales revenue by products and/or departments, or by associated costs and incomes....
, research and analysis on the global media markets based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, that has grown out of a monthly journal of that name that was founded in 1971. It was acquired by the technology researcher iSuppli in 2010.
Company history
Screen Digest was founded in 1971 by journalist and documentary film-maker John Chittock, then film and video correspondent of the Financial TimesFinancial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
; at the time, its concept and design was unusual and created by Chittock together with his business partner and wife Joy Chittock. Initially it was a straight news digest containing concise abstracts across the range of media, including film and cinema, television and in particular the nascent video sector and with strict editorial emphasis on the relevance and brevity of stories (using what Chittock called the "so what?" test - every entry was supposed to pass this).
From the first issue, it has been characterised by the use of icons to identify the broad media subject area of each news story and the inclusion of contact information for companies and organisations mentioned in news items. Other features from the start were the inclusion in the subscription of a free binder and detailed annual index, based on the concept of acting as a journal of record.
In February 1972 a four-page centre section on yellow paper was introduced, initially to carry a page of reference material and articles from members of the industry. Among early contributors were Robert W Sarnoff, then chairman of RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
, film director and teacher Thorold Dickinson
Thorold Dickinson
Thorold Barron Dickinson was a British film director, screenwriter, producer, and Britains's first university Professor of Film.-Early life and career:...
and the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
director-general Charles Curran
Charles Curran (broadcaster)
Sir Charles John Curran , was a British television executive.Charles Curran was born in Dublin. He served in the Indian army from 1942-45, but left to work in the BBC Talks department. He resigned following a dispute to edit the "Canadian Fishing News", but he returned in 1951 to join BBC Monitoring...
. This has since developed into a data-related eight-page section based on the company's recent research. Also in that month David Fisher
David Fisher
David Fisher may refer to:People:* David Andrew Fisher , film director and producer including Toy Soldiers * David Dayan Fisher , British actor* David "Dudu" Fisher , Israeli singer...
joined as news editor and played a major role in shaping the almost academic standards of what was really a commercial publication. He became editor in July 1974 and still holds that position.
In the mid 1970s, Chittock and Fisher produced a daily half-hour closed-circuit radio programme for delegates at the 1976 British Industrial Film Festival in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
and repeated the exercise the following year's 18th International Industrial Film Festival at the National Film Theatre in London.
In 1976 Screen Digest formed an alliance with Nord Media, a London-based research business owned by Ebav, an audio-visual company jointly owned by the Scandinavian enterprises Esselte
Esselte
Esselte is privately held company headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. It is a holding company, specializing in office products. It owns several companies, including Pendaflex, Leitz, Oxford, Xyron, Rapid, and an operating company also called Esselte....
and Bonnier. The partnership ended in May 1980.
Chittock sold the company in July 1996 to a management team comprising David Fisher, Allan Hardy, Ben Keen and Mark Smith. At that time the company had one full-time employee. Since then Screen Digest has expanded its consultancy and report publishing activities, as well as developing an extensive set of continuously updated online information and data services on Advertising, Broadband Media, Cinema, Games, Mobile Media, Television, Television technology and Video. Screen Digest now counts over 50 full-time employees, with bases in New York and California in the USA and Melbourne, Australia, as well as London.
In 2007, Screen Digest acquired the US video market research company Adams Media Research (AMR), and established Screen Digest Inc. The Global Media Intelligence (GMI) division was formed in 2007 to supply reports on media companies for corporate investors.
Conferences on cutting-edge media
In its association with Nord Media, Screen Digest staged two landmark video conferences: Video Disc 77 and Video Disc and Videogram 79.In May 1981 Screen Digest was involved in conference organisation for the International Video Week, co-ordinated by The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
and held on the South Bank, London. The event was staged again the following year. Several industry lunches were also held in London around this time at which guest speakers included Buckminster Fuller
Buckminster Fuller
Richard Buckminster “Bucky” Fuller was an American systems theorist, author, designer, inventor, futurist and second president of Mensa International, the high IQ society....
and Rosita Sarnoff, granddaughter of David Sarnoff
David Sarnoff
David Sarnoff was an American businessman and pioneer of American commercial radio and television. He founded the National Broadcasting Company and throughout most of his career he led the Radio Corporation of America in various capacities from shortly after its founding in 1919 until his...
.
In 1996 Screen Digest became responsible for arranging the conference programme for the annual European Video Perspective (PEVE) home entertainment conferences and in 2007 acquired the sole ownership of the event.
Trivia
In the opening scene of the 1952 film Singin' in the RainSingin' in the Rain
Singin' in the Rain is a 1952 American comedy musical film starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds and directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, with Kelly also providing the choreography...
the camera closes in on a film fan at a premiere screening, who is holding a copy of a magazine called Screen Digest. There is no connection and it is believed that the film version was created by the MGM props department as no trace has ever been found of a historical film magazine of that name.
20 minutes into the 1949 film "Tension" Richard Basehart is seen holding a copy of Screen Digest. It is priced at 25c and Ann Sothern is the cover girl.