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JDTV 6 (2) pp. 145–162 Intellect Limited 2015
International Journal of Digital Television
Volume 6 Number 2
© 2015 Intellect Ltd Article. English language. doi: 10.1386/jdtv.6.2.145_1
Yuwei lin
University for the Creative Arts, Farnham
open data and co-production
of public value of bbc
backstage
abStract
Openly accessible data sets (open data) have been recognized as valuable assets
for creating business opportunities, revitalizing innovation and transparentiz-
ing organizational conducts. Public Service Broadcasters (PSB) such as the British
Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) have been motivated to experiment with open data
and new forms of innovation in content making, delivery and audience engagement.
Through a case study of the BBC Backstage project, this article examines how such
open innovation processes of engaging the public in the reuse and remix of open
data were conceived, supported, managed and maintained. The research found that
BBC Backstage had played an important role in encouraging and motivating people
to reuse and repurpose the open data released by the BBC. New forms of outputs
have emerged, as seen in the Data Arts visualization project and the R&DTV clips
mashups. The article argues that PSB public value can be co-produced through
opening up data sets, encouraging reuse and remix, and building up a network of
enthusiastic and capable active audiences, the techno-elites, whose status has been
encouraged the open data culture and alike. Lessons learned can help understand
the meanings of open data from the PSB perspective, and the implications in media
industry thereby foster innovation in future media and creative industries.
KeYwordS
open data
public value
techno-elite
BBC
co-production
audience participation
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