Pearl Academy – School of Media, hosted its latest event, based around how media, communication, and entertainment have formed a close-knit ecosystem. The event РWhat’s Next in Digital Entertainment was held on 15th March, at Waterstones Hotel, Mumbai. It aimed at throwing light on the influence and impact of digital entertainment on the virtual communication revolution. It intended to collate viewpoints and opinions of a group of esteemed keynote speakers and experts from the digital entertainment sphere. These experts ranged from entertainment organisations like Network 18, FICCI, Star Plus, Mid Day. Filmfare Magazine and more.
The motives and purposes of this event were to critically evaluate and understand the dynamic and contemporary trends influencing the realm of digital entertainment in today’s era of technology and automation.
The session on Future of Entertainment Content in the Digital Age delved into the evolution of modern entertainment channels across India and the onset of mobile and multiple screens. Some prominent trends to have come up include video and music streaming. Platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and VOOT have grown immensely. There is a combination of factors attributing to this dramatic development. These factors include –¬†
- The rising prominence of smartphones
- Improved connectivity in the form of refined wifi and data plans
- An influx of online Indian content on streaming platforms
These streaming platforms allow multiple users to access the interface, all through only one paid account. Increasing income levels and fast-changing lifestyle trends have induced an increase in the demand for modern products and services. Similarly, a rapidly advancing young population and the proliferation of digital gadgets have led to the rise of the mobile screen as a medium for consuming content.
The segment on New Business Models in Digital Entertainment highlighted the need for forming models of marketing beyond traditional methods, to ensure that the new age consumer is fascinated and absorbed in a digitally distracted era. The importance of exploring fresh business models such as Content Marketing, pay per click, engagement economics, events revenue, and crowd-funding emerged as the need of the hour in association with India’s volatile and ever-changing media environment. Online tools and software can be used to understand online marketing models Рsuch as pay per click. Social Media sites and applications like Facebook and Instagram provide insightful analytics on post engagement and consumer behaviour. These facilities and tools are bound to expand in the future.
The last theme, Bridging Skill Gaps and Talent Grooming for the Digital Age analysed India’s transforming media industry, underlining the advent of social media, mobile journalism, viral trends, technological advancements with AR & VR entering the distribution and consumer channels, and how each of these have contributed to creating a more evolved, modern media landscape.
It can be concluded that Pearl Academy lived up to its reputation of offering high-quality student engagement in the form of interactive events and discussions. Students were exposed to experts of the entertainment and media industries and understood the future of the respective industries and how they’re bound to advance in the coming years. 
