Why RJR HDTV GCML means NYSE IPO as 4G LTE heralds 5G and Content Streaming

HDTV is now in the cards for the RJR Communications Group as described in my Geezam blog article entitled “The Future of Free-to-Air Broadcasters in Jamaica as Digital Switch Over Approaches in 2015”. The free-to-Air broadcasters have basically been left with no choice, as 2015 is the year they should have switched over to HDTV.

Gary Allen, Managing Director of the RJR Communications Group all but declared this during a the panel discussion on Thursday September 10^th 2015 at the Faculty of Medical Sciences as reported in the article “RJR needs $750 m to go HDTV”, published Sunday, September 13, 2015 by Steven Jackson, Business reporter, The Jamaica Observer.

The panel Discussion, entitled “The RJR-Gleaner Merger: Implications for the Media Business in Jamaica” was produced by the Mona School of Business Management (MSBM ).

The gathering was basically a pow-wow for commentators on Traditional Media to comment on the way forward after the RJR Communications Group and the Jamaica Gleaner had surprised us with a merger on Wednesday August 5^th 2015 as reported in the article “RJR, Gleaner announce merger”, published Wednesday, August 05, 2015, The Jamaica Observer.

The Merger, basically an equities swap, involved some 1.2 billion shares changing hands so that both entities would become equal partners in an Umbrella company called GCML (Gleaner Company Media Limited). Each company, the 180-y-o Gleaner Company and the 65-y-o RJR Communications Group, are 50/50 partners in this new media entity.

This is similar to Google’s restructuring their various companies under the name Alphabet almost five (5) days later on Monday August 10th 2015 as explained in my blog article entitled “@Google Inc is now Alphabet Inc – Why an Alphabet Soup of Business Structure means better Engineering Project Success”.

However, unlike Google restructuring, the merger is basically to weather the coming storm of Telecom Provider entering the Traditional Media landscape suggested by the article “RJR, The Gleaner Merge Media Operations”, Published Wednesday August 5, 2015, The Jamaica Gleaner.  

Hence, it's not surprising that the focus of the discussion seemed to center on whether or not the Merger would allow them to whether this growing storm of the Telecom Providers increased push into Traditional Media. But are the Telecom Providers going after Traditional Media or is it just a side effect of their expansion as they ramp up to 4G LTE?

RJR considering HDTV - How Telecom Providers 4G LTE Plans is affecting the Broadcasters

Let's do a quick review as to where the players are.

Digicel has basically purchased SportsMax and seems to be planning an islandwide Sports Cable Network as reported in my blog article entitled “Digicel purchases SportsMax – Why No Games, Just Sports on Digicel's Streaming Cable TV over Bigger, Better Network 4G LTE and FTTH”.

They've also purchased Telstar Jamaica, a local Cable company, which I assumed was to provide Fiber Optic Backhaul for their 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) Network as reported in my blog article entitled “ Digicel officially acquires Telstar Cable – Why Digicel is launching IPTV Streaming over 4G LTE using 20 Years of Cable TV History”.  

However, it looks to be more than just building out a Fiber Optic Backhaul Network as based on a tip-off from an insider within Digicel, I soon realized that they're also doing FTTH (Fiber to the House) in a direct assault on fellow competitor LIME as I'd explained in my Geezam blog article entitled  “Digicel Sportsmax NBA deal means fiber and 4G LTE coming this year”.

This makes sense, as with the excess Capacity that building out a Fiber Optic Backhaul for their 4G LTE Network will create, there will be a time of low occupancy. With Voice and SMS (Short Messaging Service) usage trending down due to IM (Instant Messaging) apps and the uncertainty of how Jamaican customer will react to paying for pricier 4G LTE, providing Streaming Cable TV, specifically Sports event from SportsMax, will fill in the Traffic Void on Digicel's New Caribbean-Wide Fiber Optic Networks.

It'll make the Transition to a more Data centric company easier, helping Digicel to achieve their target of 25% of Revenue from Data services, be it 4G LTE or Fiber Optic Broadband that their Digicel Underground Fiber Optic Network in the next five (5) years as reported in my blog article entitled “Digicel's First Phase of Underground Fiber Optic Network completed - How Digicel's Tier III Data Center, FTTH, VoIP and Streaming possible in Year of the Sheep 2015”.

If true, it explains why LIME has not only purchased the operations of FLOW Jamaica but has also taken on their name. This in order to curry favour with potential Cable Customers and prevent them from defecting to Digicel SportsMax as per my analysis in my Geezam blog article entitled “LIME Jamaica Goes with the FLOW thanks to Caribbean-wide Survey”. 

The inevitability of Streaming HDTV over 4G LTE – Jamaicans getting into Content Streaming

Already, Both Telecom Providers have been providing Streaming Radio Services in the form of Deezer and Rdio, basically challenging the Free-to-Air Radio Industry as explained in my blog article entitled “@Digicel_Jamaica and @LIMEJamaica sign Streaming Deals - How HD Audio Streaming, 4G LTE and Caribbean Artiste means Streaming Revenue Bad Blood”.

So their Streaming Cable TV and FTTH with sports content, which is to stabilize their Fiber Optic Backhaul Networks with traffic as customers and businesses are introduced to 4G LTE Wireless Broadband, will affect the Traditional Broadcasters. This as the provision of Streaming Cable TV via FTTH means HDTV and other Broadband relate services are coming, forcing the now newly merged entity to have to consider going that route.

When 4G LTE is finally launched, it'll take some time for many Jamaicans to adjust to paying higher prices for Data Services. But given the addictive nature of the initial sampler, that being Digicel Zero as reported in my blog article entitled “Digicel launches Digicel Zero - How @Digicel_jamaica is testing VoLTE vs @WhatsApp's Free Voice Calling to boost smartphone sales”, they'll soon jump on board.

Jamaicans will slowly get hip to Steaming Full 4K Video wirelessly as well as via FTTH. Eventually as the economy improves in the next five (5) years, many might even begin to have improvements in income. 

This'll translate to more buying power and thus an increased tendency to shop online with their Scotia VISA Debit Card and CIBC VISA Debit Cards. And this spells trouble for both the RJR Communications Group and Gleaner Company

GCML IPO on the NYSE to raise capital coming - Why cheaper Tablets, Video Streaming, content purchasing and 5G on the horizon

So in the future among Jamaicans, buying digital Streaming content, be it Video, Music or apps may become a more common place activity. This makes it necessary for Jamaica to develope an ICT Industry based on Programming Apps, Video Games as predicted in my blog article entitled “Computer Programming the Future of Jamaica – How Paul Buchanan plans to jump start the ICT Revolution”. 

We will also have to develope the Computer Programming capacity to design drones as well, now that companies such as Qualcomm are making SoC (System on a Chip) Controller Boards for Drones such as the Snapdragon Flight as reported in my blog article entitled “Qualcomm Snapdragon Flight for Drone design - Why US$300 DIY Drones with 4K Video and connectivity options coming in 2016”.  

By then, Tablets, which have been falling in price globally as well is in the US of A due to heavy competition from the Chinese “White Label” Tablets as evidenced from the low-cost US$50 Amazon Fire Tablet as reported in my MICO Wars blog article entitled “US$50 Amazon Fire Tablet and US$50 Amazon Fire TV Stick makes Christmas bright”.

Throw 5G on that bonfire by 2020 as predicted in my blog article entitled “ITU publishes 5G IMT-2020 Roadmap - Why US Telecom Providers, @Digicel_Jamaica and @LIMEJamaica like to travel off the beaten Path”, which is mainly coming to the US of A and other Developing World Countries.

If it does come to Jamaica by 2020, it will not end well for the RJR Communications Group and the Gleaner. Cheaper Tablets, 4K smartphones, the  purchasing of Digital Content, some made by Jamaicans and even locally made Drones will be common place in 2020.  

Many will wonder why they'll even need to watch local content from the RJR Communications Group when they can stream 4K content via 4G LTE using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) as explained in my blog article entitled “Cable Providers comply with BCJ Cable Channel Removal - How to install a VPN to Stream American Cable Channels on your  Roku”.

The GCML (Gleaner Company Media Limited) therefore has no choice. As soon as the Merger gets approval, they need to set in motion plans to float an IPO on the NYSE to raise the capital needed to go HDTV, with a Caribbean wide push.

Otherwise, they'll be swamped by the Telecom Providers, who in transitioning to 4G LTE and eventually 5G, will erode their marketshare by introducing better quality content which Jamaicans in the future will be more than willing to spend their disposable income via their Scotia VISA Debit and CIBC VISA Debit Cards.