Research

With the support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Ithaka, Intelligent Television conducted a study of the evolving relationships between commercial and noncommercial organizations in the digitization and publication, broadly defined, of educational and cultural heritage materials. The project’s primary objective is to develop a broad-based understanding of the mechanisms employed in commercial-nonprofit collaborations. There have been an increasing number of these collaborations, with enormous potential to further the causes of education and culture. But there is also a need for more detailed information about them, and for a broader understanding of how these cooperative ventures are structured and managed. The study may be helpful in determining how the different parties involved can preserve and maximize the value of cultural and educational assets.

The project canvassed custodians of commercial-noncommercial relationships at libraries, museums, archives, historical societies, and universities about their business and commercial relationships. The project also interviewed executives in commercial businesses—publishing companies; licensing and merchandising groups; law firms; accounting firms; investment banks; venture capital firms—who have been or may soon be developing roles as stakeholders in public-private partnerships. The project also established a preliminary database of transaction information.

In August 2005, the project completed a preliminary report about these conversations, available from Intelligent Television and Ithaka. As needs warrant and funding allows, the project continues in-depth analysis and reporting and collecting general and specific business, legal, and tax materials for the community.

For further information about Intelligent Television projects and productions, or to get involved, please contact the company.