Professor Ramon Lobato (Swinburne University of Technology, School of Social Sciences, Media, Film and Education) is a leading scholar in media and cultural industries, specializing in digital distribution, streaming services, and cultural policy. With three Australian Research Council Fellowships, including a current Future Fellowship on Australian television in the smart TV ecology (2020-2025), his research bridges empirical analysis with critical theory to explore industrial transformations in the digital media landscape. Bachelor of Arts, University of Melbourne PhD in Cultural Studies, University of Melbourne Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching, Swinburne University His work focuses on: Streaming Media: Analyzing video-on-demand platforms, local content regulation, and global distribution dynamics Informal Media Economies: Examining piracy, geoblocking, and alternative distribution circuits Media Policy: Advising governments on smart TV regulation, data privacy, and platform accountability Recent research trends include smart TV datafication, ad-tech infrastructure, and the cultural implications of algorithmic content recommendation. His book Netflix Nations: The Geography of Digital Distribution (NYU Press, 2019) and co-edited MIT Press series Distribution Matters provide foundational insights into platform globalization and industrial practices. RMIT Award for Research Excellence in Technology, Communication, and Policy (2020) International Communication Association Outstanding Young Scholar (2016) Dean's Award for Outstanding Research, Swinburne (2015) Faculty ECR Research Excellence, Swinburne (2014) Udine Film Forum Best International Film Studies Book (2013) As a supervisor, Lobato welcomes PhD projects on media industries, technologies, and audiences. He collaborates with institutions like the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA) and SBS on funded research, while co-editing the MIT Press book series Distribution Matters , dedicated to media distribution's social and cultural impact.








