Digitization has become a key form
of changing the way in which we consume media. Due to this, media consumption
has not only complicated the economical standings of entertainment, it has
always created a significant effect in the way in which society watches
television. Today, broadcast networks are not bringing in the viewership
numbers that they used to, which has caused a shift in strategies creating
different forms of how these networks can benefit from the internet and
streaming services.
Netflix and Hulu are two OTT that
have adapted to the constant changing media, with Netflix starting off as a hub
which provided DVD rentals, to now being a full blown over the top content that
produces their own shows and movies as well as provides content of other TV
shows and movies from various distributors.
However, people are still watching ‘television’
either way as Caldwell (2004), stated television has found ways to adapt by the
ongoing change in the media. Even though Netflix and other streaming OTT
services for example, are a dominating force when it comes to media
consumption, it’s still a hub where people can watch their favorite TV shows as
well as their own original content. So although broadcast networks are losing
their viewership, television shows are still gaining revenue with Executive producers
and studios creating projects for OTT TV content.
Caldwell also states that since the
internet is obsessed with “advertising, sponsorship and programming” (Caldwell,
2004, p.50) it’s the reason why television can succeed in this day and age of
media convergence, and have a better chance of survival than possibly film.
Television submitting to “low resolution” content is also something that has
benefited them it gives television the opportunity to program, quantify and
stream more than one channel.
Thus, although the concept of
having a cable box is a slowly dying economy, media conglomerates have adapted
to ways in which television is a dominating source. Even though consumers enjoy
the idea of watching their favorite shows on a TV box instead of on a laptop,
devices such as Amazon fire and Apple TV have given consumers an opportunity to
stream OTT content and broadcast network apps on their TV screens if there is
an internet available. Furthermore, proving that even though digitization and
streaming has become the way of media consumption, television executives and
distributors have figured out ways to adapt to it.
I think the discussion of the Hard-Tech surrounding TV an attempts at preserving that is really interesting. I would be curious to dive a little bit into potential nostalgia surrounding those technologies etc.
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