week 7: Technology: Digital Television Cultures
07:24
Sunday 20th November
Traditional television viewing is becoming a distorted concept
within society, this is due to the growing impact of digitization and its ever
expanding technological growths. I find the thought very interesting, and also
extremely momentous as we are of course consumed by digitisation on a daily
basis. The abilities that ‘catch up TV’ platforms such as Sky Plus and Now TV
have brought, may suggest a bump in ratings of previously popular live shows,
altering with less live view ship. However, that certainly is not the case. We
are now able to live stream programmes, indicating a success in digital globalisation,
as sharing programmes across the globe is easily achieved. We are able to live
stream from many sources, stemming away from the traditional television, but
also to tablets, phones and computers. This element coincides with societies
lifestyles, for example, those who commute to work are now able to stream a
live programme whilst on the tube. Live streaming is easily attainable and a
definite positivity within the ‘internet age’ of television.
Television streaming entire series is also a key factor hindered
from the impact of globalisation, as we are now able to stream series from one
country to another. Breaking Bad is a great example of how streaming benefits a
programmes popularity; originally broadcasted in America which had minimal viewings
and was on the verge of being axed after only one series, its success triumphed
within the United Kingdom. Thousands of people within the UK were streaming and
watch online, which ultimately saved the show which continued to run onto 5
award winning series.
It should be noted that some components to digitalization,
such as the catch up TV abilities as noted before, may be damaging in terms of
TV ratings. The number of ratings during a programmes broadcast usually
reflects how popular a programme is to the public. Being able to miss an
initial broadcast by watching it within your own leisurely time slot may
corrupt the popularity of said show. For example, a programme that may be
deemed as unpopular or unsuccessful because of its lack of ratings may be
cancelled, when it was in fact watched and streamed later by the public. Therefore
‘catch up’ television mediums such as ‘4 od’ and ‘BBC IPlayer’ can arguably be
both positive and negative elements to digitalization. Its positivity stems
from an individual being able to choose when and where they watch a television
show, which changes vastly from traditional television viewing where families
would come together at the specific time the programme was scheduled. I believe
this outcome to also be a negative, as it can take away that sense of
togetherness that television can bring to families and friends. Therefore I believe the rise of digitalization within television has both good and bad repercussions: being easily attainable benefits greatly however it ultimately is causing a lack of togetherness within society.
0 comments