The impact of new/digital media on TV: blog tasks

The impact of new/digital media on TV: blog task

The industry concept in A level media refers to companies that create and distribute media texts standard practise of media production and regulatory/legal work frames in which the companies operate.


David Hesmondhalgh argues that there has been a shift in cultural production in terms of creative industries since the 1980s

Hesmondhalgh's points regarding change in cultural industries:

• There has been an increase in media corporations owning companies in different sectors of the industry
  
• Globalisation leads to media texts circulating more easily across borders and reduces the North American dominance

• Niche audiences are increasingly targeted.

Technical convergence is the process of making media digital. An example of this is being able to read the newspaper online. 

Technology companies are challenging traditional broudcasters in the TV industry by producing their own media. An example of this is streaming services, like Netflix, producing their own high budget films, dramas and series.


Budgets that streaming services will spend on original programming:

• Apple - $1 billion
• Amazon - $4.5 billion
• Netflix- $8 billion

Netflix and Amazon are available in many countries for people all around the world to enjoy. Netflix is available in 190 countries and Amazon is available in 200 countries. 

In the article, the hit show "Stranger Things" is used as an example of how production companies consider international audiences when creating a show. The monster in Stranger Things is called a "Demogorgon", named after Dungeons and Dragons demon prince. The incorporation of Dungeons and Dragons is seen throughout the show as the main characters are seen playing it. 

Considering the great success that technology companies are having when it comes to the television industry, I believe that companies such as Google, Facebook and Amazon will increase their interest in it as it will increase their total revenue.

The changes in technology influence the creation of TV dramas. TV dramas such as Capital and Deutschland 83 are now available on many platforms other than just standard television. New marketing techniques were introduced to match the changes in technology and how we use it. Social media was used to help promote these shows.

The Guardian: How tech is changing television

The traditional lengths for TV dramas usually come in the forms of 60,30 or 15 minutes. This arose from a grid schedule designed around hours and half hours to make programming easier to find 

Streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime have made TV drama producers consider, when creating the narrative, the fact that their shows can be consumed in one sitting. This has made them make decisions to make the ends of each episode more captivating to encourage audiences to continue watching. This has also allowed for more complex narratives and increased cliffhangers. Another decision that is being made is to discard the recaps at the beginning of each episode as it will be no longer needed . 

TV dramas are usually shot in blocks. In order to maximise the use of time, and minimise the cost of actors and crew. This allows for chapter lengths that stay close to the half-hour or hour of traditional scheduled television.

Permanent 24/7 connectivity has drastically altered viewer responses. Live-tweeting by audiences has usefully democratised criticism