Re/code: As consumers have shifted their viewing to interactive devices (iPad, Xbox, PC), creators are free of many of the limitations of broadcast television, but few have taken advantage of this fact. Why shouldn’t premium video vary in length to accommodate the story? Why not embrace interactivity and innovate on formats that television simply cannot accommodate? Why not acknowledge the viewer, and engage him or her in real time? Why not embrace features from other media, such as video games?
4 comments:
I am already aware of the shift that is currently happening from standard television platforms to mobile devices. However, I'd like to see how this would translate to theatre. Jack wants to have his performances screened online for all to join in the theatre. I would like to see this happen. The theatre would still profit similarly to the current television networks, and could reach more audiences. <54-102> 54-102 54102
Interesting. I've been enjoying the stretch towards more innovative uses of the television medium, but I'm almost embarrassed to say that these changes never even occurred to me. For me, the length of the show has always part of the genre. It is what differentiates a sitcom from a drama from a miniseries from a movie. But this author is right when he says that these limits no longer apply. If given the right resources, more shows could be like Sherlock, with 3 1.5 hour episodes in a season, or be pushed even further, with sporadic lengths and sporadic distribution. Imagine the social media following of a popular show when no one knows when it is going to come out? The fervor that could form over waiting for a new episode and being disappointed with a 15 minute short film, or the excitement of being presented with a 2 hour special. Characters and scenarios could be stretched beyond their mediums to transcend television beyond it's humble beginnings. That is a thrilling concept.
The days of getting home from a hard day at work and lying back on the coach are over. Thanks to streaming services like Netflix and Hulu and HBO go, TV isn’t the same anymore. My generation has watched the all-consuming boom of technology really change the shape every year of how we used to expect how to live our lives. If you want to watch your favorite show in bed for several hours with no ads to cause interruption, it very easy in modern times. Because this is starting to be the main way we are receiving our media, it my understanding that tv shows are trying to keep up. So thus by creating content specific tv show in new ways that no longer are following the old standard of how stories are being told, they are thus setting a new standard for the expectation of how stories are being told. This will be as soon as our computers are high powered desktop in lap top form, that are also our tv’s and cell phones and gaming devices; this title is currently held by a mac book pro.
I am a little hesitant to remark online streaming subscriptions as the true future of storytelling despite the wide shift to an online media. Yes, subscription based streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime are extremely successful since they don’t have to deal with the same constraints as live television airing or film screenings and have more freedom with their shows, but I don’t know if we can say definitively that storytelling is moving to a online media, or at least not completely. For one thing I think older viewers will probably stick to older formats if not only for the sake of familiarity, while real in time entertainment will always draw viewers based on the premise that if they watch it air live they’ll gain access to the latest greatest episode of their favorite series first. For the most part I think it’s easy to overlook this with Netflix providing such great service to their users who can watch their favorite shows instantly, but the real fun in following a TV series (especially a drama) is being up to date and being able to discuss last night’s chapter with everyone the morning after it premieres. TV statistics show incredible spikes in viewers around important premieres and while new episodes remain first aired on networks, television as a medium for entertainment won’t die out, at least not all right away.
Post a Comment