Big networks now see the growing popularity of online TV, and see it as opportunity to catch even higher number of viewers across the globe. It is undeniable that more and more viewers choose to watch TV programme online. Even though, the idea of watching the show on a small laptop screen cannot match with watching it on big screen in the living room, people behaviour is beginning to change. Currently, people may choose to watch content online because they don’t have television or they miss the show. However, soon the audiences will see online TV as the priority mean of media and no longer need the TV sets.
It is the threat from Youtube that contains many unofficial TV show online which deteriorate viewer from the networks. Majority of the network see this trend coming and now start to offer more shows online with less advert than normal television. The owner of Fox and NBC Universal even launched Hulu.com, an online media that carries free TV programme while Warner Bros followed by providing TheWB.com for its own TV show. CBS also moved to online TV as it agreed to deal with 10 online distributors.
In addition, with the free content online, minor producers become widely approachable. I come across this discussion of indie producers who tried to put their film into the internet. Some have a hit of 5,000 and more. Even though, what they did was to give away their talent for free online, it is a great opportunity to build reputation as well as profile to sell the future films to investors and get real distribution. In the past, it is very difficult to be published to the public, and even the copy rights were transferred to the network with higher bargaining power . Soon the power of these so called indie producers will reach the level that they do not need to ask for networks’ or distributors’ approval. They can search for their own ads revenue from the high viewing rate they have built up.
It is a clear sign that the world is moving toward online media, which means that the role of major production house and networks may not be as important as before. Big names may still be able to survive due to the reputation and quality of the content they have produced so far. Majority of the people will still watch shows from big names producers, but minor producers will gain a larger piece of pie in the future.
Reference:
Major broadcasters benefiting most from online TV viewing
Is the future of TV on the Web?
CBS to launch online TV networkHow does an indie producer get a movie or video on iTunes?
1 comment:
A very positive aspect of this new trend is that big broadcasting corporations do not hold the absolute truth anymore. For example, if they publicize distorted news, it is very likely that someone has a version that is closer to the truth and they can now upload it over the Internet for everyone to see. All this at no monetary cost, and at a very small transaction cost. This means that big broadcasting corporations have to be a lot more carful than before, as viewers can have a much bigger impact as they express their opinions.
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