MED4104 - Directed Study Week 8

This week we looked at digital television and the impact it has on audiences. From my own personal experience, digital television had a positive impact on me, growing up television was very limited as we only had 5 channels for a number of years, eventually we got SKY installed and it was the best experience for me growing up at home. I was able to watch a variety of different television shows I'd never knew about before and I was able to engage in conversation with my friends about the shows. Even now digital television still has a positive impact on me, for example, the film 'Sin City' which is now shown on television, uses CGI throughout, watching that film was a new experience for me because I'd never seen anything like it. Digital television has definitely had a huge impact on me as I don't particular enjoy old films/TV unless they are a specific part of my childhood memories. 

Recent technology has changed the way I consume film/television because even now television is constantly updating and it is something that interests me massively, I am forever amazed by how things on television are created and put together. Television can  now be viewed online, if I miss a programme I can watch it later on my phone or my computer whereas before I would have to wait for catchup. I can also watch a programme live on a device, I don't necessarily need a television to actually watch it I can even consume films without having to go to the cinema, films are available to watch online via Netflix. Technology has developed entirely, that I no longer have to be at home to watch a programme. 

Looking at the set reading, which discusses the theory 'First-shift aesthetics' this explains my experience of technology because it looks at programme strategies to attract viewers, which as a viewer I can relate to. Strategies such as "Hammocking" this is where new and untested shows are launched between successful and rating proven series (Everett, 2003: 134). As a viewer I can say this has had a somewhat successful affect on me, for example, I watch programmes such as 'Fraser' on the odd occasion, which then led me to start watching 'Rules of engagement' because it appeared on the same channel and was of the same genre it appealed to me, causing me to watch it more regularly. 

In terms of research, it could be interesting to look at digital technology and audience consumption, for example, researching whether with only the standard 5 channels on television, would television still be valued as highly as it is now? Would it still be culturally/socially practised?. If I was to research this topic in depth, I would gather a small group of individuals and have them only watch television with the standard 5 channels for a number of days to see whether they become more appealed with digital television or whether they become less interested in watching television due to the lack of variety. This research would show me the level of impact digital television can have on an individuals life and whether if something wasn't as easily available would we still be so concerned with it. 

References: 

Everett, A and Caldwell, J (Eds) (2003), New Media: Theories and Practices of Digitextuality, Routledge, London and New York - pp 127-144.