Article Reference: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/dec/09/tv-dead-long-live-television-format-consuming
'The TV is Dead Long Live TV'
When I first saw the headline for the article I had to pause for a second. I thought, how could the TV be dead? Much like the author of the article, I see the TV as being a focal point of the home. It has its own corner in the living room, with the sofas facing towards it, so all eyes can be on the screen.
When I think of television I think about sitting down on the sofa and watching a reality TV show with my family, commentating on contestants and criticizing the predictability of the program etc. So at first, I thought the TV is far from dead, when it's very much alive in my home, but then after reading the article I re-evaluated.
As the author of the article expresses, the convergence of media products, the increased accessibility, along with an increase in digital media, has allowed programs to be viewed at our own time and in a place of our choice. The new era of i Player, Netflix and YouTube, which can be viewed on mobiles, tablets, I Pads, laptops, desktops etc. means the TV is losing its credibility.
We are limited with our TV. We are restricted to our home, and succumb to program clashes with other family members. However, digital media has allowed these restrictions to diminish. We can now watch programs we want to, when we want, and on which ever platform we want.
So maybe the author of the article is right. Maybe the TV is the family experience. It's associated with family programs we all want to watch and enjoy together, while our tablets and laptops are for the more independent and individual experience. So actually the TV isn't as much dead, but alive for more precise and sharing moments to enjoy, than ever before.
