In the continuing saga on how folks consume their television, a recent report filed by the Consumer Electronics Association, a trade group that keeps track with the title details, states that as of 2013, some 6% of American TV households receive their programming exclusively from an antenna device, obtaining programming off the air. Coming is at a close 5% are TV households that receive programming through a dedicated service delivered online. Such online choices range from Apple TV channels to Netflix streaming services.
The CEA report continues to state that nearly half (46%) of TV users viewed some form of video through laptops or pad devices. 43% viewed that same content through a smartphone.
Programmers such as Netflix are aggressively pushing its original content of programs, creating a demand where unlike similar titles made available through cable or standard broadcast, one can view an entire “season” in one sitting a.k.a. “binge watching”. This method of viewing one’s desired programs are making waves across the television community. Many programmers are not only attempting to make selected titles available through streaming online, but making this form of TV viewing the so-called new normal.
The CEA stated that back in 1986–twenty eight years ago–more than half of TV households received their programming through an aerial. Cable TV, then moving from novelty status to later become the way of life TV wise, presented more programming. However, not counting news and sports, what was given consisted of a limited number of original programming while the rest were either reruns, movies, or short form offerings. (Music videos, etc.) What was original were either sub par compared to standard network broadcast, or was catered toward a specific demographic. The Nashville Network for example, offered program titles that catered to adults that desired a semi rural lifestyle. Of course, the music offered was country or modern folk. For instance, Ralph Emery hosted the nightly Nashville Now talk program that featured a vast selection of country artists, both established and up and coming. The Arts & Entertainment Network offered programming that was in the public broadcasting-style vogue, but added a bit of hipness to them to separate A&E titles apart of standard PBS fodder. Bravo was a nitch pay channel that featured art, independent, and foreign features. And the other pay channels, HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, and others offered movies that were presented uncut and uninterrupted, with the occasional original program used as “filler”. But the latter channels were offered for an additional price (usually $10.00 per month per channel) on top of the $16.95 that cable companies charged receiving around 36 channels-not necessarily offering programming on every channel space! (One cable company boasted a whopping 50 channels available for $25.00 per month, but as many as fourteen channels were blank, offered fast scrolling text messages of programming schedules that were often hard to read, and other channels with “reserved for future use” superimposed over a black background with no sound!)
It appears that the theory of “TV everywhere” is growing in leaps and bounds. The notion of watching a favorite program at a static location is slowly moving toward the realms of anywhere and everywhere. Although watching video through a large screen with a booming soundtrack is the most preferred method, now anyone that has the desire and ability to view video content can do so, just as long as there is a wireless internet connection made available to watch TV without the TV.
How will this notion of viewing content change the programs made available themselves? It’s hard to predict since no matter how one views these kind of shows, just as long as the quality is high and the programs themselves are amusing, entertaining, and have appeal, its the preferred way. It’s not so much on how one sees TV, it’s based upon on what one takes a look at. A good show is a good show, while a poor program won’t get any better even if it’s in high def 3-D stereo. It just will make this bad program look good and that’s about it.
All-in-all, is spite of what critics at large state, TV as the public knows it, will not go away. It’s going to just have a different route getting there!
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NEWS AND REVIEWS
Skypilot Theatre is presenting the production of Greg Machlin’s KEITH HARING: PIECES OF A LIFE, a play that tells the story of the many pieces of artist Keith Harling, who created works that were simple in structure decked in bold colors that made an impact within the art world in the latter part of the 20th century.
Clayton Farris plays the title artist whose life in chronicled while active in New York in the 1970’s and 80’s, starting as a protégé with Andy Warhol, later moving up in the life and style of the art scene where he did make a living in his craft in spite of the challenges faced, only to have his career cut short due to complications of AIDS at the age of thirty two.
Directed by Doug Oliphant, KEITH HARING: PIECES OF A LIFE will be performed as a workshop production in a limited run July 26th and 27th at Studio/Stage, 520 North Western Avenue-Los Angeles, and on August 1st, 3rd, 8th, and 10th at the NoHo Actors Studio, 5215 Lankershim Blvd. (above Pit Fire Pizza), North Hollywood. All shows begin at 8:00 PM.
For more details, call (800) 838-3006, or online at http://www.SkyPilotTheatre.com
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TIFFI’S FRIENDS SAY…
(As posted on her Facebook “wall”)
Tried to find a cute snap-over purse like Amy’s to show my daughter but couldn’t. What’s it called?
-Jennifer
Now weighing in at 42-43 pounds. How can a swimsuit, cover up, cotton robe and two pairs of pajamas weight two pounds? Sorry but I can’t wear the same pjs for a week. If it wouldn’t mean a mountain of laundry and lots of extra work, I’d have clean pjs and clean sheets every night.
-Marilyn
Are you at work Kate Baker? when can I get meatballs to you?
-Alice
It’s hard to work on a story when Garry has the REO cranked up. I have to dance. I have to!!!! Here I go again…..
-Ruth
I just won first place in a baby bottle sucking contest at a baby shower!
-Celena
As of July 21st, Tiffi has 2,135 Facebook “friends” and counting!
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