THE CULTURE AROUND TELEVISION VIEWING

THE CULTURE AROUND TELEVISION VIEWING

Introduction

Television viewing has diversified in modern society relative to constant developments in technology, thus altering the watching norm relative to previous years. The advent of the internet has been the major cause of the change in viewing culture since the platform offers numerous services at the customer’s convenience. As a result, the way we watch television has changed courtesy of the positive impact of internet technologies on communication. Research carried out by Accenture shows that most of the UK and US citizens have seized television viewing for smaller screens. The trend has continually grown due to the increased number of millennials who prefer internet surfing rather than watching the television. Similarly, 49% of the consumers prefer viewing over-the-top (OTT) as compared to the normal television watching[1]. Therefore, television viewing practices have changed in terms of how we watch and the content relative to changes in the modern-day culture.

The changing practices around television viewing

The contemporary society, mostly characterized by the millennials aged 18-24 years, has altered television watching practices as compared to prior years. 60% of the younger generation tend to watch Tv contents mostly through broadband connections[2]. The trend has been manifested in the last ten years, thus changing television watching practices. As such, the individuals tend to only watch at least a quarter of the content aired on normal television scenarios. Hence, individuals no longer view their favorite content on television only but still utilize their mobile phones to get the required information. Also, social media has also been on the front line in providing content previously aired on televisions to attract a large consumer base as a strategic approach to growth and development. As a result, television watching practices tend to change due to the diversity of sites that provides programs similar to those aired via Tv sets. Presently, audiences can consume such content in the comfort of their own homes. Hence, it is evident that television viewing has changed relative to cultural values necessitated by technological developments.

Moreover, Binge-watching has led to the development of significant differences between past and present Tv watching practices. Binge-watching is common among contemporary society due to the increased internet connectivity globally, thus enabling users to consume television programs on other screens such as phones and tablets. As such, viewers can successively watch consecutive episodes for about 2 to 4 hours. Hence, television viewing practice tends to alter the usual practice as compared to a few past years before the advent of internet technology. Binge-watching entered the market ten years ago with the practice having been adopted by a huge number on online watching lovers. As such, the watching practice has popularly grown, reducing the urgency to watch television as had been the norm over the past. Binge-watching has grown due to the advent of online streaming channels such as Netflix, which allows users to view their favorite content via their phones rather than sticking around their televisions[3]. Online streaming services are available just at the click of a button, thus disapproving of the need to strictly watch similar content on television. Hence, the online streaming services offered by providers such as Netflix has largely changed Tv viewing practices over the last decade due to significant developments in technology.

At home, the availability of different entertainment forums has altered the culture in watching Tv as compared to previous years. Hence, individuals at home tend to view contents on tv while listening to some background music. The trend is common for individuals working from home since the background music refreshes their nerves mostly after a long and tiresome day’s work. Also, the culture in tv viewing has changed due to the availability of academic content on the internet. Hence, the time spent by individuals to watch tv has been used to carry out research on the internet. Most persons in modern society have enrolled in online classes, thus tend to do their academic work from home. Hence, television viewing practices tend to change due to the increased urgency to learn via online platforms offered by most learning institutions globally. The advent of WIFI and 4G LTE has seen the number of internet streaming users grow over the last decade, thus having a direct impact on television viewing[4]. As such, online traffic has grown, thus reducing the number of individuals interested in tv viewing due to since online services offer more services compared to just normal tv viewing.

Moreover, the time has changed thus cannot be compared to instances when the family gathered at their living rooms to watch their favorite movies and drama series. Presently, most family members are busy with personal business and obligations, thus find little time to watch television together. Hence, the culture of television together as a family has been surpassed due to changes in the modern world as compared to prior times. So, the family prefers watching their favorite shows and movies independently without interference from the other family members. Consequently, online streaming proves to be the most effective modern form of watching relative to changes in time and roles.  Hence, the social aspect in television viewing has changed over the years, characterizing a drastic change in people’s perceptions regarding contents broadcasted by the different media houses. The demand has seen the streaming industry boom, with over 40 million subscribers in around 40 nations globally. Streaming also offers news services that were previously provided by Tv stations[5]. Thus, a large percentage of the millennials perceive to have little motivation as to why they should view television contents. The constant technological revolution has reduced the necessity to receive and broadcast information via the tv relative to social platforms.

Based on the fact that most information is available via the internet, changes in means used to share and receive information have also diversified. During the past years, ‘ learners used to watch a specific show at home and discuss the film at school as part of the learning process. However, such television viewing tendency has changed with learners watching unnecessary drama series with little impact on their academic life[6]. Thus, the physical interaction with television has reduced, thus affecting individuals’ social aspects, which was harnessed by viewing educative programs on television. The changes have been characterized by technological changes which often alter individual television viewing patterns. In the modern education sector, class discussions are carried out via online platforms, which slowly changes the watching patterns relative to past years. Hence, television viewing has evolved over time due to developments in technology relative to prior times in history. The changes have resulted in positive impacts and the need to utilize modern developments in technology to learn and receive information from multiple sources. A large percentage of people have incorporated binge-watching as part of the modern culture of television viewing, thus alienating past perspectives on tv viewing. Such changes have resulted in the creation of a distinct group of people who prefer binge-watching than any other form of viewing.

The culture of modern society is characterized by a fascinating change in television viewing since individuals put some background noise from the television as they carry out their daily chores such as cooking or cleaning[7]. In similar cases, persons watch their favorite episodes on television while still chatting on their phone to exemplify the changes in the watching culture. Besides, even though an individual would be watching an episode on the television, there is a high likelihood of them holding a third screen, which would be a phone or a tablet[8]. Thus, it is evident that the watching culture had changed over time as compared to prior times when the television was the main source of information. Research carried out by Courtois and D’heer showed that people who watch television tend to use their phones or tablets to research on the internet or while responding to emails. Hence, culture in television viewing has changed over time due to the development of specific patterns by distinct groups in society.

Conclusion

Drastic changes have been experienced in television viewing culture relative to changes in technology. Evolution is attributable to technological changes in the modern world and the need for continuous growth. The modern-day television viewing has changed and adversely influenced culture compared to prior times. The introduction of video streaming and internet viewing has changed relative to specific societal norms in modern society. Shows presented on televisions can alternatively be viewed on other electronic devices such as phones, computers, and tablets in the comfort of our homes. Television viewing can be attributed to being a solo initiative since many individuals prefer using their phones and tablets to gain insight on developing issues in the society. As a result, individuals would be able to view their best pieces of work via the internet to at the comfort of wherever they are due to modern developments in internet technologies.

Bibliography

Coulangeon, Philippe. “Reading and Television-Watching: Changes in the Cultural Role of the School in the Age of Mass Education.” Revue française de sociologie 48, no. 4 (2007): 657-692. Link: https://www.cairn-int.info/article-E_RFS_484_0657–reading-and-television-watching.htm

Glenn, Norval D. “Television watching, newspaper reading, and cohort differences in verbal ability.” Sociology of Education (2014): 216-230.

Hauk, Esther, and Giovanni Immordino. 2014. “Parents, Television, And Cultural Change | VOX, CEPR Policy Portal.” Voxeu.Org. https://voxeu.org/article/parents-television-and-cultural-change.

Poepsel, Mark. 2018. “Television Through Time.” Press.Rebus.Community. https://press.rebus.community/mscy/chapter/chapter-5-television-through-time/.

Steiner, Emil, and Kun Xu. “Binge-watching motivates change: Uses and gratifications of streaming video viewers challenge traditional TV research.” Convergence (2018): Link: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1354856517750365

Striepe, Becky. 2016. “10 Ways TV Has Changed American Culture”. Howstuffworks. https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/tv-and-culture/10-ways-tv-changed-american-culture.htm.

[1] Coulangeon, Philippe. “Reading and Television-Watching: Changes in the Cultural Role of the School in the Age of Mass Education.” Revue française de sociologie 48, no. 4 (2007): 657-692. Link: https://www.cairn-int.info/article-E_RFS_484_0657–reading-and-television-watching.htm

[2] Coulangeon, Philippe. “Reading and Television-Watching: Changes in the Cultural Role of the School in the Age of Mass Education.” Revue française de sociologie 48, no. 4 (2007): 657-692. Link: https://www.cairn-int.info/article-E_RFS_484_0657–reading-and-television-watching.htm

[3] Steiner, Emil, and Kun Xu. “Binge-watching motivates change: Uses and gratifications of streaming video viewers challenge traditional TV research.” Convergence (2018): Link: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1354856517750365

[4] Hauk, Esther, and Giovanni Immordino. 2014. “Parents, Television, And Cultural Change | VOX, CEPR Policy Portal.” Voxeu.Org. https://voxeu.org/article/parents-television-and-cultural-change.

[5] Hauk, Esther, and Giovanni Immordino. 2014. “Parents, Television, And Cultural Change | VOX, CEPR Policy Portal.” Voxeu.Org. https://voxeu.org/article/parents-television-and-cultural-change.

[6] Poepsel, Mark. 2018. “Television Through Time.” Press.Rebus.Community. https://press.rebus.community/mscy/chapter/chapter-5-television-through-time/.

[7] Striepe, Becky. 2016. “10 Ways TV Has Changed American Culture”. Howstuffworks. https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/tv-and-culture/10-ways-tv-changed-american-culture.htm.

[8] Glenn, Norval D. “Television watching, newspaper reading, and cohort differences in verbal ability.” Sociology of Education (2014): 216-230.