How Social Media Has Changed the Entertainment Experience
Technology is the very life breath of entertainment industry. With the evolution of technology overtimes, the mode and quality of entertainments have also changing dynamically and dramatically. While people watched movies on VHS during the 1990s, eventually home entertainment has journeyed through VCD and DVD technology. Quite surprisingly, technology moves in unexpected directions and has thoroughly transformed the way people view contents. Therefore to remain successful, those in the production, distribution, and broadcasting of content should update to the latest technologies and trends. Here is a discussion on how social media has transformed the entertainment experience.
Social media connecting people
More than any time in the past people are more connected today due to the proliferation of communication and entertainment devices. Advanced smartphones, tablets, and phablets have enabled viewing content online from anywhere and everywhere. Now consumers are accessing on demand the content that was earlier limited to linear TV. While the internet has removed all barriers to communication, social media platforms have made it simpler and easier making it a highly organized and sophisticated experience. Now people are able to share their experience and concerns on the social networks with others. Studies have revealed that over 60 percent adults in the US are using multiple social media platforms online. The ratings of TV shows and feature films highly depend on the audience reviews and comments on social media networks. The more a show is discussed by the viewers, the more are its prospects of remaining popular in the market. Even simple hashtags and informal reviews like ‘MustSee’ make it easy to track the conversation and help determine the faith of the movie or series.
DVR and PVR decoders and VOD platforms
Across the globe we see DVR and PVR decoders transforming the digital TV experience. DVR enables the audience to take control of the show now. The viewers can now rewind to catch a dialogue, skip commercials or catch a dialogue. No more are the viewers chained to the TV screens or constrained by the TV schedules while airing the content. The DVR technology can also help record any hours of their favorite TV shows and events to watch at their convenience. The proliferation of a number of VOD platforms and movie streaming sites like iTunes, Netflix, Amazon Movies that are constructed on DRM (Digital Rights Management) technology have now facilitated a new viewing possibility like binge-watching or watching multiple episodes of a TV series on a single day. Users have now started loving the freedom such an experience gives them. Now viewers are free to choose how and when they watch the shows and also what devices they will use.
Mobile Interfaces
Mobiles are today the most unique broadcasting mediums. The advanced mobiles of these days have larger and highly saturated screens that have engaged millions of viewers around the globe. Smartphones have now enabled VOD platforms to develop apps that can enable millions of users access the content from anywhere on the earth. Today, YouTube helps contents go viral around the world within hours. Enabled by the mobile viewing experience, the owners of content are today able to distribute their content in a way it will suit the expectations of the audience.
The future of content viewing
The robust changes noted in the viewing habits of the audience make us conclude that digital distribution of the content over the web and mobile is going to be the future trend. They can effectively meet the demands of the modern age audience going several steps ahead of the traditional TVs and cinemas. In order to remain relevant to the changing trends, distributors must now shift to the advanced distribution channels. Way back in 2012, Curzon cinemas lunched Curzon on demand facilitating a cross-device viewing for their audience. This was an innovative platform during those days to let the customers view the latest releases on a single day when they are available in the cinema. They also launched on demand lunch with their latest app on Amazon fire TV in order to move with the evolving trends. The controversial comedy of Sony pictures titled “The Interview” was canceled on account of threats. When everyone thought it was the end of the 44 million budget movie, IMDB (2014), Sony decided to release the movie on demand bagging 15 million as revenue in the process during the first weekend alone. The movie was streamed on multiple platforms like iTunes, YouTube Movies, Google Play, Microsoft’s Xbox Live network, and Sony’s See TheInterview.com. From this, we understand that connected platforms can strongly influence the consumption habits of the viewers.
Over the last few years, mobile technology has tremendously advanced facilitating the greatest shift in the viewing habits of the audience which no other generation had ever witnessed. Today’s audience has the freedom to choose from multiple ranges of contents and also the when and where they will watch the content. While today’s digital age generation deems these choices highly necessary, technology has facilitated this in the best way possible.
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