Unit 7: Understanding the tv and film industries

Task 1: Technologies

As each day passes, studies are always being conducted into finding new technology. The media is one of the biggest conductors of the latest technology, therefore it will consequently have the greatest knock on effect.

The television industries use of technology ranges greatly: satellite, cable, HD, interactive and the Internet are all great services, which are available for television viewing.

‘New Media’ is a term, which refers to the use of electronic communication from the use of computer technology, examples of this include:

Websites, e-mail, DVD’s, mobile computing and many more.

It contrasts with the opposite term, ‘old media’, which still has the aim of communication, just a less modern approach to it, examples of this are mainly newspapers and magazines.

In terms of this technology effecting our viewing habits, it can be said that it has possibly taken a negative effect socially. This would be down to the fact that television can now be streamed on the Internet, therefore the usual family living room gathering to watch TV, would be no more. As well as this, watching television with others can also be seen as a social event, consequently this would also dissolve.

Despite this, television still manages to become an interactive event among all viewing audiences. Take the X-Factor for example, a show based on the cream of Britain’s singing talents of all ages and genders, yet when it comes to the Saturday night live performance programme, it is down to the television audience to decide who stays and who goes home. Another good example of this would be Big Brother. With the same concept of the X-Factor, the programme also bases the contestant’s fates on the decision of the viewers at home. This is a good source of income for the programmes, as the show is more or less run by the viewers.

To sum up the technologies of media today, it is clear to see that the developments currently taking place are ones, which will remain for the long term and certainly expand beyond. The fact that missed programmes are available to be watched again through the use of streaming over the Internet is an achievement in itself, as viewers are then able to keep up with all the drama and excitement in an addictive television series, as well as this, it allows people at work or on the go to view their favourite programmes at their own leisure. Continuing with television on the internet, concerning certain websites there will be a subscription fee to pay, yet with channels like E4 and the BBCi Player it is free of charge.

On the basis of service providers, the likes of Virgin and Sky are by far the most competitive on the market, whereas BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5 are the terrestrial channels which come with every television set to start with. But it is obviously the services that each provider actually provides that brings the key success. Sky and Virgin both lead in the act of innovating the best technology for television services, Sky+ with it’s ability to allow viewers to pause and rewind live or any other type of programme instantly, allowing the viewer to attend to urgent duties while not having to miss out on their favourite television series. Virgin on the other hand allows viewers to access a ‘On Demand’ feature, this lets the spectator find any programme they desire and watch it wether it’s scheduled or not. The outsider of service providers could be seen as Freeview, this is a digital TV service which allows customers to watch around 40 channels via their TV aerial, there are no subscription fees like Sky and Virgin, the only cost is the one off payment of the actual Freeview box, after that all you have to do is install it and watch away. Despite the competitive services, all thee providers have the trademark ‘Red Button’ service available to their customers, the incentive of this service is to allow viewers to access further information depending on the program that is being broadcasted at the time. For example it may show interviews with certain cast members, previews, reviews and much more content as well. Considering the uses and gratifications theory, it is a lot more relevant when taking into account the advances in technology today, as so much is being done to further develop current technologies it is second nature to show concern for it as it effects everyone in a particular way somehow.f

Despite the technologies, it will always come down to the quality of the entertainment provided from the thousands of TV channels available. And with todays audiences becoming more and more fragmented, it makes television channels challenge of appealing to audiences even more difficult as there is so much choice available to them. As well as the above it’s also the fact that over the past 10 years there have been so many technological advances within the television industry, that those mass TV audiences of the past who always used to clutter into the front room on a saturday night are no more. In this day and age the consumer has a wide variety of entertainment alternatives. As an example the BBC has released its revolutionary iplayer.This web based service holds intergrated technology that allows the consumer to have television on demand via the internet.

All these advances have also had their perks for film makers too, the fact that they can promote their films online, as more and more film makers are being left without a distribution deal. Despite this independant challenge which they face, most aren’t picked up by distribution companies due to a lack of ‘production value’, it also comes down to the inexperience of technical training, schooling and other decisive factors.

Task 2: Case Study - Sky TV

BSkyB Corporate, the company which is associated with all the Sky products, is one of the few companies which are always trying to better themselves, always trying to create new media-based products which can take the service of entertainment to the next level, year after year Sky aspire to be the best within the television industry. Being one of the most inventive media companies in the business, they have become the architects of a wide range of high-quality contents, for example Sky+, allowing the viewer to pause and rewind live television, ensuring they don't miss a minute. Sky+ HD was also a first which was introduced by the mass television company, giving viewers with a High Definition television the chance to watch their favourite programmes in the most pristine visual quality. The competing companies of the BBC and ITV soon followed after realising the popularity which the feature had drawn.

The media aspect which Sky are fantastic at is always managing to expand on their line of products, with just under 10 million customers at their helm already, Sky are constantly creating new ways to draw more consumers in. Sky Multiroom, Sky Talk and Sky Broadband are prime examples, with the latter two being available to purchase in a entertainment/communications extravaganza package. This bundle sums up the companies ambition, as quoted on their website on the 'Our mission' section, the opening line reads 'We want to be first choice for entertainment and communications'.

Regarding the future of Sky and how it intends to further enhance it's products, one of their main projects are already up and running. Sky 3D is a new feature which allows owners of a Sky+ HD box and a 3D ready television to accomplish the ultimate viewing experience, with a greater sense of depth in viewing and giving viewers that 'as if you were there' experience, it puts Sky right ahead of all its competitors in terms of creative ability. The idea has already been tried and tested in a number of pubs across the UK, with a series of live sports games being broadcasted using the new technology, and a gathering of positive feedback gave the highly anticipated scheme the go ahead.

Task 3: Funding

Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) refers to broadcasting intended for the publics benefit rather than for the commercial companies benefit. Ofcom, the communications regulator, states that individual television and radio broadcasters conform in certain requirements as part of their permit to broadcast. 

All of the BBC's television and radio stations have a public service remit, including those that broadcast digitally. Additionally, all stations broadcast on terrestrial analogue television - the regional Channel 3 companies (the ITV Network), GMTV, Channel 4, S4C in Wales, and Five - are obliged to provide public service programming as they can be viewed freely almost anywhere nationwide. The recently introduced 'third tier' of approaching 200 Community Radio services are also specifically recognised by Ofcom as being providers of public service broadcasting output, delivered under the terms of the Community Radio Order 2004. Commercial radio also has nominal public service obligations. However, the requirements imposed for commercial radio are generally fewer, normally requiring only a minimum level of news.