#televisionstudies

Television has consistently changed throughout the years and on the daily basis, especially today in 2016. This trimester in my Television Studies course, we discussed and explored in how television changed throughout the years has progressed. For homework, were assigned to watch a few modern television series that were only available on Netflix. Those shows were The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Jessica Jones. Both shows demonstrated different forms of trauma in two women’s lives who’s lifestyles were totally opposite. 

I’m not going to lie, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt was such a hard show for me to actually get into. At first I thought, “What the hell is my professor making me watch?”. After getting through a few episodes I started to get really interested and I was stuck on this show. It may seem really stupid at first but it is worth the watch. Throughout the first few episodes, it is obvious that Kimmy is having a hard time trying to fit in and get the grasp of living and acting like an adult in New York City. “For such a deliberately cartoonish show, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt has a remarkable grasp on its central character’s buried traumas and the ever-widening gulf between New York City’s moneyed class and the victims of their wave of gentrification.” (Sims, 2016). Though Kimmy has been through a lot because of her past of being trapped in the bunker, she is a very independent woman and is determined to get back the life she lost and to continue to grow as a woman. “The show doesn’t address sexual violence head on; it’s possible to watch without dwelling on the details. But Kimmy’s ugly history comes through, in inference and in sly, unsettling jokes about trauma, jagged bits that puncture what is a colorful fish-out-of-water comedy.” (Nussbaum 2015) Again, Kimmy has been through a lot and some of the things that she goes through on her own in New York City remind her of what her life was like before she was rescued from the bunker. Some of the things that she goes through make her remember what it was like being in the bunker and it scares her. Many of those moments that make her remember, you can say they are her PTSD moments. 

Jessica Jones, another great show that is on Netflix and one of the shows I had to watch for my Television Studies class. When I first saw this show, I saw that is was made by Marvel, so I immediately thought about superheroes. Superheroes with capes and tights. But with this show, that is not the case, it is the complete opposite. To me, Jessica Jones is a very dark show that is not afraid to actually show what happened. It was hard for me to continue watching this whole series, I even had nightmares because the show is so dark. But don’t get me wrong, Jessica Jones is a really great show and it shows another way in how women can be independent and that they do not need a man to take care of them or do anything else for them. One of the things that I noticed about this show and that somewhat bothered me and I guess my classmates too was that Jessica Jones always wore the same damn outfit in every single episode. Even though she wore the same thing, she sure did kick some ass and showed that women are also strong as men. Just by watching the credits of the show for the intro, you can automatically notice that this show also shows some sort of trauma that Jessica went through before she got to where she is today. 

Just like Kimmy, Jessica also seems to suffer from several PTSD moments while she’s going on with her day. After being captive by Killgrave and being able to escape, she tends to hear his voice in her head as she is either walking through New York City or helping on one of her cases. “something a little bit different, something more edgy and not just a rehash of the gritty opener, and Jessica Jones fit the bill in the way perhaps no other comic book hero could.” (Goss, 2015). Jessica Jones is such a unique hero. But just like all the others, she also has a life to live and a job that helps pay for the bills. Even though Jessica Jones has been through a lot, it does not stop her from wanting to help others and but the bad people where they belong. This show shows another way in how women can be strong and independent on their own. 

With there being 116.4 million TV households, the average consumer would believe that the business is booming and that broadcast television has nothing to worry about. That’s where they are wrong. With advancements in technology, premium-streaming services have made a rise in popularity and have taken over a chunk of the market share thus putting strain on regular broadcast television stations. Which service should you chose though?

http://time.com/money/3963077/streaming-packages-cord-cutting-cable/          (Second Video, Intro into what is cord cutting and what services there are, Embedded wouldn’t copy.)

The act of stopping a cable or broadcast subscription to either be online-streaming only, or no television use at all goes by the name of “cord cutters”. Cutting the cord is becoming more prevalent in the modern world because of the success and the sense of freedom that the online streaming services offer. Even though seventy-six percent of Americans still have a cable or satellite subscription, the twenty-four percent of Americans who are considered “cord cutters” have become increasing in population. This trend has been seen in most young adults and millennials. Because technology is progressing more everyday the competition between the main online streaming services has increased. Also, young adults make up most of the consumer market for technology today, and the people who are tech savvy are used to having what they want instantly and at the tips of their fingers, so why not do that with television? Cable broadcast companies have also started to release their own version of online streaming with their viewers continuing to decrease, but so far none of them have been able to keep up with the popularity and user base as the prevalent streaming services. Because of the increasing number of people who are cutting the cord, cable and broadcast television companies have started to stray from their traditional methods and dip their feet into the online streaming community. HBO and Showtime were the first of the premium cable channels to create an app to reach their online customers in response to cord cutters. Because they were able to take advantage of knowing what the modern technological consumer wanted, they have seen great success in their online streaming ventures. Other companies such as CBS have launched apps for smart-phones that do provide very limited streaming to try to reach the consumer but with limited viewing options and the need to still have a cable subscription to fully access the apps content, the premium online-streaming services that the cord cutters are flocking to appear to be the right choice.

More and more streaming services from cable television have started to appear but to be able to successfully penetrate the market; the streaming service must make the user believe that their contents perceived value is worth paying for. Also, with the amount of content that is on each of the streaming sites, binge watching can happen and for some this is the most enjoyable way to watch television. By not giving the user the ability to pick from either top movies or shows, the cable companies are at a major disadvantage and face a challenge ahead of them if they want to stay relevant to society and the technology that’s in it. But when do these streaming services become recognized by the public as television? Yes there are television programs on these services, but the user does not have to be stationary at their house sitting in front of a television set to enjoy those programs.

To the people who have cut the cord from cable, they consider whatever streaming service they have to be television. Even though it may have originally aired on television or in theatres it can still be accessed on these streaming platforms. But what grinds the gears of the cable companies gears the most, the money that is being lost to the streaming services over advertising. “While programmers wrestle with the effects of over-the-top competition, media buyers are glad to find a new distribution system that will carry commercials to cord-cutting millennial viewers”(Lafayette, 2015). With the loss of revenues, the cable companies are having to come up with a quick solution before it becomes their downfall.

With the creation of new streaming services everyday, whether it is a broadcast television station putting out their own streaming service or a company like Netflix, the idea and trends of what is watched on television is changing. The agendas and core beliefs of the broadcast companies can be less visible to the average user over a streaming service because by using a streaming service it gives the user the choice of what to watch. But with the lax regulations on what can be in streaming services original content the streaming services have an upper hand on the cable companies because they can now advertise their new show that can be a little more dark and raunchy than what the average cable subscriber would see. By giving this freedom to customers and not having the private agenda and beliefs of the parent company plastered all over their programs, the streaming services give the average cable user a reason to cut the cord. With the drop of popularity in cable television, cable companies are trying to make the jump into the streaming realm where, as stated by Nelson Granados of Forbes, “has turned the market into a bloody red ocean, in what I expect will be an industry saga of survival of the fittest”. This expectation is not to far fetched with the cable companies beginning to make their own apps that user can watch their programs on. The next step for these companies to reach the cord cutters is by creating services like HBO, Showtime, and Starz to offer to their subscriber so the content and perceived value of their shows increases as well as the possibility to produce shows under the same guidelines as companies such as Netflix and Hulu. The consistent battle between cable and streaming will continue to go on until old cable takes out all of the streaming services, or the cable companies finally fold and develop successful streaming services. 

No matter how much time has passed, in the television industry, everything will always be about how many views something gets. Everyone in the television industry revolves around how many views they can get from people around the world. For those who watched the movie “Network”, they will be able to notice that it is very similar to how news television is today. Every news network wants something that will keep their audience watching their TV station, that is the only way that they will stay in business and the only way that they will continue to make money. 

In the movie Network, one of the main characters, Howard Beale, is a news anchor who has been working for UBC for a very long time. Howard has been through a lot the past years his wife passed away and he began began to pick up drinking. One day he goes into work as if everything is normal and no one suspects a thing. As he makes his way to his post on set, things still seem very normal. There are 10 seconds before things go live on air, once Howard notices that he is live, he says something completely off topic from his script. He tells everyone who is watching the news segment that he is going to kill himself next Tuesday on air. To be exact, he said that he was going to blow his brain out in front of everyone on TV. As soon as Howard said those lines on national television, they immediately went to commercial. Crew members went to Howard on set and tried taking him off, but he wouldn’t budge. They put his hands on him and that caused a huge dramatic scene and it went on air in front of everyone. After that segment was aired in front of everyone, other news reporters took advantage and created new segments for their news stations. Leaders of UBC were livid after the whole commotion that Howard Beale caused on TV in front of many people. He was fired that night and his best friend who worked for UBC was in charge of finding someone or something that could replace Howard in his time slot. The next morning it was brought to everyone’s attention that after Howard’s scene that he did, caused UBC to receive more views than ever and caused them to be covered in famous newspapers and magazines such as The Times. 

Just like how television news was back then, it still is the same today. Everyone will do anything to keep their audience watching and wanting more. In the movie Network, the only reason why they kept Howard on television was because he brought more viewers to their station. Howard said things on national television that people were afraid to say and many people liked that. Howard was their voice. 

Now, if you were to look around today, you would maybe consider trying to relate that to how Donald Trump is right now. Ever wonder why many news stations cover Donald a lot more than the other presidential candidates? Well for one thing for sure, Donald Trump says a lot of things that many Americans thought they were not allowed to say in front of everyone. Donald Trump is the voice for those Americans who support him (sadly). The other thing that Donald Trump does is, he brings viewers. In in article by SALON, it was said, “Trump brings ratings and ratings rise advertising revenue.” To get the full effect and to read more just click here: http://www.salon.com/2015/12/19/howard_beale_would_be_mad_as_hell_donald_trump_les_moonves_and_the_sale_of_american_democracy_partner/

Another thing that seems to catch a lot of people’s attention is reality television. Reality television used to be known as “unscripted television”, this is because this is made up of real lives and everything that happens in those people’s lives. Many people who watch reality television watch it because it is full of drama and they feel like they can relate to them. Many people may like reality television because they think it is cool to see that others also go through the same things that they do and the only difference is that those people are on national television. People who are afraid to show others how their lives actually are hide behind those reality television shows. 

http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2011/08/31/140082930/ethical-reality-a-proposed-code-for-producers-to-live-by?ft=1&f=1008

One of the most famous reality television shows is Keeping Up With The Kardashians. The Kardashians are so popular and well known around the world. They are said to be on top of everyone in the pop culture. One of the main reasons why they got to reach to fame is because of Kim Kardashian, Kim Kardashian had released a sex tape in 2007. After that, her family came into the picture and they were put on E! for a reality television show. When people think of the Kardashians, Kim has to be the first person that comes to their mind. It has also been said on Rolling Stone that Kim Kardashian has to be one of the most famous woman on this planet. To read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/25-incredible-reinventions-in-pop-culture#kim-kardashian

No matter who you are, watching the Kardashians is everyone’s guilty pleasure. The Kardashians ratings for their reality television show is out of this world. Many people from the ages of 18 to 49 watch their show. The Kardashians are now going into their 12th season. Within the first few days they reached an average over 3.19 million views. As the Kardashians continue to renew for more seasons on E!, the more their percentage of views they get.

As mentioned in the first section on this post, everything that has to deal with the television/entertainment industry is revolved around views/ratings. That is the only way how things on TV will stay alive. 

References: 

Kissel, Rick. May 6, 2016. 3 Day Ratings: “Survivor”, “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” Still Going Strong. Variety. http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/3-day-ratings-survivor-keeping-up-with-the-kardashians-1201768322/

Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/25-incredible-reinventions-in-pop-culture#kim-kardashian

Holmes, Linda. August 31, 2011.  Ethical 'Reality': A Proposed Code For Producers To Live By. npr. 

http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2011/08/31/140082930/ethical-reality-a-proposed-code-for-producers-to-live-by?ft=1&f=1008

Television is a source of entertainment as well as information relayed to audiences both nationally and internationally through live or taped recordings. Television overall holds various definitions and meanings depending on the individuals use of the television. However, the television serves its purpose in everyone’s household, which is brings the family together and relays either entertainment, or information, to that audience. Thus, the definition of television depends on the individual. If a household has a Smart TV, television may mean watching videos from a family trip from a phone or tablet on a larger screen. A family, or individual who has a television with no cable, it may mean watching the news or weekly shows on the primary channels. Then there is an individual, or family, who doesn’t own a television set of any kind in their household and instead, may own a laptop, tablet, or phone where they may watch online sources such as Netflix, Hulu, or other online streams that may be taking place. Personally, television plays a huge role in my family. Sports play a huge role in my family so ESPN, NFL Network, or whatever game may be currently broadcasting, is guaranteed to always be on in my household. Whether I’m with my immediate family’s house, cousin’s house, aunt or uncle’s house, television holds their purpose and priority in each household; however, the importance may vary. 

As mentioned before, the unified definition of television serves its overall purpose to entertain, or relay information towards the audience. For example, in my household if there’s a Notre Dame Football game in South Bend, Indiana and we are home in California, the game will be on live in our living room with everyone surrounding the television. It allows us to be a part of the experience without currently being present at the stadium and with advanced technology, we are able to receive a full HD, surround sound experience that truly captivates the college football environment. Of course, nothing beats being present at the live event, yet it allows my family to remain engaged with the latest play as well as the team as a whole. 

When I think of Television, my view on it is a little “old school”, because it hasn’t been until the past couple of years that technology has changed the way I watch TV. Television, to me, is a program running anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour, that usually follows a story or genre (comedy, sports, court drama, etc.). It is typically viewed on a television set that can be found in a living room or bedroom of a home. A program series runs by season, usually comprised of 13-20 episodes per seasons, and a new episode of that show is aired once a week. Now, I realize my definition of television is out dated, but like I stated before, I grew up viewing television in this manner so it’s hard to change my opinion on it. While there are all these new ways to watch TV (Netflix, Hulu, On Demand), it just doesn’t have the same feeling or definition for me. I am definitely guilty of binge watching an entire series on Netflix in a span of just a couple of days, or watching a television show on Hulu because I don’t get the cable channel that airs it. The catch to this though is I view watching a show on my laptop as something different than watching something on my television. I’m watching a show on my laptop but I’m watching TV on my television set. I still prefer to turn on my TV and watch my half-an-hour episode of Family Guy, commercials and all, because that is what I am familiar and comfortable with.

As we get deeper into an age run by technology, I would say that most people have a common definition for television now. Television is viewed on tablets and phones and laptops…oh and television sets. I think the art of watching a show on a television is dying out. Television viewed on a television set is almost an outdated concept, if you think about it. I think the main factor that determines how different people define television though is age. Take me, for example. Like I stated earlier, my idea of television is watching it at home on my TV set because that’s how I grew up watching television. It is hard for people to change and adjust to new technology sometimes because the habits you grew up with when it comes to technology is almost like a comfort zone. Turning on my TV and watching a 30 minute program is comforting to me because it takes me back to my childhood, waking up on Saturday mornings and watching my cartoons. It’s a nostalgia factor for sure, and I think that really helps define how different people view television.