Web207: Topic 1.1: Television

Study notes from this week are summarised below. References will be cited where appropriate.

• Time-shifting began back in the days of VCR's. Nowadays Foxtel, TiVo and PVR's make it easier and faster to time shift and watch what we want WHEN we want
• When analogue was copied (video's) they lost 10% of quality every time they were copied. This meant there were limitations on how many times a video tape could be copied. These days digital copies have no limitations
• TiVo in the USA has the option of watching a program without commercials. You can also search for movies containing specific actors. TiVo is NOT the same in Australia because it is owned by Channel 7 so they act as gate-keepers by not allowing viewers to view content without the ads
• Overflow can be defined as the multi-media involvement in TV shows i.e. websites set up for specific shows, social networks, hash tags, Facebook pages, etc.
• Overflow allows for social media viewing and using apps to encourage real time engagement with TV shows
• Overflow has dramatically changed the viewers experience and increased the levels of fandom, affective play and identification (Gray, 2008)
• The tyranny of digital distance refers to many aspects of viewing pleasure, in particular how Australians have to wait for some shows to come from overseas. These days of social networking allows viewers to 'talk' about episodes, plots and characters, however this can 'spoil' it for viewers not able to watch the most latest episode.
• If distributors don't find a way of getting the latest episode to ALL viewers at the same time - viewers will find their own way, ie. peer to peer sharing and illegal downloads (Leaver, 2012)
• Media technologies are shaped by the intersection of technological, institutional, and cultural forces, emerging with unpredictable uses and social impacts (Mittel, 2006)
• Television is accompanied by significant 'overflow'. We are invited to 'live' such-and-such a program, interact with it's characters in games and online spaces. We are no longer limited to the 'television medium' (Gray, 2008)
• While fan communities have long been exemplars of media-centred creativity and interaction, the internet has facilitated a massive increase in both the speed of interaction and breadth of fan involvement (Leaver, 2008).

Reflection:

Copyright wasn't an issue back in the days of VCR's because copying fell under the radar. These days with illegal downloads, social media and Internet exposure - copyright owners are more aware, more strict about copying content and there are hefty fines in place for those caught.

References:

Gray, J. A. (2008). Television Unboxed: expansion, overflow, and synergy. Television Entertainment 2008, (Ch 3), 73-101. Retrieved from http://edocs.library.curtin.edu.au/eres_display.cgi?url=dc60267029.pdf&copyright=1

Leaver, T. (2008). Watching Battlestar Galactica in Australia and The Tyranny of Digital Distance. Media International Australia, 126, 145-154.

Leaver, T. (2012) ... Topic 1.1: Television [Lecture]. Retrieved from http://dbs.ilectures.curtin.edu.au/lectopia/casterframe.lasso?fid=794620&cnt=true&usr=not-indicated&name=not-indicated

Mittel, J. (2006). TiVoing Children. Retrieved 4th June, 2012, 2012, from http://flowtv.org/2006/02/tivoing-childhood/