MLA- Internet May Kill Televisiondoc

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Internet May Kill Television

Introduction

Over many years Information, Communication and Technology have achieved

tremendous growth with different forms of communication and interacting being invented.

Television has experienced growth from the times when black and white television sets

reigned in our sitting room to the current plasma dominated sitting rooms. The invention of

computers led to communication advancement where information can be passed easily and at

reduced cost as opposed to the past (Magnusson). This led to the invention of the internet that

brought about expansion of Information, Communication and Technology sector to higher

levels. This growth continues to haunt us “with every field of operation embracing computing

technology hence making the world a global village”. This technological growth has led to a

looming battle between television and the internet (Kaufman 2012).

Simon (36) claims that, competition has increased between television and internet in

numerous aspects since both have their targets from the same basket; each wanting to prove

to be the better option. The explosive growth of technology has exposed internet to many

people from different ranges of life and ages. It has also led to the development and invention

of mind blowing gadgets in the market today. In the past years “people have been known to

be television addicts since television requires more of your attention in order to get the

information”, it cannot be paused in case the viewer is caught up doing some other activity.

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Internet on the other side requires the user to have time since the information is available

online at any given time (Kaufman 2013).

Thesis

This has led to different debates which are bound to many opinions and comments

giving rise to mixed reactions of which is the king among the two. This paper looks into the

issue with a believe that, though the internet may not completely kill television, it will rule

over it in the near future.

Influence of television on youths

Diminishing television popularity

Pew Research Center (2011) notes that, researches have shown that in the past a

higher percentage of people have been getting regional, national and international news from

television (66%) as compared to the internet (14%) with the rest going to other forms of

communication. Television viewers in America remained the largest in the population as at

2007 while the internet was gaining growth in attracting and multiplying their numbers.

Recent researches have shown that the competition is very high and at per showing the

television viewers who rely on television for news and as a form of entertainment stands at

54% of internet users stands at 48% (Pew Research Center 2011). The highest number of

internet users being the youths especially teens and school going youths which stood at 51%

as compared to 54% of them that watch television (Pew Research Center 2011). This has

been achieved due to the growth of technology that has significantly promoted the use of the

internet. An increase in the number of internet service providers at affordable prices has

contributed notably to the increased number of youths using internet services.

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Youth Switching to the internet

The Pew Research Center (2011) notes that, researches reveal that “in the past youths

especially teens could watch television for approximately six hours while currently they

spend 60% of their time online in chat rooms, entertainment sites, discussion boards and

social media providers”. The diversity of services provided by the internet has attracted them

in additional to the amount of freedom they have online which is mostly not restricted by

anyone. This is opposite of the few choices one has on television with restricted freedom

from the parents. The trend of many youths switching to the internet has been growing

notably and the wave may end up affecting other demographic groups. Likewise, since the

youths are the developers of most gadgets they can favor the internet as opposed to the

television hence influencing most of the older people.

Television programming into internet

Competitive advantage of the internet over television

The significant growth of technology has led to the invention of some of the most

innovative and portable computer devices that can be used interchangeably as computers and

television sets. The electronic developers have been busy releasing high-tech machines that

are liked by people from different ranges of life and ages. The innovation of the smart

phones, iPhones, pads as well as tablets has stiffened the competition and seen many

television viewers cross over to the internet. These devices are portable and can be used to

access television services when required using internet hence many preferring the gadgets to

the television sets. This has affected the number of older people embracing internet

technology since they cannot do without it in their operations (Magnusson).

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Adding interactivity to television progamming online

Interactivity level is what every form of entertainment seeks to achieve, over the years

television sets have been affected by the low level of interactivity with viewers since they

have programed schedules. Contrastingly, the internet offers users a higher level of

interactivity given it is what many users seek after hence attracting more people (Center for

Media & Democracy). The users log into the internet find what they want, switch through

different sources, clarify some information and then leave as opposed to television viewers

who have to operate on a fixed schedule and in case something bypasses them they cannot

clarify. This gives the internet an upper hand, hence attracting more people, especially those

that are subject to details (Poole 2005).

The internet has the information required readily at any time the user wants to get it

but television has fixed times when news and adverts are aired, entertainment provided and

some other important information is passed. Given that many people have busy schedules and

cannot stick to the television screens in wait of the information, they tend to use the internet

to access it hence reducing time wastage. The television programming has been brought into

the internet but with a different approach which tears down its stiffness and introduces

flexibility, interactivity and fun at the same time.

High interactivity level of internet users

Similarly, another reason why the internet will rule over the television is that the

interactivity it provides between users. Internet users can be located in different parts of the

world and interact freely and easily as opposed to television viewers over the world who are

locked in their rooms and nobody receives the views (Poole 2005). The “television provides a

give and no-take platform” where viewers have no say to the information received nor

interact with other viewers to share opinions. On the other hand, the internet has the

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capability of users interacting and responding to the information received giving their

comments and opinions. The social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Google plus

enabled discussions and responding to information on issues easier since users can

communicate globally as opposed to television viewers who interact only with those around

them as Pew Research Center (2011) alleges.

From television advertising to online advertising

Advertisement is another aspect where the internet and television have distinguished

differences. The adverts on the television are allocated a certain amount of time for airing at

specific times while the internet provides adverts with a good duration amount of time for

viewers to get the information. Whenever a television advert has been aired and one has

missed it, there is no way you can rewind it to get the information but on the internet, the user

views the advert as many times as they want. This has made internet advertising more

influential than television since more information about the company and products can be

obtained over the internet as opposed to television. “Internet has the ability to reach more

potential clients for a certain advert since it can be viewed from any location worldwide”

while television adverts are viewed only in the areas where the signals of the channel used are

available (Kermit 2013). A channel with weak signals may lead to fewer clients reached.

Moreover, the cost of advertising online is lower than the television advertising costs. These

factors have greatly replaced the 30-seconds advertising strategy and directed more users

online. Additionally, companies and business enterprises have created websites where clients

can access the information with more clarity and interaction is guaranteed hence reducing

television adverts critically (Poole 2005).

Future predictions

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Murphy (82) states that, given that the television manufacturers have turned to the

production of television that have network connection ports, some connecting wirelessly, this

shows that internet has greatly influenced television viewers. The television sets come along

with computer keyboards giving the owners the capability to use them as computers to access

the internet. This is a clear indication that the traditional television sets will be done away

with sooner. The television experience will be customized according to user preferences and

tastes which denies the fixed programming the central power. Television viewers will in

future be able to view programs of their choices that are advert free. The interruption of

adverts during prime time television viewing angers many television viewers but scraping

them out would lead to television companies into losses since it is how they earn money from

advertisers (Kermit 2013). In the future the two dimensional aspect of viewing will have been

replaced high definition 3D screen that offers high resolution graphics and are appealing to

viewers. Some skeptics predict that “in ten years’ time the television cable connection will be

history since the web television will have taken over”; stating that “the connection cable will

be replaced by an application”. Most television owners cater for both satellite connection bills

and internet connection bills hence they will opt to pay for the high internet bills and use the

web television. This will reduce the number of satellite dish subscribers significantly,

increase the internet users; somehow killing television partially (Pew Research Center 2011).

The advantage ofonline advertising

Murphy (84) claims that, also in the near future, television advertising will have

reduced gradually since most of the companies will be owning websites and many people will

have embraced the internet as a form of advertising. Internet advertising will have

tremendous growth due to the client-company relationship created through interaction since it

is “most convenient way for companies to validate products to customers,” thus helping build

company foundations (Kermit 2013). Social media will have taken over and passing of

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information will be easy and quick given that thousands of people will have registered as

members. There has been some slow growth in internet usage in the past due to the fact that,

only a few had the knowledge about computing but institutions have introduced Information

Communication and Technology. This will influence many people to turning to internet

option since it offers diverse services that are more interesting. The young generation will

influence the old generation, the growth in technology will favor the influence, and most

living rooms will be stacked with internet enabled television sets (Magnusson).

Conclusion

The battle between television and internet continues to heighten with each side trying

to win more people. This has led to advancement in both television sector and internet sector

as the battle for production of gadgets looms. This compilation has shaped the future of each

industry without compromise since any compromise means losing clients to the other. The

older generation is the most influenced in liking the television sets since they do not require

any effort apart from switching them on. The internet requires the user to go search the

information they require for themselves hence its popularity among the youth who are

adventurous. With the current trend, television demise may be predicted especially the

traditional television sets which use cable connection. This can be supported by the high

number of people acquiring modern computer gadgets which have different capabilities to the

users. Increase in internet service providers have made internet costs to reduce remarkably

and may result to denting the television usage capacity.

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Works Cited

Center for Media & Democracy. “Internet vs. Television”. Do It Green, 2012. Web. April 18,

2013 http://www.doitgreen.org/article/media/internet

Kermit, Pattison. “Online Video Offers Low-Cost Marketing For Your Company”. The New

York Times, March 2011. Web. 19 April 2013.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/17/business/smallbusiness/17sbiz.html?_r=2&

Kaufman, Micha. The Internet Revolution is the New Industrial Revolution. Forbes, 2012.

Web. 19 April 2013.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/michakaufman/2012/10/05/the-internet-revolution-is-the-

new-industrial-revolution/

Murphy, Caryn (2008). “The Television Will Be Revolutionized (review)”. Web. 19 April

2013. The Velvet Light Trap, No. 51 (2003) pp. 82-84.

http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/vlt/summary/v062/62.murphy.html

Pew Research Center. “Internet Gains on Television as Public’s Main News Source”. People

Press, 2011. Web. 19 April 2013.

http://www.people-press.org/2011/01/04/internet-gains-on-television-as-publics-

main-news-source/

Poole, Steven . “Steven Poole is not convinced by Steven Johnson's argument for junk

television, Everything Bad Is Good for You”. The Guardian, July 2005. Web. 19

April 2013. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2005/jul/02/highereducation.news

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Magnusson, Peter. “The Internet Revolution history and significance”. Stockholm Arkiv &

Research 97 workshop, n.d.s Web. 19 April 2013.

http://www.sics.se/~psm/ar97/

Simon, Berdal, R. Public deliberation on the Web: A Habermasian inquiry into online

discourse.eJournalOslo: University of Oslo, 2004.

https://www.duo.uio.no/bitstream/handle/10852/9158/SimonBerdal.pdf?sequence=1

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