Not only has the internet changed the landscape of the entire entertainment industry, but it has also touched the broadcasting and publishing worlds of TV, radio, and print. Below is an analysis of each of these sectors and how it has been affected by this forceful tornado which has swept across the globe, known as the internet.
(1) TV & Radio
The longstanding ritual of placing ourselves in front of the box, at a particular time, on a particular day – is now archaic. We can catch all of our favourite shows online in one guise or another.
Commentators have suggested that in the future all TV shows will be shown on the web, where undoubtedly they will capture many more viewers than they ever did on a TV channel. The worldwide audience has opened up, and this can be attributed to the way the internet changed the planet.
Additionally the mystery and allure of TV has diminished, as people can gather news and gossip on their favourite TV shows online, where its common knowledge what’s going to happen on the show before it has even been broadcast on TV.
(2) Radio
Most certainly, the internet changed the broadcasting medium of radio also. We now have the facility of listening to online radio stations and downloading podcasts for the shows we have missed.
The internet changed tremendously the way in which we communicate with our local radio stations, whereby everything is instant, and shows can practically be lead by the comments and posts people are sending in – by texts, tweets, Facebook posts, and email.
Coincidentally, all of this can be done on the move through the smart phone, which perfectly suits radio since we tend to do much of our listening while commuting.
(3) Print – books, magazines, newspapers
Is there any industry that has not been touched by this incredible phenomenon? The internet changed the print environment, leaving the industry reeling in its wake.
People now bring their Kindle to the beach on holidays instead of an awkward heavy book; they read news stories online instead of going out to the local news stand. These are only two examples from a very long list, of ways in which the introduction of the internet changed the everyday lives of people.
Traditional printing firms have seen their revenues disappear, and now must figure out a way to digitize their content to appeal to the new breed of consumer.
Some argue that news story reporting is of a superior quality for the physical printing press, and that’s where their competitive advantage lies.
However, this USP will certainly not last forever, as companies are now plunging vast sums of money into building a strong online presence, and with that the highly respected editors and journalists are taking up the challenge.
This new information era has brought with it a new breed of reporter who has emerged – namely the “blogger”. The internet changed the way we view these people, who are often regarded as experts in their field. They have become key influencers and taste makers in society, sometimes even more powerful than a newspaper or magazine editor.
The unexpected world storm, known as the internet, which impacted our planet in recent years, has touched every single aspect of both our personal and working lives. After reeking havoc on life as we knew it; now in its wake, it has now opened up brand new waters to us, stocked full of immense business opportunities for the brave to navigate and fish.
