1. Download - Having/owning a physical copy of a media product allowing you to access it whenever and on most platform. YouTube Premium, Netflix, BBC iPlayer Downloads, and Spotify Premium. We would do this for going abroad or being on a flight wherever there isn't any or a at least a decent WiFi connection. the downside is that they take up a lot of space on your device.
2. Stream - accessing media directly from its platform, we don't need to worry about storage as we are on its platform/ watching it directly.
3. Simulcast - stands for simultaneous broadcasting, simultaneous means multiple things happening at once broadcasting means transmitting something. This means broadcasting different things all at the same time.
4. VOD - Video On Demand - it is a platform where we can stream products from anywhere 24/7. these include Disney +, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Paramount + etc.
5. Time Shifting - able to access live broadcasts after they have been on live TV such as watching later through something such as Sky, you can pause stuff and watch it later, rewind or fast forward if you've watched something or you're skipping past ad breaks or rewinding if you've missed something,
6. Debate - 'fragmented audiences' (Livingstone 2002) - we are now fragmented or separated in our viewing as we are watching different things at different times. We are no longer coming together to consume media as much, however some small groups in society still do.
How are the following media products, traditionally distributed/consume compared to now. Give examples:
Traditionally:
1. TV - Access on a television set having to buy it from a proper shop rather than a supermarket or somewhere like Curry's PC which didn't exist. Also in the case of the BBC you needed a TV license to access their content.
2. Film - Access by physically going to the cinema, buying tickets and sitting and watching it there. was a way to meet up with friends, having a family day out or have something to do on a date.
3. Video games - Access by going to an arcade and playing on the different arcade machines such as Phoenix, Space Invaders, Pong, Donkey Kong, and many more.
4. Magazines/ newspapers - Access by buying it in a shop, a news stall or even town crier (usually in larger towns and cities not villages) and a mail man or paper boy.
5. Radio - Access by buying a radio set again from a TV and radio shop not a big supermarket also had to be fixed in the same place or call someone out to fix it. Was also some radio channels or sections on TV
6. Music - through radio or gramophone, however later on there was also vinyl players boom boxes, cassettes and VHS players for music.
Now: (KT4 Impact of Technological Convergence Essay)
Television - Television can now be accessed on numerous Black-box devices these include Consoles, Smart phones, and PCs this done through the broadcasters own app. An example would be the BBC and its product BBC One as BBC One programmes can be accessed through BBC iPlayer. Programmes can also be bought in disc form i.e., ‘box sets’ and played on DVD players or through a console such as an Xbox One that has an inbuilt Blu-Ray disc player. Television can also be accessed through streaming services such as Netflix, Disney Plus and Paramount Plus. Therefore, technological convergence has completely revolutionized the way we consume TV as people can now access TV content on almost any device, anywhere, 24/7. Added: Though this may create fragmented audiences throughout a household where the kids (due to being digital natives) would be used to Netflix and be watching something upstairs, whilst the parents, as digital immigrants, would be more used to watching something live or by recording and time skipping.
Film – Film can now be accessed on TV through certain channels such as Film 4 or most major mainstream channels like BBC One and ITV during seasonal events like Christmas or Halloween. Films like television programmes can be accessed through separate apps (BBC iPlayer) or be recorded through a service such as Sky and watched later. As well as this, films can be accessed through streaming services such as Netflix and again Disney +. Here we can see that technological convergence has made it far easier to consume films than it was as people had to physically go to the cinema or go out and buy a physical copy of the film on disc or VHS. Now people can buy, rent or stream a movie from the comfort of their own living room.
Video games – Some video games such as Plants Vs Zombies Garden Warfare and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare are cross platform meaning someone can play on a console such as an Xbox One and can play with someone on a PC or on a Nintendo Switch. Video games now have much better accessibility and although there are usually disc forms made, video games have digital availability such as through Microsoft Store on Xbox or Steam on a computer/ a PC. Technological convergence has allowed the video game industry to expand greatly as originally a company such as SEGA had to make their own controllers, consoles, games and game cartridges as well as do all their promotion, advertising and exchange of their products. Now games are promoted and advertised by multiple companies and platforms such as the new Gotham Nights game on Xbox One which although it will have been at least partly made by Warner Brothers subsidiary DC, will go on to be advertised and sold on the Microsoft store and through something such as Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
