Some critics have labeled the last few
years the “Platinum Era of Scripted Television.” But are we reaching a “peak,”
as some researchers argue, or will this surge of creativity continue? And can
the marketplace sustain the growing amount of TV content, particularly as the
content is spread over multiple outlets, including streaming services?
Limit:
11 responses
The year 2019 “marked the first time the 500-show threshold had been crossed, representing a 7 percent increase over the number of scripted shows in 2018,” (Koblin). An article in the New York Times questions how long we can sustain this high number of scripted television shows and content before we “pop” (Koblin). Although the last few years have been labeled the “Platinum Era of Scripted Television,” we have not yet reached a peak, as some researchers argue. The growing numbers of ways to consume content has come along with many new creative outlets. For example, streaming services like Netflix and Hulu have their own original content (Goldberg). As streaming services grow, this will continue to happen. This makes the viewers subscription even more “worth it” because they are receiving content that they couldn’t get elsewhere. Although it has been argued that consumers get overwhelmed or stressed by the numerous choices when it comes to selecting a program to watch, they would still rather have more options than less. This demand for new content will drive outlets to continue creating new content for viewers.
ReplyDeleteThe real question is, however, will the surge of creativity produce quality content or just large quantities. Some argue that streaming services like Netflix have a large quantity of content to choose from, but that it isn’t the highest quality. I am hopeful that creators will focus more energy on creating quality content rather than just mass producing. The benefit to having all of these different platforms and streaming services is that the creators can really target who they want their viewers to be (Collins). They know that they are getting a different audience on Disney+ than they are on Hulu or YouTube TV. Knowing the audience and creating quality content that they will like will be the key to keeping the streaming business alive. Otherwise, I think people will start returning to options like selecting channels, cable, and bundles. If they are not receiving all of the content they want from one or two platforms then they will be more likely to get a package that is more financially reasonable and offers them everything that they are looking for. People will tire from having to pay for and search through multiple different apps to find the show they are looking for.
An article on Marketing Land, by Laura Collins, emphasizes the importance of streaming services and channels exploring niche audiences in order to sustain their success.
“Each of the SVOD services available today and being released this year have something unique to offer users, and they need to make sure that they’re promoting that message to the right audience. Simply saying “here’s another streaming service to add to your list” will not be good enough,” (Collins). With so many services available, this is the key to standing out.
For example, the soon-to-launch Peacock subscription service will feature all NBC content. “So far, Peacock is the definition of leaning into one brand — NBCUniversal. The platform will launch 15,000 hours of content including libraries for The Office, Parks and Recreation and Saturday Night Live,” (Goldberg).The strongest part of this service will be the fact that viewers know exactly where to go to find their favorite NBC programs. Disney+, on the other hand, will struggle with having such a niche audience. This has helped them with initial subscriptions, but they will also need to expand that audience a bit outside of children and diehard fans in order to sustain the service (Goldberg).
ReplyDeleteBeing brand specific is most important in this day and age. People are more brand loyal than they realize and look to their favorite companies first to get the content they want. It is vital that these streaming services focus on producing quality content that targets their audience. The marketplace can sustain this growth if the content is focused on quality and not quantity.
Works Cited
Collins, Laura. “Here's How to Stand out in a Crowded Streaming Service Market.” Marketing Land, 31 May 2019, marketingland.com/heres-how-to-stand-out-in-a-crowded-streaming-service-market-261909.
Goldberg, Lesley. “Peak Streaming TV: The Upsides and Challenges for the Four New Services.” The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Feb. 2020, www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/peak-streaming-tv-upsides-challenges-four-new-services-1251054?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=THR%27s%2BToday%2Bin%2BEntertainment_now_2019-10-30%2B07%3A15%3A10_aweprin&utm_term=hollywoodreporter_tie.
Koblin, John. “Peak TV Hits a New Peak, With 532 Scripted Shows.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 9 Jan. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/01/09/business/media/tv-shows-2020.html.
Anthony Galler
ReplyDeleteThe number of original shows is continuing to swell, and even reached a new high in 2019. The cable network FX tallied an estimated 532 original series that were broadcasted or streamed. This marked the first time that the 500-show threshold was crossed, while also representing a 7% increase over the 2018 total (Koblin, 2020). Unsurprisingly, streaming services provided a big boost to this number. Just last year, Netflix put as much as $15 billion into its’ original content (Koblin, 2020). The shift from cable and broadcast networks to streamers has come quickly. Unlike five years ago, online services are now the dominant players in television. In 2015, FX chairman John Landgraf argued that there was “too much television” and coined the term “Peak TV”. (Koblin, 2020) His prediction was that inevitable decline would soon follow, though the growth has seemed endless. In contrast, Lionsgate TV Chairman Kevin Beggs is approaching the rise of streamers much differently. In fact, he believes we are entering a “platinum era” of television (Vourlias, 2019). Beggs is excited by new streamers entering the market, thus bringing a lot of new content. As he also points out, there are more opportunities today for people to share their content than years ago. Show creators can share their ideas without being groomed in the traditional TV ecosystem (Vourlias, 2019).
If Beggs is correct, the question will be how long this surge of creativity can continue. Personally, I do think the creativity will surge ahead, because it is increasingly in demand. As consumers, we love original content, and are often seeking out the latest craze in original programming. A handful of years ago, Netflix was the king streaming service with the most original programming. Yet, today we are seeing a flood of new streamers in the mix. Some of these streamers have caught up to, or even surpassed Netflix in original programming. It’s not over yet either. Apple TV and Disney+ entered the mix in 2019, whereas Peacock, HBO Max, Quibi, and others will join the party in 2020. According to Karl Bode, the irony is that the flood of new content may drive many consumers away. (Bode, 2019). Consumers may become frustrated by the growing costs of several different streamers, or having to make the choice between that and cable (Bode, 2019). In addition, consumers may also grow tired of having to hunt through several different services to find the location of their favorite show/movie. (Bode, 2019). Having new programming options constantly may seem exciting at first, but it can also prove very difficult to keep track of. Along with old and new streaming services, you’ll still have cable and broadcast networks involved as well. In the coming years, I think it is likely that new content will continue its’ surge. We as consumers love it, and continue to call for it. However, as the market becomes overly saturated with content, consumers may grow increasingly frustrated.
Works Cited
Bode, K. (2019, April 5). Ironically, Too Many Video Streaming Choices May Drive Users Back To Piracy. Retrieved February 7, 2020, from https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20190320/07442041832/ironically-too-many-video-streaming-choices-may-drive-users-back-to-piracy.shtml
Koblin, J. (2020, January 9). Peak TV Hits a New Peak, With 532 Scripted Shows. Retrieved February 7, 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/09/business/media/tv-shows-2020.html
Vourlias, C. (2019, October 19). Lionsgate TV Chairman Kevin Beggs on Streamers and TV’s ‘Platinum Era.’ Retrieved February 7, 2020, from https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/lionsgate-tv-kevin-beggs-mia-1203376382/
Brett Gosselin
ReplyDeleteThe last few years have been nothing but incredible for television. When it comes to people watching television there has been nothing but amazing content that is being produced. Looking at shows such as Game of thrones which had its final season this past year and other shows such as The Masked Singer, it looks like we are experiencing the element of surprise in a lot of these shows. “The final season had more than its share of detractors, but regardless, people watched in droves. The show had its highest-rated Nielsen season ever, with more than 15 million viewers per episode. Over the course of its six-week run, HBO says more than 44 million people watched.” What was one of the on-going plot points of the final season? Who was going to end up on the iron throne, and who is going to survive through the season? Look at the Masked Singer, it’s a show focused on keep audiences guessing on who the singer could be. We also have shows like Stranger Things that are clouded in mystery throughout the whole season. We are in a culture where everyone has theories on what the ending of any show could be. People were constantly guessing who would be on the iron throne. With that said does it mean we’ve peaked. No, I think television will continue to rise over time once more ideas start to come into play. Although there is a common complaint in film about how it has become stagnant, I feel television is the exact opposite. There is so much original content on TV right now that it is somewhat overwhelming. With every streaming service that is out there, there is plenty of revenue to make original content. “In December 2018 that total scripted volume in 2019 would top 530 originals. According to data compiled by FX's research team, Landgraf's prediction was accurate. Total volume of U.S. scripted original dramas, comedies and limited series was 532.” It’s crazy how much original content is coming out but its possibly oversaturating the market now. It would take over a full year to watch every single original show that was made last year, and nobody has a chance to do all of that. With that said it’s a negative effect on the market because some great shows will go unnoticed. Overall, I feel that the growing market of original content in television is both good and bad. I don’t think the business itself has peaked for content, but I am not sure that it can personally handle all of the growth inside the market currently. With all the content that’s being produced, it’s both good and bad. Great for the creativity but bad for the over-saturation.
Koblin, John. “Peak TV Hits a New Peak, With 532 Scripted Shows.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 9 Jan. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/01/09/business/media/tv-shows-2020.html.
Bode, K. (2019, April 5). Ironically, Too Many Video Streaming Choices May Drive Users Back To Piracy. Retrieved February 7, 2020, from https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20190320/07442041832/ironically-too-many-video-streaming-choices-may-drive-users-back-to-piracy.shtml
Porter, Rick. “'Game of Thrones,' 'Stranger Things' and the TV Ratings Winners and Losers of 2019.” The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Feb. 2020, www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-winners-losers-2019-1264932?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=THR%27s%2BToday%2Bin%2BEntertainment_2019-12-30%2B07%3A11%3A00_aweprin&utm_term=hollywoodreporter_tie.
I believe the surge of creativity in television content with continue as established streaming services focus on their original content while new platforms pop up. Streaming services have the freedom to create content with less restriction than broadcast, or even cable, networks. In regards to the creativity of these programs, the sky is the limit. On platforms in which revenue comes from subscriptions and subscriber loyalty is guaranteed by expansive libraries of classic content, streaming companies are not at as much of a risk when they make content with controversial or unique storylines. With Netflix shelling out “$15 billion into original content”, there is room for some of this content to push boundaries and explore unique topics (Koblin).
ReplyDeleteI also think that the creativity surge in TV is due to the pace that viewers take in content. Our current culture accepts binge watching as a norm. We are uncomfortable with the feeling that we may not be able to watch shows as fast as we want. We also expect the immediate gratification of moving on to a new show of high quality as soon as we watch the last episode of another. I think this desire to always have something new and exciting to watch is what will continue to push streaming services to produce the next big thing. As Lionsgate Television chairman Kevin Beggs puts it, “you’re putting a really good show on the right place where it will thrive” (Vourlias). Services like Netflix know that their audiences are eating up their original content, so I don’t think they’re planning to slow down their rate of production anytime soon.
The one part of the ‘platinum era of TV’ that raises some concerns is that content is beginning to be spread thin across too many platforms. Currently, there isn’t too much concern from the public about this, but I think people will begin to become more agitated and annoyed as more and more SVOD services pop up. Streaming services are supposed to make it easier for a viewer to access content; as soon as viewers begin to feel stressed or overwhelmed with the number of platforms they can receive this content from, these services will have lost the ability to maintain their purpose. A study by UTA IQ found that “70 percent of streaming customers say there’s now too many streaming options” and “87 percent worry it will become too expensive to keep up with all of them” (Bode). I think we will reach a point where it’s just too annoying to pay for so many separate services just for the option to watch a handful of shows on each. As the desire to access content on a fewer number of platforms grows, streaming services will have to change in order to reflect their customers’ wants and needs.
Bode, Karl. “There's Too Many Damn Streaming Services, Study Finds.” Vice, 4 Nov. 2019,
www.vice.com/en_us/article/vb58ex/theres-too-many-damn-streaming-services-study-finds.
Koblin, John. “Peak TV Hits a New Peak, With 532 Scripted Shows.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 9 Jan. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/01/09/business/media/tv-shows-2020.html.
Vourlias, Christopher. “Lionsgate TV Chairman Kevin Beggs on Streamers and TV's 'Platinum Era'.” Variety, Variety Media, LLC. , 19 Oct. 2019, variety.com/2019/tv/news/lionsgate-tv-kevin-beggs-mia-1203376382/.
Cat Donmoyer
ReplyDeleteAlthough some researchers expect it and some consumers might even pray for it, new, scripted, TV content is not likely to “peak” anytime soon. In fact, it feels like a lot of streaming services are just getting started.
The term “peak TV” was coined in 2015 by the C.E.O. of FX, John Landgraf, at the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour (Press). There, Landgraf defined the term as, “an overload in original programming, one that would inevitably lead to a decline as the bubble eventually burst” (Press). But, three years later he admitted that this prediction was wrong. Scripted TV has not peaked yet. Landgraf said, “we are going to see a continued profusion in content…with streamers pumping ever more shows into the universe alongside cable and broadcast networks” (Press). The most recent data backs up his new hypothesis. As the streaming wars has intensified and more services have entered the total number of scripted or original shows has reached 532 (Goldberg, “Peak TV Update: Scripted Originals Top 500 in 2019, FX Says”). Not only is this number astronomical, it is unprecedented. According to John Koblin in the New York Times, “It marked the first time the 500-show threshold had been crossed, representing a 7 percent increase over the number of scripted shows in 2018.” With milestones like this, it seems unlikely that a peak will happen soon.
A potential threat could come through financial exhaustion, however. If a decline in production could happen soon, it would be due to heavy spending on content that won’t stick. Netflix is the primary example, according to Goldberg (“Peak TV Update: Scripted Originals Top 500 in 2019, FX Says.”), “Netflix, meanwhile, continues to spend billions on originals to compete even as it takes a more nuanced approach to renewals as many scripted series find themselves having ended or been canceled before or around the four-season marker.” Netflix spends billions on new content, including scripted TV and has yet to break even on its astronomical debts. Additionally, some of this content, as Goldberg suggested, doesn’t have longevity. They make poor content decisions as part of a scramble in the war for the most diverse library of content. The newer services, like AppleTV+, are doing the same, “Apple (Apple TV+) will build up its own content library after spending billions on star-studded originals as it eschews the library backbone that many other services are turning to in order to have ample content to draw subscribers” (Goldberg, ““Peak Streaming TV: The Upsides and Challenges for the Four New Services”). If consumers don’t like the billion-dollar content, these companies could have no choose other than easing up on production, leading to a peak and decline. But, considering Netflix’s debt and spending, it doesn’t seem imminent.
Creatively, there’s also still potential for growth of the amount of TV content. The surging of content seems to continue without creative fatigue due to the demand for new voices and diversity in 2020. Landgraf himself sees the current situation as a creative surplus, “His notion that there was ‘too much TV’ had been too narrow; the real problem, according to Landgraf now, is that ‘there’s too much story! There’s too much narrative’” (Press).
DeleteWorks cited
Goldberg, Lesley. “Peak Streaming TV: The Upsides and Challenges for the Four New Services.” The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Feb. 2020, www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/peak-streaming-tv-upsides-challenges-four-new-services-1251054?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=THR%27s%2BToday%2Bin%2BEntertainment_now_2019-10-30%2B07%3A15%3A10_aweprin&utm_term=hollywoodreporter_tie. Accessed 9 February 2020.
Goldberg, Lesley. “Peak TV Update: Scripted Originals Top 500 in 2019, FX Says.” The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Feb. 2020, www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/peak-tv-update-scripted-originals-set-record-2019-1266256?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=THR%27s%2BToday%2Bin%2BEntertainment_2020-01-10%2B07%3A11%3A00_aweprin&utm_term=hollywoodreporter_tie. Accessed 9 February 2020.
Koblin, John. “Peak TV Hits a New Peak, With 532 Scripted Shows.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 9 Jan. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/01/09/business/media/tv-shows-2020.html. Accessed 9 February 2020.
Press, Joy. “Peak TV Is Still Drowning Us in Content, Says TV Prophet John Landgraf.” Vanity Fair, Vanity Fair, 3 Aug. 2018, www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/08/peak-tv-fx-john-landgraf-tca-donald-glover-chris-rock. Accessed 9 February 2020.
Vourlias, Christopher. “Lionsgate TV Chairman Kevin Beggs on Streamers and TV's 'Platinum Era'.” Variety, 19 Oct. 2019, variety.com/2019/tv/news/lionsgate-tv-kevin-beggs-mia-1203376382/. Accessed 9 February 2020.
Alexis Tinney
ReplyDeleteThe past few years have been labeled by critics as the “Platinum Era of Scripted Television” which seems to hold true for the future. A high of 500 scripted television series was produced in the United States in just this past year. This marked the first time the 500-show threshold had been crossed which means there was a 7% increase over the number of scripted shows in 2018 (Koblin). On one hand, some researchers say we are hitting a peak with the amount of content being produced. “There is now so much TV that even people who watch it for a living have had a hard time keeping up” (Koblin). It becomes almost frustrating to some people with how much content they have to choose from. On the other hand, people like Netflix, for example, put so much money into their original content. Netflix spent fifteen billion dollars on just original content in 2019 which proves the surge of creativity continues. With new streaming services being offered like Disney+, Peacock and HBO Max there is so much creative content the future holds. Since all this content is being created these streaming services are going to need to put their focus on claiming their big hits from Netflix. Apple TV has now decided to focus on building up its content library after spending billions on originals in an attempt to bring in more subscribers (Goldberg). With all of these streaming services fighting for the number one spot, I think there will be more original content produced than ever.
The way we watch television is rapidly evolving and so are streaming services. I do think it is very possible for the marketplace to sustain the growing amount of TV content. For a long time, cable TV was a household staple and people couldn’t live without it. With more and more people cutting the cord and moving to streaming the more content we need (Morgan). Netflix and other services produce a variety of content and use it to target the viewer’s interests. It’s not the number of content that’s a problem, but the content being spread over multiple outlets is. Matt Rush, a senior critic for TV Guide magazine, pointed out an interesting upcoming day on the calendar: “February 6, a Thursday, there are six major series premiering” (Koblin). The fact that six major series are all dropping on the same day can be overwhelming for subscribers. It’s great that theirs so much new content but it needs to be condensed. Most people have a favorite streaming service, but sometimes one isn’t enough. The need for multiple streaming services is becoming very prominent. In some situations, Netflix might have all your favorite shows but Hulu has that one show you need to catch up on. In the future, I think this will end up becoming frustrating to subscribers since with multiple streaming services they’ll be paying close to cable TV. The only way to satisfy this amount of content is if streaming services continue to create bundles. All of these streaming services will come to a halt so and have to work together to bundle these services for viewers.
Alexis Tinney
ReplyDeleteMorgan, Blake. “What Is The Future Of Television.” Forbes, 5 Jul. 2019, https://www.forbes.com/sites/blakemorgan/2019/07/05/what-is-the-future-of-television/#26137c3b59de.
Goldberg, Lesley. “Peak Streaming TV: The Upsides and Challenges for the Four New Services.” The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Feb. 2020, www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/peak-streaming-tv-upsides-challenges-four-new-services-1251054?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=THR%27s%2BToday%2Bin%2BEntertainment_now_2019-10-30%2B07%3A15%3A10_aweprin&utm_term=hollywoodreporter_tie.
Koblin, John. “Peak TV Hits a New Peak, With 532 Scripted Shows.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 9 Jan. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/01/09/business/media/tv-shows-2020.html.
Alexis Tinney
ReplyDeleteMorgan, Blake. “What Is The Future Of Television.” Forbes, 5 Jul. 2019, https://www.forbes.com/sites/blakemorgan/2019/07/05/what-is-the-future-of-television/#26137c3b59de.
Goldberg, Lesley. “Peak Streaming TV: The Upsides and Challenges for the Four New Services.” The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Feb. 2020, www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/peak-streaming-tv-upsides-challenges-four-new-services-1251054?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=THR%27s%2BToday%2Bin%2BEntertainment_now_2019-10-30%2B07%3A15%3A10_aweprin&utm_term=hollywoodreporter_tie.
Koblin, John. “Peak TV Hits a New Peak, With 532 Scripted Shows.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 9 Jan. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/01/09/business/media/tv-shows-2020.html.
Alexis Tinney
ReplyDeleteMorgan, Blake. “What Is The Future Of Television.” Forbes, 5 Jul. 2019, https://www.forbes.com/sites/blakemorgan/2019/07/05/what-is-the-future-of-television/#26137c3b59de.
Goldberg, Lesley. “Peak Streaming TV: The Upsides and Challenges for the Four New Services.” The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Feb. 2020, www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/peak-streaming-tv-upsides-challenges-four-new-services-1251054?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=THR%27s%2BToday%2Bin%2BEntertainment_now_2019-10-30%2B07%3A15%3A10_aweprin&utm_term=hollywoodreporter_tie.
Koblin, John. “Peak TV Hits a New Peak, With 532 Scripted Shows.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 9 Jan. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/01/09/business/media/tv-shows-2020.html.
Sorry no matter how many different ways I post this the format gets messed up after hitting publish.
ReplyDeleteMichael Reilly (1/2)
ReplyDeleteI believe this surge of creativity in television will continue. People are craving variety from television networks and streaming services now more than ever. When a network or service realizes that one series or concept isn’t generating results, it will move on to the next idea in order to please its audience. This is evident in the growth of scripted originals over the last seven years. According to The New York Times, there were 532 scripted television series available in 2019, which is 52 percent more than the 394 that were available in 2013 (Koblin). While these numbers don’t include reality shows, daytime dramas, or children’s series, they are still representative of the massive increase in content. This is a result of not only broadcast and cable networks looking for new shows but streaming services producing original content. Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Video have challenged traditional television networks with popular original series. Further, Disney+ and Apple TV+ have introduced original series. Even DC Comics has launched its own streaming service that features original content (Tan). It is clear that there is a desire for this increase in content, which means that companies will be willing to provide it. Plus, there is an increased desire for more micro-targeted content. It is no longer necessary for programming to appeal to the masses in order to be successful.
This presents a challenge in the marketplace. While it is inherently good to have a variety of options that appeal to a plethora of audiences, it is going to be difficult to sustain a level of production that can meet those needs. Most outlets don’t want to focus on just one audience, except for a niche service such as DC Comics. Additionally, there are so many networks and services to choose from. Broadcast and cable networks have been options for a long time. Streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Apple TV+, CBS All Access, HBO Max (coming soon), and Peacock (also coming soon) are vying to be the top option for consumers. This field is about to become more cluttered, as “ViacomCBS is working on combining media assets for a new streaming service that will build on CBS All Access” (Sherman). The service will combine CBS properties with Viacom properties, such as films from Paramount Pictures. All of these competing networks and services are going to force people to make choices with their wallets. A majority of people aren’t going to subscribe to every available outlet because the costs will add up. It also will be difficult for people to keep track of multiple subscriptions, which can be overwhelming. Plus, people might become overwhelmed by the massive selection of titles across cable and streaming services. Viewers have difficulty selecting a series to watch from just one platform; it will only become more challenging with more outlets. Eventually, a majority of people are going to flock to a few services that match their preferences and budget. This will make it more difficult for the less user-friendly and popular ones to survive. So, while there is a desire for a variety of content, networks and services are going to have to invest in quality programming as opposed to pumping out as many shows as possible. Outlets must create an assortment of content that can appease an array of audiences while being different from their competitors. It is a tough task, which is why only a few companies will be able to sustain the increased demand for content.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteMichael Reilly (2/2)
DeleteWorks Cited
Koblin, John. “Peak TV Hits a New Peak, With 532 Scripted Shows.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 9 Jan. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/01/09/business/media/tv-shows-2020.html.
Sherman, Alex. “ViacomCBS to Launch New Streaming Service Blending CBS All Access with Paramount Films, Viacom Channels.” CNBC, CNBC, 7 Feb. 2020, www.cnbc.com/2020/02/06/viacomcbs-new-streaming-service-to-include-paramount-cbs-all-access.html.
Tan, Shelly. “Your Guide to New Ways to Watch TV in 2019.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 31 Oct. 2019, www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/entertainment/new-streaming-services-2019/?amp%3Bwpmm=1&wpisrc=nl_headlines.
Over the last few years, there have been a record number of scripted tv shows airing. The New York Times article said, “It marked the first time the 500-show threshold had been crossed…” (Koblin). Scripted shows are still being produced for broadcast television, but the large increase in numbers can be attributed to streaming services. If you look at Netflix for example, they produce tons of original content. I think that streaming services are the best platforms for this large amount of content. Subscribers have a wide variety of programs to choose from and can watch them any time from any device. There are arguments that have been made saying that there is just too much tv content and people will find it hard to keep up. I agree that there might be too much programming for broadcast tv, but I think that it is perfect for streaming services. According to the Washington Post, content from Netflix, Amazon and Hulu accounts for one third of the total amount of scripted shows produced. (Tan)
ReplyDeleteAn article by David Molofsky talks about how creating original content could be Netflix’s key to success. He says, “Netflix is also not afraid to take risks. Back in 2013, when Netflix was developing all these new shows, the most successful film franchise was Marvel’s Cinematic Universe… Combining these two successes into a single model made perfect sense, and lead to the deal between Marvel and Netflix to develop not one, but five original series” (Molofsky). With the current growth of the television marketplace, there are more opportunities for networks to create new content on their own platforms. Disney + is a great example with their new series The Mandalorian. Going forward with the creation of content, a good way to ensure viewers stick around would be for programs to have ‘weekly rollouts. With this method, viewers won’t be able to binge in one or two sittings so they are going to continue to subscribe or tune in so they can find out what happens.
References:
DeleteKoblin, J. (2020, January 9). Peak TV Hits a New Peak, With 532 Scripted Shows. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/09/business/media/tv-shows-2020.html
Tan, S. (2019, October 31). Your guide to new ways to watch TV in 2019. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/entertainment/new-streaming-services-2019/?amp;wpmm=1&wpisrc=nl_headlines
Molofsky, D. (2015, April 12). How original content has been the secret of Netflix' success. Retrieved from https://www.itproportal.com/2015/04/12/netflix-shows-original-content-king-again-again/
Katerina Bressette
ReplyDeleteToday, we currently live in a world where our selection of entertainment appears almost endless. Not only can you watch what you want to watch, whenever you want to watch it, but you are probably able to watch it on several different devices as well. As more streaming services make headway into the industry, the need for original content grows. Over the years, scripted television has skyrocketed, making this last year “the first time the 500-show threshold has been crossed, representing a 7 percent increase over the number of scripted shows in 2018.” (Koblin) Is this the “peak” of scripted television or will the increase in original content cause an upward trend? Some researchers argue that the increase in content over a variety of platforms will eventually cause a lack in creativity and unoriginality. While others, like Kevin Beggs, think otherwise, “in a four-network universe, the show you might wind up making is maybe not the show you pitched…These days you can really arrive at the show you want to make.” (Vourlias) Kevin Beggs is arguing that this is the beginning of a creative surge where producers are given more freedom to produce shows that they believe viewers will want to watch. I believe that we have not reached the “peak” just yet. With numerous streaming services launching over the next year, I think that the true “peak” of scripted television will be in the next couple of years. Until the “streaming wars” have come to an end, I believe that the top media conglomerates will continue to produce more and more original content to compete with one another, eventually ending when one “wins” or buys out the others.
If we continue an upward trend of original content and an increase of scripted television, is there even a marketplace available that can sustain the amount of content being produced? It has never been easier to watch the entertainment that you want to watch, now has a variety of different shows and movies available on multiple platforms. At times though, the large selection can seem a bit daunting. According to Willa Paskins, “there is now so much TV that even the people who watch it for a living have had a hard time keeping up.” (Koblin) A bigger issue concerning the increase in original content, especially coming from streaming services is becoming more and more apparent. The fact that there might not be enough of an audience to watch all of the content actually being produced. One source expressed that his “biggest concern about “peak TV” was not just that the creative talent might not exist to justify the amount of money being ploughed into scripted shows, but simply that the audience wasn’t there for it.” (Jeffery) Overall, it appears that while we are at an all-time high for scripted television shows, it may not be the top of the peak, but the beginning of a creative surge of content that could potentially push industry boundaries over the next couple of years.
Katerina Bressette
DeleteWorks Cited
Jeffery, Morgan. “Why the so-Called Golden Age of TV Might Be Over.” Digital Spy, Digital Spy, 9 Dec. 2018, www.digitalspy.com/tv/a25422929/golden-age-of-tv-peak-television-over-ending-netflix/.
Koblin, John. “Peak TV Hits a New Peak, With 532 Scripted Shows.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 9 Jan. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/01/09/business/media/tv-shows-2020.html.
Vourlias, Christopher. “Lionsgate TV Chairman Kevin Beggs on Streamers and TV's 'Platinum Era'.” Variety, 19 Oct. 2019, variety.com/2019/tv/news/lionsgate-tv-kevin-beggs-mia-1203376382/.
In today’s television industry, there is a constant debate on whether the industry has had its time to shine and will begin to fall through the cracks or if the creativity surge will last. The introduction and growth of streaming services added to this discussion and it seemed like the future was unknown. However, I believe the “golden age of television” is still here and won’t be going away for a while.
ReplyDeleteIn 2018-2019 specifically, broadcast TV still thrived. Networks thrived, new shows caught the attention of many people and some long-run programs finally reached their end. Hollywood entertainment site Deadline compiled some ratings for this TV season and the numbers were impressive. CBS had the most viewers for the 11th season, gaining help from The Big Bang Theory viewers after the series finally concluded after 12 years (Moraes). Other shows like NCIS and This is Us continue to get viewers, and relatively new series The Masked Singer has twitter going crazy with memeable content and conspiracies. However, this type of success isn’t limited to broadcast. The peak of streaming is no longer getting a movie in the mail from Netflix. New services like Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc. have been added to the mix and haven’t missed out on the spotlight. Two of the most popular shows right now, The Witcher and The Mandalorian, are original shows by Netflix and Disney+, respectively. Business Insider compared these two shows’ numbers and offered some interesting numbers. The Witcher premiered on December 20 and rose in popularity just days later. According to one statistic, It's an impressive start for "The Witcher" considering the popularity of "The Mandalorian," which last month dethroned Netflix's "Stranger Things" as the most in-demand streaming series in the US, breaking its 21-week streak at the top of Parrot Analytics' charts” (Clark). This is just one example of new, creative TV content from streaming services.
In 2019, television didn’t just do well, it topped the charts. With the help of streaming and the continuation of fan-favorites, TV truly hit a peak. A New York Times article proves that industries put their money where their mouths are and broke records. “There were more than 500 scripted television series in the United States last year, a high. The estimated number: 532 comedies, dramas and limited series that were broadcast or streamed, according to the research department of the cable network FX, which tabulates and releases the figure every year” (Koblin). This was a first for television, and it even included shows that were not as popular. It’s also worth noting that this number does not include reality or children’s shows. If it did the number would be much higher.
The television debate will continue to go on until companies run out of shows to create or something dramatic happens between broadcast, cable and streaming. There is no question that we are living in the golden age of television and as long as people keep watching and industries continue to release new shows or improve on the classics, the golden age may never truly end.
Works Cited
DeleteClark, Travis. “Netflix's 'The Witcher' Dethroned 'The Mandalorian' as the Biggest TV Series in the World.” Business Insider, 30 Dec. 2019, www.businessinsider.com/witcher-passed-mandalorian-as-biggest-tv-show-in-the-world-2019-12.
Koblin, John. “Peak TV Hits a New Peak, With 532 Scripted Shows.” The New York Times, 9 Jan. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/01/09/business/media/tv-shows-2020.html.
Moraes, Lisa de. “2018-19 TV Season Ratings: CBS Wraps 11th Season At No. 1 In Total Viewers, NBC Tops Demo; 'Big Bang Theory' Most Watched Series.” Deadline, 21 May 2019, deadline.com/2019/05/tv-ratings-2018-2019-season-totals-viewers-demo-cbs-nbc-1202620062/.