WEEK 8!
Taylors 2018 article 'broadcasting ourselves, it covers the rising popularity of online gaming and live broadcasting sites, and suggests a possibility for live-stream sites like YouTube to overcome mainstream television. Do you think there's a possibility this could happen?
Being that I hosted this week, I wanted to extract certain points mentioned in that week’s reading Taylors “Broadcasting ourselves”. Two points that stood out to me following the article was the potential for platforms like YouTube and Twitch to overcome mainstream television and the effect of gaming on younger audiences mentally. The following paragraph is a response to the second question stated above.
In this day in age, the domination of the internet has been profound with over 30 million daily users on YouTube alone. Considering the popularity of the internet with younger generations the gradual transition of live streaming platforms like Twitch or YouTube to overcome mainstream television is almost inevitable. Daily over 65% of Gen Z’ers are logging in and out streaming platforms like Twitch and Youtube. Technology is also adjusting for this movement with new televisions offering integrated links straight to platforms like Twitch and YouTube. Considering that platforms like Youtube, Twitch and other streaming services offer content suitable for all demographics whenever and wherever the proof is in the pudding. Mainstream television is full of too many ads and interruptions and there's nothing worse than missing half an hour of your favourite show because it started at 7 instead of 7:30. Streaming platforms are the answer to all these issues with free to use content that you can pause, fast forward and record.
References:
Taylor, TL 2018, ‘Broadcasting ourselves’ (chapter 1), in Watch Me Play: Twitch and the Rise of Game Live Streaming, Princeton University Press, pp.1-23
Join. 2019. YouTube versus Television: Why YouTube Wins Every Time. [online] Available at: <https://join.marketing/blog/youtube/>