Now in it’s eighth season, CBS’s long running show, How I Met Your Mother is seeing a spike in it’s ratings and viewership. The Associated Press is reporting that the ratings for HIMYM “are the best they’ve ever been, up 19 percent over last season.” The show also has the “youngest average audience on the network’s prime-time schedule.” So why, in it’s eighth season, is HIMYM having such an increase in it’s viewers and ratings? There is the possibility that people are watching just to find out who the mother is (and let’s be real - at this point that’s probably the MAIN reason people are watching...it’s been eight years since Ted starting telling the story to his kids! People want to know!). Viewers want to tune in, to discover new clues or play detective. Or, as Entertainment Weekly points out, maybe it’s because the show is a “dependable, no-frills sitcom"? In today’s world, with its shaking economy and unreliable housing market, people want to watch a show that they can trust. Whether they trust it because they trust that it's funny, or they just simply trust that it’s on when the TV Guide says it will be on, people want stability.
But, what I think may be the answer (and why this article is so important) is the fact that the show has been in syndication since 2008. People have gotten the chance to re-watch the seasons that they may have missed when the show originally aired. That is actually how I became a fan of the show, by watching the re-runs on Lifetime. I’m all caught up with the seasons now and I watch it every week when it airs on CBS. I am a huge fan of the show. It just goes to show (no pun intended) that syndication can play a huge role in the popularity of a telelvision show, by helping bringing in new viewers. This has happened with many other shows, including one of the biggest television shows ever, Friends.
Did 'American Idol' want to think Lauren Gray is the next Carrie Underwood? By: Kailey Aleto Article
'American Idol' has begun its 11th season and its ratings have tumbled enough that it's possible-but not highly probable- that the Fox series could see its seven-year streak as TV's number one show come to an end. The 'Idol' cast argues that no TV talent show has produced the kind of stars they have, and you can't argue with them. The impressive list begin with: Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson, and concludes with Adam Lambert. If the show plans on going any where its definitely not going to be any time soon. The most recent episode starlets really raised some eyebrows with contestant Lauren Gray, who blew the judges and audience members away. Jeniffer Lopez said the 22-year-old Arkansas singer had "one of the best female voices we've heard." In terms of Lauren Gray becoming the next Carrie Underwood, we'll just have to wait and see because she certainly left a lasting impression. With this last episode being framed as a Carrie Underwood tribute (the Oklahoma native had auditioned there), so naturally the final contestant of the night was a friendly down-home gal with a killer voice. "Eight years ago Carrie Underwood launched her career in St. Louis," boomed Seacrest. "Maybe this is the start for Lauren Gray." Just to add to the stipulation Steven Tyler also had plenty to say about Lauren Gray during his episode wrap up interview: "You can't be taught to sing that way," he said. "You can only learn it on you own and have some inside influence passed down through generations." So there you have it, two words as Jennifer Lopez put it, Lauren Gray, she may have the potential to not only raise ratings back to what they once were, but also give Carrie Underwood a run for her money or at least force her to share some of that Arkansas spotlight.
This article is relevant to television consumption because it has changed the way we use, view, and operate television at home. According to this article "the real technological break-through that literally changed the home entertainment market is LCD panel technology - mainly thanks to the developments taking place in the area of liquid crystal displays." After the advancement of LCD televisions another breakthrough occurred with LED, plasma, and 3D televisions. This is a growing market with consumers today.
A Siri-powered television. The end of the Network era?
After his passing, Steve Jobs was widely celebrated in the media as the man who (along with his company) changed the way we listen to music and view technology. Apple products such as iPods and iPhones have managed to conquer the markets with sleek designs and user-/content-friendly interfaces. This article discusses the way another hypothetical Apple product (at least for now) could shake up the way the TV industry operates. In his biography, Jobs is known to have told his biographer that he “cracked [the code]” while discussing the idea of an Apple television. For years, Apple has been working to find a new interface for the television and a replacement for the awkward remote control. With the invention of “Siri”, iPhone’s voice-activated technology, the idea of a voice-activated Apple television is not farfetched and its implications on the industry are important.
First, think of the liberties such technology would grant a viewer. Instead of reaching for the remote (or frantically searching for it), you could potentially tell your TV set to mute the TV commercials or switch channels to a program that is not on TV break. This could be an additional blow to the industry’s advertising model that has already suffered with the rise of DVR’s. Similarly, as we expect from Apple products, its television would be conceived along with the Siri technology so it would be much easier for users to access content, whether on TV or from the Web. With the line between Web and TV content increasingly eroding, the author argues that the Apple TV could put TV network content (i.e a TV show) and Web content (i.e. a YouTube video) on the same playing field. If concretized, this new technology could have a serious impact on the TV industry and already-struggling TV networks, requiring them to adapt content and possibly review their commercial break model as to better compete with the other types of content accessible with the new technology. Now, whether the same TV networks that have relentlessly hung on to their 60 year-old operating system are able to revamp their strategies so they can stay viable and competitive, that is for us to find out possibly in the near future.
3D isn't just for the theaters anymore, but is it worth the money to bring home?
A twenty-something Leonardo DiCaprio is back and better than ever—or at least back in 3D, anyway. Titanic, the 1997 blockbuster, is making a comeback to theaters everywhere in a three-dimensional fashion. The re-release of this popular film should come as no surprise while everyone tries to dip into the 3D cash cow. Popularity for 3D films soared in 2011 and continues to show strong numbers…and profits.
While the film industry rakes in on the booming technology, the television industry is left wondering why their efforts to bring the experience home is met with less enthusiasm. In his article, “Will 3D Television Actually Hurt The TV Business?,” Zachary Sniderman suggests failing numbers may be due to the “downgrade in size — televisions are necessarily smaller than movie screens.” The obvious size differences from the theatres to home have proved to be a difficult obstacle for both companies and consumers to overcome.
Other factors he tributes include “lack of 3D programming” and notes that many consumers find that the shortage of programming available on TV is enough to turn them away. Sniderman also found consumers stumble over deciding which technology is best, noting two different kinds of viewing glasses. Making the jump from the movie theatres to home living rooms for 3D technology has yet to be a success and the uncertainties are still visible to many consumers. While the hesitations on whether or not the three-dimensional technology is worth the price are clear to consumer, companies such as Sony and Panasonic continue to try and break the barrier.
'How I Met Your Mother' ratings are at a series-high: Why is everyone joining the gang now?
Now in it’s eighth season, CBS’s long running show, How I Met Your Mother is seeing a spike in it’s ratings and viewership. The Associated Press is reporting that the ratings for HIMYM “are the best they’ve ever been, up 19 percent over last season.” The show also has the “youngest average audience on the network’s prime-time schedule.” So why, in it’s eighth season, is HIMYM having such an increase in it’s viewers and ratings? There is the possibility that people are watching just to find out who the mother is (and let’s be real - at this point that’s probably the MAIN reason people are watching...it’s been eight years since Ted starting telling the story to his kids! People want to know!). Viewers want to tune in, to discover new clues or play detective. Or, as Entertainment Weekly points out, maybe it’s because the show is a “dependable, no-frills sitcom"? In today’s world, with its shaking economy and unreliable housing market, people want to watch a show that they can trust. Whether they trust it because they trust that it's funny, or they just simply trust that it’s on when the TV Guide says it will be on, people want stability.
But, what I think may be the answer (and why this article is so important) is the fact that the show has been in syndication since 2008. People have gotten the chance to re-watch the seasons that they may have missed when the show originally aired. That is actually how I became a fan of the show, by watching the re-runs on Lifetime. I’m all caught up with the seasons now and I watch it every week when it airs on CBS. I am a huge fan of the show. It just goes to show (no pun intended) that syndication can play a huge role in the popularity of a telelvision show, by helping bringing in new viewers. This has happened with many other shows, including one of the biggest television shows ever, Friends.
Did 'American Idol' want to think Lauren Gray is the next Carrie Underwood?
By: Kailey Aleto
Article
'American Idol' has begun its 11th season and its ratings have tumbled enough that it's possible-but not highly probable- that the Fox series could see its seven-year streak as TV's number one show come to an end. The 'Idol' cast argues that no TV talent show has produced the kind of stars they have, and you can't argue with them. The impressive list begin with: Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson, and concludes with Adam Lambert. If the show plans on going any where its definitely not going to be any time soon. The most recent episode starlets really raised some eyebrows with contestant Lauren Gray, who blew the judges and audience members away.
Jeniffer Lopez said the 22-year-old Arkansas singer had "one of the best female voices we've heard." In terms of Lauren Gray becoming the next Carrie Underwood, we'll just have to wait and see because she certainly left a lasting impression. With this last episode being framed as a Carrie Underwood tribute (the Oklahoma native had auditioned there), so naturally the final contestant of the night was a friendly down-home gal with a killer voice.
"Eight years ago Carrie Underwood launched her career in St. Louis," boomed Seacrest. "Maybe this is the start for Lauren Gray."
Just to add to the stipulation Steven Tyler also had plenty to say about Lauren Gray during his episode wrap up interview: "You can't be taught to sing that way," he said. "You can only learn it on you own and have some inside influence passed down through generations."
So there you have it, two words as Jennifer Lopez put it, Lauren Gray, she may have the potential to not only raise ratings back to what they once were, but also give Carrie Underwood a run for her money or at least force her to share some of that Arkansas spotlight.
Developments in LCD Panel Technology
By: Louise Henninger
Article
This article is relevant to television consumption because it has changed the way we use, view, and operate television at home. According to this article "the real technological break-through that literally changed the home entertainment market is LCD panel technology - mainly thanks to the developments taking place in the area of liquid crystal displays." After the advancement of LCD televisions another breakthrough occurred with LED, plasma, and 3D televisions. This is a growing market with consumers today.
A Siri-powered television. The end of the Network era?
By Celine FusellaArticle: December 15, 2011
After his passing, Steve Jobs was widely celebrated in the media as the man who (along with his company) changed the way we listen to music and view technology. Apple products such as iPods and iPhones have managed to conquer the markets with sleek designs and user-/content-friendly interfaces. This article discusses the way another hypothetical Apple product (at least for now) could shake up the way the TV industry operates.
In his biography, Jobs is known to have told his biographer that he “cracked [the code]” while discussing the idea of an Apple television. For years, Apple has been working to find a new interface for the television and a replacement for the awkward remote control. With the invention of “Siri”, iPhone’s voice-activated technology, the idea of a voice-activated Apple television is not farfetched and its implications on the industry are important.
First, think of the liberties such technology would grant a viewer. Instead of reaching for the remote (or frantically searching for it), you could potentially tell your TV set to mute the TV commercials or switch channels to a program that is not on TV break. This could be an additional blow to the industry’s advertising model that has already suffered with the rise of DVR’s. Similarly, as we expect from Apple products, its television would be conceived along with the Siri technology so it would be much easier for users to access content, whether on TV or from the Web. With the line between Web and TV content increasingly eroding, the author argues that the Apple TV could put TV network content (i.e a TV show) and Web content (i.e. a YouTube video) on the same playing field. If concretized, this new technology could have a serious impact on the TV industry and already-struggling TV networks, requiring them to adapt content and possibly review their commercial break model as to better compete with the other types of content accessible with the new technology. Now, whether the same TV networks that have relentlessly hung on to their 60 year-old operating system are able to revamp their strategies so they can stay viable and competitive, that is for us to find out possibly in the near future.
3D isn't just for the theaters anymore, but is it worth the money to bring home?
By: Rachel Strasburg
Article
A twenty-something Leonardo DiCaprio is back and better than ever—or at least back in 3D, anyway. Titanic, the 1997 blockbuster, is making a comeback to theaters everywhere in a three-dimensional fashion. The re-release of this popular film should come as no surprise while everyone tries to dip into the 3D cash cow. Popularity for 3D films soared in 2011 and continues to show strong numbers…and profits.
While the film industry rakes in on the booming technology, the television industry is left wondering why their efforts to bring the experience home is met with less enthusiasm. In his article, “Will 3D Television Actually Hurt The TV Business?,” Zachary Sniderman suggests failing numbers may be due to the “downgrade in size — televisions are necessarily smaller than movie screens.” The obvious size differences from the theatres to home have proved to be a difficult obstacle for both companies and consumers to overcome.
Other factors he tributes include “lack of 3D programming” and notes that many consumers find that the shortage of programming available on TV is enough to turn them away. Sniderman also found consumers stumble over deciding which technology is best, noting two different kinds of viewing glasses. Making the jump from the movie theatres to home living rooms for 3D technology has yet to be a success and the uncertainties are still visible to many consumers. While the hesitations on whether or not the three-dimensional technology is worth the price are clear to consumer, companies such as Sony and Panasonic continue to try and break the barrier.