Social TV

Chances are that within your field of vision right now there happens to be a TV. Look at that, I’ve gone psychic… How you’re using that magical rectangle though, and how you’re consuming its sensory goodness isn’t just as obvious. Are you watching something you’ve downloaded, binging on Netflix or are you one of these old fashioned types, watching a show that’s on a channel right now? Crazy talk.

TV has been steadily evolving, like a Skynet we kind of like. We’re all slaves to the sofa now but when we’re getting our eyes massaged we can’t really complain.  The common consensus is that TV will keep changing, that watching live TV will become a thing of the past and Netflix or Prime will be the standard for TV. In the future you won’t look at a TV guide to see what time that show starts, it’ll be there ready and waiting for a time convenient to you.

My theory? 

Bollocks.  Well a bit. It’s blooming great that we have these services, I love that I can watch Daredevil on a whim or laugh at ‘mature,’ sitcoms while eating my breakfast. I don’t watch loads of TV to be fair but I know plenty of folk that can clear a full series in a week. They’re insane obviously, but it’s nice that they’ve got a hobby to keep that insanity in check…

The flaw in the theory? The reason that this form of TV is only 50% of the future.

Talking. 

How many of you fine folks spent the early part of Tuesday morning saying “Did you see Game of Thrones last night? That bit with the people in the place, doing the stuff!!” It’s a weekly work conversation, giving us five minutes relief from the usual chats about what we have for dinner. Game of Thrones is one of a few shows that have become a weekly event, an hour of TV brilliance that you have to see as soon as possible because you know it’s going to be great but also because you’re going to want to talk about it. The same applies to The Walking Dead or even The Great British Bake Off (yes really). I skipped the Walking Dead myself and I regret it now, if only because I want to join in the noise barrage of oohs, aaahs and ‘OMFG.’ 

Other more obvious examples include sporting events and the talent(less) shows like X Factor. Will Netflix ever join in these markets? Seems obvious to say that there’s no point, but then their progression hasn’t exactly been easy to predict. When it first appeared with a collection of old shows and films we couldn’t have known they’d be making their own productions down the line, including a major deal with Marvel. They’re also about to launch their first chat show, a format that’s a mainstay in America but has always been live and late night. So who fricking knows?

The only thing I do know is that we’ll always talk to each other about what we’ve seen. We still talk about the box sets and our streaming binges but it’s not quite as much fun as dissecting one hour a week of event TV. Talking to whoever who share a sofa with, whatsappin your mates, tweeting, facebooking… Verbalising your enjoyment in 140 characters or a series of emojis. 

If you think I’m wrong, if you’d rather just wait till the whole series is complete… Well then you probably should stay of the internet. And you better have some damn exciting dinners to tell your workmates about.