In recent years, Netflix has soared in popularity. I know for my roommates and I we could not live without Netflix. For those of you who do not use Netflix, it is a subscription based website that you pay a flat fee for every month. It is filled with thousands of television shows and movies, including some of their own original content, which can be streamed either live or order a DVD to your home for no extra charge.
Like I said before, Netflix is becoming one of the most popular ways for people to stream television shows and movies. For the 65th Annual Emmy Awards, Netflix was nominated for fourteen awards. According to the New York Times, this was the first time that an Internet streamed series rather than one broadcast on actual television had been nominated for an Emmy in one of the top categories, including lead actor and actress for House of Cards, (Stelter). Personally I think it is a definitely a reflection of the times and shows that even an awards show that has been around for over a half century knows when to adapt to its audience.
When it was finally time for the actual Emmy’s and the winners were announced, Netflix took home only one award. Even though it was just one award, it was a groundbreaking moment for not only Netflix and the Emmy’s, but for the future of how we broadcast television series. The PBS web series, Mediatwits, discussed the Emmy’s after the winners were announced. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuOnUbd25_I) This was the first time in history that a noncable, nonbroadcast series won a primetime Emmy. Some people believe that because it is not a true television series in the traditional sense that it should not be eligible for an Emmy award. Do you think that this matters? Does it change the credibility of the awards having an Internet series win an award versus a traditional cable or network series?
Besides winning a traditional Emmy, Netflix was able to nab a Technical Emmy. These were the 65th annual Technology and Engineering Emmy Awards. Netflix was recognized for “personalized recommendation engines for video discovery,” (Winslow). According to Broadcasting and Cable, viewers today are largely viewing their media digitally and television needs to “speed up the pace of innovation.” How do you mostly consume media? What about television exclusively? Do you agree with the above statement that traditional television needs to advance quicker in order to keep up with digital media streams?
Regarding the need for updated television systems, one of our class readings discussed the Nielsen rating system and suggested that it was outdated and needed to be phased out. Even though the rating system said it was going to include Internet streaming in the fall, in order to accommodate online television like Netflix, another problems till remains. The article points out how a lot of viewers not only watch these shows on playback using TiVo, but they also research actors and tweet about episodes (Vanderbilt 3). Losing shows on the Nielsen rating system are shows that are achieving high critical acclaim. These include Breaking Bad, Girls, and Mad Men. Based off of this, do you think that the Nielsen rating system is out dated? Do you think that adding online streaming, like Netflix, Hulu, and AppleTv, will have a positive impact on the Nielsen system or do you think it will not make a difference? Is there really a way to track how many full and complete episodes each household watches on Netflix or will it only show if they clicked the link and started to watch it?
Overall I think that Netflix will continue to grow, as will other online streaming outlets. The convenience of having a multitude of shows and movies at the click of a mouse is a wonderful thing. And with these streams like Netflix creating their own original content, I think it is just a matter of time before we see Netflix original series being nominated for and winning multiple Emmy categories. Online streaming is the television of the future. While I think this is the case, I do not think live broadcast and cable television will ever die out. I just think eventually the two will even out and exist with on other, both being equally as popular and award worthy. What do you think?
Works Cited
PBS Media Shift. Mediatwits #96: Netflix Wins Emmy Awards, Faces Threats…
September 27, 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuOnUbd25_I
Stelter, Brian. Netflix Does Well in 2013 Primetime Emmy Nominations. The New
York Times. July 18, 2013.
Vanderbilt, Tom. The Nielsen Family is Dead. Wired.com. March 19, 2013.
Winslow, George. …And the Technical Emmys Go to… Broadcasting and Cable.
December 16, 2013.
Victoria, I enjoyed reading your post and gaining insight into the growth of Netflix in the United States (US). Netflix is a concept that parts of Europe are yet to grasp; it has been introduced across several countries, including the Republic of Ireland. Even though it has been ‘somewhat’ successful since it was introduced to the Irish audience in January 2012, I doubt it will surpass Sky Ireland (cable provider). With that being said, I find it intriguing as to how and why Netflix has ‘soared’ in popularity in the past few years in the US.
ReplyDeleteAs you mentioned, Netflix is becoming one of the most popular ways for people to stream television shows and movies. Personally, I think US television (traditional and cable) has unfortunately, developed into a commercial driven platform based primarily around advertisement revenue rather than streaming ‘quality’ television to its audience. Is it any wonder Netflix has become one of the most, if not the most popular way for people to view television? This is a key concept when discussing why and how Netflix has become, not only the ‘new’ method to discover television, but when the Emmy’s appreciate the work of a noncable, non-broadcast television series. Audiences are tuning into Netflix for several reasons, including the mass selection of programs and of course fewer commercials. Regardless, of whether ‘Netflix’ is or isn’t a true television series, it has shown that it is credible for an Emmy award. After all, Netflix is beginning to outshine traditional television with its methods of commercial advertisement. I don’t think it necessarily ‘changes’ the credibility of the award, I think it’s illustrates a milestone to us, as an audience/consumer, that television has undergone a great deal of change in the past few years. Whether or not that ‘change’ continues, lays in the hands of the consumer.
As mentioned, the overload of commercials on traditional US television influences my lack of engagement with the TV screen. I think traditional television may need to play ‘catch up’ in developing new methods of engaging their younger audience. The Battered Networks Blow Up Traditional TV Schedule to Take on Cable, Streaming Rivals article points out the risks that traditional broadcasters are facing with regards to the digital age of online streaming, “Broadcasters are more risk- averse- and more desperate to cover their bases year-round-because ratings are down dramatically in the last five years. (Malloy) The article also discusses the advantages that online networks (Netflix) hold against traditional broadcasts, “Online offers yet more options. Viewers can watch Netflix shows…whenever they want to. Never before has so much high-quality, original programming been available to viewers whenever they want it. (Malloy) The flexibility of Netflix is a crucial element that traditional television series cannot ‘give’ to their audiences. As a solution, I don’t think traditional television needs to ‘follow’ the Netflix route. Instead, I think television, in order to regain its credibility, should consider decreasing the power of the commercial platform and focusing primarily on good quality television.
With regards to the Nielsen TV rating system, it may present inaccurate statistics about the overall viewing of television, but I do think it’s important to keep the rating system in place. After all, regardless of whether or not the Nielsen system provides an accurate depiction of television ratings, I think that in the future it will act as a source that will prove just how far digital/online television series such as Netflix have become.
ReplyDeleteNetflix may have changed the way the younger US audience engage in television and movies but, traditional television can still hold on to the biggest tune in, football. According to the Best & Worst 2013:TV’s Biggest Winners and Losers of the year article, “This Fall, NBC is the top-rated network in the key 18-49 demographic, and is No. 2 behind CBS in total viewers. It can thank “The Voice,” “The Blacklist” and “Sunday Night Football,” TV’s biggest show. But there’s a caveat to NBC’s Success: It was also the top-rated network this time last year. Once the football season ended it fell hard to third place.” (Malloy) At the end of the day, live ‘football’ lies in the heart of the American culture, the live experience, sensationalism and overall spectacle, is something that Netflix will not be able to replicate or overcome.
Work Cited:
Molloy, Tim, et. al. "Best & Worst 2013: TV’s Biggest Winners and Losers of the Year." The Wrap. 9 Dec. 2013. Web.
Malloy. Tim. "Battered Networks Blow Up Traditional TV Schedule to Take on Cable, Streaming Rivals." The Wrap. 14 May 2013. Web.
Netflix has definitely soared in popularity in the past few years. I have recently become a frequent user of the site, and I find Netflix to be extremely convenient and more fitting to my schedule. “The company’s stock surged 296 percent this past year, which, according to a review by The Wall Street Journal, made Netflix the second best performing U.S. stock” (Gardner). I think this statistic shows just how popular Netflix has become. People truly value convenience, and Netflix delivers. Netflix is unique in its original series, and the site continues to prove that investing in your company can lead to positive outcomes. “Netflix expends some $2.7 billion on content- more than twice as much as Amazon- which leads some investment analysts to continue to worry about costs. But the original series have proven popular, and the company has eked out a profit- $32 million in earnings last quarter” (Gardner). This statistic further proves that Netflix is adapting to its audience, as you pointed out in your blog post. I think that it is smart when companies change or adapt to the audience; it is important to keep up to date with the latest trends and adapt to the needs of the audience.
ReplyDeleteWith people being able to watch shows and movies at their own convenience, I definitely see this way of viewing becoming more dominant in the future. “Never before has so much high-quality, original programming been available to viewers whenever they want it” (Malloy). I have watched a few shows that were created by Netflix, and I use the site to watch movies and TV shows whenever I feel like it. Netflix has such a wide array of shows and movies that there is definitely something for everyone on the site.
According to The New York Times, Jeffrey Katzenberg, the chief executive and cofounder of DreamWorks Animation SKG and a former chairman of Walt Disney Studios, said, “The fact is that Netflix has exploded in its success, achieved what really three or four years ago people would have said was an impossible level of subscription” (Carr, Somaiya). When I first started using Netflix, I did not really find that there were a lot of options. Now, I can go on the site everyday and find something new to watch. “Netflix is punching up, constantly comparing itself to a more established brand that for consumers represents high-quality programming” (Carr, Somaiya). I agree that Netflix will constantly grow in the next few years, and could become the main platform for watching shows and movies. Netflix provides the convenience of watching shows and movies that you do not get from viewing straight from your television.
Works Cited:
Carr, David, and Ravi Somaiya. "Punching Above Its Weight, Upstart Netflix Pokes at HBO." New York Times [New York] 16 Feb 2014, n. pag. Web. 17 Feb. 2014.
Gardner, Erin. "Netflix Gets Wall Street's Silver Medal in 2013." Hollywood Reporter 30 Dec 2013, n. pag. Print.
Malloy, Tim. "Battered Networks Blow Up Traditional TV Schedule To Take on Cable, Streaming Rivals." Wrap 14 May 2013, n. pag. Print.
Victoria, I couldn't agree with you more when you said that online streaming is the television of the future. I am a big Netflix fan, as a matter fact I was pretty excited for the premiere of House of Cards season two this past Friday, perfect treat for my valentine’s day! The truth is online streaming has become such a trend but more than that it has become a habit. Netflix has come along way, it is really growing among people, specially like you mentioned in your blog, “what would you and your roommates do without Netflix?” it is doing a hell of a job targeting younger audiences like ourselves. It is so usable and such a quick process, and the variety of shows and films they offer is amazing, I don’t think it ever gets boring. The fact that a Netflix show like House of Cards was nominated for 14 Emmys says a lot about what the future holds for Netflix. It just really shows how technology has changed the way we watch television shows, except instead of watching them the traditional way through broadcast or cable, we watch them digitally. The online streaming has become a threat to broadcasting and cable television. As we all know, it is always business, and ratings matter a lot, because high ratings mean success and success means money. In other words, it is truly a hunger game and both broadcast and cable are not too happy to be competing against someone like Netflix. According to Tim Malloy in his article by The Wrap, Battered Networks Blow Up Traditional TV Schedule to Take on Cable, Streaming Rivals, “Online offers yet more options. Viewers can watch Netflix shows like "House of Cards" and "Arrested Development" – premiering May 26 – whenever they want to. Never before has so much high-quality, original programming been available to viewers whenever they want it. “(1) In addition to this, Netflix isn’t afraid to put up a fight because in their end, it is also business. For Netflix having a show being nominated for an Emmy was an accomplishment. I think the idea of the show not being part of “traditional television” shouldn’t affect them in anyway, after all just because the show is not broadcast or on cable television it shouldn’t be denied the possibility of being recognized for their outstanding performance. That is just a really lame excuse, it just shows how broadcasting and cable television are afraid that perhaps online streaming is going to take over and rise up to do way better than they are doing now. Netflix does a great job marketing and advertising their shows as well as attracting their audiences. As the years go by, Netflix keeps improving and as it improves it expands more, according to the Hollywood Reporter Eriq Gardner in his article, Netflix Gets Wall Street’s Silver Medal in 2013, “The company's stock surged 296 percent this past year, which, according to a review by The Wall Street Journal, made Netflix the second best performing U.S. stock .”(1) Overall, Netflix has been doing well in the market, and this can only boost up their confidence in wanting to continue with their business as well as killing the competition. As Victoria mentioned in her blog, broadcasting and cable television are taking in consideration that television may need to “speed up the pace of innovation” if they are trying to surpass Netflix. After all, competition is competition and if they are trying to go against technology because that is really who they are going against – let’s not forget if it wasn’t for advanced technology there wouldn’t be such thing as online streaming, I wish them the best of luck, and like Victoria said, I also don’t believe that live broadcast and cable television will die out, but the truth is technology is only going to grow larger and faster so “traditional television” should be ready and prepare for a new battle.
ReplyDeleteWorks Cited
ReplyDeleteGardner, Eriq. "Netflix Gets Wall Street's Silver Medal in 2013." The Hollywood Reporter. 30 Dec. 2013. Web.
Malloy. Tim. "Battered Networks Blow Up Traditional TV Schedule to Take on Cable, Streaming Rivals." The Wrap. 14 May 2013. Web.
Luke Glockenberg
ReplyDeleteEvery night before I go to sleep I ask myself, what would I do without Netflix? I am serious that’s because every night when I’m laying down in bed I watch an episode of the most recent television series I am watching. The past couple of snow days we have had I have been glued to my Ipad mini screen watching television series. It’s crazy because all of my roommates were doing the same all day. I think every day Netflix is becoming more and more popular. I mean you can watch almost any show that interests you at anytime. Victoria I agree with your post and the fact that you believe that online streaming is the future of television. I mean think about it Netflix is watchable on all sorts of electronic platforms. Whether it is a smart T.V., smart phone, tablet, laptop, desktop, iPod touch, or on pretty much any video game system. Netflix has just done a tremendous job in my opinion of targeting people of all ages. In high school all my friends used to tweet about it, or post Facebook statuses writing what show or movie they were watching. Even though I first started using Netflix during Freshman year of college I feel like I have been using it forever just because of the amount of times I am streaming shows or movies on there per week. I can’t imagine being without it for the rest of my life. That might sound a little drastic but I am serious. That’s how great Netflix has been these three years.
According to The Hollywood Reporter only one company in America had a better stock marker performance this past year. That company was Netflix as the companies stock rose 269 percent. This made Netflix the second best performing stock in the United States. (1) It’s hard to believe but the turnaround to all this for Netflix only began two years ago when the company announced it was splitting its business into a streaming service and a DVD subscription service. (1) At first many subscribers weren’t too happy with this news and they even faced lawsuits alleging they misled investors. (1) I was one of the people that wasn’t to happy about this news. Then soon after I realized that I barely even had DVD’s sent to me. I think it was a very smart idea because although streaming content online is the future, Netflix is still targeting all audiences. Today there are still in my opinion people who would rather order the DVD then watch online. I don’t think it’s a majority of the people who use Netflix but it obviously hasn’t failed them or hurt their stock.
The great thing about having Netflix as a college student or in general is that you can watch mostly any program you want at any time. Tim Malloy wrote in his article Battered Networks Blow Up Traditional TV Schedule to Take on Cable, Streaming Rivals that, “online offers yet more options. Viewers can watch Netflix shows like “House of Cards” and Arrested Development whenever they want to.” (2) This just goes to show you that online streaming services like Netflix give you shows or movies when you want it and whenever you want it. I think the future is coming sooner rather then later for online streaming taking the place of television.
Works Cited
1. Gardner, Eriq. "Netflix Gets Wall Street's Silver Medal in 2013." The Hollywood Reporter. 30 Dec. 2013. Web.
2. Malloy. Tim. "Battered Networks Blow Up Traditional TV Schedule to Take on Cable, Streaming Rivals." The Wrap. 14 May 2013. Web.
Victoria, I completely agree with the point of your blog that online streaming outlets are growing fast and will ultimately have a huge impact on traditional television. Online streaming outlets like Netflix have already proved to be very successful. “The company’s stock surged 296 percent this last year, which, according to a review by The Wall Street Journal, made Netflix the second best preforming U.S. stock.” (Gardner) Clearly online digital streaming has become a very popular thing, which Netflix has capitalized on.
ReplyDeleteOnline streaming has absolutely revolutionized the way that we consume media, and will continue to impact the industry as it grows. The convenience that these outlets provide definitely rivals that of broadcast television because it allows for instant access to a huge selection of television and movies for a monthly fee. This instant access to massive digital libraries definitely creates competition that traditional television must adapt to.
Broadcast television doesn’t seem to be in a position where its existence as a whole is threatened. I think it will always have its place. But its method is what is going through some difficulties. “The traditional season, with regularly scheduled sweeps periods, is still useful to advertisers and networks. But some of the old ways are clearly losing their appeal to network programmers, who are coping with falling ratings and increased competition from cable and online.” (Malloy) The old methods implemented by television networks are facing challenges due to new digital ways to access television content.
Shows like House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, shows exclusive to Netflix just go to prove streaming services growing strength of position. If they can continue to release exclusive shows that reach wide audiences, they are essentially becoming their own kind of television. They offer access to thousands of things as well as new and exclusive shows.
The Nielson rating system also is facing new challenges with this growing popularity of streaming services. Although Nielson has been tweaked over the years, “it still serves one fundamental purpose: To gauge how many people are watching a given show on a conventional television set.” (Vanderbilt) As you mentioned in your blog many of the critically acclaimed shows that are losing according to Nielson. Nielsons inability to document things like streaming services into their data collection is a serious issue for them. If they don’t figure out a way to efficiently record/collect data for things like Netflix, Hulu and other various streaming services, their reports and data findings will become less and less relevant to real trends in media consumption as streaming expands even further.
Everything is becoming digital these days. This digital movement has brought with it online streaming which is slowly impacting more and more of the media industry. Sony is even planning on releasing PlayStation Now, a video game streaming service. It is clear that this new digital streaming phenomenon is extending its influence to all aspects of the industry, even video games, but the area most heavily being impacted is without a doubt television.
Works Cited
Gardner, Eriq. "Netflix Gets Wall Street's Silver Medal in 2013." The Hollywood Reporter. 30 Dec. 2013. Web.
Malloy. Tim. "Battered Networks Blow Up Traditional TV Schedule to Take on Cable, Streaming Rivals." The Wrap. 14 May 2013. Web.
Vanderbilt, Tom. "The Nielsen Family Is Dead." Wired.com. Conde Nast Digital, 17 Mar. 0013. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.
Netflix really is any college student’s dream. We are busy all day, and doing homework or studying at night, and we need to find our own time to do the things that we love or find most relaxing. Streaming is how we watch TV now. There are a very small number of shows that I actually commit to watching live, and these are shows that I literally schedule ahead of time to watch with my friends, like American Horror Story. It is so nice to have the option to watch a show when I want, and when I find the time, whether it be on Hulu or Netflix.
ReplyDeleteThere is also the factor of having a show there for you, whenever you want to watch it. Binge watching has become a huge epidemic. I have lost friends for weekends at a time thanks to Netflix, but I can’t say I’m not the same way. We do not want to have to wait for the next episode of a TV show to find out what happens, we want to watch it then and there without waiting a week, and without advertisements breaking up the excitement. This is why I believe that Netflix received Wall Street’s Silver Medal in 2013. “The company’s stock surged 296 percent this past year, which, according to a review by The Wall Street Journal, made Netflix the second best performing U.S stock” (Gardner, 2013).
Netflix has had a ton of positive feedback with its two original series Orange is the New Black, and House of Cards. House of Cards just released their second season to Netflix this past weekend, and people have been raving about it over social media ever since. It is interesting to me though, that these shows will not even be on the Nielsen ratings. As Tom Vanderbilt points out, “All of your favorite shows are ratings dogs” (Vanderbilt, 2013). This is because Nielsen is still only measuring the amount of people watching an actual television. Today, there are so many more options to choose from to watch your favorite TV shows. Nielsen has started measuring social media chatter to add into ratings, but there are ultimately so many more factors. I for one, always use Netflix but never really tweet about what I’m watching. Luckily for TV shows that are looking for higher ratings, as Vanderbilt pointed out, Nielsen announced last February that it would include Internet streaming to TV sets in it’s ratings.
Even still, my mind always goes back to Netflix, and how I really only use it on my laptop and my iPhone, and how so many people that are doing the same are doing so because they want to binge watch TV shows, and not wait an entire week for the next episode to air. I’m sure there are plenty of TV shows that air now that I would enjoy, but I choose to find shows I might be interested in on Netflix, even if they are old, so that I can have that at my fingertips whenever I want. For example, I recently started How I Met Your Mother after I finished Breaking Bad, just because it was there on Netflix and I didn’t want to go through the effort of finding a TV show I might actually like on the TV set. It is very interesting how much things have changed since the Internet offered us anything and everything. Thanks to Netflix, even old shows can quickly become fads and I think Nielsen should come up with a plan to take this into consideration.
Gardner, Eriq. "Netflix Gets Wall Street's Silver Medal in 2013." The Hollywood Reporter. 30 Dec. 2013. Web.
Vanderbilt, Tom. "The Nielsen Family is Dead." Wired. 19 March 2013. Web.
Victoria,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post, and feel I learned a lot of valuable things from it. I’m not really surprised to hear about the popularity of Netflix when it comes to the amount of people who opt to watch television and movies from it, as opposed to on regular television. Anyway I don’t that it matters that this television series. The reason being is because these series are very popular, and Netflix is a very big force right, and they have to be recognized. I don’t think that the credibility of the awards is in danger, I just think like you said it’s a sign of the times. It’s simply that’s who the people are gravitating to and like. When someone is nominated for 14 awards that means they are doing something right.
When it comes to how I consume media, I’d say that I honestly fall into the same category as most people today. I have a Netflix account, I also go on to movie websites like Megashare.info and Viooz.co to watch movies free online. I rarely watch TV to be honest, but my feelings about television exclusively, it’s not something that I’d stick to completely. I do however agree that traditional television needs to advance quicker to keep up with digital media streams. In the reading Battered Networks Blow Up Traditional TV Schedule to Take on Cable, Streaming Rivals it says, “Online offers yet more options. Viewers can watch Netflix shows like House of Cards and Arrested Development premiering May 26-whenever they want to.”(Malloy) This is showing that television needs to offer more options to the average viewer like digital media streams are doing, or they aren’t going to be nearly as appealable as them in the long run. I do think the Nielsen rating is outdated, I think it’s no longer effective for a number of reasons. One reason that stood out to me was mentioned in the reading The Nielsen Family Is Dead; it said “Today it’s not rare for a huge portion of the show’s audience to watch it well after it originally aired.” (Vanderbilt) In my opinion that means that despite the “C3”rating that was meant to include people who watched the show 3 days after, it’s still not enough. The reason being like reading said as well “Millions of hours of TV get watched beyond the one-week cutoff.” I personally know a lot of people who watch shows way after that time, for example people who work long hours and aren’t able to tune into see shows when they are live. So based on that, I’d say it seems that no matter what a lot of people are not being accounted for, and the Nielsen rating doesn’t seem to be able to get it right. I do think adding Netflix, Hulu and AppleTV will have a positive impact, because those people use these online streams will be accounted for. In conclusion, I do think Netflix (and other online streaming) is the new television, I think its popularity will continue to increase. This doesn’t mean that I feel regular television will become a nonfactor, and fade into the background; I just think Netflix and other online streaming sites will be in the forefront.
Works Cited
ReplyDeleteVanderbilt, Tom. The Nielsen Family is Dead. Wired.com. March 19, 2013.
Malloy. Tim. "Battered Networks Blow Up Traditional TV Schedule to Take on Cable, Streaming Rivals." The Wrap. 14 May 2013. Web.
Victoria, I never really took advantage of Netflix until sophomore year of college. My roommate at the time had an account and we set it up on my Xbox and we occasionally watched shows. However that has completely changed now. I have account myself and I honestly do not know where I would be without Netflix. Since it is still hooked up to my Xbox I can now watch movies, television series or even play video games all at the same time. Being a gamer myself this just makes everything so easy to switch from one to another.
ReplyDeleteNetflix has been really successfully over the past couple of years. From a business aspect “the company's stock surged 296 percent this past year, which, according to a review by The Wall Street Journal, made Netflix the second best performing U.S. stock (Hollywood Reporter).” Netflix is second behind Tesla Motors which raised 346% over the year. (I work for Tesla, so this makes me happy). Why has Netflix done so well? Well the subscription is relatively cheap for the vast amount of television shows and movies that are offered. Along with that Netflix does not limit the amount of time you can spend on it, even though it probably should though. There are no commercials and just hours of television at the click of button. Now Netflix has started their own shows into the mix. “Viewers can watch Netflix shows like "House of Cards" and "Arrested Development" – premiering May 26 – whenever they want to. Never before has so much high-quality, original programming been available to viewers whenever they want it” (The Wrap).
But we are not the only ones who noticed the rise in Netflix. As you stated, “For the 65th Annual Emmy Awards, Netflix was nominated for fourteen awards”. To think that someone else other than the “big three” networks had this many nominations, especially an online streaming series. Netflix has taken the television industry as we know it and completely changed it. We no longer have to search hours for episodes of our favorite shows, we no longer have to waste time through commercials and we can watch entire series in days.
Overall I think Netflix will grow and be the start to a new way that people will watch T.V. forever. To have multiple shows at the touch of a button is something that our generation wants. We are the “now” generation, as in we want it and we want it now. Netflix fulfills that and that’s why I think it will survive. With that being said I don’t believe that television, as we know, it will die out. Some shows are still in production and watching them live will always be something a fan wants. Some examples for this for me is “The League”. I had never seen the show before I watched it on Netflix, and now once I have completed the series on Netflix I went to watching it on live television. However I do think Netflix is the stepping-stone to something new and something that will be more popular in the future. Whether it out grows regular television or becomes just as watched, Netflix has paved the way for online streaming of television.
Works Cited
Malloy. Tim. "Battered Networks Blow Up Traditional TV Schedule to Take on Cable, Streaming Rivals." The Wrap. 14 May 2013. Web.
Gardner, Eriq. "Netflix Gets Wall Street's Silver Medal in 2013." The Hollywood Reporter. 30 Dec. 2013. Web.
Ike Azotam
ReplyDelete2/18/14
Victoria, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog post about Netflix. Over the past few years, I have become a huge Netflix fan and absolutely love what the company is doing for the streaming business. I believe Netflix is popular because it allows a person to stream television and movies whenever you want at a low monthly price. The service is convenient and can be accessed on a television, tablet, laptop, and even your smartphone. Netflix is the only American company that had a better stock performance than last year, and they have had so much success they terminated their stockholder rights plan (Gardner). This plan wards off any takeover from outside sources and will prove beneficial to the company in the future.
Last semester in Professor Burns’ MSS 450 class, we had to do a live tweeting assignment on the Primetime Emmy Award Show. Being a Netflix regular, I wasn’t surprised by the fact that some of the web-based Netflix shows were nominated. I was more surprised that Netflix was nominated for fourteen different awards, a feat not previously done by any internet streamed series. Although Netflix took home a single award, this was undoubtedly a pivotal moment for both Netflix and broadcast television. This moment most likely suggests that web based series will create more notoriety in the near future and Netflix will continue to revolutionize the way we, as consumers, view television.
Some critics didn’t think the web based shows should have been eligible for awards since they are not traditional television broadcasts. Personally, I have already viewed an abundance of web-based shows such as Orange Is The New Black and Arrested Development. These shows are not very different from the shows we watch every night on are favorite channels and networks. However, we are still at a point in time where the idea of web-based shows is relatively new, leaving consumers still sticking to their normal ways of traditional cable television.
Another awesome aspect of Netflix deals in convergence. Netflix allows you to stream from multiple platforms and media devices. I consume my Netflix service mainly through my iPad and my Xbox. My television is incapable of letting me stream my Netflix service, and this is why my television is rarely used unless I am watching live events. Streaming services on my iPad even allow me to watch live sporting events and movies while they are still in theaters. Television has made some strides creating services like Xfinity TV or Apple TV, but the innovation right now doesn’t seem to be enough, and is lagging behind Netflix. Traditional television needs to advance quicker so they are able to compete with digital television streaming in the future.
This fall, the Nielsen Rating System has made plans to utilize Internet streaming. Although I believe it to be a smart idea, I don’t think it will have much of a true effect on the rating system. One of our class readings on the Nielsen System discussed playback. The article points out highly acclaimed shows like Breaking Bad and Mad Men, both of which are near the bottom (Vanderbilt). It’s tough keeping track of certain shows when there is TiVo and Internet streaming. Nielsen may be outdated, but it will still be interesting to see what new changes the rating system creates.
Overall, Netflix is a great streaming service that will continue to grow. I believe the company will have to continue to innovate against its competition (Hulu, XFinity, HBO). I also believe that Internet streaming is on its way to becoming the new television due to its convenience and durability. It will be interesting to see how Netflix continues to innovate and how traditional television holds up in the foreseeable future.
Works Cited
1.) Vanderbilt, Tom. The Nielsen Family is Dead. Wired.com. March 19, 2013.
2.) Gardner, Eriq. "Netflix Gets Wall Street's Silver Medal in 2013." The Hollywood Reporter 30 Dec. 2013: n. pag. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.
Victoria,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog and agreed with a lot of the points you made throughout. Netflix is for sure on the rise in terms of popularity as opposed to the traditional television-viewing format. I almost exclusively use Netflix for viewing (sometimes Hulu/HBOgo) so I can agree from a personal level with your arguments.
In your blog I found it interesting to read that Netflix was up for fourteen Emmy Awards. I think it was important to realize that this was the first time in Emmy Award history that a ‘streaming’ type network was nominated for any kind of award. This point added to the power of your argument. The best of the best are nominated for these awards, and it was a big moment for not only Netflix, but was a moment that will affect television history. As you mentioned, Netflix only walked away with one win, but still a big night for Netflix and the future of ‘steamed’ TV.
I watched the video that you included in your post and found it to be extremely helpful and interesting. One of the commentators in the video brought up the question of “Is original content really helping business?”. I had never thought of this question before. While I love House of Card and enjoyed Orange is the New Black, I don’t know if I would have purchased Netflix to watch these two Netflix produced shows. And it’s not like these shows are cheap and easy to produce. Another commentator in the video mentioned that two seasons of House of Cards set Netflix back $100 million. After reading Eriq Gardner’s article “Netflix gets Wall Street’s Silver Medal in 2013”, I realized that Netflix is spending a lot of money, but is also making a lot of money. “Netflix spends some $2.7 billion on content -- more than twice as much as Amazon -- which leads some investment analysts to continue to worry about costs. But the original series have proven popular, and the company has eked out a profit -- $32 million in earnings last quarter”(Gardner). Netflix is doing something right!
Later in your post you mention that you think Netflix will eventually work along side with traditional broadcast and network TV. I’m not sure if I completely agree with that idea. I feel that traditional forms of television will always have a place with sports and other live action forms of TV, but I think Netflix and other forms of ‘streaming’ broadcast will eventually over take broadcast and network. “Moving forward to the present time, we remain confident that we are still on the road to recovery and still less confident about the pace of that recovery,” a quote from “Outlook of the Broadcasting Network” by David Poltrack. This quote is talking about the future of broadcast TV; he realizes broadcast has taken a hit in terms advertiser revenue. Poltrack is an industry professional and even he seems unsure about the future of broadcast. (Poltrack)
As I mentioned earlier, I do see a future for broadcasting in the world of airing live sporting events. According to an article titled “Fall TV Ratings Champs” written by Matt Webb Mitovich, Sunday Night Football (NBC) and Sunday Night Football Pre-show (NBC) are both in the top three in the demo leader category. This information shows the power of live sport broadcasting and in turn, I think, shows the future of broadcasting. (Mitovich)
It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Netflix and broadcast/network TV.
Work Cited
Gardner, Eriq. "Netflix Gets Wall Street's Silver Medal in 2013." The Hollywood Reporter. 30 Dec. 2013. Web.
Mitovich, Matt Web. "Fall TV Ratings Champs." Yahoo TV. 18 Dec. 2013. Web.
Poltrack, David. "The Outlook for the Broadcast Networks (Powerpoint)." 2011 UBS 39th Annual Global Media and Communications Conference. 5 December 2011.
As an avid Netflix user, I both related to this blog and learned a lot from it. I first started using Netflix when my stepsister bought her subscription. Since that point, I have seen Netflix transform and develop into a hugely successful media platform.
ReplyDeleteWhen they first started out, Netflix had a very limited selection of movies and television series to live-stream, most of which I had never heard of or appeared to be cheap/low quality. Each subscription was also limited to one user. Therefore, only one person could use the Netflix account to stream video at a time. Netflix today has made drastic improvements. According to Eriq Gardner, “Netflix expends some $2.7 billion on content—more than twice as much as Amazon—which leads some investment analysts to continue to worry about costs. But the original series have proven popular, and the company has eked out a profit—$32 million in earnings last quarter” (Gardner). The company now has an unlimited amount of content and has even added a feature that allows multiple users to access the account at one time. My mom and I, for example, have been able to watch House of Cards simultaneously when I am away at school. This brings up another one of Netflix’s new features, the made-for-Netflix television series.
I personally have watched Netflix’s Orange is the New Black, House of Cards, and the new season of Arrested Development, and found them all to be phenomenal. I do not think that these shows being broadcast on an online platform gives them any less credibility than cable or network television. In fact, the lack of commercials and ad revenue makes it feel as though the creators of these shows were more focused on the content and creating a high-quality series that the public will enjoy. It also makes me think that these creators better know how to target today’s audience and adapt to the evolving television industry.
These days it is very rare that people dedicate their time to sit down and watch a single episode of a show once a week. People want access to their shows on their own time, when it is most convenient for them. As Tim Malloy stated, “Online offers yet more options. Viewers can watch Netflix shows like ‘House of Cards’ and ‘Arrested Development’ – premiering May 26 – whenever they want to. Never before has so much high-quality, original programming been available to viewers whenever they want it” (Malloy). It also helps when users can do more than watch one episode at a time. In my personal experience, this has become the era of binge-watching, and Netflix is one of the few hugely successful platforms that enables users to get their fix.
Works Cited
Gardner, Eriq. "Netflix Gets Wall Street's Silver Medal in 2013." The Hollywood Reporter. 30 Dec. 2013. Web.
Malloy. Tim. "Battered Networks Blow Up Traditional TV Schedule to Take on Cable, Streaming Rivals." The Wrap. 14 May 2013. Web.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Netflix and other online streaming sites are becoming the new television for viewers of many shows. Most individuals do not have the time anymore to watch his or her show live. Therefore, they want to watch it at a time that is convenient for them. Media outlets such as Netflix, Hulu and AppleTv give us that opportunity to do so. The fact that Netflix was nominated for fourteen awards for the first time at the 65th Annual Emmy Awards, just shows us how much technology is changing the way we consume media.
I do not think it matters whether or not Netflix is a true television series in the traditional sense. It may not be traditional, but at the end of the day the shows are still being watched and that is all that should matter. Also, the statistics around Netflix further prove this point.
“The company's stock surged 296 percent this past year, which, according to a review by The Wall Street Journal, made Netflix the second best performing U.S. stock. The only thing more popular in the equities market than binging on videos of House of Cards and Arrested Development was electric cars. The biggest winner from 2013 was Tesla, whose battery-powered cars have become a Hollywood favorite; the company's stock was up 346 percent” (Gardner).
If anything, Netflix is simply helping the ratings of shows. Without being able to stream shows online, viewers would miss a lot of the shows that they are interested in. Realistically how many people still watch live television anymore?
The Nielsen rating system is outdated. However, we live in a society that revolves around media. I am not really sure how to fix the rating system, because I do not believe there is one way to track all media usage of an individual. There is too much technology out there to track it all. Although I do think we should have different rating systems for different kinds of media, rather than just relying on the outdated Nielsen rating system.
“We’re engaging with a show even if we aren’t watching it, but none of this behavior factors into Nielsen’s calculation of its impact” (Vanderbilt 3). While the Nielsen rating system might be including Internet streaming in the fall, it is still not improving the rating system if it isn’t tracking our behaviors as media consumers.
I really enjoyed reading your blog. You were able to present both sides of the case very well, while also including your own opinions. Broadcast and cable television is the original base for watching live shows. Therefore, I agree that it will never die out but still will never be as popular as it used to be. The only way television could attempt to get back to where it used to be is if it starts advancing quicker to keep up with all the digital media streams. There is still an age demographic out there that enjoys and constantly watches live television. In the end, our society is constantly changing and right now online streaming outlets are going to continue to grow.
Work Cited:
Gardner, Eriq. “Netflix Gets Wall Street’s Silver Medal in 2013.” The Hollywood Reporter 20 Dec. 2013: n. pag. Print.
Vanderbilt, Tom. The Nielsen Family is Dead. Wired.com. March 19, 2013.
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more with Victoria when it comes to Netflix. I watch Netflix on my computer more then I watch regular television these days. The only slight error you had was that if you get the DVD plan it is more money. Netflix is becoming more and more popular as time is going on. When it comes to Wall Street, “The Company’s stock surged 296 percent this past year, which, according to a review by The Wall Street Journal, made Netflix the second best performing U.S. stock” (Gardner). As time goes on, things are improving, and this website is the future. The only setback that I would say is the lack of certain shows and movies. Although there is a lot of variety, Netflix does not hold every single show and movie that was ever made. “The coming year begins with a purge of sorts. The company’s license on titles including Top Gun, Titanic, Being John Malkovich and Braveheart reportedly expires on New Year’s Day. Netflix will be removing some videos from its digital library of about 20,000 titles” (Gardner). Gardner does mention that the website will be one dollar cheaper but without a lot of options what is the point of buying Netflix. I think that if Netflix had more options it would be unstoppable.
When it comes to The Neilson Ratings I believe that they are not truthful. I think that shows do not get the full credit that they deserve due to the outdated rating system. “Breaking Bad, Girls, Mad Men—each struggles to get a Nielsen score higher than 3, representing about 8.7 million viewers. And it’s not just cable. NBC’s 30 Rock struggled to top a score of 2.5, and Parks and Recreation rarely cracks Nielsen’s top 25. There are two possible conclusions to draw from these facts: (1) All these shows should be canceled, or (2) maybe the ratings are measuring the wrong thing… Over the years, the Nielsen rating has been tweaked, but it still serves one fundamental purpose: to gauge how many people are watching a given show on a conventional television set. But that’s not how we watch any more. Hulu, Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Roku, iTunes, smartphone, tablet— none of these platforms or devices are reflected in the Nielsen rating” (Vanderbilt). Breaking Bad was one of the most successful shows that I’ve heard about in awhile. This show appealed to girls and guys and many ages. Basically every person that I know was in love with that show. This means that if the Nielsen rating system showed this show to be unpopular, then the system in untruthful. I personally never watch a show on television especially when it is airing. I use Netflix or other online outlets to watch my shows and it is usually days after. Tom Vanderbilt mentioned that, “In February Nielsen announced that this fall it would finally begin including Internet streaming to TV sets in its ratings.” I think that this will make a huge difference in the ratings. If The Neilson ratings embrace these new outlets of television, I don’t think it is necessarily on its way to the grave.
The fact that the Annual Emmy Awards are noticing Netflix and nominating it not only for one award but for fourteen shows that times are changing and so is our television. I liked your point when you said that, “even an awards show that has been around for over a half century knows when to adapt to its audience” (Victoria). I think that Netflix has come a long way in such a short period of time that you can only imagine what comes next. The fact that they took home an award against other Emmy nominations is mind blowing. Award shows are including it and the Neilson rating system is adding it along with other online streaming websites, which shows that this new fad is being embraced. When you asked if we think that this should change the credibility of the awards, my answer is no. I think that including Internet series against traditional cable or network series is only fair. These internet shows have actors and actresses, crew, a producer, a writer, and everything that goes along with a television show. What makes these types of shows so different that they don’t deserve to hold the same title as a traditional show? I agree that Netflix will continue to grow and that this is our future. I also agree with you that although we are moving forward that does not mean we will not look behind at live broadcast and cable television. I think that it is a personal preference which way a person watches a show or movie along with when their spare time is. When I am not in class I will watch a show when it is airing on my television but I tend to be in class or out when my favorite shows are on so then I use the Internet. I think that both are used and both will be equally important as well.
ReplyDeleteGardner, Eriq. "Netflix Gets Wall Street's Silver Medal in 2013." The Hollywood Reporter. 30 Dec. 2013. Web.
Vanderbilt, Tom. "The Nielsen Family is Dead." Wired. 19 March 2013. Web.
Lavelle Week 3
ReplyDeletePersonally, I have realized a sudden change in the way that I consume certain media over the course of the past two years. When it comes to watching television programs, movies, or even short specials and documentaries, Netflix is almost always my “go to” option. Most of my family and friends are big on Netflix as well. I believe that it is such a popular website do to it’s convenience, affordable monthly rate, and wide variety of different programs to choose from. It has gotten to the point where I rarely turn on the television anymore to order a movie, watch a weekly show, or even just channel surf. It’s mainly because Netflix is so easy, and contains the majority of what I am typically looking to watch. Why would I use anything else?
I am certainly not surprised that Netflix became the first Emmy winning network that in so an officially television station. As you mentioned, “House of Cards” is a show that is amongst one of the most popular ones today, and it has never seen it’s way onto TV. Netflix comes up with this brilliant ideas of broadcasting their own television series, and they are extremely successful in doing so.
After receiving 14 nominations, the final count of three statuettes in Netflix’s collection underwhelmed many Emmys watchers. And streaming service has some serious headwinds, according to some accounts, as traditional cable looks for ways to strike back. Pay-TV companies such as Comcast are beginning to engage in a tug-of-war with Netflix for the binge-inclined viewer, with a possible Comcast-Fox deal in the works (PBS Media Shift). I believe that this raises the question as to what the Emmy’s will look like in only five years from now. Because Netflix is so popular, it will likely expand and increase it’s film and television base, and well as it’s fan base.
Another article that you provided was also pretty interesting, in my opinion. It was fascinating reading about the announcing of the winners of the 65th Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) including GoPro cameras for its inexpensive small rugged high-definition (HD) camcorders, Garrett Brown for his pioneering wearable camera stabilizer platforms, and Time Warner Cable for pioneering development of voice-on-demand (VOD) dynamic advertising insertion. It goes to show that certain of the aspects of the media are changing as time is progressing and technology is becoming more advance, which brings me to my next point (Winslow).
I don’t think that it matters whether or not Netflix is a legitimate television station. That being said, I also don’t think that it matters that Netflix programs, such as “House of Cards”, is not actually a television series. Maybe I am being biased, because I love Netflix and I’m a big “House of Cards” fan, but it is my belief that due to the statistics in terms of high ratings and popularity amongst the fan base viewers, Netflix should certainly be included in the Emmy competition in the future, unless something better comes along to replace it.
Works Cited
PBS Media Shift. Mediatwits #96: Netflix Wins Emmy Awards, Faces Threats…
September 27, 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuOnUbd25_I
Winslow, George. …And the Technical Emmys Go to… Broadcasting and Cable.
I agree with what you said about the emergence of Netflix. It is becoming a powerhouse for watching television shows, or movies. During our readings this week two specific quotes stood out to me;
ReplyDelete“Netflix is punching up, constantly comparing itself to a more established brand that for consumers represents high-quality programming” (Carr, Somaiya).
“Netflix stock surged 296 percent this past year, which, according to a review by the Wall Street Journal, made Netflix the second best performing U.S. stock” (The Hollywood Reporter).
In these quotes it struck me as to how popular Netflix is becoming. I myself have been using Netflix for probably three years. Not only is Netflix incredibly convenient but in the long term it saves me money from buying DVD’s. At a low monthly fee I have unlimited time to watch whatever television shows and movies they have. With thousands of things to choose from it’s pretty easy to find something that I am interested in. Before I had Netflix I used to buy my favorite television series on season DVD’s which cost a fortune. Now I can binge watch an entire season or even series in a matter of days.
The main reasons I believe Netflix will continue to grow are, it’s cheap price, it has no commercials, and the convenience of it. Eventually I think Netflix as well as other online streaming sites will become more popular than live television.
Money, money, money. That is what everyone thinks about all the time. So when faced with the decision to buy a DVD that can range from $15 and up, or to get Netflix for $8 a month, the answer is simple. Eventually this will spread to more people as they will realize the amazing deal Netflix has to offer. Once you start your membership you basically own thousands of television shows and movies while it costing you only $96 per year. Having said this it wouldn’t surprise me that if Netflix’s popularity continues to rise, then the monthly fee will as well.
Commercials for most ruin live television. With the popularity of DVR’s commercials can be avoidable. Netflix luckily doesn’t have any commercials so you’re able to view your selection without interruptions. For me personally this is a huge plus as I can’t stand commercials. When watching my favorite shows on live TV I hated when a key scene would end and Charmin ultra came on the television. Netflix’s ability to avoid having commercials will be critical for their success in my opinion.
Netflix is becoming incredibly convenient for its viewers to use. I myself watch it on my PS3 but could also watch it on my smart TV. The remote for the smart TV even has a Netflix button on it that will take you there directly. Computers, laptops, phones, and other tablets also make Netflix viewable. So whether you’re lying on the couch or hanging in your neighbor’s yard you have the ability to use Netflix. The convenience of it allows its viewers to follow simple instructions to be able to enjoy their favorite television shows and movies.
Overall good post and completely agree with what you wrote about. Like you said I don’t know what I would do without Netflix.
Works Cited
Gardner, Eriq. “Netflix Gets Wall Street’s Silver Medal in 2013.” The Hollywood Reporter. 30 Dec, 2013. Web.
Carr, David, and Ravi Somaiya. “Punching Above Its Weight, Upstart Netflix Pokes at HBO.” New York Times [New York] Web.