Commentary

The Future Of Television Content

The future of television content is a story that’s best told in two parts. There’s a hopeful version of the future and a more realistic one.

With advances in technology, the future of television should be looking bright.

Modern technology including smaller, less expensive cameras and computer editing should make it easier and cheaper than ever to make television content. More available channels should also offer more chances to get a good show made. These changes in the television industry tell only part of the story, however.

High-quality scripted dramas and situation comedies require professional writers, experienced producers and full production teams to handle everything from health and safety to catering. Since these professionals are highly skilled and often unionized, they don’t come cheap.

When you add in the high fees expected by many of today’s top name actors, it’s easy for networks to drop millions into each episode of a scripted program. Even when the economic situation allows for this kind of expenditure, greed at the top of many media organizations means profits are closely guarded.

Since audiences seem willing to setting for lower-cost entertainment options, cheaper programming is likely to continue to gain on its already strong position in television lineups.

This includes reality programming and news, both of which have low production standards and small production staffs. These programs also don’t have to pay premium prices for big-name actors.

An audience segmented over many channels divides advertising revenues as well, leaving less revenue coming into each channel’s programming budget.

With the increasing popularity of content distribution on the Internet, some industry experts see an improvement in the wings as entertainment gatekeepers lose their control over the television industry.

While it’s getting easier to get broadcast and cable television programs online, there’s no funding stream available yet for the production of web-only dramas or comedies, something that could change television entirely. There isn’t enough audience interest in this kind of programming yet either.

Anything could happen, but it’s hard to see any changes coming that offer hope for improvement to the seemingly downward trend in television content quality.