Comments on: Liveness with a Lag: Temporality & Streaming Television [Part 1]

By: Hollis

Hollis — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 23:42:36 +0000

As one who tends to drop out of TV series after a season or two, “grazing” is my base mode of media consumption. I just find that there aren’t enough hours in the day to keep up with everything I’d like to watch. Once I get the gist of a show, I tend to fall out of it. Unless I’m writing about it or studying it, that is. Too much to pick from!

By: Hollis

Hollis — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 23:41:23 +0000

Generation is a major qualifier for this. I also find that my students are far more comfortable cord-cutting than I was. I don’t know that I consumed more or less television, but the “public” around the things I was viewing felt smaller somehow. It was an affective thing — I felt left out.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 22:01:41 +0000

I’m also a cord-cutter and have been thinking through the ways in which my relationship with television has changed. For instance, I find I consume far MORE television now. Series marathons are common, and my preference for serialized narratives has solidified. As I discuss my changing habits with under/graduate students, though, I’ve noticed how many of them have never had a “cord to cut.” That is, their television habits have matured in an era of streaming media–they’re just as comfortable with laptops and tablets as they are with big screen televisions (sometimes, more so). So, there’s an important generational qualification to add here … and I wonder when traditional business models (and the practices they engender) will hit the tipping point and give way to something new.

By: Rob C

Rob C — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:24:33 +0000

Very interesting. One thing I find interesting about the selection era is that it negates one of the best things about old school TV which is stumbling onto something you like while “zapping” and just watching it from wherever it is in its programming time. The surprise is better than the selection. Looking forward to Pt 2!

By: Kristen

Kristen — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 16:14:57 +0000

Thanks Hollis for writing this! I fear that my grazing attitude toward watching television prevents me from “cutting the cord” as well. As much as I do watch television on my computer and other devices, I feel more comfortable with it simply BECAUSE I can turn those off, turn the cable tv on and watch that way.