Television was the most important source of news, entertainment, sport, and culture for decades. In every country in the world, the television was at the heart of people’s homes and lives and for a long time, it looked like that would never change. The rise of the Internet, however, has seen more and more people moving away from television to get their content elsewhere. This has resulted in TV executives and experts looking at new ways to maintain the relevance of TV in the new world we are living in.
While it is always difficult to predict exactly what is going to happen when it comes to technology and trends, here are our predictions for what’s in store for the future of television.
1. A Reduction in Viewing Figures
Before the rise of the Internet, people only really had two options when it came to digital entertainment; television or radio. Television was incredibly popular and major events and shows had enormous global audiences. Back in 1969, 625 million people (20% of the world’s population at the time) tuned in to watch the Apollo 11 moon landing and hear Neil Armstrong’s famous words. Even those incredible numbers pale in significance to the two billion people who watch the funeral of Princess Diana in 1997.
These viewing figures are still achievable for major events like the Olympic Games, but general TV audiences have been on the decline for years. There are just so many TV channels now, and of course, so much content available on the Internet that people have a huge amount of choice.
2. Free Cable and Satellite Services
In previous years, if you wanted anything more than the basic channels on your TV, you would need to pay for cable or satellite services. The development of these services really changed the game in many countries such as the UK which only had four TV channels until 1997. Cable and satellite TV companies were able to charge customers a lot of money because they could add hundreds of channels to their selections and watch content that was unavailable anywhere else.
As with so many other aspects of our modern world, however, the Internet changed all that. Streaming services and downloads mean that the cable and satellite companies no longer held the golden ticket. As a result, premium quality TV without the contract is now standard, and many TVs come with built-in capabilities to pick these channels up. This has also meant that the cable and satellite companies which are still offering packages have had to deliver better content at a cheaper price which has had a huge benefit to the customer.
3. A Change in Censorship
Every entertainment and culture medium has a natural trend towards less censorship and that is certainly true with television. What is allowed on TV now compared to what was allowed in the past is really night and day. In the UK where previously two out of the four available channels were taxpayer-funded through the BBC licensing fee, cursing, full nudity, violence, and shocking images were all censored to varying degrees.
On British television now with hundreds of channels to choose from, there is almost nothing which isn’t allowed on TV. This has resulted in parental control options being made available to customers so that they can make sure their children aren’t able to access any inappropriate content.
4. Technological Advances
The progression of television can really be marked by certain obvious technological breakthroughs; the first television ever built, the first color television, and the first HD television were all very important steps in getting us to where we are today. A few years ago, it looked likely that 3D TV was the inevitable next step, but this technology never caught on. Many people now are looking at VR technology and trying to see how it could be used to take television to another level. If the television industry is able to harness VR then it could provide the industry with a bright future for years to come.
Television has been a huge part of our lives for generations and many people have fond family memories of shows and broadcasts they have watched with their nearest and dearest. With viewing figures in decline and more and more young people using the Internet for all of their entertainment needs, there are definite question marks about the future of TV. The television industry has been incredibly resilient and has managed to always carve out a place for itself in society. The next few years will be huge for the industry and it is very exciting to see what will happen.
