Every time I go to a senior citizen event for the coverage, and at end of the programme few of the elderly folks come to me and ask as to, on which TV channel and at what time will their photos and news appear- for which I am always helpless to give an answer. Instead I tell them, learn to use a computer where you can get the best news quick with lots of pictures, you can retrieve the article/report anytime you want-any day, even after a month or years. I also tell them that on TV channel your news will be broadcaste for 2 or 3 mins, or maximum five minutes (unless it’s a paid coverage, it’s a different story), once the news/photos are shown you can’t go back and see it again- whereas website news on your computers/mobile phones and website access devices you can go back again and again and enjoy your photos and news.
Some of these elderly folks had taken my message very seriously, that few days ago during a senior citizen function, a few of them came to me and said that their grandchildren taught them how to use a computer/laptop-and since then they have been enjoying news more than they use to see it on the TV. That is good news to hear. Since older folks are not used to computer and other electronic media gadgets, they get glued to their TV sets to watch the news like what’s happening locally and beyond. But there are still quite many seniors who are familiar with computers and browse through website to get their news and other entertainment matter- my brother who is 70 plus uses computer more to check on news than TV, also my uncle who is 79 who never touched a laptop last year, now has a brand new Apple laptop and browses for news on it on a regular basis. Goodbye Idiot Box aka Television!
It’s true that Young people are switching off conventional television channels-they are spending more time watching news,playing and socialising online than watching television programmes, according to an annual survey tracking children’s media behaviour. Even middle-age and elderly people are getting the hook towards website news.The annual media monitoring report, based on a sample of more than 2,000 five to 16-year-olds, has been following children’s viewing behaviour since the mid-1990s.
This year’s findings from Childwise are being claimed as a tipping point with children switching from conventional television to spending time online. The average time spent online is now three-four hours per day, compared with 2.1 hours watching television. Survey shows that- Young people online, 3 hours amount of time 7-16-year-old spend online each day; 4.8 hours time 15-16-year-old spend online; 2.1 hours spent watching TV each day – down from 3 hours in 2000; 60% watch TV via a phone, tablet or laptop; 38% do most of their TV viewing on demand. Among older teenagers and middle aged people in the survey there is an even more pronounced switch away from television, particularly at the time when it is broadcast.
Among 15 to 16-year-olds, less than a quarter would typically watch television as it is broadcast, rather than on a catch-up or on-demand service or through YouTube. Among this age group, 32% had no favourite television programme. Boys had a preference for sport, while girls preferred reality shows. Asked about their viewing in the previous week, 50% had watched programmes or checked news on website (computer/laptop/mobile devices), compared with 47% on the most popular television channels. The study shows how much young people’s lives are immersed in online activity and computer devices and how these forms of media are overlapping.
While the average time for online consumption is three hours per day, among 15 to 16-year-old it rises to almost five hours. The most common way of accessing the Internet is the mobile phone, which is described as “near universal” among young people. But particularly among younger children, there has been a sharp rise in access to tablet computers, now owned by 67% of youngsters, with the iPad by far the most widespread. For the first time, tablet computers have overtaken other types of computer, such as laptops or desktops.
Sources reveal that many people-young and old go online to watch news/videos, listen to music, play games and research their homework – and few use it for social networking, particularly among girls. The study reveals that however young people are accessing the Internet, YouTube is the dominant destination. The video-sharing website is used every day by almost half of all five to 16-year-olds, most often through a mobile phone or tablet, to watch video clips, breaking news, listen to music and use games-related material.YouTube is also a popular way of watching television programmes, used by 74% of young people, compared with about 40% of this age group who watch programmes through TV channels.
The study also suggests the technologies that are disappearing. A shrinking number of young people listen to music via a CD player, with mobile phones now the leading medium. It also warns that newspapers and printed magazines are losing their appeal, with diminishing numbers of regular readers. Growing access to the Internet at any time and in any place, and a blurring of television content across channels and devices, brings a landmark change in behaviour lately. Majority of people are now seeking out the content of their choice. They still find traditional TV programmes engaging but are increasingly watching them online and on-demand or binge watching box sets.
Sources also reveal that at the start of 2015, 39 of the top 50 digital news websites have more traffic to their sites and associated applications coming from mobile devices than from desktop computers. In tandem with the growth of mobile has been the further rise of the social Web, where the flow of information embodies a whole new dynamic. Some of our 2015- research revealed that nearly half of Web-using adults report getting news about politics and government in the past week on Facebook, a platform where influence is driven to a strong degree by friends and algorithms.
In India the web is now established as a mass market media channel for the wealthy. Email has become a mass market media channel for office workers and professional classes. Mobile (for SMS) is a mass market media channel across many demographics, but while mobile use is very high, mobile devices and the web will not properly converge until late 2010. The main changes in internet access have happened in the last five years and the internet has become an essential part of office life, and plays a key role in many homes. The number of people with access continues to rise, but so too does the time they spend online. Broadband access is growing fast, but the number of home connections lags behind comparable markets; however although the number of connections is low, a large number of people in high-end demographics have access. Significant infrastructure problems remain, creating a high cost for access compared to average wage rates.
It is also learnt that TV news rating has declined over the years, and the Newspaper weekday circulation has now fallen 19% since 2004. Why? Because majority of the people are looking for news and other entertainment clippings via Internet/website. So what’s the best choice- either to wait till the news appears on the TV as per their scheduled time or get the news quickly, fast and elaborate through a website. I think most of you would agree with me-it has to be “WEBSITE NEWS”- and one such website that would bring you all the news without any bias is “Mangalorean.com”- a e-source for Mangaloreans and also others. Browse through it and feel the difference.!
Note : Some pics used for illustration only
Dear readers,
As long as our media standard of debate set by ARNAB GOSWAMI of Times Now ,who himself takes all in one role of Jurist,panelist,speaker and some paid guest who has no knowledge of subject,television is another metal junk.
Indian television channels has lost its credibility.
Jai Hind