Technology has advanced and begun to offer more platforms to produce and consume different types of media. Websites and applications are both examples of just some of the ways in which media has become more accessible to a wider audience over recent years.
Technological convergence is an example of how technology such as iPhones have changed the ways in which we view T.V and film. iPhones and other devices allow for applications such as Netflix to be used that offer a plethora of films and television. This gives audiences an alternative to purchasing DVD's at the shops by giving them the option to pay a small monthly fee that results in less time and effort for users while offering a lower overall price. The vast amount of media that is made more accessible and convenient to audiences on these devices can cause less people to visit the cinema as a result.
iTunes and Sky On Demand are two examples of alternatives to buying DVD's from stores. These options allow audiences to quickly buy or rent films or T.V programmes in a fraction of the time that it would take to buy a DVD for the same price. This allows audiences the option of trying a film for a lower price to see if they like the film instead of buying a DVD and disliking the film. The problem with this is that there is no physical copy of your purchase and it restricts the audience's viewing to whatever device that the film was bought on.
The option to illegally download content is a feature that has become increasingly popular. This essentially prevents the need to wait for the film to be released in cinema or on DVD and allows viewers to view it illegally online. This is tremendously damaging to the film industry as it prevents people from spending money on the film. As a result of this 'pirating' of films, many films have suffered such as Kick Ass 2 that managed to perform poorly at the box office and damage the strength of the franchise as a result.
A problem with this alternative for audiences is that they have to sacrifice the big screen and enhanced sound for viewing at home on smaller devices. Cinema's have attempted to counter the increasing use of Netflix and other on demand services such as Sky and Amazon prime by exposing their weaknesses. As a result, cinemas have become equipped with 3D and IMAX screenings. This allows cinemas to create an experience that is impossible to replicate at home but presents more problems as it requires a higher cost.
In order to aid the problems that would be faced by audiences in terms of a lack of a cinematic experience at home, Blu-ray has been made as an alternative to DVD's. Blu-rays allow for cinema level sound and images to be played from home. This can prevent a large amount of people from watching a film in the cinema and instead wait for the film to arrive on Blu-ray. Due to Blu-rays' high quality, they cost more money. As a result, cinematic quality is still restricted from people who cannot afford to pay premium prices for this alternative.
Social media websites such as YouTube have allowed for media production and consumption to flourish over recent years. YouTube is a free platform that allows anyone to create their own content and in some cases receive payment. Thousands of independent content creators have taken advantage of Youtube and have produced thousands of hours of content. The content spans over different categories and genres and as a result offer an alternative to television and films for a large audience due to the amount of free content available from home. The disadvantage that comes with this alternative is that while YouTube users have acquired an increased funding, the content produced still remains at a relatively low budget.
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