House of Cards - The Influence of Technological Change

House of Cards - The Influence of Technological Change

What I didn't know before this lesson about Tv Shows:

• The cost of an Eastenders episode
• Long-form TV is an American concept
• Long-form TV dramas start with an intense beginning to grip their audience

Reduction in the cost of technology such as:

• CGI allowing visual effects even within TV budgets
• Drones allowing ariel photography (ref. the opening sequence of HOC and Washington) 
• Developments in Streaming e.g. 5G (generation) fibre optic technology which has enabled digital streaming service providers such as Netflix and Amazon to provide TV viewing. 

Cultural contexts of technological change 

• This means that the way we consume TV has radically changed as a result of high-speed broadband connections; Consumers can view programmes outside of a TV schedule, Programmes can be watched as a complete series (binge-watching), Programmes can be watched on phones and tablets

Digital Cameras 

• House of Cards was shot entirely in digital using “Red Epic” cameras. 
• Production, editing and distribution are lower for digital enabling high end outcomes at a lower price. 
• The quality of output enables images to be created at a high resolution suited to large screen format HD and 4K televisions

Terrestial TV

• Schedule content was fixed (reliant on analogue (radio wave technology as pre the internet) 
• Viewing experience was communal (families watched the same/similar content) as content was transmitted via Radio waves. 
• Dramas developed to encourage regular viewing 
• Program content with high audience numbers secured revenue via advertising.

Digital (streaming)

• In just a decade, Netflix has grown from a video service with seven million U.S. subscribers to one that reaches 93 million people worldwide. 
• When Netflix first launched in the late 1990s, it distributed DVDs – mainly films – by mail.
• During the early 2000s, advances in compression technology – coupled with more homes gaining access to high-speed internet services – allowed large video files to be easily streamed over the internet.
• Video streaming services such as Netflix deliver programming “on demand” via the internet, viewers can choose what and when to watch instead of watching “what’s on.”
• Subscription TV therefore offers significant benefits to terrestial TV.
• Netflix has developed its global market with a presence in 190 countries.
• Its popularity is achieved by providing high production content in several TV serial genres. This includes complicated serial dramas (“House of Cards”), action series (“Daredevil”), horror series (“Hemlock Grove”).
• Netflix - In just a decade, Netflix has grown from a video service with seven million U.S. subscribers to one that reaches 93 million people worldwide. 
• The company's now worth about $60 billion 
• 2016, Netflix spent $5 billion on original programming. 
• The income from subscribers has allowed them to commission highly rated long-form TV dramas such as House of Cards and Orange is the New Black. 
• 2017 sales rose to $2.48 billion. With a global presence in 190 countries.