Navigating TV Viewing Online

Living off a laptop recently (that is to say, without a tv!) has highlighted some of the benefits and difficulties in accessing traditional media on the internet.

Below is a link to each of the channel’s online viewing platforms:

• ABC
• SBS
• Channel Ten
• Channel 7
• Channel 9

In some instances the coverage is excellent; for example, the ABC’s iView means that I can catch up on most ABC content at my own leisure, and I find that the iView platform is simple and easy to use. The commercial channels are less impressive, with unattractive interfaces, badly indexed content, and advertising that is frustrating and repetitive (although I recognise that advertising is a necessary component of commercial television). It means that, aside from ABC content, I have had little success in watching tv online in a traditional manner.

I think it would be great if you could access overseas content as well, but unfortunately most overseas broadcasters impose geographical restrictions on accessing their content online. Surely in a world of global advertising campaigns, broadcasters should recognise and incorporate their overseas audiences rather than exclude them.I guess that broadcasters are still navigating the path to online integration.

Nevertheless, I am grateful to be able to access content online and in some instances I will probably continue to watch online even when I’m back in tv land.

The election that wasn’t…

This election seems to have been one of the biggest anticlimax’s in history. The nation remains unsure who will govern for the next three years, and the fate lies with the four independents currently being courted by the major political parties. I can’t decide what a hung parliament stands for in terms of the democratic process. On this occasion, I think perhaps it highlights the similarities in approach taken by both the ALP and the Liberal/Nationals during the campaign process. The commentators seem to agree that this was a very scripted campaign, focussed primarily on ‘not screwing up’ rather than taking any bold risks on contentious issues. There was a very high informal vote count, dubbed by The Age as the ‘Latham effect’; for example, in the electorate of Blaxland 14.25% of all votes cast were informal, highlighting a sense of apathy and disdain amongst voters.

I was most surprised by the fairly bi-partisan approach to the issue of asylum seekers, and was disappointed that neither major party could offer a more empathetic approach to the subject. It seems clear that the campaigns were based primarily on fear tactics and smear tactics.

Crikey declared the ABC a ratings winner during the campaign. I think with such a negative campaign, shows like Gruen Nation and Yes we Canberra offered voters a welcome light-heartedness that was necessary to retain people’s interest. Interestingly, the Yes we Canberra ‘warm-up act’ for Lateline saw an increase in Lateline viewers during the election coverage.

I am still looking forward to finding out who will take office, but a week has gone by since the ‘non-result’ and I find that I haven’t really been giving it much thought. I wonder if I will feel more inspired when an outcome is actually reached?