'Facebook Killed TV'

Paul Graham on 'Why TV Lost' : "This was the most powerful force of all.  This was what made everyone want computers. Nerds got computers because they liked them. Then gamers got them to play games on. But it was connecting to other people that got everyone else: that's what made even grandmas and 14 year old girls want computers. After decades of running an IV drip right into their audience, people in the entertainment business had understandably come to think of them as rather passive. They thought they'd be able to dictate the way shows reached audiences. But they underestimated the force of their desire to connect with one another. Facebook killed TV. That is wildly oversimplified, of course, but probably as close to the truth as you can get in three words."

Comments

[Tim Andren]

Sung to the tune of Video Killed the Radiostar.

The social platform has already caused huge shifts in our media habits and we're still only in the nascent stages. What of Facebook Connect, Twitter's growth or Google's attempts to consolidate the social-browser-OS-smartphone integration? Actively engaged users versus passive TV viewers seems like a good thing.

[James Cherkoff]

Thanks Tim, personally I think we all like a bit of both - passive and engaged. The trick is to mix the old with the new in useful, elegant ways. Easier said than done of course! ;-)

[Rory MacDonald]

James, I agree. People still want the passive. They want to know what they should be wearing, listening to, watching, even thinking. They want a trust source of new things who isn't one of their friends, but rather, someone who might take them out of their comfort zone, show them something extraordinary and aspirational.

I think the difference is they are going to get these "cool feeds" from social network "nodes" rather than from the traditional "media gurus" (there may be crossover, but they are definitely different categories).

Broadcast will be social network interaction with people too "cool" to respond. Broadcasters will have to prove their "cool" or be forgotten. Marketers have a new WMD, its just a slow acting and somewhat unpredictable biological device rather than the traditional nuke.

[James Cherkoff]

Love that imagery Rory.

Hubs of social play run by cool operators radiating out into the networked world. All housed in concrete bunkers to protect them from the hard advertising rain... ;-)

[Jason]

Well TV is no doubt competing with the internet. However, not as many are going to be willing to watch tv on their laptops forever. The lure of the big screen and couch will win out over time. Though, internet has certainly curbed time in front of the Tube.

"You can get TV at home also?"

~Ditley SEO Company

[James Cherkoff]

Thanks Jason, agreed, I love my couch. We've just got more choice these days right? The question is how long it takes someone to create a desirable, affordable networked TV.

[Gabriel]

I agree with this. I also have made similar post on my blog about how Facebook is killing online advertising. Check it out here:
http://blog.nothingGrinder.com/investment-design

I think our opinions are speaking about the same problem / revolution.

[James Cherkoff]

Thanks Gabriel, I'll take a look...