Can the Olympics draw a line in the TV convergence sand?
The first truly mobile Olympic games have the power to change TV-centric thinking once and for all, says Ricky Chanana.
When we talk TV, we’re no longer referring to the box in our living rooms. This is not news to anyone. The concept of TV is so much greater than that. Yet we remain hung up on TARPS (target audience rating points) while the networks cling to their P&Ls.
It’s high time we stop talking about TV and start thinking screens. For the majority of us, this is a no brainer. And in a few short weeks, something major is going to happen that could well draw a line in the sand. I’m talking about the Olympics.
Seven is spruiking the Rio Games as the first “truly mobile and social Olympics”. With 92% of Australians expected to be engaged with the biggest sporting event in four years on devices other than their TVs, this is the biggest thing to happen to viewer’s perceptions of TV yet.
HEY HEY was at 6.30. Come on, every Australian knows that.
A revolution in Olympic broadcasting would be letting us graze the noodle bar: all sports, all feeds, on anytime replay with access to the multiviews. Sure, can it up for live, but can we dial up what we want and pick and chose? FFS ‘Woodstock’ did multiscreen 45 years ago. Can’t we do that on TV yet? If we can ship HD, we can screen 4x SD and sub-channel it? or run multiple youtubes?
Lets face it: the rights got sold to sell ads. What we actually *want* to watch hasn’t figured in the conversation. I’m still stuck arguing if the real view of TV cricket is behind the bowlers arm, when replay of interesting play shows there about 10 views of that moment I could enjoy under my own steam.
And we’re in a world where the assumption is: Live in OZ? want to see Aussie “gold” except we’re 40%+ immigrant, and maybe want to watch that neato loaner from Tristan Da Cunha run in the heats? Or Eddy the Eagle? But no. its aussie gold. STRAYA! (sigh)