Sunday, February 6, 2011

Internet and the Media

The Internet has affected media outlets such as TV and the movie industry.  We can access any TV station or show from anywhere in the world.  All we need is an Internet connection and that connection can be provided by a PC, Smartphone or iPad/tablet.  The movie industry, more precisely, movie rentals have seen a dramatic shift in sales.  As soon as Netflix came out, rental stores, such as Blockbuster, began to feel the pressure as more and more people decided to get a Netflix account and stop paying late fees.  Now you are seeing competition between Netflix and Redbox.  Blockbuster has a subscription service of their own to battle Netflix but Blockbuster only joined in on the tail end of the craze and still filed for bankruptcy because they could not keep up with Netflix.  But what has also made Netflix even more accessible is the fact that Netflix is now available directly through cable boxes and video game systems.  I remember a time, before DVDs, when all you could do to watch a movie that you missed in the theater was to go to a rent it and that was one VHS tape!!  The Internet has made movies and TV way more accessible than it used to be.  However, we still face piracy of movies.  People can illegally download pirated movies online as well.  So, the Internet has broadened the reach of TV and movies but we still have to deal with the reality of illegal downloads and piracy.  Today, the Internet has us constantly connected to almost every facet of media and society.

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