PHOEBE LOW

August 8, 2019

Broadcasts from Planet Earth

Globalisation, the reduction of trade barriers and the catalyst that spread cultures around the globe. Since the 1980s, the development of technology and growth of global markets has enabled us to be more connected with other countries than ever seen before in the history of planet Earth. The growth of the internet has allowed us to share and communicate with others of different cultures, countries and even continents. However, before the days of the internet, television broadcasts were our main source of entertainment and news. Uricchio (2008) states, “television, as a concept and a technology, has positioned itself among related media (e.g., telephone, camera obscura, image telegraph)” thus making it quite the significant medium for communication.

Australia first watched television in 1956 and was limited to a few channels. Since then, Australia has seen the development and growth of our own broadcast companies and our own programming. Shows such as Skippy the Bush Kangaroo and Division 4 were hugely popular among Australian viewers during the 60s and 70s. Foreign television was becoming more and more common in the 1980s due to the growth and expansion of globalisation and the creation of SBS in the late 70s and early 80s. We began to see television from all over the world for the first time.

Image result for australian broadcasting company 1960s

In more recent times, I personally watch television for news and the occasional Australian produced TV show such as ABC’s Glitch and channel 9’s Sea Change. I also watch SBS’s live broadcast of Le Tour de France (only in July of course). As far as watching actual programmed television goes, that’s about it. If I want to binge a television series, I often watch, and stream shows from SBS’s On Demand streaming service. Currently, my main TV show I view is the Swedish/Danish produced noir crime show The Bridge.

The very concept of streaming a television show from the internet filmed all the way across of the globe would be quite unthinkable in less than 15 years ago. However today, it’s the norm, most young people only watch television shows through streaming services and now some shows are exclusively available through popular streaming services such as Stan and Netflix. According to Tyron (2015), Netflix’s success is due to how it “places emphasis on its ability to deliver the promise of prestige, plenitude, and participation to its subscribers, through a mix of technological and aesthetic appeals that are meant to position Netflix as the future of television”.

This just indicates the evolution of how we view, watch and enjoy programs is constantly changing and evolving due to the technological growths and differing audiences. Will this result in the end of television as we know it?

I believe the growth, popularity and success of diverse television shows such as The Bridge is due to globalisation and technology spreading different cultures and broadening tastes of the modern television viewer, through streaming services such as SBS On Demand. Without the availability of this product, I would have never seen or heard of The Bridge. I guess you could say I have globalisation to thank for that discovery.