Blog Post #2 - Jaclyn Lattanza

Blog Post #2

Jaclyn Lattanza

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

New developments in technology have allowed networks to create many different ways of engaging their viewers at all times, even when the show is not on the air. However, as more and more television shows demand the participation of their viewers, the act of sitting back and relaxing while watching TV is diminishing. Therefore it would be fair to say that while this occurs, television could still be characterized as a cool medium, just as McLuhan suggested in 1964. “Cool media are high in participation or completion by the viewer” (McLuhan).

CBS’s show Big Brother is essentially a game show where houseguests are locked into a house together and must compete in different competitions to gain the power. It is broadcasted three times a week, including a live eviction episode when the houseguests vote to send one player home. 

The show incorporates the use of social media, viewer voting and a website to build a loyal and participatory fan base. As viewers watch Big Brother, CBS is constantly promoting the show’s Facebook and Twitter pages as a way of marketing their accounts in hopes of gaining more likes and follows. The show creates hashtags such as generic ones like #BB16 or ones that are specific to what is happening on the show like #TheHitmen, to encourage viewers to join in on the online conversation. The scrolling Twitter feed on the bottom of the screen also gives viewers an incentive for their active participation.

Viewer voting is also an aspect of the show that weighs heavily into what happens in the game. Viewers can vote on what punishment food they want the “Have Nots” to eat as well as whom they want to award a cash prize to by voting for their favorite houseguest.

While explaining the term “affective economics,” Henry Jenkins said, “Fans are seeing more shows reflecting their tastes and interests reaching the air; those shows are being designed to maximize elements that appeal to fans; and those shows that fans like are apt to remain on the air longer…” (Jenkins). The culture of watching TV is changing because networks have found a way to measure their viewer engagement through the interactions they see on social media. Through this data, they are able to determine what works and what doesn’t on the show. Their main goal is to keep the content interesting and to provide the viewers with what they want so that they keep watching.

Big Brother also has a website. According to John Caldwell, “The most effective Web sites for TV succeed by keeping viewer-users engaged long after a series episode has aired” (Caldwell). Big Brother’s website does just that. It allows viewers to watch a live stream of what the houseguests are doing, watch previous episodes of the show, watch special video clips, vote when polls are open, buy merchandise and read extra information about the current season and houseguests.

As technology continues to change the culture of watching TV, networks are constantly working to create an even more enjoyable experience for viewers.

Sources:

  

Caldwell, John. “Convergence Television: Aggregating Form and Repurposing Content in the Culture of Conglomeration.” Television After TV: Essays on a Medium in Transition (Spigel, Lynn & Olsson, Jan). Durham and London: Duke University Press, 2004. Print.

Jenkins, Henry. Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide. New York: New York University Press, 2006. Print.

McLuhan, Marshall. “Media Hot and Cold.” Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. Cambridge: The MIT Press, 1994.