Ally
D’Alia
For this blog I have chosen to evaluate how
social media has changed, transformed, and revolutionized the way the audience
views and interacts with award shows and regular show premieres. I also want to look at how live tweeting and
social media engagement has changed the way people interact during a big
television premiere. I will be looking at the social engagement that viewers have with shows like the Grammy’s, Super
Bowl, the American Music Awards, as well as the interaction with new episodes that have high ratings. Users nowadays
are taking any opportunity to engage and be active with other users and
communities. Tuning in to a new TV
series or premiere has been transformed into an entirely new interaction between
viewers and shifted the way we engage.
Social platforms like Twitter allow
users to express thoughts, share opinions and pictures, and have conversations
all in one space. Twitter has changed the way we watch TV.
Users are able to live tweet the television broadcast with specific
hashtags and other key words that allow them to see what other people have to
say as well. This creates conversation,
which creates more people talking about the show, which most likely adds up to
a bigger audience who tunes in. Social
TV has aided to the viewership and helped ratings. According to a study done by Nielsen, “New
research shows that Twitter TV activity can also tell us just how engaged the general viewing population is with the programming it
watches. In fact, it now stands as a bellwether for general audience
engagement.” (2015, Nielsen).
The 2015 Super Bowl was recorded to
be the most tweeted about TV airing within the past year. Whether tweets buzzed about a tackle or
touchdown, Katy Perry’s performance, or a funny commercial, the airing
generated over 25 million tweets from audience members. “When it came to NFL players, Tom Brady was
the most-discussed New England Patriots player, while Marshawn Lynch came top
in most talked-about Seahawks player.” (Gibbs).
The game was followed by the Grammy’s having about 13 million tweets and other
hit series like The Walking Dead accumulating over 7 million live tweets during
the premiere. This research comes from a
study done by Nielsen Social and states, “Whether to celebrate a game winning
shot, mourn a fallen character or gasp at a scandalous plot twist, thumbs
across the U.S. tapped furiously, sending millions of tweets and generating
over a billion impressions on average each week.” (2015, Nielsen). This type of social engagement towards a
show or premiere generates conversation and hype that only allows for more
people to be interested and likely to tune in.
Behind the scenes, executives have
also taken note and strategized on how they can use this social TV experience
to their advantage and transform their viewership. Many shows have created
hashtags and key words in order to encourage audience members to tweet and
converse. “How many tweets mentioned the
show? Who was talking about the plot twists? What was the show's share of
voice? These considerations have become more and more important as TV goes
increasingly social.” (Mashable). These are the aspects that producers look
into in order to analyze and figure out what hashtag or strategy through
Twitter would be most successful during the next airing. For example, when the 2015 AMA’s premiered in
2015, E! News live broadcasted the red carpet before the award show. A strategy they used to get people to
interact and use Twitter to live tweet was by encouraging users to tweet at
them their best “Hotline Bling” dance moves using the #ERedCarpetBling hashtag,
in honor of Drake’s new hit single, Hotline
Bling.
This type of Twitter engagement not only
generates a following and interest in E!, but they also said they would be
airing some of the best submissions, which encourages people to tune into their
Red Carpet premiere. Strategies like
this from the producers is what has completely changed the way we watch TV and
behave during a nationwide TV event, like the AMA’s. Because certain shows have taken off with the
help of Twitter, Nielsen’s next move is to measure social TV engagement on
Facebook and Instagram as well. “The
new ratings will measure online chatter about TV programs and streaming
originals when they launch later this year. Social conversations will be
measured both during a show's airtime and 24 hours a day.” (Jarvey 2016)
Their aim to get insight on the number of people engaging is a positive
one, however it will be interesting to see how much audience engagement is
really coming from Facebook and Instagram, being that their platforms are
generally different than Twitter.
Social
TV and interaction through Twitter has helped transform and heighten viewership
for certain television shows. Once
people take to Twitter their thoughts and cliff hangers
about different shows, more and more people are likely to be further inclined
to tune in to the next airing. People
enjoy sharing opinion, and in some cases, enjoy debating via social media. TV and live tweeting create a sense of
community, which is most likely what invites back the same audience each
week. This type of social viewing allows
the audience to feel connected to other fans and to the show itself, which has
begun to revolutionize the way we watch TV nowadays. Never before social media were we able to
discuss a plot twist or Justin Bieber’s AMA performance with millions of other
people at once. This change in society
has created a huge buzz and involvement with audience members, owed to
prominent social media platforms like Twitter.
Thanks Jack Dorsey!
Alexandra D’Alia
MSS 495
Burns
Bibliography
"TV Season in Review: Biggest Moments on Twitter - Nielsen
Social." Nielsen Social TV Season in Review Biggest Moments on Twitter
Comments. N.p., 1 June 2015. Web. 2 Feb. 2016. Web. http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/news/2015/tv-season-in-review-biggest-moments-on-twitter.html
"Social TV Is Here to Stay: Do You Tweet While You
Watch?" Mashable. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Feb. 2016. Web. http://mashable.com/2014/09/02/social-tv-brandspeak/#svJxqXTk8iqM
Gibbs, Alexandra. "Super Bowl XLIX Smashes Twitter
Records." CNBC. N.p., 02 Feb. 2015. Web. 2 Feb. 2016. http://www.cnbc.com/2015/02/02/super-bowl-xlix-and-social-media-most-tweeted-nfl-game-ever.html
Jarvey, Natalie. "Nielsen Adds Facebook to Social TV
Ratings." The Hollywood Reporter. Nielsen, 20 Jan. 2016. Web. 02
Feb. 2016. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nielsen-adds-facebook-social-tv-857783?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=THR%20Headlines_2016-01-21%2005:00:00_jkonerman&utm_term=hollywoodreporter_headlines
I chose to comment on Allie's lead blog post because I'm not an active Twitter user like it seems most of the world is. However, I do have the social media app and receive a lot of my news through it, which is extremely convenient. Anything that makes something easier to do is always appealing to individuals because it creates more time to do other activities we find appealing. In this case, many active "live Twitter users" find themselves aching to immerse their opinions and comments into the "Twittersphere" to create a sense of responsibility to whatever it is they're live tweeting about.
ReplyDeleteBecause of that sense of responsibility, it then leads to a more intimate relationship with the show/game/celebrity/political debate or situation and that's exactly what live tweeting is meant to do, in my opinion. While reading about live tweeting and how it works through Allie's blog post I couldn't help but think of an article I read in another class that was arguing if people are evil because they watch the NFL.
We had a long debate in class about the article and I think this blog post links to that argument due to the fact that live tweeting is giving people a chance to become "part of the event" per say. Does the somewhat personal relationship that live tweeting brings to the table a way of making us part of the game? Does that make us more responsible for what happens during it? I won't go into where I stand on both of those questions, but I do feel that this article is a gate into that argument. Social Media has such a stronghold on everyday life that it's impossible to shy away from no matter how un-involved one is.
Brian Heflin
MSS495
Burns
Rebecca Raab
ReplyDeleteI really connected and was interested in Ally's blog post, which is why I decided to comment on hers. I would consider myself an active Twitter user in the sense of posting occasionally and always keeping up with other’s posts. When I have spare time of just sitting around I will find myself checking my Twitter feed. However, like many others are doing these days, I do not live tweet myself but I do follow what people live tweet. Sometimes it is annoying if someone is live tweeting about something you are not watching at the moment because you planned on watching it later, or if they are talking about a subject you totally don’t care about. Whether it is annoying or not, this is the new big thing for social media/Twitter and it is what it is turning into as Ally’s blog post spells out for us.
I agree with Ally that Twitter is changing the way we watch television because of this live tweeting concept. It is almost taking over some people’s lives when they watch a certain show because they do it so much. Like Ally mentions, it is kind of cool to think it indeed does generate conversation between other Twitter users and people watching the same show. This is huge for advertisers and ratings because it allows the companies to see who is watching their show and who is engaged. It is not surprising that the biggest tweeted about events on television were Super Bowl 2015, Grammy’s and the AMA’s. These are some of the biggest events on television that attract the most viewers each year! Personally I know I watch all three. It’s a real game changer for advertisers and Neilson because they now can track through Twitter. I can remember that for myself when these events were airing on television I was either all over them and keeping up, or could not be bothered. Each event like this on television can draw people in on social media to post about their thoughts like they never could before. The fact that single words and hash tags can group all these posts together in one place is mind-boggling. In one of our readings that is a report (Advertising and Audiences) by Nielsen says, “While massive amounts of data are available, sorting through it all in a straightforward, easy-to-understand way that provides specific, ad-performance based insights is the true challenge.” I would have to say that Twitter is taking on the “true challenge” that Nielsen is speaking of and taking what their users say to sort through. Each word, hash tag and subject of a tweet can be sorted and categorized for an advertising companies benefit. Social media is changing the game for advertising and ratings day by day. It will be interesting to see what more Twitter can do to sort and screen posts in terms of finding out where audience engagement is, at a certain moment.
Lastly, in the article, Five Social Trends Marketers Won't Be Able to Ignore in 2016, shows the increasing alarm for advertisers where they are going to have to “adapt or die.” “When it comes to social and digital marketing, 2016 is going to be an adapt-or-die year, one in which marketers will need to evolve as tectonic shifts in the way people use social networks and consume media on them will force massive change” (Pineiro). Social media is the new big thing that is not going to stop growing. Different platforms like Twitter are going to keep adding new advancements and elements to the app and site where companies will either have to adapt to this new change or not. Within Ally’s post she shows us that Twitter is what people turn to for their news as well as to live tweet about events. Overall, like she points out it allows users to express their thoughts as an active and engaged audience that companies need to be aware of as well as keep up with. I am interested to see in the years to come as Twitter advances more if those numbers of tweets about those big events increase or not!
Rebecca Raab
MSS 495
Burns
Continued Rebecca Raab
ReplyDeleteWorks Cited:
"Advertising & Audiences: State of the Media, May 2014." Nielsen.com. May 2014. Web.
Peneiro, Victor. "Five Social Trends Marketers Won't Be Able to Ignore in 2016." Ad Age. 16 Dec. 2015. Web.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteNoshin Chowdhury
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Ally's lead blog post about how much social media is impacting TV viewing. I definitely am a social media user, and I tweet often. Live tweeting is such a big thing nowadays, and I have even seen the impact social media has through trending topics and hashtags. The social media age in TV viewing seems to not only be a huge shift in the way we engage, but it also appears to be a marketing strategy.
Twitter is the best example used for the way social media impacts TV. I know personally, I only live tweet during big events such as award shows and the Super Bowl. Specifically, Ally mentioned how the AMAs had a huge social presence in 2015 during the E! Red Carpet using hashtags to promote social engagement. The American Music Awards did a good job in promoting the show using social media. During the time of the voting for the award show, Twitter added custom emojis next to hashtags that would count as votes. Fans could tweet things like #AMAs1D or #AMAsAriana to tweet about their favorite musicians, which created buzz about the show. During the show itself, the hashtags were shown whenever there was a performance on the side of the screen. I was actually at the show itself, and the audience was encouraged to tweet hashtags as well when we were given props that lit up with the hashtag #AMAsUnleased written on them. This created a new buzz on social media and caused more viewers. According to Nielsen, new voices join the social conversation for all programs as the seasons or shows progress (“The Making of Social TV: Loyal Fans and Big Moments Build Program Related Buzz”). This new buzz created on social media is the best example of how much of an impact social media has had on viewership and ratings. It also relates back to our class discussion because it essentially lays out how shows and other television shows are advertised via social media.
The hashtag on the side of the screen to promote a show actually started with Pretty Little Liars doing this during big moments of the show. Nielsen wrote that one of the reasons for the importance of social media television is to encourage viewers to tweet about the show (“The Making of Social TV: Loyal Fans and Big Moments Build Program Related Buzz”). This would always cause the show to be trending on Twitter. Now, shows on ABC, the CW, NBC, and Fox also use this hashtag endorsement on the side of the screen on several shows. Many times, I am able to know what is happening on a show without even watching the show.
One thing that I did find interesting is that this idea of “social TV” is actually something that occurs even when the show is not live. Nielsen reports that viewers will often tweet about something that had happened on a show in between live airings (“From Live to 24/7: Extending Twitter TV Engagement Beyond Live Airing”). This seems to go along with Ally's idea that the social aspect of watching television creates a community. People continue to tweet during the week about a show because they know other fans are also discussing it. It also assists in their anticipation for the next episode when they have this community to talk with throughout the week. Even the actors and producers of the shows often join the Twitter conversation to ask what fans think of the episodes. The community aspect definitely creates something new with social engagement for television.
I think I might just start tweeting about things more than just award shows soon enough based off our discussions in class and Ally's post.
Works Cited
"From Live to 24/7: Extending Twitter TV Engagement Beyond the Live Airing." Nielsen.
Nielsen, 15 Dec. 2014. Web. 07 Feb. 2016. .
“The Making of Social TV: Loyal Fans and Big Moments Build Program-Related Buzz.”
Nielsen. Nielsen, 24 Aug. 2015. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
I chose to comment on Ally’s blog because I have always been interested in this new trend of how audiences watch television. Personally I have never live tweeted anything I was watching, but I think it is an interesting marketing strategy for networks. Although I do not live tweet whatever show I am watching, I rarely watch a show without a second screen. Whether it is my phone or my computer I almost always look at secondary screens when the television is on. I think that this a trend that will stick around with the younger generations. The networks were very smart capitalizing on this and it is a great marketing tool.
ReplyDeleteIn class we talked about how for almost every television show there is a featured hashtag listed in the bottom corner. I have also noticed almost every commercial now has a hashtag featured at the end. Almost every commercial I saw from the Super Bowl also had hashtags. It is an interesting way to increase a brands social media presence, along with increasing marketing reach. I think it will be really interesting when Nielsen expands their efforts to include social media conversations connected to shows. I would really be interested to see the results for a show such as Game of Thrones, which has such a strong fan base. I also thought it was a really interesting point that Ally made when she talked about how the social TV and interaction increases viewership and creates a sense of community. Social media is now a forum for communication once a show has concluded.
Ben Laing
MSS 495
Burns
Angela Holdorf
ReplyDeleteMSS 495
Burns
As someone who is not an avid tweeter but who has tweeted/live tweeted before, I really enjoyed reading Ally’s blog about audience engagement through social media. I found it the most relatable to our age range and what seems to be the most common trend for our generation to do while we watch TV today. Although I don’t personally tend to live tweet nor do I enjoy it, I do check the feed while I am watching. If I am not looking at my phone, I am either checking my Instagram, Snapchat, or Facebook. That being said, there is always some form of interaction with social media occurring with another form.
I do agree with Ally when she states that Twitter has changed the way we watch TV. For almost any show you watch nowadays there is some form of hashtag at the top of the screen or subtly shown while watching. I know the show Pretty Little Liars was really big on that. I used to watch and I would never live tweet but I would watch my Twitter feed, and many people did live tweet for it. I do agree that these hashtags have key words and they are a starter to a lot of conversations about whatever the audience is watching with others who are watching (whether it be live or not). The one time I did live tweet for the Emmy’s that alone got a lot of attention and started a lot of conversation on Twitter and in person.
In one of the readings which is a report done by Nielsen it states that, “ The ever-increasing range of media channels available for viewer consumption has allowed marketers to connect with consumers in new ways and opened the minds of intended audiences to embracing new mediums for receiving information about goods and services” (Advertisers and Audiences). I feel like this goes hand-in-hand with what Ally described about the audience’s connection with twitter and the engagement between the viewer and what they are watching. An example she listed was with the 2015 AMA’s and how E! News wanted to get their audience to engage in what they were watching by tweeting their best “Hotline Bling” dance moves.
In the reading called “Five Social Trends Marketers Won’t Be Able to Ignore in 2016” he states that, “Marketers face a critical challenge, trying to find authentic ways to fit their brands into one-to-one messaging platforms without annoying their audiences” (Pineiro). I feel that this is also comparable to when Ally talks about live tweeting and engaging with the audience. Sometimes live tweeting can become annoying for the viewers and it can be hard to find an in between. However, I agree with Ally that people enjoy sharing their opinions and feelings on any form of social media, so what might come off as annoying is still enjoyable for someone to read or write. And even if you are just reading it, that still makes you engaged as an audience member.
"Advertising & Audiences: State of the Media, May 2014." Nielsen.com. May 2014. Web.
Peneiro, Victor. "Five Social Trends Marketers Won't Be Able to Ignore in 2016." Ad Age. 16 Dec. 2015. Web.
Tori Kent
ReplyDeleteMSS495
Burns
During any big event I always ask myself the same question: to go on Twitter or to not go on Twitter? Ally’s post pinpoints the reason for my question and that is the heightened amount of social activity on Twitter and social media platforms during events such as award shows or Super Bowls. Anything that attracts a large-scale fandom now has the capability to promote themselves in these live tweeting engagements. I realize that from a media studies background I should be the perfect candidate to endorse such a thing, but if I’m being honest I’ve yet to join the cause. Maybe I should clarify my use on Twitter, which is minimal to none. I have one out of necessity: it is my main source of news and/or education and potential business opportunities. My presence and participation on Twitter is limited compared to Instagram, maybe because I was late to the game. During MSS450 when we were asked to live-tweet the 2015 Emmy Awards I will admit I felt a little out of my element. Not that I don’t like to make a thoughtful or witty comment every now and then, but the commitment to live-tweeting is hefty! In order to actively remain part of the “conversation” the tweets have to be constant and respond to the moments as they are happening. When I was tweeting the Emmy’s I found myself watching the actual show in a different way because I was tuned in for those “buzzworthy” moments.
Clearly, people are drawn to witnessing, responding and ultimately participating in social conversations generated around the buzz. This trend has even caught the attention of Nielsen, who launched Twitter TV ratings in 2013 (“Nielsen Adds Facebook to Social TV Ratings.”) They have since added Facebook to their map, given the 1.55 billion monthly active users. Nielsen has operated under the same formula since the 1950s, so to open their measurements to Twitter and Facebook is in response to a demand we have created as media users.
I think another interesting point is something Noshin previously mentioned about “social TV.” The social element of TV has completely changed how people watch TV. There have never been so many opportunities for involvement on what was once a two-dimensional viewing platform. I remember when I used to go home from school as a kid and turn the TV on and it was as simple as that. I would tune into my show (even through the commercials) and when it was over I would turn it off. In terms of conversation, I might talk about it after with my sister or a friend the next day at school, but that was the extent of it. As TV consumptions changes, so do the habits of the consumers. According to Nielsen Social 36 million people sent out 990 million Tweets about TV in 2013. The digital dialogue as Nielsen calls it has led to the hashtags and opportunities for audience involvement (“What We Measure.”) There is now a conscious decision to be made when it comes to watching TV and that is whether or not to join the new era of water cooler conversations. 9 times out of 10 my decision is to keep off Twitter and go on to get recap from my feed after an event has happened. But, the numbers speak for themselves in terms of Twitter engagement. People are talking, or maybe I should say tweeting.
Works Cited:
Jarvey, Natalie. "Nielsen Adds Facebook to Social TV Ratings." The Hollywood Reporter 20 Jan. 2016. Web.
"Nielsen Solutions - What We Measure." Nielsen.com. 23 Jan. 2016. Web.
Maya Stav Cohen
ReplyDeleteAs a Media Studies major, the journey of exploring the connections between individuals and their social media usage is one I have embarked on long ago. Ally's post is one that caught my eye, as it fell in line with my desire to understand how people choose to use their various social media platforms, for what reasons, and the impact it has on their lives. While it is interesting to dig deeper into the effects on the social media audiences, it is equally as fascinating to explore the tremendous effect these individuals can have on the success or failure of media platform products. The idea that audiences’ usage of particular social media applications have a substantial effect on the products different media platforms produce and vice versa makes the relationship between the two parties even more thought provoking.
When it comes to the effects on the various audiences, I agree with Ally’s understanding that Tweeting and other social media platforms provide individuals with a place to share their thoughts and publicize their opinions regarding different television and premiere shows. I also agree that it creates a sense of community individuals can join where they find others to talk to about different shows they wish to discuss.
The effects on individuals is strong, and this being said, I completely agree with Ally that the effect individuals in social media platform audiences have a significant, if not more noteworthy impact on television and premiere shows. In Nielsen’s Advertising and Audiences Report for May 2014, it was said, “The two-way relationship between Tweets and TV ratings…The results also showed that the volume of tweets caused significant changes in live TV ratings among 29 percent of the episodes.” As such, while the previously stated effect social media has on its audiences is true, I agree with Ally that the audience greatly effect the success of different shows as they hold the power in their hands to say how they feel about it, and are able to put this power to great use by sending out 140 character messages for millions of other individuals to see and take in.
This blog’s argument that social media and how individuals have come to use it greatly impacts television series is one I completely agree with, and is seen through the increase of audience interaction through Twitter and other platforms. Nielsen’s article “From Live To 24/7: Extending Twitter TV Engagement Beyond The Live Airing” shows how significant social media interaction regarding television shows has become, saying, “Social TV is no longer a new phenomenon. Millions of people take to Twitter to share their passions about their favorite programming in the heat of the moment—as the moments happen.” As people project their thoughts and opinions to millions of others in the heat of the moment, honest and sometimes brutal insights are publicized, potentially significantly affecting the way the television show’s audience feels regarding the post, having some effect on the rating of that television show.
Works Cited:
"Advertising & Audiences: State of the Media, May 2014." Nielsen.com. May 2014. Web.
"From Live to 24/7: Extending Twitter TV Engagement Beyond the Live Airing." Nielsen. Nielsen, 15 Dec. 2014. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
Twitter is a social media platform I have taken a lot of time analyzing these past few years in my media coursework. I have come to find it is a birthplace of hype, conflict, and scandal which all create the perfect environment for advertisers to come in and engage their product. Twitter is also a place for drama whether it is a “twitter fight” between celebrities or fights between fans about a certain TV or award show, people are always engaging with one another. This type of drama can draw attention or create even more hype around certain situations that may happen. This is why live tweeting can create a platform for discussions about media events and allow people to talk to one another like they never had before. I completely agree with Ally’s thoughts about how social media platforms create a space where thoughts can be shared among fans and how this is impacting and drawing even more attention to TV premieres and award shows. I personally don’t live tweet, but I can see how it can make shows more interesting by seeing what others have to say and sharing their opinions which could open up things you may have not picked up on or thought about before. In Nielsen’s Advertising and Audiences article, they state that, “The indisputable fact is that audiences are moving seamlessly across platforms to view and talk about their favorite shows. A whopping 86 percent of U.S. smartphone owners say they use their devices as second-screens while watching TV, and nearly half do it every single day.” This information supports the fact that social media is where TV networks need to put their focus on tracking their shows and seeing what people are saying about them.
ReplyDeleteReading through the Vulture article by Josef Adalian I understood how TV’s ratings have changed and how networks cannot just depend on a live audience anymore. With the use of DVR’s, Netflix, and other streaming platforms they are forced to look at how shows are picked up in different ways. I think that one of the things holding together the real time TV watching is Twitter. Live tweeting has become an exciting environment that encourages people to tune in live and voice their opinions. In a sense, it is almost like all the live tweeting fans are watching TV together and having a constant stream of discussions as they go. If you have to watch a show alone, then having a platform like Twitter could be a great thing for you to be able to have people to discuss your favorite show with. Overall, I agree with Ally’s viewpoints on how interactions on Twitter have transformed the way audiences watch and perceive television in today’s transitional industry.
Works Cited:
"Advertising & Audiences: State of the Media, May 2014." Nielsen.com. May 2014. Web.
Pineiro, Victor. "Five Social Trends Marketers Won't Be Able to Ignore in 2016." Advertising Age DigitalNext RSS. Web. 09 Feb. 2016.
Ally’s lead blog post is a topic that is always being brought up in my media studies classes. I have to completely agree that social media has a huge impact on television viewing. Anyone can take to twitter during a huge event like Superbowl and get a play by play of what is going on without having to turn on the TV once. In Ally’s conclusion she wrote, “TV and live tweeting create a sense of community, which is most likely what invites back the same audience each week. This type of social viewing allows the audience to feel connected to other fans and to the show itself, which has begun to revolutionize the way we watch TV nowadays.” It really does create a sense of community and its nice to connect with other people and engage in new conversations every week. I never used to watch the Bachelor until my roommates last year. Now every Monday night we take to our group chat during the show to share our feelings and it has become a fun way to always stay connected.
ReplyDeleteOther than last semester in Professor Burn’s senior seminar, I don’t usually live tweet anything but I do always check my phone or computer during a show. I love to see people’s comments and reactions to something but when I am unable to watch a show that I am really into, the live tweets are hard to avoid and do end up ruining the element of surprise.
It’s incredible to think that Twitter has completely changed how people watch television today. Viewers almost feel like they have a duty to take to twitter during the Grammys or the Superbowl. Twitter and television pretty much go hand in hand in our society today. “Social TV is no longer a new phenomenon. Millions of people take to Twitter to share their passions about their favorite programming in the heat of the moment—as the moments happen.” (Nielson). Social media platforms have almost become a type of “therapy” for people to get their feelings out there immediately to share with other viewers in agreement or even sometimes disagreement. Social TV is not a fade and I think it is here to stay for years to come. Television programs now incorporate viewers live tweets into their programs, whether it’s a television show like “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” or “E! Live From The Red Carpet”. Live tweeting has become apart of television today and it has become a major community.
Work Cited
"From Live to 24/7: Extending Twitter TV Engagement Beyond the Live Airing." Nielsen. Nielsen, 15 Dec. 2014. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
Twitter is an excellent way to interpret how engaged in a TV event an audience is. As Ally said in her blog post, it can go beyond sheer numbers of viewers and show us how closely viewers are paying attention. The world we live in today is highly centered around social media and thanks to platforms like twitter we can now analyze the "buzz" around a television event based on how much engagement the event has on twitter. I myself do not participate in live tweeting of events because I feel that it draws my focus too far away from whatever I am watching. When I sit down to watch something that I am very interested in I try to give it my absolute focus. I feel like we are getting to a place where the live "buzz" around a given event is drawing focus away from the events themselves
ReplyDeleteDo not get me wrong, if people are able to live tweet events while still paying close attention then it is a terrific way to interact with other fans. I just happen to be opposed to the concept for two reasons. The first as aforementioned, I strongly feel as though live tweeting draws the viewers' focus away from the event. Granted there are pauses for commercials and what not but most of the TV that I am interested outside of sporting events there are no commercial breaks.
My second reason for being opposed to live tweeting is that it can ruin the experience for anyone who may not be able to watch the event but still looks on twitter. I recently had a major plot twist to a highly anticipated movie ruined for me because I happened to be on twitter the night/day of the release. There is of course a silver lining to all of the qualms I have with live tweeting. People who are avid fans of a sports team can get free in game updates on twitter. I myself have used twitter the most for this reason especially on NFL sundays when a lot of teams are playing at one time. All in all I think Twitter enhances our ability to view engagement in TV events but detracts away from the value of just sitting down to focus on one thing.
Ryan Lawler
MSS 495
Burns
Daniela Cantu
ReplyDeleteMSS495
Prof. Burns
I related to Ally’s blog post the most because I am an avid social media user and I believe that social media (especially Twitter), have changed the way we watch TV.
Nowadays, we have so many different platforms that we can watch television shows on. Whether it’s our laptop, tablet, phone or even video game console, we have a variety of ways that we can watch shows wherever we want at whatever time we want. Although this facilitates things for the consumer, it creates a disconnection between audience members. By having so many options, watching TV shows stops being a social activity.
That’s the reason I live tweet, and I think it’s the reason many others do too. Social interaction between viewers makes watching live TV a whole new experience because we are able to see what others are sharing. Take the Super Bowl for example. Even though I enjoyed the halftime show, reading other people’s tweets about how much they liked it made me like it even more.
Twitter has also changed live TV for networks and advertisers. According to the Nielsen reading, there is a two-way relationship between tweets and TV ratings. Live TV ratings had a meaningful impact in Twitter activity among 48 percent of the episodes. “TV tweeters made up 73 percent of the total number of people who tweeted about brands during that time, and they sent an even greater portion—89 percent—of the Tweets about brands.”
Twitter has changed the way we watch live TV because both advertisers and networks can see the popularity of their show based on the amount of tweets their show brings in. not only that, but because Twitter is a “microblog”, they are also able to get content. They can see what the demographic of the show has to say which I imagine to be very beneficial.
Social media can also make advertising cheaper since user generated content is free. Take the Doritos #crashthesuperbowl campaign for example. User generated content is a win-win for customers and brands: brands get more awareness, exposure, and impressions, and customers get their voices heard.
Marketers have to be up to date with the way consumers watch TV, and I think they are really starting to see social media as a powerful tool for advertising. Looking at the article “Five Social Trends Marketers Won't Be Able to Ignore in 2016”, we can see that social media has really changed the marketing game. If companies don’t start changing their marketing strategies, they might fall behind.
Works Cited
"Advertising & Audiences: State of the Media, May 2014." Nielsen.com. May 2014. Web.
Peneiro, Victor. "Five Social Trends Marketers Won't Be Able to Ignore in 2016." Ad Age. 16 Dec. 2015. Web.