المملكة: On its international day, television is struggling to survive in the battle of screens and platforms
A “Al-Youm” field survey of street opinions revealed that the rapid technical development and the spread of social media networks have created A rift in the traditional relationship between Viewers and television.
The impact of accelerated technical development
Confirmed "Ahmed Amer" The rapid technical development and the spread of social networking sites have radically changed people’s relationship with television until it has become an outdated medium compared to the speed and flexibility of digital platforms. Users today tend to obtain news and trends from social media applications thanks to short clips and reels that have affected audience behavior and made access to information faster and easier than traditional television.
Following series and movies via paid subscriptions has also become the most widespread option, which has led to a clear decline in following Satellite channels Although there is a common opinion that television has become limited to a certain age group, even the elderly today use smartphones and communication platforms, while television remains a less present option in their daily lives, and tablets have become a preferred alternative thanks to the ease of carrying them anywhere, whether inside or outside the home.
With regard to consumption patterns, he saw "Rayyan Al-Omari" The shift towards digital stations and platforms has become clear, as smartphones have become the primary device for viewing thanks to their ease and ability to collect all content on one screen carried in the hand, and that this development has made many people dispense with traditional television.
He added: "I expect that the presence of satellite will gradually decline and may disappear completely during the next five years. However, there is content that still relies on television as a reliable source, especially news and official coverage, such as broadcasting from the Haram, because television is more controlled and disciplined than open platforms."
And that digital content may carry behavioral risks for children due to weak censorship on some sites, compared to the commitment of official channels to the controls of the Ministry of Information, which still preserves the values of society and protects the family from inappropriate content, and that the strength of television censorship and the quality of content selection make television present despite the competition, even if media habits have changed and the phone has become the first screen for today’s generation.
Focusing attention on different cultural content
Contrary to expectations of extinction, the “reliability” factor emerges as a lifeline for television, as he pointed out. "Nasser Al Shamsi" Until now, the trend in viewing has become through tablets and digital platforms, and watching television has become limited to the elderly only who are interested in watching news, sports, and government channels.
As for young people, their viewing has become digital platforms that publish foreign films, whether Korean, American, or Turkish, as the trend of young people today is far from traditional content and interest in content that carries a different culture, a fast presentation, and carries excitement.
He said: "I believe by 70% that we will live in the coming years without television because those watching television today are a very small group, and viewing may be limited to news because television still bears the official character and is the official source that carries confirmed and reliable news, unlike some accounts and programs in which misleading rumors abound."
From an educational angle, participants in the survey pointed out that television channels are still the safe choice for the family, due to their commitment to strict regulatory controls that protect values and suit all groups, compared to the potential behavioral risks and weak control over open content on digital platforms.
Demand for satellite receivers
Technically, it is different. "Muhammad Amir"A technician specializing in the field of satellites, the current of pessimism, stressing that the demand for “satellite” receivers is still strong and strong, especially for following news and sports channels that are characterized by high broadcast quality and the absence of the time delay that Internet-based platforms suffer from.
He said: "There is a demand for receivers and satellite devices, Arabsat and Nilesat, which are considered the most requested items by users. There is great control over saving information and data, and the sale of devices that operate on the Internet to transfer digital platforms is prohibited. Therefore, there is still a great demand for live television broadcasting because it is official and authorized in the Saudi markets.".
Diverse content and lower prices
and in between "Abdulaziz Al-Ghamdi" Television still maintains its essential position in homes despite the significant expansion of digital platforms, and that these platforms have become a practical and effective solution and have even surpassed satellite in many aspects, especially in the diversity of content and its availability at lower prices. But its most notable disadvantages lie in suspension and broadcast delay, which makes the shower a more stable option for a segment of users.
Watching drama via mobile phone has become popular and may be the most appropriate option for those who move around a lot or are not always in front of the TV, and that digital platforms are a positive and realistic step that suits a fast-paced lifestyle. However, the TV remains an important and indispensable element inside the home, while digital platforms remain complementary and not a complete substitute because they meet the need for movement and flexibility without eliminating the role of the big screen in the living room.
He pointed out "Ali the fat one" Social media is no longer just a competitor to television, but has completely taken over the scene, to the point where news is delivered through digital platforms faster and more instantaneously than through television channels.
He continued: "I believe that television is headed toward extinction within the next ten years, with the possibility that only government channels will remain as part of memory or media heritage. Despite this, television, especially non-commercial, continues to provide deeper and more valuable cultural content compared to social media, most of whose content is considered entertaining or largely useless."
He continued: "The spread of paid platforms and subscriptions for broadcasting films and series has made many people dispense with satellite because it has become a realistic alternative to daily viewing, and this transformation is nothing but a natural extension of development. Just as society moved from black and white to color screens and from traditional broadcasting to the Internet, the platforms today continue to impose themselves, and a new, more developed alternative may come in the future. The world does not go backwards, and the media march always moves forward."
The impact of digital platforms on the presence of television
He said "Muhammad Al-Mazeel": "The strong trend towards digital platforms has made the presence of traditional television clearly diminish after these platforms have become the actual trend for the new generation who are accustomed to speed and ease of access to content. Digital platforms are characterized by continuous modernization and rapid obsolescence, as one platform disappears and another appears within a few years, unlike television, which has been living for many decades without competition."
He added: "News no longer waits for the newsletter, as the official authorities themselves have begun publishing their news first through social and digital media platforms, making access to news faster than ever before. However, I personally cannot do without the television, and a large segment of my generation still sees the big screen as an essential element in the home, even with the availability of alternatives such as the phone and tablet, while the new generation is moving towards being satisfied with portable devices that suit the pace of their modern lives.".
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