I must admit at first, the answer would not going out from my mouth such easily...But, it's an enough attracting field to mind some time about it.Â
Considering TV phases evolutions (here, a past post), we see an amazing window of the world, of our world, and how it evolves. But causes produce effects. Effects on TV, are always user's generated, some by fashion snifs, some by trend setters, some by random (yes sometimes...), and even by professionnals (of course !), but always in the tail of something much deeper : search of audience. Great. But which audience ? Any good head of programs, can see that there's a lot of different audiences, just like you can find all kind of crackers on any store ! Let's see what we can stare today about different roles of modern TV :
- entertainment : yes, we do ; everybody does, with its own profile, themes, and daily shows. Can we act on TV ? polling, trying to be live in a show, complaining...a kind of action, which is nothing else that guided by fear of several majors networks to lose their audiences, obliged them in a shape of "customer/user" relationship, Â which is not really a big deal so far.
- information : yes, too ; what kind ? too much information, drive information to be a show, more than delivering news to/from the world ; is CNN right now an information channel, or delivering fiction ? There must be a doubt about that sometimes...
- learning : yes, but there is some great differences in several countries ; I guess this is one of the most important play of TV in the next future years, to make things right by satellite anywhere, adding deserted zones, wireless...But so far, it's more faster on the web now, and more pleasant to do. And trusty, too. Â
- useless time : it exists when we use to stay and don't come to the right decision : switch off. And this time of brain is particularly wealthy for ads performers ; no injure, no violence, "medium is message" said Mc Luhan years ago ; we just mind that it was on TV, but what...still the question. But brain is available, not in social connection, in a vegetable oneÂ
- sex : yes, of course, more and more, everywhere, (in soap and ads...) ; mirror of our weird times, where no one can meet anymore but by the web, wire connected, digital profiles, sometimes unreal in SL ; so what, is this called social so far ?
So, in one word if I can, TV can broadcast all that makes a social trusty tool, but...TV gives, but doesn't receive from anyone. You can have in one place full of interesting things, but never have to react, not even have the ability to. You can amuse, learn, lose your time (!). But so far, not the rich way, you can on social web, where all can be shared and exchanged in one minute, for free, with thanks, congrats and kindness...with the best you can find, when you have some skills to stare and listen...Â