The way we access content is fundamentally changing. Shorter-form content continues to grow apace and, at the same time, viewing is fragmenting across myriad devices and screens. Helping drive this change has been the emergence of a new generation of distribution platforms that blend professional video, user generated content and social media.
Chaired by CNBC business presenter Nadine Dereza, “Online TV – not just Netflix” boasted a panel of Lawrence Elman, co-founder of subscription channel Docsville; Tom Clifford, CEO of History Hit; and online comic Eline Van Der Velden, who has made the jump to terrestrial TV with BBC Three’s Miss Holland.
The research shows that UK viewers favour binge watching television series over waiting for new episodes each week, with 40 million people watching series back-to-back.
One third of the people binge watching episodes do so every week, and more than half do so monthly.
The study, included in the annual Communications Market Research 2017, has also shown a significant difference in viewing habits between younger and older audiences.
In an interview with Journalism.co.uk, director of editorial video Micah Gelman explained that The Post's viewers prefer videos shot to match the dimensions of their mobile phones when held upright.
Later this month, NBCUniversal will launch Hayu, a new subscription online video service devoted to reality television shows, such as The Real Housewives franchise and Don’t Tell the Bride. It follows hard on the heels of Seeso, another subscription video on-demand (SVoD) offering from NBCU, but this time devoted to comedy and entertainment shows, ranging from Saturday Night Live to Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
A host of new long- and short-form programmes will be released on the BBC Three website, iPlayer and across social media following the switchover on 16 February.
The online service will build on BBC Three’s reputation for original British comedy and though-provoking documentaries. It will also be a home for contemporary British drama, innovative entertainment and current affairs programming.
"BBC Three is not closing, we are reinventing online," promised Damian Kavanagh, controller of BBC Three, after it was announced the youth-channel would be migrating from televisions to tablets and computers in the new year.
The decision, which has been mooted for several months, was met with a mixed reaction.
So BBC Three is set to close in February. Good.
Please note that this video contains adult material.
This is the full video from this year's RTS Comedy event where chair Boyd Hilton asked members of the panel about comedy going online, the longevity of the genre and whether anything needs to change about what type of comedy is being commissioned.
Get an idea of what was discussed about comedy on television at the RTS No Laughing Matter event
Get an idea of what was discussed about comedy on television at the RTS No Laughing Matter event