A Different View with Dave O’Connell

Much has been written about the downturn in newspaper sales, and in printed matter generally, on foot of the digital age – but it’s not just reading habits that are changing; because there is more than one generation now that no longer seeks its audio-visual enjoyment in the old-fashioned way.

In other words, the television sector is negotiating the same troubled waters with streaming services and free or subscription videos taking large chunks out of their traditional audience.

There was a time when the lap of luxury was a television in your bedroom, but there aren’t too many under 25s looking for that now – because everything they want to see, they can do it on their tablet or phone.

And while we were slaves to the TV guide, they demand to see their programme choices when it suits them – not when the channels think it’s best to put them out.

We might have come from a generation that waited until Sunday night to catch up with life in Leestown with the Riordans or in Wicklow with Dinny and Miley, but that ship has sailed.

If today’s consumer wants to watch the entire new box set of their favourite drama or detective series in one fell swoop, then that’s how it has to be.

You can see it already with the terrestrial stations across the water even if we cannot benefit from it here. The BBC iPlayer is at least one episode ahead of the channels themselves with any big drama, and very often the whole series of available in advance; it’s the same with ITV.

The RTÉ Player is more of a catch-up facility for programmes you’ve missed – apart from the odd straight-to-digital offering which wouldn’t really cut it on the actual schedule – but they will have to adapt to the British model if they’re to avoid sinking into a deeper abyss.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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