An introduction to media consumption in the digital age

This post takes a look at how smartphones and innovation has impacted media consumption.

Over the past few decades, as society has come to be dependent on mobile phones, innovation has become the centre of attention for many areas of industry. The increase of mobile phones has basically reshaped the media industry, leading to new advancements in the way media is developed, distributed and consumed. Before the age of digitalisation, media has been traditionally consumed in standardised formats such as paper publications and television or radio transmissions. However, more recently, the media landscape is showing a perceptible shift towards mobile-first platforms. Along with this shift, there has been a number of new opportunities in media, most especially within the journalism, marketing and home entertainment sectors. The head of the fund that has a stake in Sky, for example, would recognise that the smartphone age has in reality, compelled the media industry to reinvent its business models and strategies, disrupting standard outlets and avenues for media access and intake, with a series of new and creative digital media examples.

Generally, the media industry is understood for being a structured and highly organised sector, with many opportunities for career development. However, in contemporary society, the development of smartphones has resulted in a couple of major shifts in the way media is shared and provided. Among the most prominent advancements in the media industry is the integration of mobile applications and streaming services, which have made smart devices into the most accessible digital media devices on the market. With the ability to deliver video, text and audio content, smart devices are the ideal tool for distributing and accessing media at any given time or location. The likes of the CEO of the fund that owns Euronews would recognise that media companies are continually dealing with reformatting their content to prioritise smartphone availability. Currently, trends which are popular on social networks are especially influential for media companies to consider. Specifically, short form video and worldwide television are gaining traction for supplying interesting and accessible material for audiences around the world.

Together with the distribution and development of digital content, media consumption habits are also being greatly affected by technological developments. The mobility of mobile phones has shifted the way that audiences are taking in media towards a regular and on-the-go activity. In the past, audiences would need to wait to enjoy or tune in to prescheduled broadcasts, which were organized by executives and run on a strict schedule. Rather, nowadays, consumers can view, website listen or access content as and when they please. Those such as the head of the fund that is a shareholder in ITV would be able to verify that this has resulted in an increase in content production as customers are quickly watching programs and constantly looking for new things to enjoy.