The Internet And Television Are BFFs

By Sara Welsh on February 24th, 2010

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With the creation of video streaming sites like Hulu, the Internet was supposed to be the death of television.  Instead, they became best buddies.

The NY Times reports that “blogs and social Web sites like Facebook and Twitter enable an online water-cooler conversation” which encourages people to watch television and share their experiences, likes, and dislikes with those they have befriended on the Internet.  The beauty of micro blogging is sharing your opinion is right at the touch of your fingers and someone out there is willing to hear it, even if you’re just speaking out into the vast space of the web.

This year the Super Bowl became the most watched program in television history, beating out the M*A*S*H* final episode in 1983.  The Winter Olympics that are happening right now may go down as the most watched foreign games since 1994.  Even awards shows like the Grammys saw a jump in ratings, the highest they’ve had in a long time.  The Nielson Company reported that one in seven people who were watching the Olympics opening ceremony or Super Bowl were also surfing the web at the same time.  “Increased usage of social media is definitely driving the ratings,” said Jon Gibs, a vice president at Nielsen.

Many networks are trying to capitalize on this new friendship.  NBC broadcast the Golden Globes live on both coasts so the entire country could watch and talk about the show as it was happening.  They want to do the same for the Emmys that are coming up on March 7th.  CBS executive Leslie Moonves says, “The Internet is our friend, not our enemy.  People want to be attached to each other.”

You’d think NBC would utilize its live broadcasting talents to show the Olympics, but they are sticking with their tape-delayed schedule.  People still watch despite the delay, even though the results are available immediately on the Internet.  As Rachel Volanza of Seattle said to the NY Times, “Even though knowing ahead spoils the program, you just can’t help but see for yourself what all these people are talking about.”

Time will tell if this pairing will last or if the Internet will overtake our favorite programs, but at the moment it seems to be a match made in heaven.  I think I’ll go tweet about this now.