Changing viewership habits: an analysis of the new television landscape: when going over-the-top, who will end up on top?

2015-03-04The following thesis maps the evolution of the television industry by examining how technology has influenced and changed consumer-viewing habits. In the following pages the author will work to explain how and why these changes within the industry have occurred and what kind of companies have an advantage as online viewing becomes more popular. The first portion of the paper centers on the new technologies that have led to content shifting online and the companies embracing this viewing trend. The second half of the paper examines two mavericks within the TV industry that have differing business models, HBO and Netflix, to determine which model is more conducive to this new era of digital TV. By comparing their creative processes, financial success and internal structures the author will conclude which company will be more successful as this new trend becomes the status quo