Non-linear media

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Non-linear media is a form of audiovisual media that can be interacted with by the viewer, such as by selecting television shows to watch through a video on demand type service, by playing a video game, by clicking through a website, or by interacting through social media. Non-linear media is a move away from traditional linear media, in which content is selected by the publisher to be consumed and is then done so passively. [1] [2] [3] There is no single specific form of non-linear media; rather, what might be considered non-linear changes as technology changes. Following the development and rise of digital non-linear media, the retronym linear (used in linear television, linear channels, etc.) was introduced to refer to programmed broadcasting.

Contents

Television

The model of traditional linear television programming is for a schedule of shows to be selected by the broadcaster and then viewed at a set time. In this model, the viewer cannot fast forward through the programming or choose to watch it at a later time. Conversely, non-linear television can be considered to be any method or technology that allows viewers to select which shows they watch and when they watch them. The ability to watch a show at any time is referred to as time shifted viewing; this can be achieved by either the consumer recording shows with a device such as a PVR for later viewing, or by the publisher providing content to be selected at will at the viewer's convenience. [4]

Non-linear content is often viewed on a device other than a television, such as a personal computer or a smartphone. [5] Video on demand (VOD) content can be transmitted over the internet via streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Starz, or Amazon Video, or it can be provided by a television provider as an additional option on top of their linear programming. Many publishers of content now offer streaming of programs through their own websites, though sometimes the catalog that is offered will be curated in some way, such as by providing only recently released episodes. Video may also be downloaded – legally or illegally – through a peer-to-peer network such as BitTorrent, or it may be directly downloaded from a video hosting website. [6]

As internet speeds and the number of supported devices has increased, so has the number of people who consume non-linear media. This is evidenced by the rising popularity of over-the-top (OTT) streaming services. In 2015, the television network CBS expected that by the year 2020, 50 percent of all television content would be viewed in a non-linear fashion. [7] [8]

Music and radio

Like other forms of non-linear media such as television, non-linear radio allows listeners to choose and listen to music and talk shows on a schedule determined by the listener. Online music streaming services such as Spotify or Deezer are non-linear in that they allow listeners to create playlists from a library of music offered by a website;. [9] [10] Similarly, podcasts offer the ability to download or stream prerecorded shows similar to those that are traditionally broadcast over the radio waves. Some traditional radio stations allow their shows to be downloaded on demand after the show has aired over the air.

See also

Related Research Articles

Video on demand (VOD) is a media distribution system that allows users to access videos, television shows and films digitally on request. These multimedia are accessed without a traditional video playback device and a typical static broadcasting schedule, which was popular under traditional broadcast programming, instead involving newer modes of content consumption that have risen as Internet and IPTV technologies have become prominent, and culminated in the arrival of VOD and over-the-top (OTT) media services on televisions and personal computers.

Television broadcasts in the United Kingdom began in 1932, however, regular broadcasts would only begin four years later. Television began as a public service which was free of advertising, which followed the first demonstration of a transmitted moving image in 1926. Currently, the United Kingdom has a collection of free-to-air, free-to-view and subscription services over a variety of distribution media, through which there are over 480 channels for consumers as well as on-demand content. There are six main channel owners who are responsible for most material viewed.

Streaming television is the digital distribution of television content, such as television series and films, streamed over the Internet. Standing in contrast to dedicated terrestrial television delivered by over-the-air aerial systems, cable television, and/or satellite television systems, streaming television is provided as over-the-top media (OTT), or as Internet Protocol television (IPTV). In the United States, streaming television has become "the dominant form of TV viewing."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electronic program guide</span> Television term

Electronic programming guides (EPGs) and interactive programming guides (IPGs) are menu-based systems that provide users of television, radio, and other media applications with continuously updated menus that display scheduling information for current and upcoming broadcast programming. Some guides also feature backward scrolling to promote their catch up content. They are commonly known as guides or TV guides.

In Demand is an American cable television service which provides video on demand services, including pay-per-view. Comcast, Cox Communications, and Charter Communications jointly own In Demand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BBC iPlayer</span> Television and radio streaming service

BBC iPlayer is a video on demand service from the BBC. The service is available on a wide range of devices, including mobile phones and tablets, personal computers and smart televisions. iPlayer services delivered to UK-based viewers are free from commercial advertising. The terms BBC iPlayer, iPlayer, and BBC Media Player refer to various methods of viewing or listening to the same content. To use the service, a valid TV Licence is required by law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">P2PTV</span> Video distribution method

P2PTV refers to peer-to-peer (P2P) software applications designed to redistribute video streams in real time on a P2P network; the distributed video streams are typically TV channels from all over the world but may also come from other sources. The draw to these applications is significant because they have the potential to make any TV channel globally available by any individual feeding the stream into the network where each peer joining to watch the video is a relay to other peer viewers, allowing a scalable distribution among a large audience with no incremental cost for the source.

TVNZ+, formerly known as TVNZ OnDemand, is an over-the-top New Zealand television and video on demand streaming service offered by TVNZ. It offers a variety of free content, such as news updates and programmes seen on TVNZ channels. TVNZ+ offers most of the programmes broadcast on air with licensing agreements to be shown for users in New Zealand. In addition, it offers dozens of local and international titles exclusively available on the platform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Channel 4 (VoD service)</span> UK video on demand service

Channel 4 is a video on demand service from Channel Four Television Corporation, free of charge for most content and funded by advertising. The service is available in the UK and Ireland; viewers are not required to have a TV licence—required for live viewing and the BBC iPlayer on-demand service—when watching on-demand services. The service launched on 16 November 2006 as 4oD. The service offers a variety of programmes recently shown on Channel 4, E4, More4, Film4 and E4 Extra and shorts, alongside exclusive content such as programming from Adult Swim. However some programmes and movies are not available due to rights issues. The service was originally available without registration, but free registration was later required. The service is available without advertising on payment of a subscription, under the name Channel 4+.

ABC iview is a video on demand and catch-up TV service run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Currently iview video content can only be viewed by users in Australia. As of 2016, ABC iview attracts around 50 million plays monthly and accounts for around half of the total time streamed by Australian TV video services.

Nielsen Media Research (NMR) is an American firm that measures media audiences, including television, radio, theatre, films, and newspapers. Headquartered in New York City, it is best known for the Nielsen ratings, an audience measurement system of television viewership that for years has been the deciding factor in canceling or renewing television shows by television networks. As of August 2024, it is the primary part of Nielsen Holdings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ITVX</span> British online video-on-demand service

ITVX is a British over-the-top and ad-supported streaming service operated by ITV plc. The service offers original content from the broadcaster, livestreams of the ITV television channels, FAST channels, and exclusive and licensed programming.

Internet television in Australia is the digital distribution of movies and television content via the Internet. In Australia, internet television is provided by a number of generalist, subscription-based streaming service providers, in addition to several niche providers that focus on specific genres. Australia's five major free-to-air television networks also all offer catch up TV of previously broadcast content to watch via their webpages and apps, and a number of ISPs and other companies offer IPTV – the live streaming of television channels sourced from Australia and elsewhere.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RTÉ Player</span> Irish demand video service

RTÉ Player is an on demand video service provided by Irish public media broadcaster RTÉ.

An over-the-top media service is a digital distribution service offered directly to viewers via the public Internet, rather than through an over-the-air, cable, or satellite-based provider. The term is synonymous with "streaming platform", such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video which provide access to subscription-based film and television content (SVoD).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parables TV</span>

Parables TV is a global subscription-based provider of streaming Christian and other faith-based movies and TV series. Parables TV is owned by Olympusat. Parables TV features a library of subscription video on demand (SVOD) movies, documentaries, children’s programming, original productions and TV series, as well as a streaming linear TV channel which has a daily schedule. Parables TV was established June 2009 in Florida. The CEO of Parables TV is Bob Higley, who also sits on the board of the organization Christians in Media. Vice president of programming is Issac Hernandez, who also serves on the Film Standing Committee with National Religious Broadcasters (NRB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pluto TV</span> Internet-based TV platform

Pluto TV is a free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service owned and operated by the Paramount Streaming division of Paramount Global.

Mobibase is a France-based company., publishing and distributing ethnic and thematic TV channels and VOD content to mobile publishers, operators, cable and satellite TV and IPTV/OTT services in Europe, the Americas, Middle East, and Africa

meWatch is a Singaporean digital video on demand service wholly owned by Mediacorp. It was launched on 1 February 2013 as an over-the-top media service and an entertainment and lifestyle website Toggle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jungo TV</span> American entertainment company

Jungo TV, LLC is a privately-held media company that owns and operates television channels and streaming apps founded in 2016. Jungo TV is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in San Diego, Mumbai, and Manila.

References

  1. ↑ Hartman, Dennis. "What Is Linear Marketing?". Houston Chronicle . Archived from the original on 2016-04-17. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  2. ↑ "What is the difference between linear and non-linear media applications?". Borough of Manhattan Community College. Archived from the original on 2016-04-17. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  3. ↑ Hasebrink, Uwe. "Linear and Non-linear Television from Viewers' Perspective". Hans-Bredow-Institut. Archived from the original on 2016-04-17. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  4. ↑ Doeven, Jan (February 2013). "Trends in Broadcasting: An overview of developments" (PDF). itu.int. International Telecommunication Union. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-04-26. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  5. ↑ "Video on demand". The Video on Demand Dictionary and Business Index. Archived from the original on 2024-05-27. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  6. ↑ Ferraz, Tommy (2015-10-19). "BBC innovates in non-linear radio". Archived from the original on 2016-04-18. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  7. ↑ "CBS sees 50 percent non-linear TV future". Warc. 2015-08-12. Archived from the original on 2016-04-18. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  8. ↑ Lynch, Jason (2015-08-10). "Don't Panic, Says CBS: More People Are Watching TV Now Than a Decade Ago". Adweek . Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 2016-04-18. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  9. ↑ "Born Skippy: Radio That (Intentionally) Misses A Beat". www.newslangmedia.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-25. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  10. ↑ "After the non-linear radio - Tommy Ferraz". Tommy Ferraz. Archived from the original on 2016-04-25. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
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