Award-winning investigative journalist Mariana van Zeller joins to discuss the latest season of National Geographic’s “Trafficked.”
If you’re like many people, you watch TV news. This means watching a network that provides local, national, and international coverage. Historically, broadcast news has been a profitable business. But with the advent of cable and streaming, the audience’s choice has expanded.
Streaming networks can bring news to viewers anywhere. And because of the ease with which information can be transported, news organizations can archive and reuse content. So, for example, when the Pittsburgh bridge collapse occurred, the local CBS affiliate piped coverage to streamers.
Another reason that online video streaming is likely to change the way political news is covered is that it will allow new overtly political news operations to enter the mix. In fact, the Fox News Channel already operates several cable news channels and its new streaming app, Fox Nation, has attracted 1.5 million subscribers.
Streaming also eliminates the cost of licensing, which would otherwise limit a channel’s reach. This will allow news providers to compete on price, not just quality.
Streaming will help news programs provide customized experiences to viewers. For example, NewsBreak allows users to block topics, express their opinions, and share their feelings.
Similarly, cable TV one-upped broadcast news by providing live events. It also offered programming that was more compelling to commercial-averse viewers. While it’s easy to argue that the proliferation of news stations will feed polarization, it’s also true that more choices can lead to deeper silos.
Streaming news has been a success, attracting audiences with niche interests. For instance, it’s now possible to access news and documentaries about astronomy and space science, as well as cosmology and astrophysics. Moreover, since a lot of content is available on demand, streaming news has the potential to become a real competition for cable.
