Prime Time
A recent CNN story reports that a study by Sony about the gaming habits of Playstation 2 owners shows that the majority of gaming takes place from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., directly competing with network TV’s “prime-time” programming.
The article concludes that perhaps the decline of TV viewership in general can be attributed to gamers. This is certainly plausible as Sony reports that 65% of those gamers fit the 18-35 male demographic. Personally, I think there is more to it than that.
To me, this is an issue of interactive vs. passive entertainment. It is difficult to sit and watch TV when you can interact with the Internet or a video game. Video games, in particular offer a similar visual experience to TV but allow you to control the action. Furthermore online-enabled play brings social interaction into the mix for a very immersive experience. The internet offers similar interactivity as we use instant messaging, email, and browsers. As well as the ability to control of the flow of that information.
I find it difficult to schedule time to watch the few programs that even appeal to me and find myself enjoying very little of that. With competitive entertainment like DVDs, video games, and the Internet, combined with DVRs that allow viewers to never miss an episode and watch them on their own time, I think it is safe to say that the death of “prime-time” is at hand.