TV isn’t what it used to be – and neither is my inbox.Once upon a time (well, not that long ago), I’d get offered five to ten TV shows a year. Pilots, new formats, panel shows – you name it, the opportunities came thick and fast. Now? One or two if I’m lucky. Some years, it feels like tumbleweed.Why? It’s simple and complicated all at once. The landscape has flipped. We live in a digital-first, on-demand world, and the way people watch – and the way shows get commissioned –... Read more
TV isn’t what it used to be – and neither is my inbox.
Once upon a time (well, not that long ago), I’d get offered five to ten TV shows a year. Pilots, new formats, panel shows – you name it, the opportunities came thick and fast. Now? One or two if I’m lucky. Some years, it feels like tumbleweed.
Why? It’s simple and complicated all at once. The landscape has flipped. We live in a digital-first, on-demand world, and the way people watch – and the way shows get commissioned – has changed beyond recognition.
Here’s what’s happening, especially here in the UK:
Streaming rules the sofa. Nearly 68% of UK homes now pay for at least one streaming service – a huge jump from around 20% in 2015. Netflix alone sits in 59% of households, Amazon Prime at 45%, and Disney+ around 25%.
The TV set isn’t dead, but it’s different. Brits still watch about 4.5 hours of video a day, but only 2.5 hours is traditional TV. The rest is catch-up, apps, YouTube, TikTok – sometimes all at once (hello, second screeners).
YouTube is quietly stealing the crown. It’s now the second-most watched “TV” service in the UK after the BBC. Among Gen Alpha, nearly one in five heads straight to YouTube when the TV comes on – not ITV, not Channel 4.
Money and habits are shifting. Cost-of-living pressures mean ad-supported tiers are on the rise. And younger viewers? They’re not waiting for Thursday at 9pm; they want content short, smart, and on-demand.
All of this means the audience hasn’t disappeared – it’s just everywhere. They’re on streaming platforms, phones, tablets, even gaming consoles. And for creators and presenters, that means fewer pitches, tighter budgets, but potentially much bigger reach if you land something that clicks.
And honestly? I love it and hate it in equal measure. I love that a single clip can go viral and reach millions. But I do miss the buzz of being sent a stack of TV pilots to choose from – now it’s more like, “Here’s one idea. Maybe. Let’s see if it gets greenlit.”
So, I’m curious – how has this shift changed things for you? Has it made your industry tougher, more exciting, or just…different?
#TVIndustry #Streaming #ContentCreation #DigitalFirst #MediaTrends #Broadcasting #StreamingWars #YouTube #Netflix #MediaInsights #EntertainmentBusiness
Once upon a time (well, not that long ago), I’d get offered five to ten TV shows a year. Pilots, new formats, panel shows – you name it, the opportunities came thick and fast. Now? One or two if I’m lucky. Some years, it feels like tumbleweed.
Why? It’s simple and complicated all at once. The landscape has flipped. We live in a digital-first, on-demand world, and the way people watch – and the way shows get commissioned – has changed beyond recognition.
Here’s what’s happening, especially here in the UK:
Streaming rules the sofa. Nearly 68% of UK homes now pay for at least one streaming service – a huge jump from around 20% in 2015. Netflix alone sits in 59% of households, Amazon Prime at 45%, and Disney+ around 25%.
The TV set isn’t dead, but it’s different. Brits still watch about 4.5 hours of video a day, but only 2.5 hours is traditional TV. The rest is catch-up, apps, YouTube, TikTok – sometimes all at once (hello, second screeners).
YouTube is quietly stealing the crown. It’s now the second-most watched “TV” service in the UK after the BBC. Among Gen Alpha, nearly one in five heads straight to YouTube when the TV comes on – not ITV, not Channel 4.
Money and habits are shifting. Cost-of-living pressures mean ad-supported tiers are on the rise. And younger viewers? They’re not waiting for Thursday at 9pm; they want content short, smart, and on-demand.
All of this means the audience hasn’t disappeared – it’s just everywhere. They’re on streaming platforms, phones, tablets, even gaming consoles. And for creators and presenters, that means fewer pitches, tighter budgets, but potentially much bigger reach if you land something that clicks.
And honestly? I love it and hate it in equal measure. I love that a single clip can go viral and reach millions. But I do miss the buzz of being sent a stack of TV pilots to choose from – now it’s more like, “Here’s one idea. Maybe. Let’s see if it gets greenlit.”
So, I’m curious – how has this shift changed things for you? Has it made your industry tougher, more exciting, or just…different?
#TVIndustry #Streaming #ContentCreation #DigitalFirst #MediaTrends #Broadcasting #StreamingWars #YouTube #Netflix #MediaInsights #EntertainmentBusiness
