5/6/20

Media In The Digital Age

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Television

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Television Has Changed Over The Last 20 Years

• Many more channels • Still the Big Networks but many other choices meeting specific interests • Can get TV in a variety of ways • Still get over the air (OTA) broadcasts but there is also cable and TV over the Internet • We often record so can watch on our own schedule • Can watch TV on just about anything with a screen! • Computers, phones, tablets as well as TV

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Television Sets Have Changed Too

• First flat panel sets came out in 1997 • Bigger screens • Ever sharper screens • Resolution (sharpness): SD (Standard Definition), HD (High Definition, and UHD (Ultra High Definition) or 4K • Most sets are UHD

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Many Options for Watching TV

• Traditional Cable* • Over the air with antenna • Premium channels* • Streaming services* • Network web sites*

* Can watch TV on computer, mobile phone, tablets as well as TV

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Traditional Cable

• Xfinity, FIOS, RCN, Spectrum, etc • Most channels (on premium plans) • Average cable bill is $217 per month • But many are offering much lower introductory prices • Introductory rates often for first year; higher rate in 2nd year; regular rate by year 3 • Best rates often come with bundles including Internet and maybe phone service • Often requires 2 year commitment to get introductory rates

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Free TV Over The Air (With An Antenna)

• Everything is HD (high definition) now! • Can get the main networks (PBS, NBC, ABC, CBS) but many more channels • Can get over 130 over the air stations now! • On average will get about 48 stations over the air stations in any market • Many channels have “subchannels” • Channel list for Newton (should be similar for most Boston metro locations) • Need an antenna

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”Rabbit Ears” Have Changed

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Can Record Over The Air TV

• Can purchase an OTA DVR (digital video recorder) • With a DVR can record, pause and rewind • $75 on up

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Premium Channels •For example: HBO, Showtime, and • Original content and movies •Cost extra •Can be added to cable and streaming packages • Can also subscribe as a standalone streaming option •Commercial free

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Streaming Services

• Some Definitions and Clarifications • Streaming TV: downloading content from the Internet to your TV or other device (as opposed to over the air broadcast or cable provider) • Watch it as it is downloaded; not saved • Need app for each service • Newer TVs come with apps already installed for most services • Streaming “” vs streaming live

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Streaming On Demand Content

•"On Demand" means no live TV streaming; pre- recorded shows & movies on your schedule •Movies, tv shows and original programs •Free or Paid subscription •Over 200 services available •Major services: , Amazon Prime, , Apple TV •Premium channels like HBO can also be added

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Streaming on demand, continued • Kanopy is a free streaming service • Tied to your library card • Huge catalog of movies and videos • Can watch on TV or download app for mobile devices • Paid services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Apple TV+, Disney+ • Original content plus libraries of older shows and movies • $6 - $15 per month • Can be bundled with traditional cable

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Streaming Services Are Producing Their Own Shows And Movies

Number of Original Titles 1400

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0 Netflix HBO Now Sh ow t i m e Pr i m e V i de o Hulu Disn ey+ Apple TV+ Number o f O riginal Titles

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Streaming Live TV

• Live TV shows like what you get on over the air or traditional cable • “Cord cutter” : replacement for traditional cable • Some services like Hulu can combine both On Demand streaming and live TV • Includes broadcast networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX) and traditional cable only stations • Many plans: costs and channel offerings vary • Examples: YouTubeTV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV, DirecTV • Cost: $15 - $50 / month

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Streaming Live TV, Continued

•Channel selection varies • Most have local network stations • Some have more sports options • As of Jan 2020 only YouTubeTV has PBS •Most have DVR (recording) capabilities • Recording in the cloud; no DVR

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Signing Up For Streaming Services (Live Or On Demand)

• Signup is done on the Internet • Most have a free or discounted trial period • No “contract”: can end service at any time • May need to install app • May need additional hardware for TV (see last slide) • Can contact them to get help

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Is Your Internet Fast Enough?

• Need 5-8 Mbps (megabits per second) for 1 HD video • If multiple, simultaneous users need more • More Internet services are rated at 50 to 200 Mbps (but actual speeds vary and typically are lower) • “speed test” to test your Internet speed on computer or download a speed test app on your mobile device

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Is Your TV Smart Enough?

•Must have a “smart” TV (able to access the Internet) or add streaming device • Older smart TVs may still require a streaming device to get needed apps •Newer TVs are able to access most On Demand and Live TV streaming services without any additional hardware • Have all the apps needed

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Streaming Devices

• Older HD TVs usually require a streaming device • Streaming devices connect to Internet and to your TV • Typically have all the apps for services (on demand or live TV) built in (still need to subscribe for paid services) • Newer TVs may have everything built in – don’t require additional hardware

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Streaming Devices, Examples

• $25 - $140 • Amazon Fire TV Stick and Cube. $40 - $120 • Google . $35 - $70 • Apple TV. $200. (Apple TV+ is Apple’s streaming service) • All connect your TV to the Internet and have streaming apps • Differences in price have to do with TV resolution supported (standard definition (SD), high definition (HD) and 4K, remote control features • You want at least HD

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Streaming Live TV vs Traditional Cable

Streaming Live TV Cable Can be cheaper but does not include Internet; Bundles are more expensive but how much is stated rate is the rate – no additional fees Internet alone? Additional fees and taxes Channel selection? Premium bundles have more channels but are expensive PBS only on YouTube TV (can receive over the air) PBS available on all packages No contract; can cancel at any time Introductory rate often tied to 2 year commitment Setup via Internet; no service men Technicians install Requires fast Internet (see previous slide) Cable TV does not use Internet

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Network Web Sites

• Can go to network web sites and watch live shows and shows already broadcast • Watching live TV requires a subscription or info about your current live TV provider • Watching previously broadcast shows is free • Abc.com, .com, .com, .com • Requires app to watch on mobile device

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Radio

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Podcasts • On demand audio : radio shows! • Prerecorded; not live • Usually a series • Can subscribe which means most recent show will be automatically downloaded • Can play them on a computer or mobile device • On mobile device need a app • iPhone / iPad come with Podcast app • Podcast Examples: “TED Talks”, “The Moth Radio Hour”, “Man in the Window”, “The Shrink Next Door”

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Most Popular Podcast Apps • Apple • * • Stitcher • SoundCloud* • Google Podcasts • Breaker • Castaway 2 • Castro • Different libraries in different apps • *Known as a music steaming app but also does podcasts

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Live Radio

• Can stream live radio broadcasts on your computer or mobile device • On your computer go to radio station’s web site and click on “Listen Live” • On a mobile device get the radio station’s app • There are also apps like radio.net that will stream any radio station

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Music

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Streaming Music Services

• Many, many options to choose from • Can stream (listen but not save) or download (save) • Many services have a free tier with ads; paid tiers don’t have ads • Paid services range from $5-$12 / month • Some services cater to certain genres, i.e., classical music • Need to create an account to use service

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How Services Work

• Can play individual songs or entire albums (on some) • Can create your own playlists • May require paid subscription • Some work like radio stations • Choose an artist: plays music by that performer and then other similar music • Some allow you to upload your own music

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Most Popular Music Streaming Services • Apple Music (includes your iTunes library) • Spotify • Pandora Radio • SoundCloud • Music • iHeart Radio • • SiriusXM • Idagio (classical music)

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SHAZAM

• Shazam is an app that will identify music • Can play a piece in a different streaming app and Shazam ”listens” and will identify • Works with pop and classical

• Also will identify movies and TV shows • Play them in a different app

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Books

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eBooks

• Come as digital audio books or ebooks • Digital audio book: read to you • eBook: Regular book format on your reader • Can borrow free from the library or purchase

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eBooks

• Readers could be your computer but more likely a tablet like a Kindle, Nook, iPad or other tablet • Dedicated readers: Kindle (Amazon), Nook (Barnes & Noble), Kobo • If you read on an iPad, other tablet or computer need to install a reader app

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Apps For Use With The Library

• Libby (formerly Overdrive) • Can search the catalogue, check out books and read with this app • MLN (Minuteman Library Network) • Can search the MLN or your library catalogue • Hoopla • Has its own catalogue of somewhat older titles • Titles always available • Kanopy • Movies only • For watching on your mobile device

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Other Popular Reader Apps

• Apple Books (formerly iBooks) • • Kindle and Nook: these are available as apps for iPad, iPhone, and Android • Wattpad • Aldiko • Bluefire Reader • Many others

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Other Popular Reader Apps, continued

• All these apps have their own libraries • Some titles may be free • Wattpad specializes in lesser known titles and self published books

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