Jenkins states that shows such as Survivor and American Idol are the first big application of media convergence, demonstrating the crossroads between old and new media. These shows changed advertising and the way we watch television. Viewers become invested in the show because they help determine the outcomes. By their second season they received 20 million calls or texts and phone companies reported a third of those that sent texts to American Idol had never sent a text message before. There are three main people who watch, zappers, casuals, and loyals. zappers just flip through a lot of different shows, casuals put more time into a show, and loyals are die hard viewers who never miss an episode. Product placement has become big in these shows. The judges drink out of only Coca-cola cups. Sponsors (AT&T and Ford) of contests and voting keys viewers in to that sponsors product or services.
Discussion Questions:
1. Does it seem like product placement is everywhere and overdone?
2. How do shows try to get people to move from zappers to casuals to loyals?
American Idol Website (notice "Presented By" in upper right hand corner)
Network TV views/ranking
Discussion Questions:
1. Does it seem like product placement is everywhere and overdone?
2. How do shows try to get people to move from zappers to casuals to loyals?
American Idol Website (notice "Presented By" in upper right hand corner)
Network TV views/ranking
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