Media Homework

   I will be telling you of the importance of technological convergence for instuitutions and audiences based of the media area in which i have stuied.
   There has been a vast change in technology over the past few years of how people are now able to view media content. This is known as convergence, where people can now do more things with new methods. An example of this would be using an Iphone to watch movies in a good quality, play games, watch TV and listen to music.
   This has had a huge impact in the successful outcome of films. This is becuase people now do not need to pay for watching a movie in the cinemas, as do not have to buy a films DVD or Blue-Ray; as they can are now able to download these onto their personal technology devices. As of this the movies do not get to make a great turnover in the box office which could determine how long the movie will be placed in cinemas.
   Institutions are suffering in the distribution field of their not just their movies but other movie which have used this particular institution to get their film viewed by a wider range of people in different countries such as: Working Title joined Universal in order to get their movies out around the world due to the success of a well known company, with films of 'The Boat That Rocked, Four Weddings and A Funeral and Love Actually'.  This is because the generation in which most of their products are aimed at is of a younger audience, which are the main generation to have the new better technology. By this, a movie doesnt get viewed if the movies were to be put out in cinemas meaning that they wouldnt last very long which is very deverstating for these big organisations.
  Statistics show that over 50% of the overall budget of from the pre-production, production and post-production has been spent on the distribution of the movie and due to the fact that people can now use Computers, Iphone, Laptops, Mobiles to view media, shows us that a lot of the money has been wasted as well as a lot of time has been spent. The money that had been spent could have been saved and spent more on improving the movie and any other important things that come under production.
   The convergence of technology is still rapidly changing at present, this could means that in a few years time the only part that the institutions need to focus on, is the making of the movie for it then to go on and be downloaded. However, if institutions where clever about the way they did this they would still be able to make a profit out of this form of distribution by charging the people to download. If this was done, then the pricing would need to be thought of and reasonable because if it was seen to be too expensive, then the audience/target market may find other ways in which they can get hold of the movie.
   There is another way in which the institutions could keep up with the change in convergence by mega-franchising products which are to do with the specific movies. For examplke, Twilight created bed sheets, mug, pencil cases, T-shirts, bags and many more items to keep their audience interested in the movie. If the institution was to carry on doing this type of promotion, then the audience may become more interested in the product and therefore encourage them to download the movie.