Broadcast Television: The Digital Dismantling of an Entire Industry?

Broadcast Television: The Digital Dismantling of an Entire Industry?

Author: Gareth King September 8, 2025 Duration: 47:46

By replacing linear, scheduled programming with huge libraries of on-demand content, have the business models and power structures of traditional tv been toppled for good?

To help us see the full picture, we’re joined by Amanda Lotz, an award-winning author, professor and research leader at Queensland University of Technology’s Digital Media Research Centre.

⁠https://amandalotz.com⁠

⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com.au/stores/Amanda-D.-Lotz/author/B001JSDEIW⁠⁠

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/adlotz/⁠

⁠https://bsky.app/profile/drtvlotz.bsky.social

Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.

Follow the show, let us know what else to look into at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or support us at ⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/rbtishow⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, Amanda Lotz explains the profound impact of the internet on broadcast television, along with how on-demand viewing has transformed audience engagement and the business models of traditional TV.

We also explore the evolution of television, the rise of streaming services like Netflix, and the changing metrics of success in the industry, and touch on the future of traditional broadcasting and the broader concept of video consumption in a digital age.

00:00 The Evolution of Television and Media Studies

03:02 Impact of the Internet on Traditional TV

05:34 The Post-Network Era Explained

08:12 Changing Audience Behaviours and Viewing Habits

10:34 The Role of Technology in Viewing Experiences

13:21 The Inevitability of On-Demand Viewing

15:45 Netflix's Influence on Streaming Services

18:14 The Australian Broadcasting Landscape

20:41 Metrics of Success in a Fragmented Market

25:02 Understanding Netflix's Viewing Patterns

27:17 Traditional Broadcasters vs. Streaming Disruption

30:59 The New Golden Age of Television

33:22 Local Content Quotas in Australia

37:05 The Future of Traditional Broadcasting

42:50 The Evolution of Video Consumption


It’s a question that nags at anyone who’s ever felt a pang of nostalgia or a wave of digital fatigue: are we better or worse off because of our constant connection? Hosted by Gareth King, Ruined By The Internet? digs into that uneasy feeling, moving beyond simple headlines to explore how our online world actively moulds society, culture, and the texture of daily life. This isn’t about reviewing apps or gadgets; it’s about treating the digital realm as the pervasive environment it has become. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with leading thinkers and researchers from around the world, dissecting the real evidence behind our shared anxieties and hopes. You’ll hear nuanced discussions that ask whether the casualties we often blame on technology are inevitable, or if we’re simply misdiagnosing deeper societal shifts. This podcast provides a space for considered reflection, offering listeners a clearer lens through which to view their own place in a world that is, for better or worse, thoroughly wired.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 26

Ruined By The Internet? - Uncovering the human cost of our digital world
Podcast Episodes
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