Flag

We stand with Ukraine and our team members from Ukraine. Here are ways you can help

Get exclusive access to thought-provoking articles, bonus podcast content, and cutting-edge whitepapers. Become a member of the UX Magazine community today!

Home ›› Business Value and ROI ›› Questioning the Television Experience in the Age of Snapchat

Questioning the Television Experience in the Age of Snapchat

by Dallas Sargent
3 min read
Share this post on
Tweet
Share
Post
Share
Email
Print

Save

cyclicat-television-hero

In an age when we’ve got more content than we know what to do with and we can access it whenever we want to, what makes the television experience relevant?

TV isn’t what it used to be. Once the cornerstone glowing screen in households around the world, television sets now jockey for attention with tablets, smartphones, desktop computers, and even some refrigerators.

The television experience of yore—flipping through the channels and settling on whatever is reasonably entertaining, or tuning in at a specific time to watch your favorite show—has almost faded completely. Now we DVR our programs of choice, or binge watch them through our preferred streaming service. In a race to keep fresh content rolling out, odds are that service has added “production house” to its repertoire.

These are truly strange and glorious days for content providers and consumers alike. Forty years ago, if you wanted to watch the Super Bowl or the Academy Awards, you had to tune in at a specific time. Things changed in the late ‘70s when VCR technology entered the mainstream (though programming a VCR was confusing enough that you often felt the need to hit record yourself when the program began). This set the stage for the on-demand nature of current media consumption, but what we see now is a pulsating smorgasbord of video content.

The basic nature of what television is now can be articulated in wildly divergent ways, making it impossible to pinpoint what trends will win out as our mechanisms and habits for consumption continue to change. But it’s been interesting to watch one aspect of the old-fashioned way of experiencing television come back into fashion: content as a one-time, don’t-miss-it event.

Snapchat’s Live Stories feature creates a curated stream of user submitted Snaps from various locations and events. According to a recap of the MTV Video Music Awards in Digiay, “A full 12 million people watched the Live Story from the event, according to sources. The Snapchat audience technically exceeded the actual ratings of the broadcast and shows why networks and brands are supporting these alternative viewing options.” Meanwhile, Snapchat’s Discover feature competes with providers like YouTube by offering content curated by actual media professionals.

BBC LIVE gives users digital companion experiences across devices

“What we have seen so far, with the new feature Discover, is relatively old-fashioned,” writes Matthew Ingram in a recent Gigaom article. “Instead of just having a bunch of user-generated content and then some native advertising mixed in, the way Twitter and Facebook do, Snapchat offers a selection of content created by a handful of media partners like CNN and Vice.”

Newcomers are not the only game in town when it comes to evolved modes of content consumption. BBC recently launched the new LIVE digital service to coincide with their coverage of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. Winner of Design for Experience awards in both the Forward-Looking Experience and Digital Media and Entertainment categories, BBC LIVE gives users digital companion experiences across devices, allowing them to watch live multiple video streams, including online exclusive alternate views. Users can also watch for video cue points of key moments, review highlight clips, and read running “live text” commentary and add their own thoughts.

While BBC LIVE is a comprehensive way for a content provider to create a proprietary branded experience that works across almost every screen in the house (sorry fridge), is also has the potential of brining these disparate devices together into a shared experience. The reality for now seems to be that media brands and social networking services will need to work in concert to keep users tuned into whatever our idea of television is.

As Todd Spangler pointed out in a recent Variety article, “Media companies, ogling Snapchat’s 100 million-plus user base that skews toward the 18-24 set, are flocking to it—because of the here-today-gone-tomorrow approach, not in spite of it.”

Spangler highlights Stephen Colbert’s use of the service to hype the debut of his new late show on CBS, and the host of big players producing original content for the platform (from Major League Baseball to Comedy Central to Vice).

“None of this, however, is to say Snapchat has a fundamentally superior model that’s going to put the likes of YouTube out of business,” Spangler says. “Snapchat, as it exists today, is totally unsuitable for Netflix-style binge-watching of long-form entertainment.”

So what is the television experience? It’s whatever you want it to be. Of course getting whatever you want whenever you want it isn’t super satisfying when we haven’t figured out exactly what we want.

Image of old television in the grass courtesy Shutterstock.

post authorDallas Sargent

Dallas Sargent
Dallas is the Program Manager at Design for Experience. He digs words.

Tweet
Share
Post
Share
Email
Print

Related Articles

Indonesia’s retail landscape is shifting fast. From digital giants to local shops, businesses are adapting with new strategies to stay ahead. What’s driving the change, and who’s winning the retail game? Find out here.

Article by Thasya Ingriany
Scenarios of Change: How Retail Adapts to Economic Shifts in Indonesia
  • The article explores how Indonesia’s retail sector is adapting to economic shifts, balancing digital transformation and traditional strategies.
  • It highlights how large e-commerce platforms are thriving by offering competitive pricing and flexible payment options, while traditional retailers embrace omnichannel strategies to stay relevant.
  • The piece emphasizes the growing importance of hyperlocal retailing, trust-building through immersive brand experiences, and loyalty programs that drive consumer engagement.
Share:Scenarios of Change: How Retail Adapts to Economic Shifts in Indonesia
15 min read

Discover how breaking down silos and embracing cross-functional collaboration can lead to smarter, more user-centered design — and better products for everyone.

Article by Rodolpho Henrique
Beyond the Design Silo: How Collaboration Elevates UX
  • The article explores how siloed UX design practices can hinder product success and argues for cross-functional collaboration as essential to creating meaningful user experiences.
  • It outlines the benefits of working closely with product managers, engineers, and stakeholders to align user needs with technical feasibility and business goals.
  • The piece provides real-world collaboration examples across research, prototyping, design systems, and accessibility to show how teamwork leads to more innovative and effective UX outcomes.
Share:Beyond the Design Silo: How Collaboration Elevates UX
4 min read

Designing for AI? Know what your agent can actually do. This guide breaks down the four core capabilities every UX designer must understand to build smarter, safer, and more user-centered AI experiences.

Article by Greg Nudelman
Secrets of Agentic UX: Emerging Design Patterns for Human Interaction with AI Agents
  • The article examines how UX designers can effectively work with AI agents by understanding the four key capability types that shape agent behavior and user interaction.
  • It emphasizes the importance of evaluating an AI agent’s perception, reasoning, action, and learning abilities early in the design process to create experiences that are realistic, ethical, and user-centered.
  • The piece provides practical frameworks and examples — from smart home devices to healthcare bots — to help designers ask the right questions, collaborate cross-functionally, and scope AI use responsibly.
Share:Secrets of Agentic UX: Emerging Design Patterns for Human Interaction with AI Agents
10 min read

Join the UX Magazine community!

Stay informed with exclusive content on the intersection of UX, AI agents, and agentic automation—essential reading for future-focused professionals.

Hello!

You're officially a member of the UX Magazine Community.
We're excited to have you with us!

Thank you!

To begin viewing member content, please verify your email.

Tell us about you. Enroll in the course.

    This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Check our privacy policy and