The TV industry has undergone a revolution in the last 20 years. The way TV shows are thought out and then presented has changed totally, and this has had a profound effect on how our attention as audiences is captured and maintained. Today, we’ll be covering five of the most meaningful changes that will help design better digital signage content.
Some of the major changes in TV in the last 20 years include:
1. Shortened shot length
The fact that shots are shorter than they used to be has affected the length of the average watcher’s attention span. Longer shots meant that the viewer had to maintain their concentration. More transitions between shots mean that the viewer is presented with new information more frequently, keeping attention on the screen.
2. Increased motion and movement
Advanced technology in film and television production means that there is increased movement and motion. Older TV shows featured much less movement because the technology and equipment, as simple as cameras on rails, were not there to create it.
CGI filming has profoundly affected the amount of action, and movement TV shows and films contain. This creates in today’s viewer a constant desire to see movement.
When a scene is static, the viewer’s interest wanders. For example, production companies would have previously recorded a conversation between two characters in a closed environment like the home. In modern TV shows, such a scene is likely to be filmed with a background in motion, such as a busy restaurant and full of cuts.
3. The picture quality
Films and TV shows depict a more realistic view of the colors around us. Colors and images are sharp. Colors that are vivid and interesting keeps the viewer interested. Today, most viewers find watching shows in the black and white format dull and uninteresting.
Even TV shows from 20 years ago will put them off because the color and images show less contrast. This has lead to the digital remastering of many old series. It’s done so that new viewers will watch these shows and maintain their attention.
4. The content
What is acceptable on TV shows today was taboo some 20 years ago. The way people of color, homosexuality, and women are portrayed have also changed. Minorities, members of the LGBT community, and religions, in general, are less stereotyped on TV shows.
Where the stay-at-home mom and breadwinner dad was the norm 20 years ago, the roles are often reversed in TV shows today. People expect more inclusivity than before. If they do not get it, they are inclined to actively remove their attention from the show.
5. Popular Genres
The genres of TV shows have evolved over the years as well. Reality TV made its entrance to the market and is a staple of most viewers’ playlist. There is a tendency for comedy shows to gain great popularity. People find the need to gain amusement from TV shows more important than ever.
What Do These Trend Changes Mean to Digital Signage Content?
In short, viewers’ needs have changed when it comes to TV shows. They need shorter shots and more scene changes to maintain their attention. They want to be visually stimulated by the color and images they see.
Viewers seek a more relaxed approach toward language and society in the content of the shows they watch. Viewers need virtually constant action and movement in the shows they watch. They also have certain needs that a TV show should satisfy, such as the need to feel amused by what they see.
TV shows that try to keep to what was acceptable 20 years ago stand the chance of failure. For a TV show to be successful, the makers must keep up with the times.
How Do These Changes Affect Digital Signage Content?
You might not necessarily draw a line between TV shows and digital signage, but it does exist. These days, digital signage is an essential marketing tool for any organization. Your digital signage content needs to embrace and take into consideration the changes in TV shows over the years.
If your digital signage content doesn’t meet the criteria of its viewers, it won’t make any appreciable impact on your sales and marketing strategy.
Tips for digital signage content that accommodates viewers’ needs based on TV show trends
- Your digital signage should not be static. There need to be several shots that the sign cycles through over a 30-60 second period. A static sign with one shot will not maintain the interest and attention of the reader.
- Your digital signage content needs to incorporate movement of some type. Movement draws the attention. A lack of movement loses it.
- Your digital signage content needs to make use of high definition colors and images. Anything blurry or dull in color will put the viewer off.
- The images and information you convey in your digital signage content need to incorporate messages of tolerance and acceptance. Don’t confine yourself to stereotypes of groups of people, as viewers will find this insincere.
- Your digital signage content should not only inform the reader. It needs to satisfy their need to be entertained. The easiest way to do this is to amuse the reader. Whether it’s a funny statement or image, something that entertains the reader is needed.
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