My wild ramble about Convergence Culture

Henry Jenkins, the author of “Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide” (2006) defines Convergence culture as “where old and new media collide,where grassroots and corporate media collide, where the power of the media producer and the power of the consumer interact in unpredictable ways.”
Basically, Jenkins believes that as we mix media we develop a ‘culture’ that grows use to his and in fact demands that type of mashed-up media. Convergence culture is highly participatory – encouraging individuals to “to seek out new information and make connections among dispersed media content,” it has created new modes of engagement with media.
One Example of this “collision” of old and new media is watching TV programmes on the internet easily and usually available to all. This is hugely popular now, with many major TV channels have an alternate website ( or YouTube) which allows viewer to watch the programmes at a later time on their home computer ( something which almost renders TV not needed – as a uni student who doesn’t want to pay for a tv license i spend a lot of time on such websites ha-ha) Some of these programmes have been especially made JUST for the internet viewing, such as Vic & Bob’s Afternoon Delights produced by Foster’s lager. After having their latest programme idea turned down by the BBC the two already famous comedians ended up being offered to make shorter videos ( about 5 minutes) and have them posted on the internet, thus allowing them both more freedom in what they do and the chance to be watched by a large audience ( although probably not as many as had the show been broadcasted on national television) the two, as already said, are successful comedians so their fanbase is likely to watch their “skits” be it on television or the internet and so they keep a large following. However, small production groups also choose to broadcast their videos on the internet, through either personal choice, or perhaps because television companies are not interested in their program. One example of this is the web series “Continuum” which has put its first three under ten minute programmes on facebook to gain exposure. Although, it is much harder for this team to get a large amount of viewers as unlike Vic and Bob they do not already have a fan-base from any previous work. However, broadcasting the short segments on the internet allows them to reach a different audience, especially as they have uploaded the videos through facebook, allowing word to travel “facebook friend to facebook friend”
Whilst these two programmes are no threat to the old media of television, there may be a time int he future where it is simply easier to watch television programs on the internet ( especially if it become more popular to make programmes JUST for the internet) and the television may eventually become less popular and relevant with the internet and personal computers combining with and taking over the old media form of a "television programme"