Unit 1 Distribution Films TV Newspapers Traditional Methods

Unit 1: Distribution Films, TV & Newspapers

Traditional Methods of Distribution These are the older ways of distributing media products. These methods came around before the widespread use of the internet so are more physical copies and had to be purchased by leaving the house. Many of these methods are still used today but are being slowly replaced by newer methods. These traditional methods are less practical to some which is why they’re turning away.

Traditional Distribution: Film • Cinemas – A date is set for when the films is sent to cinemas and how long it Stays there. • DVD/Blu-Ray • VHS • On TV • Rental shops: E. g. Blockbuster An example of this is Star Wars: Return of the Jedi which was first released on VHS in 1990 and then 1992 for $80. It was then re-released in 1995 with the rest of the trilogy. In 1997 it saw another release as a Special Edition.

Traditional Distribution: TV • Television broadcast and scheduling • Syndication – After a TV programme is aired it is syndicated to other channels that continue to show it after its original run. An example of this is the sit-com Friends which finished airing in 2004 but has been showing in syndication on Channel 4 and Comedy Central ever since.

Traditional Distribution: Newspapers • Printed and sent straight to shops • Newspapers have been distributed through paper print for over Three -Hundred years all across the world. • The oldest British newspaper still in print is the London Gazette which had its first edition published in 1666.

Contemporary Methods of Distribution Contemporary methods of distribution are modern methods. They often utilise the internet and allow you to purchase and consume media without ever leaving your chair. These new methods are becoming increasingly popular and even overtaking the older traditional methods. Despite the advantages to these new methods it does mean that many jobs that were previously needed to produce the products are lost. It also means if you loose the device you’ve downloaded the media on to you have lost the product completely.

Contemporary Distribution: Film • • • Netflix Amazon Prime Instant Video You. Tube & other Social Media Illegal pirate streaming sites TV subscription services: E. g. Sky Movies An example of a film using both traditional distribution and modern methods is the 2018 release, Annihilation. It was given a cinema release in the USA but in all other territories it was released straight to Netflix.

Contemporary Distribution: TV • Netflix • Amazon Prime • Catch-up services: E. g. BBC i. Player and All 4 BBC Three went from A TV channel to only putting its content on BBC i. Player and You. Tube. The TV programme Black Mirror was originally aired on Channel 4 until 2014, after then they lost the rights and Netflix picked it up for series 3 and 4 with a fifth in production.

Contemporary Distribution: TV • Newspapers are now also available online and as apps. • Some newspapers have even stopped printing completely and gone completely online.