What is Television?
A conference exploring the past, present, and future of television
University of Oregon in Portland, Oregon
March 1-3, 2012
What is television these days? How are digital technologies changing television? How are the Internet and other new media changing the television industry’s model of production, distribution and consumption? What is the future of television?
Television content is now produced using a wide range of digital technologies, distributed via the Internet, mobile devices, and miscellaneous video formats, and viewed at the convenience of consumers. Change is everywhere. But even with these alterations, it can be argued that television remains as significant as ever.
The conference will feature a unique coalescing of video and television professionals, media scholars and students, government and community officials, as well as interested community groups and the public. The event will feature keynote speakers, roundtables, paper presentations, and screenings, in an attempt to answer questions about the changing nature of television.
Presentations will include the following topics (as well as others):
- How is television defined today?
- What is television in a digital world?
- What are the changing practices of the television and video businesses?
- What is the state of competition in the television industry?
- How is globalization affecting television?
- How can the Internet function as a television distribution outlet?
- What new economic models are emerging for the television industry?
- What is the future of public television?’
- What policies or regulations are appropriate for television today?
- Is television content changing as a result of convergence?
- How are television audiences changing?
- What can television history teach us about the future of television?