Event television (sometimes used in verb form as the

buzzword A buzzword is a word or phrase, new or already existing, that becomes popular for a period of time. Buzzwords often derive from technical terms yet often have much of the original technical meaning removed through fashionable use, being simply used ...

"eventize") is a

television network A television network or television broadcaster is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, where a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay television providers. Until the mid ...

marketing Marketing is the process of exploring, creating, and delivering value to meet the needs of a target market in terms of goods and services; potentially including selection of a target audience; selection of certain attributes or themes to emph ...

concept which arose in the early 2010s and is characterized by a shift in priorities towards enticing audiences to watch programming immediately as it is

broadcast Broadcasting is the distribution of audio or video content to a dispersed audience via any electronic mass communications medium, but typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves), in a one-to-many model. Broadcasting began wi ...

. This is largely in response to the tendency of modern audiences to time shift programming ( DVR) or view using on-demand streaming services, which has produced a steady decline in live viewership ratings.

Criteria

Live episodes have long been a staple of television programming, but the shift towards event television has greatly accelerated development of new styles of "DVR-proof" programming and new methods of marketing in response to the growth of these new technologies. Networks are focusing on more live entertainment and investing into more sports programming, which are less attractive to DVR users, but excite and engage live viewers. Scripted programs have adopted the strategy as well, by making more frequent use of sudden, unannounced plot twists or major character deaths. "It's important to keep your fans engaged", CBS entertainment president

Nina Tassler Nina Tassler is an American television executive and producer. She was most recently the chairwoman of CBS Entertainment until 2015. Life and career Tassler was born in New York City to a Jewish father and a Puerto Rican mother who converted t ...

said. "You keep eventizing your entire season." Event television often makes use of interactive ways to encourage live viewer participation, such as voting for contestants and results shows,

interactive media Interactive media normally refers to products and services on digital computer-based systems which respond to the user's actions by presenting content such as text, moving image, animation, video and audio. Since its early conception, various f ...

such as

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viral marketing Viral marketing is a business strategy that uses existing social networks to promote a product mainly on various social media platforms. Its name refers to how consumers spread information about a product with other people, much in the same way tha ...

, or

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s. Prior to the 2010s, the phrase "event television" was used to describe live broadcasts covering certain ''events'' in real time, such as pageants, sports,

breaking news Breaking news, interchangeably termed late-breaking news and also known as a special report or special coverage or news flash, is a current issue that broadcasters feel warrants the interruption of scheduled programming or current news in orde ...

, or awards presentations. Starting in the 1960s, it was also used to describe certain "must watch" programs created for television which significantly altered viewer habits for a short time, drawing them to a particular channel for a night or even "emptying the streets and pubs" during their duration.

List of shows and specials labeled as "event television"

* ''

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'' – The 50th anniversary special of

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the ...

which was simulcast globally in November 2013. * ''

The X Factor ''The X Factor'' is a television music competition franchise created by British producer Simon Cowell and his company Syco Entertainment. It originated in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for '' Pop Idol'' (2001–2003 ...

'' * ''

The Jay Leno Show ''The Jay Leno Show'' is a talk show created and hosted by Jay Leno. Premiering on NBC on September 14, 2009, the program aired on weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ET/ PT through February 9, 2010. The program was modeled upon the format of a late ...

'' * ''

Strictly Come Dancing ''Strictly Come Dancing'' (informally known as ''Strictly'') is a British dance contest show in which celebrities partner with professional dancers to compete in mainly ballroom and Latin dance. Each couple is scored by a panel of usually 4 j ...

'' * '' 24: Live Another Day'' * '' Twin Peaks: The Return'' * '' The Sound of Music Live!'' (December 2013) * ''Live from Space: Lap of the Planet'' (March 2014)

References

{{reflist Television terminology Live broadcasting Television advertising 1960s in television 2000s in television 2010s in television

Criteria

List of shows and specials labeled as "event television"

See also

References