Headphones out, laptop screens on. Walking down the hallway of BCA, there is always some kind of online activity. Some students are doing homework; others are entertaining themselves, most often by watching movies or television shows. In today’s day and age, technology has made it easier to get access to media and new shows.
Netflix and other online streaming websites are more frequently used by BCA students as digital platforms for viewing television shows and movies, rather than cable television, a student poll showed.
According to a poll of 100 students, which asked them to identify the platform on which they watched most shows and movies, 29% answered Netflix, while only 25% answered cable television. Though not a drastic difference, the poll indicates that cable television is no longer the main way students catch their favorite programs.
“I’d be doing better in school if I didn’t watch so much Netflix.”
However, another choice that had just as great of a percentage answer as Netflix was “other.” What“other” meant differed from student to student, though most cited online streaming websites other than Netflix.
For Yasoda Mantena, an AMST freshman “other” referred to online sites. “Usually YouTube and online streaming sites are more convenient.”
Beata Mirtchouk, an ACAHA freshman, said, “I watch [movies and shows] online on a site. I rarely ever watch actual TV anymore. I feel it is just a waste of time to watch on a TV, because it is mainly reruns and old shows.”
She added, “Online, episodes can easily be accessed and just be chosen with the specific seasons
and it is just easier and more convenient.”
Among other answers, 12% of students said they did not watch TV and 5% said they go to the movie theaters to view new movies that are released.
But what makes Netflix so special that led 29% of students to choose this answer?
“It [Netflix] allows for a neat, seamless experience when ‘binge watching.’”
Akanksha Kataria, an ABF freshman said that Netflix has variety that can appeal to many different individuals. “Netflix has a lot of genres that could suit a lot of people.”
An AVPA-T junior, Carlos Tariche said he prefers Netflix due to its convenience. “Almost every relevant TV show, except those distributed by HBO, are available to stream on Netflix and it allows for a neat, seamless experience when ‘binge watching’ or looking up something to watch when with friends or at someone else’s house.”
Samuel Nardone, an AVPA-T freshman also referred to convenience. “ It’s easier for people to go online and see something than to figure out when something is on TV.” As for himself, he said that if it wasn’t for Netflix, he “would be going to sleep earlier” and “ would be less tired and be more active during the day.”
Betsally Falcones, a freshman in AMST, said she mainly watches cable television but she turns to Netflix for less recent shows. “Well, like in my case, I wanted to start watching “Grey’s Anatomy,” but TV doesn’t play the first episode so I started watching Netflix.”
However, Falcones said that she prefers cable television “because it has more recent shows and Netflix takes about a year to come out with more recent things.”
She laughed and added, “I watch Netflix during school. I’d be doing better in school if I didn’t watch so much Netflix.”
Other students, like AMST sophomore Seonuk Kim said he watches Netflix because of lack of access to cable television. “We don’t have a functioning TV at home. Through Netflix, that’s the only way [to watch shows].” Kim added that Netflix is very convenient to access as it is “accessible through your TV and your laptop and your phone.”
Like Falcones, Kim cited that shows and movies influence his studies. “I end up doing a lot of last-minute work… and it takes away a lot of my productive time as well.”
Overall, when students asked how long they watched whatever they liked to watch on their digital platforms, numbers were relatively low. Many said they did not spent any hours doing so, which supports the responses of the students in the 12% who answered they did not watch TV.
Though some described lack of interest, others such as ABF freshman Izabela Zawartka blamed lack of time. She said, “I don’t have time because I’m away from home more than I am at home.”
While there were some outliers, such as ten hours, the majority of students’ answers ranged between 0-3 hours.
The results of the poll seem to be in coherence with trends regarding decreasing television viewership. As an example, an article in TIME magazine, “Fewer People Than Ever Are Watching TV”, stated that 2.6 million households do not subscribe to cable television anymore and described streaming sites such as Netflix as well as other factors as causes of this decline.
With the rapid growth of online streaming and technology in general, it may not be long before cable television is a thing of the past.