Entertainment is no longer confined to flat screens. It has become something you step into:
This has given rise to While linear TV is dying, live events—like the Oscars, the Super Bowl halftime show, or the finale of a hit HBO series—are bigger than ever because they are shared experiences. The content isn't just the show; the content is the conversation about the show.
: The trend of turning video games into hit TV shows (e.g., The Last of Us ) or books into cinematic universes.
It is impossible to discuss without addressing the shadow on the wall. The same algorithms that recommend a cooking show also recommend sensationalized, often misleading political content. Why? Because outrage is a form of engagement.
Meanwhile, the "creator economy" has turned fans into financiers. Patreon, Substack, and Twitch allow consumers to pay creators directly. This bypasses the traditional gatekeepers (studios, networks, publishers). A niche podcast about niche history can now be for a small, dedicated, and profitable audience.