The Death of TV: Rise of the Feed

Introduction

In a world where our smartphones are never far from our reach, the traditional idea of “television” as we used to know it—family gathered around a living-room screen, appointment watching and remote control in hand—is quietly slipping into history. As content creators and media strategists, we must recognise that the shift from broadcast schedules to algorithm-driven feeds is not just an incremental change. It’s a tectonic re-ordering of how we consume, create and monetise entertainment.

1. What happened to TV?

For decades, the broadcast/cable model dominated. Networks determined what people watched, when and how they watched it. But that model has crumbled under multiple forces:

• The rise of “cord-cutting” — viewers abandoning cable & satellite in favour of internet-based alternatives. Streaming, on-demand and mobile-first platforms gaining traction and siphoning attention. 

• Younger audiences shunning linear TV in favour of personalised, interactive feeds. (E.g., one report noted 90 % of 18-24-year-olds opt for streaming services over traditional channels.)

• Traditional networks bearing the cost: major writedowns and losses as broadcast models fail to adapt. 

In short: the “death” of TV is symbolic of the erosion of the legacy model, even if screens and “TV-style” content still exist.

2. What is the “Feed” anyway?

When we talk of the “feed,” we’re referring to a constantly-updating stream of content—whether social media, TikTok/Instagram style, algorithmic daily scrolls, or mobile-first micro-video formats. The feed is:

• On-demand & continuous: You don’t wait for a 8 pm slot. The next content is always ready.

• Personalised: Algorithms curate content based on your preferences, behaviour, engagement.

• Mobile-native: Optimised for handheld devices, vertical formats, short attention spans.

• Interactive & social: Likes, comments, shares, direct creator–audience interaction.

• Creator-centric: Individuals or micro-networks can build massive followings without traditional broadcast infrastructure.

As creators in Bangladesh and globally, this means your audience is less waiting for “TV time” and more scrolling your feed during commutes, between tasks, on phones or tablets.

3. Why this shift matters (and why it’s accelerating)

a) Attention economy

The battle is now not just for content rights but for attention slices—5-minute scrolls, 30-second videos, trending drops. Traditional 30- or 60-minute TV episodes struggle to engage mobile-first viewers who expect quick gratification.

b) Platform economics

Streaming-services and social platforms have disrupted the value chain. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok and region-specific apps bypass the gate-keeping of broadcast networks. According to one think piece: “The death of TV has been predicted as imminent… yet 14 years later it remains premature.”  But the model is clearly shifting.

c) Globalisation & localisation

Feeds don’t care about national boundaries in the same way as broadcast channels did. A Bangladeshi creator can reach diaspora in London, New York or Dubai almost as easily as local viewers. That makes content creation more agile and diverse.

d) Cost-structure & access

Creating for the feed often requires fewer resources than full-scale TV production. Lower budgets, faster turnarounds, dynamic formats. This democratises content creation and enables creators (like you, Ali) to leverage agility and authenticity instead of big studio budgets.

4. What this means for content creators & the entertainment industry

As someone involved in content creation and future-tech adaptation, here are key takeaways:

1. Shift format, not just platform: Traditional TV episodes may still exist, but feed-first formats (short-form, episodic, interactive) are increasingly dominant. Consider how your storytelling adapts to mobile attention spans.

2. Embrace real-time and interactivity: Feeds allow direct feedback loops, live sessions, comment-driven pivoting. Use that to build community rather than passive viewers.

3. Hybrid monetisation: While TV relied on ad splits and subscriptions, feeds offer sponsorships, micro-donations, live-commerce, brand partnership tied to influencers.

4. Local voice, global reach: As a creator in Bangladesh, you can craft content with local flavour but global accessibility. The feed model gives you potential global virality without relying on TV network deals.

5. Technology stack matters: AI-driven recommendation, mobile analytics, platform optimisation—understand them. The “next” wave in entertainment will integrate AI-curation, ephemeral content, immersive AR/VR experiences.

6. Legacy TV still lives—but in morphing form: Note that while linear TV declines, some experts urge caution about declaring it dead. For example, one industry article says the impending death of linear TV has been “greatly exaggerated. So don’t ignore broadcast-style storytelling entirely, especially for certain markets or demographics.

5. The Bangladesh perspective & future-forward view

In Bangladesh, the transition may be slower compared to major markets, but it is happening. Mobile penetration, cheaper data, stronger youth demographics mean that feed-based consumption is primed to boom.

• Local creators can exploit the gap: While global platforms produce “generic” content, there’s huge opportunity for culturally-relevant micro-content for Bangla-speaking audiences (and diaspora).

• Platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, even TikTok in Bangladesh allow creators to bypass traditional TV gatekeepers and build direct monetisation.

• The entertainment industry here should pivot: channel owners and producers need to think beyond cable and satellite—towards mobile-first, app-first, feed-first.

• Tech adaptation: AI tools for editing, analytics, mobile storytelling, AR filters will become part of the creator toolkit. If you’re looking ahead, invest time in these.

6. Challenges & caution signs

• Content saturation: With everyone creating for the feed, discoverability becomes a major challenge. Algorithm changes can crush visibility overnight.

• Monetisation clarity: While feeds offer flexibility, stable revenue models are still evolving (especially in emerging markets).

• Quality vs speed trade-off: Short-form often means shorter production cycles, which can impact depth of storytelling.

• Audience fragmentation: The feed model fragments culture—no longer “TV event” moment shared by millions. That can reduce cultural impact unless managed well.

• Legacy systems: Especially in places like Bangladesh, some segments still watch linear TV; ignoring this entirely may lose certain demographics.

7. What’s next (2025-2030)

• Micro-episodes & mobile-first e-series: Platforms will serve binge-friendly short episodes (5–10 mins) tailored for phones.

• Live & interactive feed content: Real-time content with audience participation, branching narratives, creator Q&A.

• Hybrid experiences: Integration of AR/VR segments, interactive stories where viewers choose the path—blurring “TV show” and “game”.

• AI-driven curation + creator tools: AI helping creators generate content variations, optimise for engagement, repurpose long-form into bite-sized segments.

• Regional vernacular domination: Localised feed content (Bangla, Bengali) attracts global diaspora and local youth; creators who tap into this have leverage.

• Platform mergers & consolidation: Platforms will evolve—some feed platforms may integrate with streaming, live-commerce, gaming. The formerly separate TV vs feed divide will blur further.

8. Final thoughts

The phrase “death of TV” is both dramatic and misleading. What we’re witnessing is not a literal death of screens but a rebirth of how entertainment is distributed, consumed and monetised. The “feed” has emerged as the new battleground.

For content creators like you, Ali, this is a pivotal moment. Rather than asking whether TV is dead, ask instead: How can I tell stories that live in the feed? How can I engage audiences in mobile-first, global-accessible, culturally-relevant ways? And how can I build an ecosystem around that—community, monetisation, adaptation to AI and tech, retention rather than just one-off views?

In Bangladesh and globally, the “TV-era” model is giving way to the “feed-era”. Embrace the feed, harness its dynamics, and you’ll not just survive the shift—you’ll lead it.

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