Beyond the Broadcast Model

Chapter 2 in The Business of Media describes how the emergence of digital media in the 1990s moved the industry beyond the broadcast model pioneered by radio and television. "Rather than a limited number of media products supported entirely by advertisers targeted to a mass mainstream audience, the new media landscape featured many more media outlets producing content for smaller niche audiences available via various fee structures" (p. 63).

Bite-sized media sales and subscription services are two common fee structures. The first strategy lets consumers buy a single film viewing ("on demand" cable TV) or a single song download (iTunes). The second strategy charges a monthly fee for access to hundreds of TV channels (cable or satellite) or a vast catalog of films and TV programs delivered to the subscriber's home (Netflix).

• In your view, does the digital model offer audiences more diverse content than the broadcast model? More diverse perspectives? A freer flow of information?
• Please cite specific examples to support your position. 
• Compared with the broadcast media model, does the digital model have any disadvantages?