In a digital age, how we consume content is constantly changing and it has become increasingly difficult to predict the future of content consumption.

At the recent IABM Conference in early December the topic of how under 30s consume content was discussed on a small panel chaired by John Ive, IABM’s Director of Technology & Strategic Insight.

The panel featured RTS London student delegates Damien Ashton-Wellman, Liz Scruton, myself and 2016’s RTS Young Technologist of the Year, Technical Specialist James Goodhand.

Drawing on our own research, we discussed the key elements explaining how millennials are consuming content. Each of the RTS London panelists produced a short video covering our chosen areas of discussion, allowing us to develop our findings.

Damien Ashton-Wellman discussed where millennials are consuming content and why, finding that many millennials look to online distribution services such as Netflix thanks to their accessibility. Millennials also actively seek out free content. Ashton-Wellman revealed the maxim of the millennial to be “anything, anywhere and anytime.”

I sought to determine whether broadcast television has lost out by not providing content that online services can provide. Ofcom research shows that 16-24s make up one of the largest TV demographics however students from London’s University of Westminster said that YouTube offers more in terms of a “connection” between creators and consumers. They also felt that recent trends in television have produced content that is less “enriching for young minds.”

Liz Scruton focused on the various platforms used when consuming content and the makeup of their audiences. Online distribution services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime came out on top, thanks to their ability to accommodate the busy schedules of millennials by allowing users to binge watch programs at their leisure.

James Goodhand had shared his thoughts on the subjects covered as well, but also elaborated on his great achievement of being 2016’s RTS Young Technologist of the Year.

I am extremely grateful to Terry Marsh and John Ive for the opportunity to join this panel and share our thoughts and opinions on the future of television in the digital age. 

The panelists videos are below.