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Annotated Bibliography

Big Brother and Interactive Multimedia

This annotated bibliography focuses on converging technologies that have allowed multimedia programs and as a result, the ability for audience interaction.

Currie, D. (2003) ‘Convergence: bruised but not buried,’ Intermedia [Online], vol. 31, no. 4/5, pp. 22. Available: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?RQT=309&VInst=PROD&VName=PQD&VType=PQD&Fmt=3&did=000000662620481&clientId=14394 [Accessed : 2 Aug 2004]. ISSN 0309118X

The journal article sets out to determine what convergence has achieved. Following the dotcom boom of the past few years, Currie identified separate levels to effectively outline the path of convergence. The first discussed is network convergence. From this angle, Currie argues "convergence will have taken place when all the different electronic communications networks are each capable of providing all the different services." One way broadcasting and two way telephone response has been identified as a prominent area in which convergence is flourishing. An example given is interactive television such as shopping and voting.

The second level Currie outlines is device convergence. In this section Curries makes reference to the mobile phone and its ability to receive voice, data, still and moving pictures. Third is Corporate convergence. Currie explains corporate convergence with examples of alliances between telecommunications companies and production organisations. Finally, the article discusses regulatory convergence, in particularly, Ofcom’’ and their ability to regulatory multiple industries.

The Big Brother series has utilised all the levels identified by Currie. The multimedia used to produce the television show is a shinning example of convergence and its technological ability.

Fenech, S. (21 July 2004) 'Big Brother's super snoops', Herald Sun, [Online]. Available: http://heraldsun.news.com.au/printpage/0,5481,10182107,00.html [Accessed 4 Aug. 2004].

This newspaper article looks at the technology behind the reality television show Big Brother. Stephen Fenech outlines the very technology that contestants of the show are deprived of, whilst ‘outside’ it is used to make the show a success. 36 cameras and 66 microphones cover every action and sound made by contestants and are then carefully edited and passed on to the public. The editing process effectively turns 24 hours of footage into a 30 minute nightly show that aims to capture audience attention and promote interaction. Fenech identifies technology allowing editors to simply type a contestants name and an emotion and the video bank will bring up every piece of footage involving that description.

The article progresses to identify the different media avenues used by Big Brother to ensure success. Of course there is the Big Brother website, enabling fans to download footage from the house and keep up-to-date with the latest information generating from the site on the Gold Coast. As well as this, the latest series of Big Brother has involved telecommunication company 3 providing a wireless form of communication between the programs information providers and the public. Those on the 3 network (with the correct phone capabilities) were able to receive live video streaming direct from the editing room of Big Brother and regular updates via SMS.

The voting process on the show is possible either through traditional phone lines or more recently vis SMS. Despite the modern technology used to produce a show like Big Brother, Fenech reminds readers that the show is more reliant on the basic process of human interaction.

Johnson-Woods, T. (2002) Big Brother: why did that TV show become such a phenomenon? Australia: University of Queensland Press Box ISBN 0702233153

Toni's book is an in depth look at the reasons behind the success of Big Brother around the world. It covers angles and opinions from contestants, producers and the audience to depict the world of Big Brother. Of particular interest was chapter 8 entitled 'The Bold and the Beautiful: The Media'.

This chapter discusses the media channels used to successfully promote the first television series in Australia. Production Company, Southern Star Endemol engaged in media arrangements with Channel Ten, News Limited newspapers and radio station Triple M to ensure Big Brother was available to subscribers of all media forms. While all these outlets were drenched with audiences, Woods continues to discuss the Internet as “integral to Big Brother’s success� (2002: 220). This chapter realises there were many multimedia Internet pages dedicated to the show, including photos, audio files and video footage. In concluding, the media angles were largely responsible for the success of audience participation around the world, considering there is only so much entertainment that can come from watching people in one place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Newhagen, J and Rafaeli, S. (1996) 'Why Communication Researchers Should Study the Internet: A Dialogue', Journal of Computed-Mediated Communication [Online], vol.1, no.4. Available: http://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol1/issue4/rafaeli.html [Accessed 29 July 2004].

This transcript of a conversation between John Newhagen and Sheizaf Rafaeli offers an insight into why communication researchers should study the Internet. It particularly identifies the rapid growth of the Internet and its usefulness when communicating. Focussing on the Internet and the constant improvement associated with its abilities, Rafaeli believes its “Newness seems to be reborn all the time� even though the Internet is over a decade old.

In identifying five aspects of communication, Rafaeli outlines the importance of the Internet as a prevalent communication tool. One of these five aspects is interactivity, “the extent to which communication reflects back on itself, feeds on and responds to the past� (rafaeli 1996). This characteristic is commonly associated with reality program Big Brother and the Big Brother website, both of which thrive of public interaction. Rafaeli believes that this characteristic can determine whether a website will be a success or a failure.

Newhagen follows this, discussing the Internet’s ability to provide a comprehensive range of communication opportunities and having the ability to attract visual and audio material. Newhagen concludes with the notion that the Internet will not put television and newspaper out of business but will revolutionise these industries. These findings suggest that the multimedia avenue will flourish from the mutually beneficial relationship between the Internet, television, print and radio industries.

Productivity Commission (2000). Broadcasting: Final Report, [Online] p.105-124. Available: http://www.pc.gov.au/inquiry/broadcst/finalreport/chapter03.pdf [Accessed: 8 Aug. 2004].

The third chapter of the 2000 Broadcasting report focuses on convergence. The findings offer several descriptions of what convergence is and how it has developed. Page 106 particularly illustrates the blurring of boundaries commonly associated with convergence. Three media industries (broadcasting, print and publishing and computing) are identified and arranged in separate circles, each slightly overlapping the other. This drawing is labelled 1978. Adjacent to this, is another drawing entitled 2000 where the three circles, (representing broadcasting, print and publishing and computing) are less distinguishable as they overlap nearly entirely.

The report goes on to identify major media corporations that have merged with telecommunication networks. This has produced the ability for interactive multimedia streams. Also covered in the report are limits to convergence such as people's belief that convergence has not yet occurred. For this reason it is difficult to determine the weight that should be placed on its regulation. Following this, the report identifies four layers of convergence as follows

• • Convergence in media products and markets.
  • Convergence in media platforms.
  • Convergence in corporate structures.
  • Convergence in regulation and policy.

These layers detail the movement of convergence to determine whether convergence has truly occurred. The broadcasting report conclusively provides a greater understanding of convergence, what it is, if it has happened and the multimedia opportunities.

Rice, R.E.(1999). What's new about new media: Artifacts and paradoxes, New Media and Society [Online], vol.1, no.1, p.24-32. Available: http://www.comm.ucsb.edu/faculty/rrice/a62.htm [Accessed 7 Aug. 2004].

This journal publication offers readers a reference point to distinguish new media from old, or traditional media. Within the article, Rice identifies three areas which together can determine the extent to which a media form can be classified as new. Rice argues that computing, telecommunications networks and digitisation of content are the determinant factors. Computing refers to the processing and retrieval of content, such as the ability to identify and locate data as well as effectively structuring communication channels. Telecommunication networks refer to global connectability. And thirdly, Rice identifies digitisation of content as the "transference, distribution, reprocessability, integration and presentation" of text, audio and video.

It is suggested in this article that new media is considered new, in its ability to combine the three characteristics outlined above. Rice believes that media such as computing, telecommunications and digitisation should be studied as a whole and not as individual modes. This will encourage new multimedia developments.

Rush, S. (2002) Big Brother 3: streams for a fee. [Online]. Available: http://www.broadbandweek.com/news/020708/020711_content_big.htm [Accessed 1 Aug. 2004].

This article provides a concise look at the technology available for audiences of Big Brother in America. Rush describes the technological extension as a avenue to provide extra monetary gain. Big Brother’s American Network has formed an alliance with Internet companies to provide live streaming video and audio to those willing to pay a small fee. This contract allows viewers access to 24/7 live coverage of the housemates via the Internet for a single payment of $24.95. Included in this price is access to chat rooms, popularity polls, opinion polls, photo galleries, biographies of houseguests and a virtual tour of the Big Brother house.

Rush’s article articulates the constant technological advancements associated with this television program. Each series in each country attempts to go technologically beyond what has already been done. It suggests that these advancements are necessary to maintain popularity and audience participation.

3G Sponsor for Big Brother. [Online], (2004). Available: http://www.3g.co.uk/PR/May2004/7011.htm [Accessed 26 July 2004].

This article specifically looks at the technology advancement of the 2004 series of Big Brother. The phone network 3, was a major sponsor for the television program giving the viewers an opportunity to enjoy constant Big Brother coverage with the mobility of the mobile phone. There was no need to be sat at a computer 24 hours a day to be in constant ‘contact’ with the happenings of the house. Available on most 3 handsets was live minute footage, constant updates and the ability to downloads theme wall papers and ring tones.

As an extension to these services, this article depicts the ability to participate in the public own virtual Big Brother. It is apparent that 3 discussed with Network 10 to produce a series of trivia questions allowing the public to compete against each other in attempt to win prizes. The article includes remarks from 3’s General Manger Marketing, Peter Burr. Burr said, “now with Big Brother on 3, not only will 3’s customers be the first to know what is happening with the housemates, but fans can also expect to see new and exciting technological innovations within the program content itself�. This is a testimony to the continued multimedia efforts of the Big Brother producers.

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Student Number: n4740742 Word Count: 1769

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Alison Costello 11:25, 13 Aug 2004 (EST)