Dr. Denizcan Kabaş, a Lecturer in the Radio, Television and Cinema Department, stated that television has lost its central position in the 20th century but is not entirely dead, adding, “Even if the screen changes form, the tradition of ‘shared in-home viewing’ will continue. The future of television will be built somewhat on this: a screen experience that is both personalized and collective at the same time.”
Dr. Kabaş, stating that digital platforms are no longer competitors of television but rather new centers of the television ecosystem, said, “A hybrid form awaits television in the near future: both program flow will continue, live broadcasts will go on, and a modular content universe will become widespread where we can pause, rewind, and interactively use additional elements while watching.”
Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Denizcan Kabaş from Üsküdar University, Faculty of Communication, Radio, Television and Cinema Department, made evaluations regarding the future of television.
Televisions will transform into an access surface rather than a device in the future
Regarding whether televisions will give way to mobile devices, Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Denizcan Kabaş said, “I don't think television will completely disappear, but it certainly won't continue in its current form. Television is no longer just a device; it's transforming into an ‘access surface’. It will exist as a large screen in our homes, but its function will change. Considering existing devices and usage practices, a multi-layered structure combining digital platforms, game consoles, social media content, and live broadcasts will form the new definition of television in the near future. So, the real focus won't be ‘will television remain?’, but ‘what will it transform into?’. Twenty years from now, television will still maintain its importance as the largest screen at home, but the content on that screen will be much more platform-centric than based on traditional broadcasting logic.”
“Television is dead/not dead” debates where are they heading?
Evaluating the debates on whether television is dead or not, Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Kabaş stated:
“We have seen this debate repeatedly at every stage of communication and media tools. Similar discourses were encountered for radio and cinema. Indeed, none of them died; at least, they didn't completely disappear; they merely changed form. Today, we might be in the period where television is said to be ‘dead’, but what's actually happening is this: television's central position in the 20th century has ended. This is quite natural. The digital age freed the viewer from a one-way flow, and options have become highly diversified. Television's monopoly has crumbled, and within this media ecosystem, it's a democratizing break in a way. Therefore, it's not ‘death’ but ‘relocation’ that's at stake. Of course, this situation will need to be addressed not only from an optimistic side but also from a critical perspective.”
The tradition of shared in-home viewing will continue…
Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Kabaş also made statements regarding the physical form of television in the future: “The physical state of television will be more permeable; panels completely covering walls, holographic reflective surfaces, augmented reality layers… We can actually experience many of these. However, what's critical here is not the structural feature of the technology but the continuation of the collective viewing practice. People still enjoy watching the same thing in the same space. Even content watched on different screens enters into shared experience at some point. Synchronous viewing practices also continue ‘talking about what's being watched while it's being watched,’ which is one of the most basic communicative actions. Therefore, even if the screen changes form, the tradition of ‘shared in-home viewing’ will continue. The future of television will be built somewhat on this: a screen experience that is both personalized and collective at the same time.”
Digital platforms have become the new centers of the television ecosystem
Stating that platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Netflix are no longer competitors of television but rather the new centers of the television ecosystem, Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Kabaş continued:
“They create a pressure for mandatory transformation rather than a threat. The rhythm of young viewers has accelerated, attention spans have narrowed, and content consumption has shifted from a logic of ‘continuity’ to ‘instant fragments’. If traditional television, with its entire structure, remains outside this, it will become invisible. Therefore, thinking of it as a whole is important for concretizing the future. The inclusion of social media formats in traditional news content, traditional TV channels producing content suitable for these platforms, and TV channels trying to implement a social media interactive approach are a response to this. Examples such as Netflix transforming dramatic structure, YouTube placing its own genre and narrative forms into the value economy, and TikTok setting the rhythm are also processes that redefine the device, form, and flow structure that we define as television. In short, television experienced losing in previous years if it saw platforms as a threat; now it approaches this area as an integration opportunity and is transforming accordingly.”
Linerality in the digital realm is evolving into new forms
Pointing out that linear broadcasting still relies on two strong areas, Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Kabaş said, “Firstly, this broadcasting approach aligns with ‘liveliness’. Following breaking news, news, sports matches, certain competition types, election periods, and similar events becomes a meaningful activity in ‘liveliness’. Another dynamic is routine. Having general knowledge of what we will encounter at that hour when we turn on the TV, knowing that TV news channels will show us an event/situation when something happens, and the continuity of content types parallel to the day's flow find their counterpart here. Therefore, these two areas ensure the continuity of television's existence and importance. However, in formats like dramatic content, documentaries, entertainment, and those followed by young viewers, the meaning of linear flow is gradually decreasing. Within certain live broadcast formats, linearity in the digital realm is evolving into new forms. Consequently, a hybrid form awaits television in the near future: both program flow will continue, live broadcasts will go on, and a modular content universe will become widespread where we can pause, rewind, and interactively use additional elements while watching.”
Mobile screens will not be abandoned, big screens will not be forsaken
Addressing the views that young people's preference for mobile screens will turn television into a device for older generations, Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Kabaş concluded:
“The reason for preferring mobile screens is not only related to television itself but also to the new generations' habituation to mobility, speed, and multiple applications. This does not mean that television will be confined to older generations. Twenty years from now, television will not be a nostalgic object for young people but, in a sense, the big-screen version of a multi-use experience. Young people will not give up mobile screens but will not completely abandon big screens. What is transforming here is the context in which we consume content. Television, as in every period, is in a reciprocal relationship with the phenomenon of the viewer. This relationship today is much more fragile, transient, and interactive. Therefore, today's young people are the generation that will reshape television.”