“The streets ain’t made for everybody, that’s why they made sidewalks,” asserts fictional ex-drug dealer Cookie, whose baby daddy now runs affluent record label Empire Records. Welcome to gaudy US drama Empire, which is taking America by storm.
The big US broadcast television networks recently completed their 'upfront' presentations, in which they unveil their autumn programming lineups and new ideas. The most striking thing is the emphasis on social media and family-based sitcoms.
In a multiscreen, multiplatform world, the way we digest media is changing. With viewers increasingly going online to watch their favourite shows - from House of Cards to Bob's Burgers - a risqué new Channel 4 series is attempting to bridge the gap between TV and online.
Netflix's foray into original programming didn't just reinforce a trend of 'binge watching' by making entire TV seasons available all at once – it's also triggered viewers to come up with ways of rethinking and editing its content.
We've never been so interested in TV shows - but we aren't watching TV. Instead, we're turning to online video - whether it's Netflix or YouTube. But new technology isn't solely responsible – a wider shift in lifestyles is creating a natural path towards hyper-diversification.