Abstract We are living in a world in which communications play a vital role. The way we communicate was transformed by the information age which opened the doors to a whole new world of possibilities. A few decades ago our telecommunications flourished with the invention of the television, the radio and the phonograph, which functioned based on an analog format. These inventions allowed for broadcast of radio and television news and shows across the United States. Record music and movies in VHS format were also introduced to American homes. With the introduction of the digital format our telecommunications received a tremendous boost, and some of the early media outlets were replaced by more efficient ways of communication. This paper will describe some of the factors behind the recent loss of audience and sales in such media outlets as record music, movies, network TV, DVDs and video games.

The introduction of the digital format changed the way we watch TV; high definition made possible to see a picture like never before, like if we were looking through a window. Digitalization allowed for a much better sound and picture quality in CDs and DVDs, which replaced the vinyl disc and the VHS tape. These media, however, continued to evolution so much so that in recent years media outlets such as newspapers, movies, network TV, DVDs and video games became obsolete. Digital is the key factor. Media outlets such as newspapers, movies, DVDs and video games are more tangible and cost more money to produce. These tangible versions of media are temporary, while digital is a permanent, more efficient way of getting and sharing the message. Media outlets such as newspapers and magazines are printed versions and cost more money to produce. They require tons of paper which is disposable and ends up in the trash, polluting the environment, and cannot be shared in a large scale. In addition, it takes a lot more time to go through all the sections just to find the relatively small piece of information that interests you. The digital version, on the contrary, is more efficient and it can be shared instantly in a large scale. It can be searched, scanned, copied and printed as many times as one desires. Record music has also become an inefficient medium which costs more money to obtain and to store. CDs can easily get scratched and lost. MP3 on the other hand, is a fairly cheap medium; it is portable and easy to share, and it is free to distribute. Traditional network TV media have also been in decline for the last few decades. According to Poniewozik, “With more viewers drifting to cable and going online, the formerly mass networks are losing money and cultural clout.” Network TV’s enemy is digital media. DVDs are now giving way to digital media such as Netflix, which provides online movies to its customers for a small fee. Movies can also be downloaded online and saved on a hard drive; this provides a better way to store movies and it also allows for easy sharing. Online movie rentals get rid of the painful waiting in line and save the trip to return the movies. Blockbuster on the other hand, is going out of business. Evidence suggests that annual sales of DVDs will continue to fall in the double digits (Lendino, 2011). Video games have evolved from early analog versions, such as Atari, to more sophisticated digital versions such as Nintendo Wii, X Box 360, and Sony PS3. Digital video games can be played simultaneously with other players online, and stored in the console’s hard drive, eliminating the need to store them physically in discs. The main factor behind the loss of audience and sales in such media outlets as record music, movies, network TV, DVDs and video games is the digital format. Digital medium is more accessible; it can easily be stored, organized and shared, and it is by far the most efficient and valuable medium.

References
Lendino, J. (2011). What Electronic Gear Will Become Obsolete Next?. Popular Science, 278(6), 97.
Poniewozik, J. (2009). Here's to the Death of Broadcast. Time, 173(13), 61-62.