Feeling Sentimental about Television and Audiences

Television is in transition, and we wish to argue for the present and future understanding of the medium in ways that focus on continuity as well as change. In particular, we wish to salvage from the weight of technocentric models of user engagements early theoretical work about the intimate relationship television has (had) with its audiences. The old screen medium of TV, we argue, whether multiple and diffuse in new arrangements of time and space, or diversified in content and form, is as durably and consistently located in the fabric of everyday life as it ever was.