The Decline of Mainstream TV Coverage for Video Games
A recent reflection on the state of television coverage for video games has sparked a conversation about why shows focused on this popular entertainment form have been sidelined. This sentiment is echoed by fans who recall the loss of programs like Videogame Nation and Cybernet, which were once prominent in the UK’s television landscape.
It has been nearly a decade since Videogame Nation, the UK’s last original review-based television show dedicated to console gaming, was canceled in the summer of 2016. Despite the continued popularity of gaming, especially retro gaming, which is now widely celebrated on platforms like YouTube, mainstream television still seems to ignore the industry. Even with major companies such as Nintendo, Sega, and Konami releasing mini-consoles that bring back classic titles, the television screen remains largely silent on the subject.
Before some readers dismiss this as an outdated topic, it’s important to recognize that this is indeed a real issue. Television executives and producers often display a clear bias towards content they are not interested in. This bias is frequently based on flawed market research that tells them what their audience supposedly wants. As a result, many opportunities for meaningful coverage of gaming are missed.
Over the past three decades, numerous gaming-related shows have been produced, but nowhere near the number of other types of television programming. These include procedural police dramas, true crime documentaries, hospital ward series, unfunny middle-class comedies, and reality shows that often fail to live up to their name.
The question arises: why do certain segments of the British public, particularly those interested in gaming, remain overlooked by TV producers? Meanwhile, the schedules are filled with shows about American muscle cars, property flipping, and dining in New York restaurants. How does any of this relate to the British audience? It’s no surprise that many gaming enthusiasts have turned to YouTube and online forums for content that resonates with them.
Television producers and executives don’t seem to care. There is a sense that they have always held a contemptuous attitude towards those interested in computer and video games. This can be seen in how they handled the few shows that managed to make it onto television.
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