Explain, using specific examples, how the expansion of digital media has been an improvement for audiences.

 There are so many ways in which digital media has expanded over the last decade or so, opening up a whoe new world of access for the audiences of films. Although different forms of media have been developed and thereby perhaps have split up film-viewing audiences, certain expansions have been a certain improvement for audiences in order to move with the times. The emphasis being mainly on film access, film audiences can access films online (not only is this convenient, but opens up a global variety of other film genres to audiences) as well as on various other platforms. Accessing film online is something many people will take part in, it's possible to watch films both legally and illegally from all over the globe from one's computer screen. Specific examples being things such as SkyPlayer, although you must be registered with Sky to use it it usually provides the most recent of blockbuster films after they have been released on DVD. Other examples include online TV channel players such as 4OD and BBCiPlayer which allow audiences to view recently shown programmes or film from the TV channel on their computer.

Internet access of films not only provides convenience for audiences but also provide them with a whole host of film types they could not access before. Although such access creates niche or 'cult' audiences and may provide problems for blockbuster film industires, for audiences this is a great improvement. People with alternative film interests can find what they're looking for and not be limited by their national film industry & it's trends. There are many film genres from different cultures that have become a lot more popular thanks to this internet access, such as Japanese anime (a personal favourite of my own). Also kinds of 'cult' films are becoming a lot more popular and thus shown in cinemas attracting huge interest, even when they are low budget. In my opinion this is a great improvement, as people's preferences are not as heavily influenced by the high-budget films overloaded with CGI and with vortually no plot (namely Avatar).

Furthermore, advances in the platforms films can be viewed on is also a great improvement. So not only can audiences watch films on their TVs, at the cinema or online but on so many other things. These include various game consoles such as Sony PSP and PS3 as well as Microsoft's Xbox 360. Mobile phones are also geared up to deal with film streaming now. In addition, advances in the traditional methods of viewing films at home such as VHS are also great improvements. Although there's nothing like watching a video from the 90's, there is no doubt that DVD and BluRay discs are an extreme improvement in sound picture quality in home film viewing. Cable providers such as Sky and Virgin also have features available to customers that allow them to record and watch films from current TV so they can watch them at any time they want, they can also pause/rewind/fastforward live TV which is an extremely useful feature.