The Future

As was the case for its history, the future of broadcast graphics depends largely on its medium, the television.  Marshall McLuhan (1994), in his book The Medium is the Message, proposes that the characteristics of a medium, and not the content that it contains, are the factors in which society is influenced the most. He contends the medium, in this case television, has a direct effect on how the audience interprets the message that is being communicated. Although computer generated graphics are part of the content viewed on television, however, the fact that new technologies have made it possible for these graphics to become so realistic, perhaps they are shaping the way in which audiences view and interpret content via television and the web.

As advances in digital television, computers and design software continue, opportunities for television graphic departments to create high quality composite graphics and special effects abound. High definition television (HDTV) offers higher screen resolution and a larger screen aspect ratio in which to work (Edsall, 2008). News programs broadcast in high-definition can use the addition screen space to provide the viewer with even more information at a glance, with tickers not only scrolling along the bottom of the screen but up the side as well. NASCAR already makes use of the additional screen space in its auto-racing broadcasts. In addition to headline news, sports scores, and weather updates scrolling along the bottom of the screen, car and driver statistics have their own ticker, making the screen look more like a web page than a television (Edsall, 2008).

Virtual set environments are a new trend in television set design, with news and sports programming using computer graphic backgrounds as opposed to studio space that was used in the past. Anchors are shot in front of a blue or green screen, allowing the computer to generate a graphical background. This has already been used extensively in weather forecasts, as the weather anchor appears to stand before a map or weather chart. Advances in computer-generated graphics allow for more a realistic relationship between the on-air talent and the virtual background (Edsall, 2008). 3D HDTV is another advancement in the medium that could affect how motion graphics are produced and displayed for television audiences. “Breaking news” updates may pop off the screen and weather maps could invade the viewers’ living rooms.

Convergence between television, computers and mobile devices is creating the need for more interactive forms of broadcast graphics. The younger generation are much more engaged, less passive viewers. Weather stations in European countries such as Spain are using computer-generated graphics to create animated forecasters to deliver weather information in a more interactive manner. Sam, an animated weather character for the Catalan Corporation of Radio and Television, delivers specific forecasts in real time across multiple platforms including television, computers and mobile devices. Viewers can choose the language they want to receive forecasts in and access them at any time (Bech et al., 2010).

Finally, the Internet will almost certainly play an increased roll in how broadcast news stations structure the manner in which graphics are used to enhance the viewer’s ability to process and absorb complex information and entertainment. Edsall (2008) believes the television and computer may eventually combine to create a “tele-puter” of sorts, enabling viewers to interact more with their sets. Already, devices exist that allow viewers to stream programs across the Internet and watch shows when and where they want across multiple devices. It only goes to reason that interactive graphics are integral parts in allowing audiences to interact with the new technologies.

Broadcast graphics will continue to push the envelope when it comes to producing high quality, visually stunning accompaniments to informational television programming. Computer technology combined with advancements in digital television capabilities will open up a world of possibilities for talented motion graphic designers who will only be limited by their imagination. The fusion between television and the Internet may lead to broadcast graphics incorporating more interactive features allowing viewers to control the stories they want to view as the would on news websites. In any event, broadcast graphics have proven to be an integral part of how television audiences view and process the information they receive from new, sports and weather programming.