Sarah Braun posted today about the increased presence of new media in the television and movie industry. The income from online versions of TV shows and movies was a major sticking point in the recent Writers' Guild strike against the networks and producers, and the importance of these new media will continue to grow. Sarah describes the website for NBC's "Heroes," which, like many TV shows today, is regularly mentioned during promos for the broadcast episodes. Sarah describes the site's many attractive features (which include an interactive graphic novel), and concludes:

"I think that this sort of digital content is EXACTLY what a television show’s website should be, particularly for a show like Heroes. Lost’s website is similar, though not nearly as expansive. Promises of online exclusives that turn into hours of extra content and an experience that truly immerses the viewer into the show is a surefire way to keep them coming back for more. I think as technology continues to expand and the entertainment industry continues to move towards digital media, we’ll begin to see more and more websites of that quality."

Quality content keeps eyeballs on the site, interacting with the content - and reading and watching the advertising.

(BTW, Sarah also drops a reference to The Spot in her post, just a week after our New Tech Heroes flashback on the original "webisodic fiction." Spotfans, another blogger shows the love! :) )

Sarah's post is well worth a complete read.

Writer Strike Update: Wordsmiths Set To Vote On Producer Proposal - by Sean P. Aune from Mashable   "If they were to accept it, work could resume as early as Monday, and most TV shows would be back up to speed in 4 to 6 weeks. If not accepted, it could be weeks or even months before another proposal would go before the membership of the union."

Writers' strike could end today - by David Zurawik from The Baltimore Sun   "The bitterly fought Hollywood writers strike that shut down late-night TV and threatened to derail the Oscars could officially end today with an announcement from the Writers Guild of America that its more than 10,000 members have accepted a new, three-year contract."

Don't expect same old TV lineup after writers strike is over - by David Kronke from Los Angeles Daily News   "Don't expect all those reality shows clogging up the airwaves to go away even if the writers strike is settled. Ain't gonna happen. There's a new television world at hand."

Sidelined by the Strike, Comedy Goes Online - by Dave Itzkoff from The New York Times   "History will judge whether Jerry O’Connell will be best remembered as the cornfed football prospect in “Jerry Maguire,” the awkward chubby kid in “Stand by Me,” or as the husband of Rebecca Romijn. But for a few glorious days last month [he] was seared into the minds of thousands of Internet surfers as a cocky, cackling replica of Tom Cruise, in a parody of a Scientology recruitment video."

Networks have some surprises for February sweeps - by Terry Morrow from Scripps Howard News Service   "Sure, we're almost three months into the writers' strike, and it's crippling scripted TV and spitting out hours of "reality shows" in prime time. But the networks do have a few tricks up their sleeves. Among the surprises: a few new episodes of scripted favorites."