Local internet television as a medium facilitating the functioning of civil society at the local level

Abstract

Local internet television has not only enriched the media landscape, but also become an opportunity for local communities to have wider and more interesting access to information. Despite the fact that over a decade has passed since the appearance of the first local internet television, this phenomenon is extremely difficult to grasp in a rigid theoretical framework. The local Internet TVs, which differ in format, frequency, or type of ownership and distribution channel, are an interesting subject of research, especially if we choose the aspect of civil society as a perspective, and specifically the role of local internet televisions in this respect. In the context of convergence, meaning the coexistence of new and old media, local internet television should be considered in terms of species hybridity. For research on the convergence medium which is local Internet television, there is also, importantly, a change in receiving practices, not only in the way of consumption of content transmitted through the national media, but also in the local media. Consumers, accustomed to the richness of content and the form of popular services, began to insist on the same quality from local broadcasters. Dominated by the press, the local media market had to respond to this need. Local media editors choose to create multimedia content to enrich their offerings. However, video material is a tool for discussion on socially important topics, which in turn is important in the context of civil society at the local level.