The Myth of Televisual Ubiquity

Popular and journalistic discussions of television often present a rhetoric, which suggests that television has become ubiquitous, any content being able to be watched anytime, anywhere. This article argues that this represents a myth of televisual ubiquity, which neglects the role still played by national borders and which makes assumptions about the types of television of interest to people. By accepting the myth of televisual ubiquity, we are making assertions about the television experience of some viewers over others, as well as creating a distinction of which television can be seen to have lasting importance. The article analyzes the components of the myth of televisual ubiquity and draws them together to consider a case study, video on demand in New Zealand.