Post-network era

The post-network era, also known as the post-broadcast era, is a concept in American television that was popularized by Amanda D. Lotz. It denotes the period that started in the late 1990s, following television's multi-channel transition. This post-network period saw the deterioration of the dominance of the Big Three television networks (ABC, CBS and NBC in the United States), and the creation of a wide variety of cable television channels that catered specifically to niche groups. Concurrent with the Second Golden Age of Television, it saw the development of networks that delivered a wider diversity of programming choice, less constraints on a consumers choice of medium, decentralization of the location of viewing, and freedom of choice over time of viewing.

For Amanda D. Lotz, the post-network era has been defined by five C's: "choice, control, convenience, customization, and community". These five concepts, which have defined the post-network era, all relate to the ways in which viewers have greater access to a wider array of content which can be consumed on their own terms. The concept comes from the field of Television studies, and has been used by various academics to discuss numerous different topics. The concept has been endorsed by media scholar Henry Jenkins, co-director of the Media Industries Project Michael Curtin, and American Studies, and Film and Media professor Jason Mittell.