How Online Entertainment is Reducing the Difference Between Urban and Rural Living
The online entertainment industry has completely revolutionised the way we consume media and interact with one another. In a relatively short time, we have gone from having 4 terrestrial TV channels and home phones, to a seemingly endless choice of digital channels and on-demand content, and smartphones where we can download and stream everything from the latest music releases to TV shows, books, and games.
For modern consumers, this is a normal part of everyday life, and it can be difficult to understand just how much of a change this has made for people who were not as close to thriving urban areas.
While rural living in the UK wasn’t exactly cut off from the rest of society, it was significantly more insular. Though the peace and quiet of country life was something that many appreciated, there was also a lonelier side to being so far from the action.
Online entertainment and the proliferation of smartphones and high-speed internet access have helped to bridge the gap between urban and rural living in a variety of ways, as we will explore below.
Global Community Through Gaming
The gaming community is often misrepresented in a negative light, with some people seeing it as a reclusive pastime. The truth couldn’t be further from the truth, with many people from all walks of life being able to communicate and build relationships.
Multiplayer games, gaming chats and communities, and online casinos are all great ways for people to engage with others. This is especially important for people who live in more remote parts of the country and don’t have the opportunity to socialise as often.
Many UK licensed betting sites and casinos not on Gamstop provide players with a great selection of games, and some also have chat facilities. This can be a great way to meet new people while enjoying poker or other popular games.
Online casinos also provide betting facilities in areas that might not have a local bookmaker, and are significantly less likely to have a casino close by. Online betting operators can be accessed via websites and purpose-built apps for smartphones and mobile devices.
As well as online betting facilities, online gaming on mobiles, PCs, and consoles also provides fun, exciting, and state-of-the-art gaming experiences where players can enjoy multiplayer or solo games. In some rural areas, access to entertainment facilities can be limited, and gaming can provide a great outlet.
The massive amounts of online groups and chats, and the ability to communicate directly with other players, are something that can help people make friends and learn more about the games they are playing. Live streaming has also become popular among players, and it is not impossible for people in remote communities to build large followings and monetise their content.
High Speed Internet Capabilities
Online entertainment relies on users having access to a strong internet connection, with streaming and gaming experiences being affected by lag and buffering with poor connections. Thankfully, high-speed broadband connections and access to 5G networks are more readily available across the country.
It was inevitable that large towns and cities would be prioritised as they have a more concentrated population, but more rural areas are now being provided with the facilities that make downloading, uploading, streaming, and gaming possible.
Improved Access
The internet has done wonders for access to essential services for rural communities, with many banks and post offices closing down in recent years. The ability to go online and conduct a lot of necessary actions has been invaluable to communities that would have struggled without it.
The same can be said for entertainment, with music venues, cinemas, casinos, sports arenas, theatres, and other places where people enjoy entertainment experiences typically found closer to towns and cities.
It is now possible for people to enjoy live theatre experiences, concert access, exclusive sports action, and other forms of entertainment online.
Beyond live action, online entertainment platforms have been a huge part of helping rural Britain keep up to date with the latest trends, and have helped them discover new TV shows, movies, and music.
Streaming platforms like Spotify have faced criticism for the amount of money artists make from them, and this is something that should be addressed. However, they have also provided hundreds of thousands of consumers with the ability to find and follow new and existing acts.
Listeners can stream the entire back catalogue of their favourite artists, and state-of-the-art AI technology can then provide suggestions based on other listeners and similar artists. This can be a great way to find new music. Similarly, platforms like Prime and Netflix also study user data to provide intuitive recommendations for their customers.
An Alternative to Traditional Entertainment
One great thing about the UK is that there aren’t too many locations that are so remote that travelling into a nearby town or city is completely impossible. Public transport and road links make it possible for people to get to and from many events, but this can add time and expense to people’s plans.
Affordability and convenience are big factors for modern consumers, and travelling for a big one-off concert or night out might be an option, but regular trips could be difficult. This is where online alternatives come in, with people able to rent the latest movie releases and watch live sports.
Conclusion
People who live in bustling towns and cities have easy access to the best entertainment, but they pay a premium for it with house and rental prices much higher than in rural areas. The lower house prices in rural towns come with a lack of facilities, but online entertainment is making a difference with that.
The fear of isolation in rural communities can be combated with online activity, with users able to talk to other people who live nearby or with people from around the world. The online entertainment industry, especially the gambling and gaming industries, has made a big difference in this respect, and they are now able to access the same facilities as someone living in the centre of London.