The Aftermath Economy

The Aftermath Economy

In the “aftermath economy,” the real value of entertainment now lives after the broadcast – inside fan-led conversations, theories, and communal reinterpretations that complete the work and drive its cultural power. 


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For twenty years the industry told itself it had learned how to extend the life of entertainment. We built second-screen experiences that ran alongside live broadcasts. We filled Twitter with running commentary and encouraged viewers to react in real-time. We created companion apps, backstage streams and a steady flow of additional clips that surrounded a program like scaffolding. At the time it felt progressive to us, we believed we had broken open the format and given audiences a seat at the table. In hindsight it looks like an early, tentative draft.