Television in and After the Archive: Catalogues, Databases, Interfaces and Other Ways to Organize Audiovisual Records

Abstract

This editorial essay introduces the VIEW Journal of European Television History and Culture Special Issue on how algorithmic curation mediates archival practices and influences the management, preservation and accessibility of television content. Within this scope, it examines the evolving role of television archiving in the shaping of audiovisual culture against the backdrop of significant advancements in media technologies and infrastructures. As streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have transformed the landscape of television production, distribution, and reception, the growing reliance on algorithms presents both challenges and opportunities for audiovisual heritage. Taking a comparative historical perspective, this editorial underscores past, present, and future understandings of television archiving in an era characterized by pervasive digitization. By doing so, it provides an overview of how the papers reflect on the fragmented nature of television archives and repositories in the European landscape. Significant attention is given to the technocultural transformation of the archival work in light of digital and algorithmic practices, emphasizing how these innovations contribute to the making of cultural identities and collective memory while also raising questions on the circulation of television content after its initial broadcasting lifecycle. By taking a glimpse into each contribution, this introduction problematizes the interplay of data management workflows, digital library systems, user-centered platforms and their impact on the permanence of television content in online repositories. Ultimately, the issue advocates for collaborative efforts between archivists and media scholars to navigate the complexities of audiovisual archiving in an increasingly data-driven landscape.