Madrid v City? Or Arsenal v Bayern? A digital dilemma for the multiscreen generation | Max Rushden

Justine Bateman, the writer and director, expressed in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter that TV executives nowadays prefer shows to be engaging and fascinating, but not to the extent that the viewers would have to choose between paying attention to crucial plot points and scrolling through social media.

Some show producers have reportedly received feedback from streaming platforms stating that their content is not engaging enough for second-screen viewing. This means that viewers' attention is focused on their personal devices such as phones and laptops, and they do not want anything on the show to divert their attention away from their screens. Streaming platforms believe that if the viewers get distracted, they might lose interest in the content and switch off. In other words, they want the show to have a visual aesthetic that is pleasing to watch without being too demanding.

If you were one of the people who tuned in to watch Manchester City vs. Arsenal last weekend, you might have wondered if the players were intentionally giving a lackluster performance. It seemed like they were trying to make the game boring so that people would turn their attention to something else, like social media or DIY cooking videos. Some people might even have needed extra screens to distract themselves from the uneventful game. It was so bad that people were more interested in watching William Saliba's defensive skills than anything else happening on the field.

Our approach to football and other sports has transformed significantly in recent years. Gone are the days when I would simply watch a game on TV or in person without feeling compelled to share a cliché tweet that hundreds of others have already posted.

Before having children in the United Kingdom, I would let Mrs. Rushden have priority on the first screen. She could watch The Apprentice on the television while I watched the main Champions League game on my laptop. I would place my phone in the bottom right-hand corner of the computer screen and wear headphones in one ear. I hoped that the constant movement on the MacBook wouldn't cause any interruptions in my tiny version of Inter v Atléti playing on my phone. It didn't matter much, though, as I was too focused on watching Lord Sugar's latest protégé exit the boardroom while bowing and thanking Lord Sugar for the opportunity.

I am currently in Australia with my young child and have an early wake up time of 5am for Monday Night Football. Due to this, the TV is being occupied by Tractor Ted season one on repeat, and I have gained knowledge on the process of creating silage. The actual game is being watched on a laptop that is cleverly hidden behind a cushion. This ensures that my child, Ian Rush(den), is only exposed to one screen at a time.

On the upcoming Tuesday, Manchester City and Arsenal, who were responsible for a very uninteresting game last week, will be playing simultaneously with two well-matched Champions League quarter-finals. This will divide our attention.

Those who have tickets to the Bernabéu stadium will be watching as Arsenal takes on Harry Kane, Eric Dier, and the formidable yet injured Bayern Munich. If you won't be in a big TV studio with several big screens, how can you enjoy this exciting game? The answer is simple: you have two games to choose from, and you won't need to create any storylines for these games, as they are already filled with natural excitement.

It's unbelievable how many times Arsenal has been eliminated by Bayern at this stage of the competition. It feels like it happens every season. PSG falls apart, City dominates, and Bayern knocks out Arsenal. However, it has only happened four times - in 2005, 2013, 2014, and 2017. The two 5-1 defeats were particularly devastating, with the Germans scoring five goals in the second half at the Emirates. This has left Arsenal fans reminiscing about simpler times when the primary football discussion revolved around whether or not Arsène Wenger should continue as manager. It seems as though Arsenal has been relegated to the wilderness of the Champions League.

This time around, Arsenal is facing a unique situation with a straightforward plot. They have the opportunity to prevent Harry Kane from winning another trophy or alternatively, Tottenham's captain can end Arsenal's pursuit for their first-ever European Cup. No other circumstances are relevant here. Regardless of who comes out victorious or who scores, Kane will inevitably be the center of attention at the end of the game. As devoted supporters of Spurs and England are aware, Kane's demeanor in this scenario usually involves stoic or mournful applause to the remaining fans who have stayed to show their gratitude despite another devastating letdown.

In Madrid, it's the third installment in a series that began with the semi-finals of the past two seasons. The first act took place in 2022, and it was quite impressive. Jack Grealish attempted to score, but Thibaut Courtois managed to keep him out of the game. Then, in the blink of an eye, Rodrygo and Karim Benzema scored two goals that shattered the opposing team's hopes. In the previous year, City overwhelmed Madrid in the first half, and it's worth rewatching. Without getting too carried away, it felt as though there might have been changes taking place, or perhaps even beyond that, the day when Luka Modric may have grown weary.

This year, City seems to be more imposing and massive than their opponents. They may come off as a bit rigid, but that could just be due to last week's performance. When the opposing team doesn't adopt a defensive tactic, their games are quite exhilarating. Even though Carlo Ancelotti prefers a practical approach, they have players like Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Jr, and Rodrygo who might just go all out and attack, especially when playing at home.

It's a difficult decision and unfortunate they are scheduled at the same time. The risk of attempting to view two games simultaneously is the likelihood of missing out on both. Only individuals with exceptional multitasking skills may be capable of watching and comprehending both games and commentaries concurrently.

Lars Sivertsen, a journalist, broadcaster, and one of my preferred Norwegians, proposes increasing the volume of your next choice game. This way you can concentrate on the Real v City match using your eyes while your ears catch any updates on Bukayo Saka's progress toward the goal at the Emirates. You could choose to watch only one game, but be cautious of FOMO causing you to wonder if the other channel is more thrilling. Furthermore, once you start changing stations, you might miss the most notable moments from both matches.

One great tip is to pick a game and forget about your phone. Chances are, both games will be worth watching. Currently, we don't have to worry about TV producers being concerned that a soccer game isn't engaging enough on a mobile device. However, that could change in the future.

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