第一段單字或片語
- streaming 串流
- linear TV 傳統電視
- extract sth. from 從……獲得
- in return 作為回報、交換
- streamer 串流業者
- make money from 由……賺錢
- subscriber 訂閱者
- subscription 訂閱
- essentially 基本上、本質上
- promos 宣傳
Has streaming changed everything?
Streaming hasn’t just killed the mid-budget movie, or the linear TV series, it’s also changed the way films and shows are presented to their audience, and extract money from them in return. Streamers make money from subscribers, and the shows and films are essentially promos for the subscriptions.
串流是否已經改變一切？
串流不只已經毀了中等預算的電影或傳統電視影集，它也改變了電影和節目呈現給觀眾的方式，以及從中作為回報所獲取金錢的方法。串流業者從訂閱者身上賺錢，節目和電影基本上都是當成促進訂閱的宣傳使用。
第二段單字或片語
- permanently 永久地
- make it hard 使……困難
- means 方法
- assess 評估
- in terms of 從……方面
- argument over sth 對……的爭執
- residual 重播費
- reluctance 不情願
- reveal 透露
Plus they are just up there permanently, with no “repeats” as we would understand them, which makes it hard for traditional means of assessing their value in terms of paying people for them. Hence the argument over residuals, made all the harder by the streamers’ reluctance to reveal how many people watch them. As shows and films on streaming platforms become ever larger and more widely watched, the potential residuals become an ever more significant amount.
而且它們會永久性地在那裡，沒有像我們理解的“重播”，這使得用傳統方式評估它們的價值並支付費用變得困難。這也讓關於版權分紅（重播費）的爭論變得更加困難，串流業者不願透露觀看人數更加劇了這個問題。隨著串流平台上的節目和電影變得越來越大且被廣泛觀看，相關的版權分紅可能會變得越來越重要。
第三段單字或片語
- AI (artificial intelligence) 人工智慧
- give sth a second thought 多想一下
- existential 生存上的
- threat 威脅
- AI-generated 人工智慧所生成的
- sophisticated 細緻、複雜的
- replace 取代
- speed of machine-learning 機器學習的速度
- background performer 背景演員
- likeness 肖像、畫象、模樣
- eternity 永久
- consent 同意
- compensation 補償
What about AI? Six months ago, no one gave AI a second thought, but that’s how fast things have moved: from zero to an existential threat. Right now, AI-generated imagery doesn’t seem quite sophisticated enough to replace traditional film-making wholesale, but the speed of machine-learning has got everyone worried…. “They proposed that our background performers should be able to be scanned, get one day’s pay, and their companies should own that scan, their image, their likeness and should be able to use it for the rest of eternity on any project they want, with no consent and no compensation.
人工智慧呢？
半年前，沒有人會再多想一下人工智慧，但事情的發展速度之快令人驚訝：從零到成為一個生存上的威脅。目前，由人工智慧生成的影像似乎還不夠複雜，無法完全取代傳統電影製作，但機器學習的速度卻讓每個人都感到擔憂…「他們提議我們的背景演員應該可以被掃描，領取一天的報酬，並且他們的公司應擁有該掃描、他們的形象和肖像權，並且可以在之後的任何專案中永遠使用，而不需要同意和補償。”
回答問題
1. How do streamers primarily generate revenue from their content?
A) By selling individual episodes
B) By running advertisements during shows
C) Through subscriptions
2. What role do shows and films play in generating revenue for streaming platforms?
A) They directly bring in advertising revenue
B) They are used to attract investors
C) They serve as promotional content for subscriptions
3. Why is it difficult to assess the value of shows and films on streaming platforms using traditional methods?
A) They are permanently available without repeats
B) They are available for free
C) They are too short in duration
4. What contributes to the challenge of determining residuals for streaming content?
A) Lack of viewer interest
B) Streamers’ unwillingness to reveal viewership numbers
C) Frequent repeats of the content
5. What is the current perception of AI-generated imagery in comparison to traditional film-making?
A) AI imagery is already fully capable of replacing traditional film-making
B) AI imagery is not yet advanced enough to completely replace traditional film-making
C) AI imagery has already surpassed traditional film-making
6. What proposal has raised concerns about consent and compensation for performers?
A) A proposal to increase pay for background performers
B) A proposal for performers to own the AI scans of their likeness
C) A proposal for background performers’ scans to be owned by companies without consent or compensation
Answers: CCABBC
填空
Has streaming changed everything?
_________ hasn’t just killed the mid-_________ movie, or the _________ TV series, it’s also changed the way films and shows are presented to their _________, and _________ money from them in _________. Streamers make money from _________, and the shows and films are essentially _________ for the subscriptions.
Plus they are just up there _________, with no “repeats” as we would understand them, which makes it hard for traditional _________ of _________ their value in _________ of paying people for them. Hence the argument over _________, made all the harder by the streamers’ _________ to _________ how many people watch them. As shows and films on streaming platforms become ever larger and more widely watched, the _________ residuals become an ever more _________ amount.
What about AI? Six months ago, no one gave AI a second _________, but that’s how fast things have moved: from zero to an existential _________. Right now, AI-_________ imagery doesn’t seem quite _________ enough to _________ traditional film-making wholesale, but the speed of machine-_________ has got everyone worried…. “They proposed that our _________ performers should be able to be _________, get one day’s pay, and their companies should own that scan, their image, their _________ and should be able to use it for the rest of _________ on any project they want, with no _________ and no _________.