Final answer:
The trends in spectatorship in recent years are most closely related to the rise of streaming services, online privacy, and the new competition for people's entertainment dollars. With the invention of cable and the expansion of the Internet, viewers now have more options for media consumption than ever before, leading to changes in traditional viewership. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant changes to the movie industry.
Step-by-step explanation:
The trends in spectatorship in recent years are most closely related to the rise of streaming services, online privacy, and the new competition for people's entertainment dollars.
With the invention of cable in the 1980s and the expansion of the Internet in the 2000s, viewers now have more options for media consumption than ever before. They can watch almost anything at the click of a button, bypass commercials, and record programs. This has led to a saturation of information and a decrease in traditional viewership, such as cable and network TV.
In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant changes, as movies that were slated for theater releases were delayed or shifted to streaming distribution. The mainstream movie industry has been heavily reliant on ticket sales, so this shift has affected them greatly.