How long will it be before we are not only making the switch to digital tv, but making the entire switch to the Web for viewing tv?
The slow death of tv is evident all around us. Future business leaders and the youth of today (thankfully Im still in this category) known as Generation Y have grown up with the web, and use it on a daily basis, and as a result it stands to reason that television will soon become a secondary form of entertainment in most people’s living rooms, and the web the primary one. Microsoft think so too. They have pushed their Media Centre operating system for some time. They have also launched their Surface device to gain further exposure in the living room.
What other evidence is there? Here in the UK The BBC and Channel Four have both launched On Demand and programming – 4OD, and BBC IPlayer where you can rewatch old episodes of programmes. Youtube is available via Nintendo WII, as is the iPlayer. Major broadcasting corporations are paying attention to the web, and building their online brands intensively, which suggests that we aren’t too far off from seeing adoption of the web on our televisions.
So why are we so close yet so far?
The only thing holding internet television back is broadband adoption, and carrier rates, once that improves television and the web will become one and the same.
What do you think? How long will it be before we see youtube actually as a channel on our telebox? And who is going to bring it to us?
posted:May 28, 2008 10:43 pm
I haven’t watched tv for years…
Phil
posted:May 29, 2008 6:31 am
Hi Phil,
Its funny how we all move in the same circles, just the other day I was on your blog – via goodonpaper – via BelfastBarCamp.
Thanks for contributing.
Paul.
Paul Anthony
posted:June 4, 2008 1:31 am
If Sprint’s wireless Internet service is as fast as they say it is (good enough for streaming media to stream without hiccuping), I will be canceling my cable subscription once my current discount rate expires.
I’m 35, does this make me the exception to the rule, or just old?
Jeff O’Connor
posted:June 4, 2008 6:17 am
Probably the exception to the rule Jeff, just out of interest where does a thirty something hang out to watch tv on the web? Are you a Youtube man or other? Thanks for your comments.
Paul Anthony
posted:August 4, 2009 3:10 pm
I’m 62 and saw it coming years ago. Haven’t had cable (not worth a plugged nickel) for quite awhile. Don’t miss it. My grans (6 and 10) come over and have not noticed that I don’t have a functional TV. They look for the laptop. TV isn’t even relevant to me at my age. The tv news models who know not of what they speak, buffoons, obvious bias reporting and weak shows have nothing to offer.
TV is dead as far as I am concerned. RIP
Gee
Gee