January 26, 2007
IPTV: The Future of Television?
You're asking who the heck am I to weigh in on this? Well, nothing more than a lowly technoblogger and a TV junkie. VoIP is a killer application of the Internet's "tubes" (heh), but with programs like Damaka, Democracy and Joost, IPTV (Internet Protocol TV) is right up there amongst the great Internet apps. What are the pros and cons of IPTV? Let's consider...
- The long tail effect.
- Content producers:
This means that marginal viewership in North America is no reason any
longer to cancel a show. Some of the best TV shows ever made are now in
syndication around the world, and new episodes would no doubt be
welcomed. The Internet can and does support small productions. On the
other hand, they now have more competition, since the cost of entry and
distribution is greatly reduced.
- Viewers: Variety of content beyond what even Digital TV, with it's 600 channels of the same damn thing in 4 time zones, offers. They also have access to obscure content that they may not otherwise see but is valuable to them.
- Content producers:
This means that marginal viewership in North America is no reason any
longer to cancel a show. Some of the best TV shows ever made are now in
syndication around the world, and new episodes would no doubt be
welcomed. The Internet can and does support small productions. On the
other hand, they now have more competition, since the cost of entry and
distribution is greatly reduced.
- Demographics.
- Broadcasters:
Those broadcasters showing full episodes via streaming video on their
websites can now determine the approximate location of their viewers
via their computer's IP address. They can also segregate viewers,
blocking anyone outside a certain geographic area.
- Advertisers: Their paid-for "content" can't be fast-forwarded over using tools like TiVo or DVRs. At least, not that I'm aware of, though this may change.
- Viewers: Blocked from watching content; geographic discrimination. But this isn't really that different than the current broadcasting model.
- Broadcasters:
Those broadcasters showing full episodes via streaming video on their
websites can now determine the approximate location of their viewers
via their computer's IP address. They can also segregate viewers,
blocking anyone outside a certain geographic area.
- Custom viewing.
- Viewers: viewers have the pleasure of time-shifting and custom viewing schedules.
- Content producers: Possibly relieved to know that if their regular TV broadcast is up against a big show, people will still be able to view the show later. For example, when I was still helping out at my mother's diner, I could watch TV on my laptop using Orb when it wasn't busy.
- Viewers: viewers have the pleasure of time-shifting and custom viewing schedules.
Now, these are only some of the pros and cons I can think of off the top of my head. What about you? Do you watch TV via the Internet? Or maybe you use a TV tuner card on your computer - the step before full digital Internet TV/ IPTV.
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