6 replies to this topic

[jjf3]

The Wii's new system is heavily integrated with Gaming everywhere technologies, Apple's iCloud is connecting all Apple Devices together in the cloud, and even Microsoft is getting into the social TV experience with XBOX

Do you think, that broadcast TV will finally figure out that Cable cannot be considered a separate entity anymore? Will we see the larger broadcast providers give up more Television waves in order to form new social television channels that are more interactive and please fan bases?

Watching TV is not going to go away. How we watch TV is going to change drastically, but I don't think that online TV will emerge on top. I think that all these technologies will merge together and then TV will become a fun and social experience.

What do you guys think? Any ideas on the future of television?

[CamGoldenGun]

Television as we've watched it for the last 60 years has come to an end. But you're right - watching TV isn't going away. As more stations or distributors start putting up "on demand" channels, more local TV stations are disappearing. Local TV stations for the most part filled a niche market and sometimes filled the void with syndicated television shows that you couldn't get on the big networks. I believe a lot of people are also sick of "commercial breaks." In any given hour during the week, 20 minutes or 1/3 of that time is filled with commercials. And while I know that commercials pay the way to put these shows on the air, people are looking towards the Internet and DVD box sets to get away from it. Watching a show that would normally take an hour on TV only winds up being 40 minutes, that gives that individual an extra 20 minutes to spend time with family, etc. While most people probably won't attribute that extra 20 minutes to something productive it's nice to know there's still that option.

With NBC almost dying and cable stations like TBS, AMC and FX picking up shows like Conan (O'Brien), Breaking Bad and Sons of Anarchy it's definitely looking good for the cable stations.

We will see TV and Social Media merge together. You'll probably see more interactive game shows like Jeopardy come to the front where you'll be playing along with the show but your microphone will pick up your answer and tally up your score. You'll likely see twitter or something similar along the side of the screen while people are watching their reality shows. Late night TV shows similar to Blind Date tried this with texting but that didn't really fly as cell phone companies and the show ended up charging you a minimal fee like 25 cents per message.

[Dead Redshirt]

I've already seen some TVs with Twitter and Facebook built in. Not exactly sure why you'd need that on a TV, but it's already there.

[jjf3]

With NBC almost dying and cable stations like TBS, AMC and FX picking up shows like Conan (O'Brien), Breaking Bad and Sons of Anarchy it's definitely looking good for the cable stations.

We will see TV and Social Media merge together. You'll probably see more interactive game shows like Jeopardy come to the front where you'll be playing along with the show but your microphone will pick up your answer and tally up your score.

Your absolutely right in both of these points. The thing I am worried about is if Cable can last without Broadcast? They have been merged together by 60 years of corporate, investor, and law things. I think cable is winning right now because they have more creative control and know what their fan bases like, and no how to stretch a budget. The Big Four tend to spend a lot of money on one or two shows (that they think will be huge) and neglect all their other ones. Those fans of bubble shows like chuck or Southland have to ban together every season to save the show or in Southland's case cable saves it.

I think a television revolution is just around the corner. We see all this stuff being done in social networking and mobile but Television has remained relatively untouched. Why not create a Television Operating System? Boxee, Roku, Apple TV, and Google TV plus Sony's embedded Smart TVs are all a step in the right direction. But I think somebody will come around with a universal OS for TVs much like Microsoft did for PCs.

I also think that there will be an online destination (Netflix) for in trouble TV shows. Eg... When Cable figures out exactly what their future plans and goals are and when they revamp the horribly corrupt ratings systems. I also think a real time social ratings system for television is due any time now. They will see that fan bases really truly care about the shows. For poor ratings, The channels will each select certain shows to live online for a season if it shows growth it will come back onto the silver screen. If they don't come back strong, too bad.

Are you hearing this Netflix?

[Dead Redshirt]

You know, this thread actually reminds me of a book I read. Anyone remember Bill Gate's The Road Ahead? The book was amazingly prescient. Sure, it got lots of things wrong, but on the other hand, at times it really hit the nail on the head in terms of where technology was heading and what we'd have by now, including Social TV and Internet connected TVs. This is a fascinating article discussing what he got wrong and what he got right. The article was written in 2006, but I still it's still a fascinating read along the lines of this thread:

http://www.bit-tech....ead_billgates/1

And here's another one along the same lines:

http://www.theatlant...-prophet/56982/

[Caiman]

I think ‘scheduled television’ is soon to go the way of the dinosaur, as Cam alluded to above, the concept of sitting down at a specific time to watch your favourite TV shows is quickly going out of the door thanks to DVR or streaming services like the BBC’s iPlayer (or other international alternatives). Obviously, a large percentage of people are still catching television ‘the traditional way’ but these changes have a way of snowballing.

Of course, the current driving force in funding most television shows is commercial advertising on broadcast television, and whether we like it or not unless a massive revolution in how television producers fund themselves is introduced this is a ‘necessary evil’ that’s not going to go away and will probably rear its ugly head even more prominently as TV on demand/via the internet continues to grow. I think that this is the biggest limiting factor which is holding back a major shift in the way television is delivered and until an effective method of monetization which at the very least matches current revenues can be guaranteed, we’ll still be expected to sit down in front of the big box and catch a show while it’s being aired...

[jjf3]

If anybody would like to bounce more ideas around, I am currently working on a small project for a Television OS. What would the Windows 95 of TV look like?

Sorry for bumping an old thread but I always come back to this idea for a possible business venture.