i've seen the future and it will be… 'tv'
by Jim Jacoby on Mar.02, 2009, under concepts, convergence, markets
it’s always fun to see an old model applied in a new way, dragging its legacy label along with it. we’ve waited patiently (a little sadistically) as tv content carriers have struggled with online distribution issues. they have repeatedly erred on using the web only as a promotion or tease vehicle, constantly trying to drive us back to our glowing boxes in the family room. hulu, however, has proven that we can cut the cord. tivo taught us not to be beholden to the time. and webisodes (i.e., web-only content) generally sucks.
As reported in AdAge today, Time-Warner’s Jeff Bewke’s has laid out a vision that should work… and should have enough momentum behind it to shove it through. it’s simple, really. let’s all admit that subscription tv is something we’ve acclimated to… WAY back in the 80′s for goodness sake. now, let’s also admit that the web is just another vehicle for the same channels. and, in break-through thinking, the same subscriptions should hold true. people will pay. and whatever misses might leak through (just like jumping cable subscriptions from your neighbor’s box back in the day) will be a small hitch amidst a far more engaged and willing audience. and eventually even those gaps will be filled. give us what we want WHERE we want it AND when we want it. imagine that. an old media conglomerate coming through with business-minded new media thinking.
thanks, jeff. i’m here to cheer you on and anyone else willing to apply a new model to an old industry in the interest of making future sense of our confused current world. yet another little piece of the economy that can now calm down :o)…
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Jim Jacoby
Jim Jacoby is a business strategist, seasoned user experience specialist, and entrepreneur. He applies his extensive background to build fully-integrated online solutions that create market advantage. Looking for Design in the Moment?
March 2nd, 2009 on 1:01 pm
We eschewed cable four months ago and haven’t looked back. Between Hulu, Joost, and torrents–along with the surprising number of free channels you get with digital broadcasting–our needs are covered. My iBook streams to our TV–there is little discernible difference between watching a live broadcast and playing from Hulu. I’ve also been checking out Boxee (http://www.boxee.tv/) recently, which fits right in with my personalized home entertainment channel.
So, I don’t like the sound of this. Won’t be long ’til the other networks get wind and take away my free lunch.
March 2nd, 2009 on 1:01 pm
We eschewed cable four months ago and haven’t looked back. Between Hulu, Joost, and torrents–along with the surprising number of free channels you get with digital broadcasting–our needs are covered. My iBook streams to our TV–there is little discernible difference between watching a live broadcast and playing from Hulu. I’ve also been checking out Boxee (http://www.boxee.tv/) recently, which fits right in with my personalized home entertainment channel.
So, I don’t like the sound of this. Won’t be long ’til the other networks get wind and take away my free lunch.
March 30th, 2009 on 8:22 pm
Love the Prince reference in the title. Is that from the original Batman soundtrack? Am I dating myself?
April 27th, 2009 on 7:34 am
there might be others in here… hmm.
March 30th, 2009 on 8:22 pm
Love the Prince reference in the title. Is that from the original Batman soundtrack? Am I dating myself?
April 27th, 2009 on 7:34 am
there might be others in here… hmm.
March 30th, 2009 on 8:31 pm
i should have also added that i’m moving into my first home this week and do not plan on getting cable for as long as i can help it. with Hulu and others previously mentioned by Brian above i may be able to go without forever or at least until they charge once they get enough of a following. i don’t even own a tv and only plan on getting one later in the year for DVDs, connecting to my laptop, and any game consoles i may eventually get.
i’d be curious to see what % of the population share the same cable-less sentiment?
April 27th, 2009 on 7:33 am
interesting to hear. would love to know if you end up staying completely away from a television subscription. i’m actually beginning to see a further shift that is less in line with the original intent of this post. that is, content owners ultimately need to embed the value of their advertising (like product placement) into the media in such a way that it can be accessed when desired, ignored when not relevant (tivo, anyone), and carried ubiquitously across channels/deliver medium. i’ve seen one technology that does this successfully but can’t put much out there about it given current non-disclosures. suffice to say, i think the industry might be momentarily buoyed if it can gain consensus on a subscription payment yoke, but the long term solution changes the way the media is produced and takes advantage of the wonderful new ways we can consume it.
March 30th, 2009 on 8:31 pm
i should have also added that i’m moving into my first home this week and do not plan on getting cable for as long as i can help it. with Hulu and others previously mentioned by Brian above i may be able to go without forever or at least until they charge once they get enough of a following. i don’t even own a tv and only plan on getting one later in the year for DVDs, connecting to my laptop, and any game consoles i may eventually get.
i’d be curious to see what % of the population share the same cable-less sentiment?
April 27th, 2009 on 7:33 am
interesting to hear. would love to know if you end up staying completely away from a television subscription. i’m actually beginning to see a further shift that is less in line with the original intent of this post. that is, content owners ultimately need to embed the value of their advertising (like product placement) into the media in such a way that it can be accessed when desired, ignored when not relevant (tivo, anyone), and carried ubiquitously across channels/deliver medium. i’ve seen one technology that does this successfully but can’t put much out there about it given current non-disclosures. suffice to say, i think the industry might be momentarily buoyed if it can gain consensus on a subscription payment yoke, but the long term solution changes the way the media is produced and takes advantage of the wonderful new ways we can consume it.