Remember that time when Data mentioned that television disappeared some time in the early 21st century? And everyone scoffed at the idea, as if TV was somehow going to just peter out as people lost interest?
That idea came to mind as I read this amusing article, and realized that the prediction might not be so crazy after all. After all, I'm not paying for cable TV service... I just use the TV as a large display for videos from my computer.
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
I've suspected this for some years now, though it really depends on how you define "television". I have (recently) Virgin media, which for the benefits of non-Brits is a cable service, but while it has about 165 odd broadcast channels, the bulk of the content is in on-demand streaming, some of it (like BBCiplayer) is straight off the web.
So I'd say the future will be programs (dramas, documentaries, movies etc.) released to on-demend services for limited periods with only the likes of news programs and sports on "live" broadcast channels.
Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
There will still be a demand for TV as long as they broadcast HD content. However, as soon as bandwidth capabilities allow for streaming of HD, THEN TV will be good and dead.
Posted by MinutiaeMan (Member # 444) on :
I dunno, they're already streaming HD via YouTube. Plus, I get a lot of my TV (in HD) from the iTunes store anyway. I can watch it whenever, no ads, no need to wait for DVDs (and then rip them).
Besides, isn't broadcast HD TV usually only 1080i/720p anyway? And aren't on-demand services primarily IP-based, too? When we had FiOS at my last apartment, I figured that the on-demand stuff was network-based.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
Well, since Comcast is buying NBC and they are also the asshats looking to charge customers tier-based internet services based on bandwidth.... Yeah- I can see mega-corporations controlling all TV media content and the whole thing going the way of the mamamoth.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
I still watch TV. However my apartment complex bundles my cable with my rent. In other words, I can't not have cable. So whether I want Comcast or not, I have it.
Although there's still a lot of shows I watch online.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
quote:Originally posted by Hobbes: Although there's still a lot of shows I watch online.
Yes, we know what kind of shows those are, pallie.
Posted by Pensive's Wetness (Member # 1203) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jason Abbadon:
quote:Originally posted by Hobbes: Although there's still a lot of shows I watch online.
Yes, we know what kind of shows those are, pallie.
Twap. Twap. Twaptwaptwaptwap[insert linkie from YoupR0n]twaptwaptwaptwap...
Posted by HopefulNebula (Member # 1933) on :
Never before has Pensive's user title been more appropriate...
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
Yeah well they're entertaining and educational.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
I've always assumed that eventually, televised media will take the form of something like "The Net" from the DS9 episode Past Tense. Television, movies, news, games, all bundled together in some fashion. The advent of on-demand, DVR, Wi-Fi, streaming and HD services seems to make something like this inevitable. Once corporations find a way to "own" these things, it'll happen.
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
That's my feeling too. So enjoy the relatively free internet while you can, I don't think it'll last for very much longer.
As for other sci-fi public media based concepts; I'm still waiting for Babylon 5's customisable, on-demand printing & recycling newspaper vending machines. If anything that environmentally sensible comes out, you know the future has finally arrived (flying car pending.)
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
You're waiting for Babylon 5's customisable, on-demand printing & recycling newspaper vending machines? I dont think the show really had that kind of fanbase or marketing appeal for vending machines, frankly. What part of the B5 themed vending machine would you customize anyway?
Now Star Wars has potential- a big Power droid soda machine or newspaper machine would be neat.
A few years back there was a printer that could re-use the paper it already printed onto- it stripped the (specialized, I'd imagine) toner off the page, leaving a nice clean sheet.
The drawback was that it was slow, but they were supposedly working on that.
![[Wink]](wink.gif)