How do you watch TV these days? Is TV really TV anymore? Last night I caught highlights of Survivor on CBS on-line then went to my Request Integrated Media Client (IMC) and watched a movie on the new Netflix on demand service.
I thought I was one of the few that cut way back on my satellite bill.
It turns out I was wrong.
According to Tech Crunch, 800,000 households disconnected from cable and satellite completely last year.
It is a sign of the times or a sign of technology.
My guess is more technology than we think.
With HD available off air now, people in the plains states and flat areas can get all of their local programming in HD for free.
No cable or satellite required.
There is even a channel guide and antenna selector on-line at antennaweb..
So this begs the question, is TV still just TV or do we need to think of it as DV, or Delivered Video.
It has evolved past "internet TV" hasn't it? It is amazing to me that as consumers we have so much choice and the prices are still so high for HD and movie services from cable and satellite providers.
I didn't completely cut the cord, I still have basic satellite so I can get Speed Channel and BBC America to watch Top Gear.
I am guessing that I will soon watch them over the Internet too.
Pretty soon I imagine we will use some sort of Internet aware device like the Request Integrated Media Client I have now and use it to "surf" DV.
It really is coming down to two things, who owns the DV content, and who provides the bandwidth to get the DV content.
Clearwire is a new wireless 4G choice that should provide sufficient bandwidth for HD DV delivery.
Content anywhere any time, all you need to do is buy the bandwidth.
Verizon and AT&T already have video services on smart phones.
Just think of what an iPad could do.
Does this mean we should sell our stock in DIRECTV and Comcast? It just might.
Some time ago HBO started making original movies so they would own the DV content.
It is clear that being the owner of the DV content for outlets like ABC, CBS, NBC and HBO is critical to survival.
Netflix on demand will offer a source outlet for smaller DV content owners.
The big play will be more like the ABC-DISNEY-ESPN conglomerate where the content is bundled together and the DV content owner will no longer have to pay for people to have access to their DV content.
ABC also bought Go.
com some time ago to own an Internet based hosting and delivery solution.
At the time it was thought to be a huge waste of money.
Now it is looking like a smart move made a little ahead of the technology.
So how will you get your DV next year?