The Future Of TV Is Coming, Slowly But Surely http://t.co/rQuQL5e1
Dan Frommer at Business Insider takes a look at the various aspects of the evolving future of Television.
Content and Programming
Eventually, things like channel numbers will go away. Networks will emerge, merge, and fold. Someday, your search bar may be your channel guide. But that’s going to take a while.
Distribution
One misplaced assumption is that TV is necessarily going to get cheaper as more streaming is available. Sure, you may end up picking fewer “channels” or services to subscribe to, but you might also have to pay more for them, or at least spend more on Internet access to stream all that video.
The cable guys will also try to force their content partners into schemes where you can only access certain streaming programming if you prove that you’re a cable subscriber. This “authentication” concept is called “TV Everywhere,” and you’ll probably see more of it soon.
TVs and User Interfaces
Software stands to change TVs profoundly, giving users more powerful ways to find shows, watch them how and where they want, and obtain them from different sources. It could allow you to control your TV with your voice, hand gestures, or a device like your iPad. It could make “social TV” a reality. It could make every TV a casual game console.
Advertising
While some companies — notably Google — are trying to bring Internet-like characteristics to TV advertising, it’s still in the early going. Expect to see more developments around targeting, measurement, interactive and rich media, algorithm-based placements, and “closing the loop” via new commerce techniques.
These are only excerpts. Frommer has a lot more at:Â http://www.businessinsider.com/future-of-tv-2011-10#ixzz1b4G20JXr