News & Information for Technology Purchasers
NewsFactor Network Sites:   NewsFactor.com Security CRM Business Sci-Tech Newsletters XML/RSS Feed  
   
Home Enterprise I.T. Hardware Software Communications More Topics...
World Wide Web
Average Rating:
Rate this article:  
Who Cares About Internet TV? Who Cares About Internet TV?
By Elizabeth Millard
February 24, 2006 7:15AM

    Bookmark and Share
"We believe your grandchildren won't know what a TV is," said Saul Berman, global partner for media and entertainment at IBM Business Consulting Services. "Programs will become unrestricted by becoming more mobile, but programming will be freed as well from constraints."
 

Advertisement

Although the Internet is changing the way movies are distributed, archived, and advertised, few in the entertainment industry are willing to close the doors on the multiplex for good. The desire for a communal experience and the visceral punch of seeing a blockbuster on the big screen always have made film palaces special places. Traditional viewing habits remain entrenched, and it might be years before consumers are ready to break away from the tried and true.

But for television, it is a whole different story.

The growth of broadband use and the ability to see content in different formats are paving the way for a world in which TV programs are no longer shackled to the television set.

Already, shows are sold through online services such as iTunes. They are formatted for mobile devices so they can be watched in planes, trains, and automobiles as easily as they can be enjoyed from a couch or bed.

As TV content is delivered through digital means, some are pondering whether the content itself is due for a revamp. Unlike movies -- which have set lengths due to story arcs, narrative structure, and viewer familiarity -- TV shows are more malleable in duration and subject matter.

The Internet, with its "anything goes" kind of freedom, is giving content creators a chance to rethink television, while at the same time forcing advertisers and TV studios to do some soul-searching of their own. Who cares about Internet TV? The answer: anyone who wants to stay in the business.

Getting with the Program

Thanks to aggressive tactics by studios like NBC and technology companies like Apple, TV is beginning to proliferate across the Internet. Downloadable content means those who want to ditch work on the sly can watch ER instead of inputting sales figures, or catch a classic episode of Dragnet as the coworker in the adjoining cubicle drones on about troubles with HR.

But the TV-meets-computing scene soon will expand far beyond watching TV from a desk chair. Internet purveyors and content creators have started pondering how the Internet's speed-filled, short-attention-span environment can be used to whip up altogether fresh types of entertainment.

In the latest example of this phenomenon, AOL recently teamed up with Mark Burnett, the man who brought monster reality show hits like Survivor and The Apprentice to life.

The producer's company and AOL will develop a real-life treasure hunt for the Web. Gold Rush! will feature "everyday people" rather than celebrities. Clues will be placed throughout the AOL network, including on sites like MapQuest, Moviefone, and AIM.com. (continued...)

1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6  |  Next Page >

 

Advertisement


Advertisement


 World Wide Web
1.   Online Help for Holiday Shopping
2.   Five People Indicted in Internet Scam
3.   Vietnam Net Users Fear Facebook Ban
4.   Bing's Market Share Nears 10 Percent
5.   Social-Networking Lingo Recognized


advertisement
ICANN Approves International NamesICANN Approves International Names
Dramatic increase in users expected.
Average Rating:
Online Help for Holiday ShoppingOnline Help for Holiday Shopping
The year's best deals on the web.
Average Rating:
Five People Indicted in Internet ScamFive People Indicted in Internet Scam
Bilked federal agencies of millions.
Average Rating:
Product Information and Resources for Technology You Can Use To Boost Your Business

Enterprise Hardware

  Go Green with IBM Blade Center
  

Network Security Spotlight
House Lawmakers Push Ban on Peer-to-Peer Software
Stung by an embarrassing electronic leak revealing ethics investigations into dozens of lawmakers, Congress moved to prohibit federal employees from using the file-sharing software blamed for the disclosure.
 
GAO: Los Alamos Computer Security Has Weaknesses
Security weaknesses uncovered in Los Alamos National Laboratory's computer network increase the risk of a classified-information breach, says the Government Accountability Office.
 
Computer Security Firm Fortinet Plans IPO This Week
Fortinet plans to go public in an initial public offering, giving investors a chance to tap a network security provider with sales that are expected to grow. The IPO could be valued at $137.5 million or more.
 

Enterprise Hardware Spotlight
Flat Shipments Hurt Dell Despite Increased Earnings
Dell's earnings are up and expectations are solid, but the company's stock still took a hit after analysts signaled the company isn't playing a key role in the PC market recovery.
 
New Pogoplug 'Personal Cloud' Does Social Networking
Cloud Engines has released its newest version of the Pogoplug, a small "multimedia sharing device" that connects hard drives to the Internet and allows a user to access the files remotely.
 
Apple Tablet Rumored Delayed as Publisher Gears Up
There have been so many rumors of an Apple tablet that it has taken on legendary status. But now the legend is being revised with reports of a delay and that a major publisher is getting ready.
 

Enterprise Technology Spotlight
Flat Shipments Hurt Dell Despite Increased Earnings
Dell's earnings are up and expectations are solid, but the company's stock still took a hit after analysts signaled the company isn't playing a key role in the PC market recovery.
 
Smartphones: A Bigger Target for Security Threats
Smartphones are increasingly prevalent and adept at handling more tasks, including trading stocks, paying bills, and buying stuff online. That makes them attractive to thieves and hackers.
 
FBI Says Hackers Targeting Law Firms, PR Companies
Hackers are targeting law firms and public relations companies with a sophisticated e-mail scheme that breaks into their computer networks to steal sensitive data, often linked to large corporate clients.
 

Navigation
NewsFactor Network
Home/Top News | Enterprise I.T. | Hardware | Software | Communications | Network Security | Wireless Tech | Linux/Open Source
Apple/Macintosh | Microsoft/Windows | World Wide Web | Data Storage | E-Commerce | Personal Tech | Tech Trends | Press Releases
NewsFactor Network Enterprise I.T. Sites
NewsFactor Technology News | Enterprise Security Today | CRM Daily

NewsFactor Business and Innovation Sites
Sci-Tech Today | NewsFactor Business Report

NewsFactor Services
FreeNewsFeed | Free Newsletters | Free Whitepapers | XML/RSS Feed

About NewsFactor Network | How To Contact Us | Article Reprints | Careers @ NewsFactor | Services for PR Pros | Top Tech Wire | How To Advertise

Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
© Copyright 2000-2009 NewsFactor Network. All rights reserved. Article rating technology by Blogowogo.