What’s the difference with Web TV and TV?

It’s really nice to have the BBC iplayer, itv.com’s catchup service and channel 4’s 4OD, but I struggle to find content that I really want to watch on these services. I have the free-view service on my TV and that’s OK, but it’s still loads of repeats and I’m actually thinking of smashing up my TV and just sticking with the web! Well…. why do we need it now? The government has a digital switch over plan to be completed by 2012, so all the channels will be available via the web. We have loads of online channels who are offering film download services, catchup and other programs all over. I have a lovely widescreen Monitor and I can see almost crystal clear video quality on it.

So what’s the difference? why do I still need my TV?

Well.. let me tell you something! I really like the fact that I can touch a button on the remote and watch TV immediately. I also like jumping on my nice comfy leather sofa, flicking through the channels to see if anything takes my fancy. Then, when I actually do find something I like, I can sit back and enjoy the show. With Web TV, I still need to power up my computer, hit the browser application and then type in the web address. Sorry guys but it’s still a bit of a pain! Then my eyes get tired on the monitor and I feel like i have been on the computer all day! Sometimes the stream buffers and I need to wait for the stream to catch up.

So what’s the verdict ? Why am I giving out two very strong reasons both ways?? Web TV is great and I love watching quick clips on the catchup services and short form videos online. But as a moment; a moment to take time out , get entertained and relax. I just don’t think internet TV completes it for me yet! Not in a relaxing way. If I’m online, great! I’ll watch something quickly and get entertained. But then I go back to work! (Ops sorry boss, if you’re reading this.)

Food for thought!

Signing off!

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Broadcasters, Films and Creative output!

In the UK media, there has been a  lot of attention on broadcasters, downsizing, ordering pay cuts and consolidation within the market. This tells us that “advertising funded” revenues they have enjoyed over the years are slowly in decline. What concerns me the most is creative output will be a lot less and it will be harder for creative people to get projects off the ground in traditional ways. Therefore expect loads of repeats on TV globally.    We have two main issues that face our industry,  “output and audiences”. It strikes me that broadcasters have to be more street smart in their approach to engage with the audience. They really need to understand the public, by  what they want to watch, when they want to watch and how we watch media.

Secondly funding projects and getting them off the ground, leaves no room for error. The competition for excellent creativity is going to be much more competitve. Whilst this is good news for our audience, Production companies, film & TV directors will have to bring something completely fresh to engage the audiences. We are seeing this now with the likes of Slumdog Millionaire breaking the UK box office record for ticket sales. We have no shortage of talent in the world, but more of a changing world. How we work, what we do and when we do things have completely changed. This gives the big broadcasters and hollywood studios a huge challenge or opportunity to adapt.

As a creative producer and someone who loves to watching news TV and films, together we will have to find explore other avenues to deliver content. Whilst internet viewing figures are on the up, I’m not entirely  convinced that web TV is the only answer, but  a mix of different platforms that will help engage the customer in the long run.. 

However, I think that Internet TV or web TV is still a great investment into the future and something that needs focusing on for it to a become viable medium.

Food for thought….

Signing off 

Realitypod.tv

free Live Streaming

Streaming, streaming video and live streaming is all the rage at the moment, its taking the USA by storm. Now live streaming coupled up with social networking and communities having fun on the internet makes room for a website called Justin.tv or Justin, NO not Justin Timberlake, but this site could make you dance just like him… You get all kinds of people and companies broadcasting live all day long. So far I have seen radio stations, live sports, gamers and bedroom producers all entertaining us with their shows. The nice thing about it is that once you find a channel that you like, all the other related channels come up and give you the niche market that your interested in. I’m really in to house music and I found grooveinjection2 a pretty cool laid back house music channel that takes me back to the early 90’s. Whats more Justin is free!!! Justin is the leader in live video and the place to broadcast and share video online.

OK OK I have to go, I want to check out the other channels.

Signing off

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