Online Video Begins To Threatens Television

eldavojohn writes, "The BBC has an article reporting that a survey of 2,070 Britons revealed that online viewing is on the rise against television. From the article: 'Some 43% of Britons who watch video from the internet or on a mobile device at least once a week said they watched less normal TV as a result.' The figures the BBC is reporting are up from last year when they ran the same survey. It seems the digital world has disintermediated Magazines, Music, & Newspapers but somehow never really tapped books. Will the internet also take on the role as the family television?"

Is it online video or internet in general?

[LiquidCoooled]

I see it as more people having "something" to do with their time than specifically crappy videos.

Perhaps the survey questions weren't correct.

Most people who spend time online have a community - some have slash others have flickr, theres some on youtube and loads in numerous other communities.

TV cannot give the level of participation the web does.

This is surprising?

[AKAImBatman]

We live in a world that is no longer as 9 to 5 as it once was (more like 24/7 in three shifts), and people are surprised that television viewers would rather decouple their viewing from "Prime Time Weeknights"? I'm not surprised at all. DVDs laid the groundwork for viewers watching the television they want when they want. Then shows like 24 and Lost further laid the groundwork for story arcs that take advantage of that medium. (i.e. Can't keep with Jack every week? Keep up with him on DVD!)

Now the Internet is threatening to combine the convenience and timeliness of broadcast TV with the time shifting and long-term storage capabilities of DVDs. The result can only be a positive change in the way we view entertainment.

Re:Isolation on the rise too

[grapeape]

For many watching online is more of a shared experience. How many families really sit down and watch programs together and when they do, how many actually communicate during them. Many of the media sites offering video content have chatrooms, forums, and other collaborative places that are the online equivalent of talking around the water cooler. So yep gone are the days of dad yelling at Jr. to shut up because the fishing show is on, now dad can watch outdoor sportsman and talk to others that like the same thing.

Re:Isolation on the rise too

[Nos.]

I was going to post something similar, but one other thing that is beneficial when visiting an online forum, is that you get a broader view of things. Depending on the subject it could even be a more worldly view than you could ever get, even watching the show in a public place like a bar. So, in some ways, yes it is less social, but at the same time, it can expand your view more than has been happening before.

Re:Isolation on the rise too

[drinkypoo]

I think that as online TV becomes more popular, people will isolate themselves more and more from a shared experience.

But what is the value of a shared TV viewing experience? A whole family sitting in one room, staring at the same box, that's a shared experience? Sure, in much the same way that sleeping in the same house is a shared experience.

Sony and Panasonic are to blame

[Asrynachs]

The trouble with this whole situation is the TV broadcasters are all willing to go web only. It's been known for a long time they have the capacity to go with this sort of system. Overall it'd be cheaper and better for this sort of setup. The only problem with that IS the TV broadcasters have their nuts in the vice by the big TV makers. Sony and Panasonic are forcing the broadcasters to stick to the regular conventions so they can sell their expensive and unnecessary TV. Most people when asked said they are perfectly content with watching a little 7" tv screen just so long as there's something good on. For years we've been brainwashed to think that crystal clear picture and surround sound on a 90" TV screen is the best way to enjoy our favorite shows. Now that the internet has come along and is offering people a cheap alternative viewing experience they're getting scared. Web based TV is also affecting the big couch makers, but not as bad since most of those companies also make some sort of desk chairs. Mind you they'd still be at a significant loss if web TV took over.

The simple reason behind this is...

[Anonymous Coward]

There isn't enough free porn on TV.

Re:It's obvious

[The-Bus]

the audience gladly puts up with the ad being onscreen because it doesn't interrupt the show.

Not an interruption?

Do you also believe [ How much ladies will love your new ROCK hard action!! [icos.com] Advertisement] that onscreen ads on the internet aren't intrusive? I'd be willing to [ Approve you for best mortgage at prime minus 4%!! Pay nothing! [federalreserve.gov] Advertisement] bet that most people don't share that view. Certainly, I can live without [ hottest mover & shaker stocks - investors shouldn't miss out [nyse.com] Advertisement] them, and sometimes they're not terribly intrusive, but they are still interruptions.

I always liked the way that ZDF in Germany did it. They had a block of time each night were only ads were shown and the ads were interrupted by short 5- to 15-second animated shorts to get the kids to watch. As they wanted people to actually tune in, most of the ads were of Super Bowl ingenuity: actually fun to watch. I believe some of the American HD networks do something like this currently.

Re:Isolation on the rise too

[siriuskase]

no, it's more like sharing a meal. We don't watch much TV, but when we do, we do it together. We usually watch DVD, talk while watching, hit rewind if we manage to miss something, etc. It's not exactly educational talk, but fun talk, our own commentary, etc. It's frequently more interesting than the "How was your day?" stuff at the table. Kids talk more when they have something interesting to talk about.

Re:Isolation on the rise too

[Anonymous Coward]

Maaan, I really wish for the good-ol days, where there was mass media, and mass brainwashing for all.

Re:Isolation on the rise too

[Captain Splendid]

Mod parent up. The real danger to old school tv channels isn't where you can get content, but when. I'm currently using Bittorrent a shedload simply to be able to watch the 5 or 6 tv shows I'm interested in without having to contort my life around somebody else's schedule. Once the general perception shifts from "gotta get home, Lost is on soon", to "I'll download it this weekend/I'll wait for the DVD", TV networks as we know them are dead.

Re:Why is this a problem ?

[Purity Of Essence]

It's all about control and providing advertisers with the "intended audience". By forcing viewers to adhere to a schedule they think they know exactly the kinds of people who will be watching at any moment. That makes the marketing people a Proctor and Gamble happy. It's also good for the networks to help sell their new shows. They can make you wonder "Where's Lost?!" when "Day Break" comes on, but chances are you'll watch it anyway. They can make you watch "The War At Home" while you wait for the next good show in Fox's Sunday night animation line up. The meteoric rise in popularity of TiVo and YouTube has proven that the shift toward video-on-demand is inevitable, but it's going to take a lot of cajoling to get the networks for play ball.