Looking at Internet TV downside up!

So much of what you see, read and I have written about Internet TV has been all about how it is getting closer to the traditional TV experience.  True, more content is making its way onto the Internet.  True, the equipment and software running on Internet TV devices is getting better and cheaper.  True, more devices are building Internet TV capabilities right into the device.   So yea, Internet TV is getting closer to the traditional TV experience and that is a good and necessary thing in order to get mass appeal. 

However, it has occurred to me this is only part of the big picture.  What can Internet TV provide that traditional TV cannot?  One example is that Netflix purchased the exclusive rights to a show that will only be streamed over the Internet.  If you want to watch, “House of Cards” next year, you have to do so with a Netflix account.  I bet you’ve never heard of the show “Pioneer One” have you?  Well, the only way to get it is to download it off the Internet.  It can be done via bittorrent.  Legally and free!  The show operates on a low budget and accepts donations to keep it alive.  So, Internet TV is changing the business model which has traditionally relied on selling content to TV providers and networks who in turn sell advertising.  The TV viewer ultimately pays the price.  Content creators win.  Cable providers win.  TV users lose in never ending rate increases.

Hulu on your computer is free and is ad subsidized.  Yet, the viewing experience is better as there are fewer ads to watch than on traditional TV for any given show.  Also, the ads are becoming more ‘intelligent’ as they are more specific to you the viewer.  Content creators win.  Advertisers win.  TV users win.  Traditional cable providers lose!  Boohoo.

These are only a few examples of how Internet TV can be superior (not inferior) to traditional cable or dish television.  I expect to see more examples of this as things progress.  Ultimately the TV viewer is going to win at the end of the day.  In fact, one day we will all reflect on how our TVs and display devices in the house weren’t even connected to the Internet so long ago.  How did we watch TV without the Internet?  Thanks for reading. 

Connected TV will be a Revolution

http://mashable.com/2011/05/11/future-connected-tv/

Hulu Plus now on Xbox 360

Hulu Plus is now on the Xbox360 making Internet TV that much more viable to the average consumer as many folks have an xbox in the home for gaming already.  This addition to the list includes other popular devices such as the Sony Playstation 3, Roku, and many Samsung, Sony, and Vizio TVs and Bluray players. 

Internet enabled LG, Panasonic, and Haier TV and Bluray players are supposed to get Hulu Plus later this year too.  The 3rd generation Western Digital media players will get Hulu as well.  I've been using Hulu for over a year now and love it more as more content comes online.  For many, a Netflix account and Hulu is all one needs to cut the cable cord to the TV set.  If you watch live sports and news, an over the air antenna can supplement the Internet TV.  This is good news as more devices support Internet TV, users will adopt online content and in many cases get a better experience than ever before.

Ringgold hit hard by Tornado

Please keep Ringgold, GA, northwest GA, and greater Chattanooga, TN area in your thoughts and prayers.  Our community suffered a direct hit by the tornado.  For more info:

http://www.facebook.com/rtctel

http://www.catt.com/

http://www.catwalkchatt.com/

http://www.newschannel9.com/

http://www.wrcbtv.com/

http://www.wdef.com/

Find Internet TV content with Clicker!

Clicker is a great free online tool that allows users to find their favorite TV shows online.  Check it out:
http://www.clicker.com/

Internet TV focus group

A typical blog is about one individual’s world view of a particular topic.  When it comes to politics and religion, the phrase ‘Birds of a feather flock together’ comes to mind.  The last thing I want to do is spew my own bias onto the web only for others to regurgitate my own preconceived notions of the impact of Internet TV.  Therefore, I conducted 3 focus groups at work to see what others (not me) think about it in an effort to challenge my own assumptions.   This gave me an opportunity to listen to learn!  Something my wife encourages me to do on a regular basis.  (oh wise one;)

Here at RTC, we have a diverse group.  Younger/Older.  Techie/Non Techie.  Inside Dwellers/Outside Dwellers.  White collar/Blue collar. 1meg/50meg.   Yogurt lovers and those that hate Yogurt.

So, in this post, let us ignore my humble opinions and focus on diverse group think.
31 fellow employees were kind enough to take an hour out of their day to provide some feedback on Internet TV.  Some thoughts:

-    Miss being able to just flip thru the channels
-    Need more live sports and content in general to switch
-    Don’t like having to pay for more equipment to switch from cable to Internet TV & Antenna
-    I use cable for regular TV but Netflix and a Roku box for movies instead of renting them or Red Box.
-    Hard time finding shows
-    There is nothing on Hulu for me to watch
-    Love the channels available but need more
-    Don’t like to wait to watch (buffering)
-    Folks don’t care how the service is delivered just that it works
-    This is something for Customers who ask ‘ok, I have fiber now what do I do with it?’

The group generally agreed that Internet TV is getting better not worse.  That today, it is quite useful despite some of the current limitations.  Regarding setup, intuitiveness, and usage, the group believes these rank all very favorable.  For example, nobody had an issue using or setting up a box.  The only negative "think" for Internet TV is the lack of live content specifically news and sports.  Although, we had some good discussions on alternative sources for news such as espn3, Pandora, and the use of an over the air antenna.

Question for the group:  “Do you see the mass adoption of Internet TV in:?”
<1 year – 0
1-3 years – 11
3-5 years – 14
5+ years – 3
Never - 0

So there you have it.  The group was mixed with some already making a complete switch to Internet TV and ditching cable.  Others that are currently using Internet TV to supplement cable and some who use cable only and prefer to stay that way for now.  It is interesting that nobody choose Internet TV would be used by the masses in less than one year.  However, nobody voted that Internet TV would never take off.  Thus, I am going to interpret this as the Internet is coming to your TV eventually….get ready!

I have more focus groups scheduled for the 19th and 20th of April.  If you have questions you would like to ask me or the group, please comment and would be happy to ask on your behalf.  Thanks!

Antennas are hip..........again.

If you are like me, thinking of a roof top antenna or the big metal “V” hanging off the back of a tube TV brings back memories of a colorful shag carpet, the smell of a stack of dusty records, and taste of microwave dinners.  Personally, I prefer hard wood flooring, mp3s, and anything that doesn’t taste like cardboard.  However, as far as antennas go, it has been a great reunion.

In my last posting, I wrote of the plus/minus of Internet TV and life without cable for 30 days.  One void is live locals, sports, and news.  Here the antenna fits the void quite nicely.  It fills our genetic desire to flip thru channels from time to time too.  Channels 3,9,12, 61 here in Chattanooga as well as catt.com keep us informed of local and regional news while Internet TV has plenty of national news coverage.  Cable or Dish isn’t necessary to fill that void.  A good old antenna does just fine.

It has been almost two years since analog TV signals no longer pollute our air waves.  It is all digital now.  Many were confused by the change.  Basically, this means you need a digital tuner connected to your TV to receive signals over the air.  If you have a modern plasma, lcd, or led TV, you are golden as it is built right into the TV set.  Most of the older tube TVs have an analog tuner inside so an external digital tuner box is required to pick up over the air signals along with an antenna.

As far as the antenna itself, well it depends on where you live and the home you have.  A great resource is www.antennaweb.org.   This website can tell you what antenna you need, where to point it, and what channels are likely to be received as a result.  

So what is so great about digital over the air TV signals?  First, it is free.  Second, it is free.  Third, it is in a digital high definition format depending on the programming.  You can actually  achieve BETTER results watching sports over the air than with a premium cable or Dish HD package.  This is because the signal is not compressed.   In other words, the picture quality and sound can actually look better that a pay service.

So if you are thinking about making a switch to Internet TV but can’t give up your cable or dish service, consider an over the air antenna and Internet TV has an alternative combination.

Do you watch antenna TV?  Take our poll at www.catt.com.