What Will Make Online Video More Than Just TV Online?
from the making-it-work dept
For many years people have tried to create internet-only TV shows, and about the only notable feature of most has been how quickly they failed. For a while, it seemed like the internet just wasn't right for "sit back" content that involved just watching video -- but perhaps it had more to do with the lack of enabling technology. In the last few years, of course, we've seen the rise of much faster connections combined with the rise of online video sites in just the last year. The combination means that online TV shows are hot again -- helping to prove that the value of things like YouTube goes well beyond copyright infringement. Many are embracing this trend, such as Jeff Pulver, who has been building a directory of online only TV shows among other video projects. Of course, the real question is where will this all lead. Simply replicating TV isn't all that interesting by itself. It certainly does open up opportunities for those who could never get on TV, which is a great starting point, but the real power isn't just in "broadcasting" TV content to the internet (and then getting a TV or DVD deal, as some seem to aspire to), but in adding in the real interactivity -- and there are many different ways that can play out. It can be as simple as encouraging others to make "response" videos, as are popular on YouTube, or playing up to the community of watchers as folks like Ze Frank have embraced. While it's great to see more and more people experimenting with moving video online, it seems like we're still in the stage where people are looking at internet video the same way they viewed early cars as "horseless carriages" and non-silent movies were "talkies."Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Make it easier to surf the web on our TVs and we will actually watch these shows.
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I would like to see
Commercials don't bother me, so I do not care if ABC plays them along with the Internet rerun. I think that is a good additional revune stream idea for ABC. I wish all the networks would do the same thing with all their shows. I don't think it will affect DVD sales much, I myself would rather go buy the DVD set than invest the time to download and burn.
I guess I just am not big enough of a geek.
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I would like to see
Commercials don't bother me, so I do not care if ABC plays them along with the Internet rerun. I think that is a good additional revune stream idea for ABC. I wish all the networks would do the same thing with all their shows. I don't think it will affect DVD sales much, I myself would rather go buy the DVD set than invest the time to download and burn.
I guess I just am not big enough of a geek.
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Print, Radio, TV, Cable, Web Video
Early man began publishing to survive, (where is water, where is food, how do I get there , when is the best time to plant, by drawing symbols in dirt, on bark, on clay tablets). Today we use Google to answer some of those questions, but still have the problems of war, poverty and disease. So advanced technology does little to have our thinking evolve.
From a media standpoint how long did it take for the language of film to be created and the cinematic narrative form? Here is the point, a new language is being created for this medium and while we watch that happen, TV online is trying to be a part of that new language
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Re: Rick
as for the article, the main example was youtube's lonelygirl15. until they announced that it was planned, it was one of the sweetest things, interactive tv. but the draw for me was trying to point out the things in the plot that logically led it to be scripted. but talking with lonelygirl (or whoever was doing the talking) and interacting with all the people who were also watching was what made it a unique experience. anyways, the lonelygirl15 show was a great example of what tv would/could/should be like on the internet. you can't just have regular tv, you need that bit of interaction.
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Re: PhysicsGuy
Also about the comment to see a show after it has been played on the regular line up, One of the local news channels posts their news shows to the DVR menu on my comcast dvr like within a few minutes after they are run in their normal time slot. This way if I miss the news and didn't record it, I can still watch it when I'm ready to. I wish all shows did that or posted to the internet. But I also wish comcast would give me internet access for my TV so I could watch internet video too. I already pay for their broadband, what's the diff?
I look forward to more advances in the use of the technology but alas, it always moves too slow for me.
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