Future of TV?

[Dauthi]

So I've been telling my friends for a while now that TV companies are going to have to change to stay in the business atleast in the business as the top dogs. While yes AMC, Fox, CBS, and others still make the best shows, they keep canceling these shows because of a lack of funding/interest. Yet, everytime they cancel there is a huge outcry because these shows are amazing. The lack of funding comes from everyone who skips commercials or who watches after the fact on netflix/hulu, or them who just pirate the stuff. So they are killing really good shows in place of reality TV that is cheap to make.


With the recent announcement of netflix see here. and all the best news stuff being put live on the internet vrs going on TV now adays, and finally with Companies like Rock Jump making Video Game Highschool and getting its viewers to help fund the cost with a production value as good or greater then what alot of TV shows can do. the big companies like AMC/Fox/CBS really need to start considering their next move to stay in the business. They have already tried destroying the internet by doing SOPA and others things like that and because of huge out cry from the masses and other larger companies stepping in and helping kill these bills that approach wont work.

So do you think these companies will start changing things up? or will they keep trying to kill the internet with stupid bills and waste their money?

Also, if you've not watched VGHS, go watch, Season 2 started today, and new Episodes will come out on Fridays.

[Calen]

A little birdy told me to come and check out this thread.

Personally, I think the big tv channels are obsolete, they just don't know it yet.

With the technology we have at our fingertips nowadays, everyone can finally bring their story to the screen. With Kickstarter, they can get the funding they need to make them even better. As for the actors, from what I've read from some of the viewer-made shows I've watched aren't even paid (maybe gas money and food while they work)! They do it because they like the story and enjoy what they're doing. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised to see a movie about Tonan in the future (once rp gets up and going again). Hell, I'd chip in to watch that!

Also I believe that funding isn't the only problem for the big shots. They are just too detached from their projects.

[Igneous]

I think I will personally lead the revolution by not buying anything, and not watching any stupid shows, and eating nothing but kale, I grow in my backyard, in all the freetime I will now have. tv is for suckers.

[Gili]

This will all stink of how the music industry was sluggish to get with the new world.

Presumably TV channels are going to have to switch to supplying their feed via IP. Sky have made good grounds with removing the very long wait for things, i think we're only a day behind in getting GoT for example, although i can still torrent an ad-free version pretty much instantly after its aired in the US (and sometimes before). There is loads of good TV type server software out there that will keep your collection up to date as it spots stuff on the web.

Commercials aren't really a long term viable solution, i wonder how long til we get a Adblock for smart TV's and such Perhaps they will need to use more product placement.

Personally i detest TV yet i still pay £65 a month(plus yearly TV license) for the stuff. All my sports are fragmenting more, i think i need to pay for 3 different sets of channels to be able to watch any premium league match...and even then they tend to just show 4 of the 10ish live per week. Why can't i watch all of spurs matches, they are ALL filmed? I can almost always find them playing on foreign stations...yet im based in the country the games are played. Boxing is the same...2 different people to pay *sigh*

Are we moving towards a more "teaser -> demand -> supply model", kinda kickstarter for TV, i think so.

[Kaz]

Adverts on TV are pretty much irrelevant already, even if you ignore the fact that a lot of TV gets pirated and the adverts cut out.

Everything I watch on TV these days is recorded via series link on my Sky+ box, which functions a bit like Tivo. I hardly ever watch a program at the time it's actually broadcast, so when the adverts come up I hit fast forward.

If I want to watch something live I might hit live pause, go and make a cup of tea and come back 15 mins after it started so that I can fast forwards through the advert breaks, or at least, as many as I can before I catch up with the broadcast.

Actually, it now feels a bit odd when I end up watching something 'live' and can't skip through adverts. You press fast-forward, nothing happens and then you remember that you're actually watching TV as it happens for once.

All of the main UK broadcasters have a box that digitally records TV for later or pauses 'live' TV. Even our TV itself, which has a built in digital freeview receiver (UK free to air broadcasts) has space for a memory card, and a remote control with a fast-forward option.

Most UK broadcasters have an on demand website. BBC and ITV have iPlayer, Channel 4 has 4oD etc. The service providers also have their own on demand websites for example Sky Go. The problem is, if you try to watch from outside the UK you get blocked by a message telling you that 'you have to be in the UK to enjoy this content'.

I think that on demand websites are the future of funding for production companies like HBO, Fox etc. They already have content that they stream to the user, but only if that user is in the USA which just pushes international users to torrents.

The way international broadcast rights work, if no UK station picks up a show for UK broadcast then because we're blocked from on demand content, the only options are sometimes torrent vs wait for a DVD (e.g. final series of Chuck, season 3 of Teen Wolf etc). To an extent, that's what needs shaking up.

If HBO (and other broadcasters) created a subscription based on demand website with international coverage, or even better, a subscription-free pay-to-download international on demand website (a bit like itunes), less people would download pirate copies, they'd supplement advertising income, and more importantly, would have a better understanding of how many people watch the show.