Here's the link: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-online-tv9-2009sep09,0,3144574.story
The article title asserts, "the PC is becoming the new TV" as more people watch content online.
The article data appears to be self-reported...people have to remember how often they watch.
What is interesting: nearly 25% of the respondents indicate they watch online TV. And, the sample includes about 10,000 households. The Conference Board is vague as to actual methodology--a real problem when journalists believe the survey results are "facts" instead of responses by a group of survey participants who were selected for participation by a less than transparent means--even if the Conference Board normally gets high marks for what they do.
The two biggest issues for me: the potential end of appointment viewing TV and the possibility that programs may break through network distribution routes to find audiences among online viewers.
Here's the full link for the Conference Board article...it's more interesting than the LATimes article.
http://www.conference-board.org/economics/consumerBarometer.cfm
Most people want to watch television shows online because you can easily access what you want at any time, rather than flipping trough numerous channels on the television to find something. Some people have no problem watching videos or shows on their PC, and I know some people who don't like the idea of watching shows on a smaller screen when they have a television set. I don't watch that much television, but I definitely see the appeal of watching shows on the internet rather than on TV just to avoid all of the terrible programs that come on. I watch some television, and I watch some of my favorite shows on my PC, but I don't make that center of my media experience.
ReplyDeleteI like to lay in bed and watch tv so watching television on the computer does not appeal to me at all, however I do not just browse through the channels I watch comcast on demand. This gives me the ability to watch my favorite shows whenever I have time to. It also gives me access to channels that are not purchased in my cable package.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think computers are becoming the new TVs, however it doesn’t surprise me that nearly one in four U.S. households watches TV online. Whether it be your favorite show, news, sports, or a movie watching it online is more convenient for people. For me it’s easy to watch certain things on the computer because I can’t schedule my time around things I want to watch on TV. Also, with the economy the way it is right now people are trying to cut back on things. I believe they are doing this by watching movies and shows online. Watching shows online give you the option to not having to sit through commercials, or interruptions. I believe these are the main reasons why the number of visitors watching TV programs online has increased. There are certain things on the TV that you can’t get online, I don’t believe computers will take the spot of television.
ReplyDeleteMost people tend to watch T.V. online beacuse of timing and convienance. Instead of having to time your day/night around a certain telivision show, you can simply pick what time is best for you to watch. Watching telivision online had many advantages, such as : missing commericials and mobility. I personally, enjoy watching my favorite telivision show on the actual t.v. BUT I am so busy that I rarely am given that luxury, so watching my favorite show in whatever location i chose, at whatever time is fine by me : ) I do think that computers are soon to overtake telvision's; I feel as if they will combine the two even more than technology has now.
ReplyDeleteMost people I know dont prefer to watch online tv they would rather watch it the traditional way. Although it is easily accessible for people with desktops and laptops you always have the risk of the computer freezing or the quality of file being bad or slow. With traditional shows, you know what you are going to get as far as HD quality and dont have to worry about your television freezing of buffering.
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