Changing TV - 1
13/04/07 08:09 Filed in: Apple
One of the things that has characterised the 20th
century was the development of broadcast media based
on electrical transmissions - better known as radio
and TV. These broadcast media, as an extension of
printed media, have created a huge global industry.
But in recent years things are starting to alter the
broadcast model.
Firstly, the development of the internet and the RSS feed to affect printed media - especially news and editorial. Rather than wait for the next print run - which are often many days (or weeks for monthly magazines) - a RSS feed can be updated and subscribers pick it up as soon as the Publish button is pressed. Following on we have podcasts - an audio version of the text. This is replacing radio in an analogous way. Finally, video podcasts (or whatever name you'd like) - these are replacing short TV news slots - especially in niche or specialist areas.
So what is the change? Instead of the broadcast model that has the producers saying we are outputting this tune in or miss it. You get all of what we have to say or write. We now have the viewer saying I will subscribe to this and that and I will pick up stuff to hear or see when I want. The controls are swapping. I agree that the VCR and its natural extensions of the PVR mean that we can shift the time when we see or hear something broadcast, but we are generally following a number of broadcast channels. Where I live, the terrestrial channels are limited to 4 at present. So not too confusing. However, with the internet and all of the sources of news and comment that are available globally - you have thousands of the equivalent of programmes.
The introduction of the AppleTV and its support for downloaded video (and audio) podcasts at a quality level greater than most "normal" broadcasters at present could mean that the acceleration of the change around will increase. many podcasters can grab a HD camcorder and produce a HD podcast to be downloaded and played back via the AppleTV onto a TV screen. When people watch such programmes and then a "normal" programme - the visual quality difference will be dramatic.
What can the broadcasters do? Better content - be the authoritative voice - as well as better quality.
Firstly, the development of the internet and the RSS feed to affect printed media - especially news and editorial. Rather than wait for the next print run - which are often many days (or weeks for monthly magazines) - a RSS feed can be updated and subscribers pick it up as soon as the Publish button is pressed. Following on we have podcasts - an audio version of the text. This is replacing radio in an analogous way. Finally, video podcasts (or whatever name you'd like) - these are replacing short TV news slots - especially in niche or specialist areas.
So what is the change? Instead of the broadcast model that has the producers saying we are outputting this tune in or miss it. You get all of what we have to say or write. We now have the viewer saying I will subscribe to this and that and I will pick up stuff to hear or see when I want. The controls are swapping. I agree that the VCR and its natural extensions of the PVR mean that we can shift the time when we see or hear something broadcast, but we are generally following a number of broadcast channels. Where I live, the terrestrial channels are limited to 4 at present. So not too confusing. However, with the internet and all of the sources of news and comment that are available globally - you have thousands of the equivalent of programmes.
The introduction of the AppleTV and its support for downloaded video (and audio) podcasts at a quality level greater than most "normal" broadcasters at present could mean that the acceleration of the change around will increase. many podcasters can grab a HD camcorder and produce a HD podcast to be downloaded and played back via the AppleTV onto a TV screen. When people watch such programmes and then a "normal" programme - the visual quality difference will be dramatic.
What can the broadcasters do? Better content - be the authoritative voice - as well as better quality.
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