The end of TVs as we know it

[Ctskip]

I was eavesdropping in on a conversation a few computer specialists and TV producers were having last week and they were talking about the computer and televised programing. Their conversation turned to broadcasters like ABC , CBS, NBC and that caught my attention. They mentioned that GE is trying to sell off NBC to Comcast a large Internet company. Mainly because GE can read the writing on the wall. The end to TV broadcasting as we know it will be over in about 5 yrs. We will be programing/selecting the shows we watch and they will be downloaded from our computers directly to our TV sets. Interesting I thought. There are supposedly two businesses (Apple and Google) that do this kind of work now and they are in the infancy stage but supposedly it's the future in our TV viewing habits. Any producers or computer specialists out there know anything about this development? I'm a dummy when it comes to computers, so please use laymans talk.
Google TV and Apple TV will be the dominating forces. Why buy 300 channels you don't watch When you can just buy the 25 or so you do watch? Thats a no brainer. The TV subscriber base, (service provider) is disappearing and the TV Internet base is increasing. computers directly talking to the TV technology is advancing. IPTV, the way we select what we view on our TV of the future. Any thoughts? Any tips?

Keep it up,
Ctskip

 

[soling42]

Although I have a fiber optic internet connection I use a roof mount antenna and find there's more than enough drivel to consume my mindless moments(the net and dvds get the rest). I don't know the figure but how many people are not in an area with high speed connection available. I think America rates very high for lack of availability per capita.

Sadly free TV will disappear as we live in a country where everything is becoming fee for service.

 

[Snotter]

I wish my Verizon air card had the bandwidth to support netflix or hulu.

 

[welderxman1]

its going to be if you don't pay for it you can't watch it!!!
in this country everything is for sale!!!!!$$$$$$$

 

[Ctskip]

One of my favorite sayings is, 'you get nothin for nothin'.
And you expected? Feeling entitled? Think again. You 're not even entitled to die. At least not yet. It seems we'll be letting the govt decide that for us.

Keep it up,
Ctskip

 

[gingerpenny]

I am not a computer expert, but I have had the experience lately of getting rid of our home dsl line and land line and purchasing the new Evo phone by Sprint. They call this an android. I am amazed at how many TV programs you can download for free on this phone. You can either watch them on the phone, or cable to a TV and watch them, as well as movies. This is the future. The phone also acts as an internet hot spot when we are on our boat or at home. When the 4G networks are finished by the end of this year, the connection time that is currently faster than my old DSL, will be even faster.

The benefit is also that in spite of our being on the "do not call" list, we are no longer bothered at least three times a night by telephone solicitors.

 

[tomgrigsby]

I wouldn't worry too much about broadcast TV disappearing anytime soon. For one thing there are vast areas of the country that do not have high speed internet. For another, there are many people who are not prepared to purchase internet capable equipment. As long as there are people watching broadcast TV, advertisers will pay the stations to have their products featured. On the otherhand, there will certainly be reductions in programming and content. It will probably go the way of am radio, which by the way is still alive and kicking, but is much reduced from it's heyday. Like internet, there are vast areas of the country that do not have FM radio. FM signals travel line of sight, so if you are behind a hill, you don't get them. Think West Virginia or the Poconos. The techies get all wrapped up in their high end gadgets and forget the realities of the geography of this great nation of ours. Copper telephone lines that form the backbone of much of the phone distribution system would have to be replaced to each and every house to get high speed internet to everyone. I use a wireless card at my rural home for internet and it works well, but I can't watch UTube videos etc. because of bandwidth limitations. Ditto with netflix movies. Big hurdles for getting internet to everyone, and broadcast TV probably won't go away regardless for a long time.