As some of you may know, I am a Broadcasting major at University of Central Missouri in mid-west Missouri. That’s right, I’m in the mid-west of the Mid-West. Well, you should also know that I am a geek. I mean… look at that list of social networks. What that geekiness really means is, I like the Internet. I’ve always liked it, but when I started working for Niche Productions, Inc. in Jefferson City, MO, I fell in love with media. I changed my life around, dropped Computer Engineering at UMR (now Missouri S&T), and moved to Warrensburg to start an undergrad degree in Broadcast Media. Then, I found out there were these things called podcasts. I love them. This got me thinking. A lot of thinking. Where is this podcasting thing going to go?
This is when I developed my theory of the future of television. The Internet is becoming such an increasingly important part of our lives. The content available on the ‘net is astounding. There is a lot of it. A LOT. User generated content, the ability to produce your own series, is more and more available, thanks to sites like YouTube, Vimeo, Viddler, Revver, and the like. A lot of that content is bad, but also, a lot is good. Once we start moving to a more ‘net based viewer, I feel that the production values on a lot of shows will skyrocket along with their budgets. Never before were we at such an opportunity for a Media Revolution.
The future of television? I think it will have to change or die. In the next ten years, the current model of television will be gone or at least severely crippled. We are already seeing this in the structure of a season for many shows. Viewable media will have changed into something we can’t exactly know, but I do know that it will involve the Internet and be at least somewhat interactive. The ability to download and watch a show whenever you want. Sounds a lot like a DVR, I know, but an Internet-based model will not restrict you to time slots. The show will be sitting there, waiting for you to decide to watch it.
Some of you may be saying, “But I hate watching stuff on my computer monitor.” I say back to you that you will be watching your content on a television. Soon, there will be a blurring of monitor and television into the same entity. You will sit down on your couch, check your email and watch a couple of your favorite shows. Some of us do this already, but I will admit, the current system is… annoying. The traditional keyboard/mouse system will have to change into something smaller, compact, capable of controlling several devices at once, and is easy to type and navigate on a computer interface. Perhaps something like a haptic touch screen universal remote combined with the pointer capability of the Wii Remote. Something you point at the screen to point and click, but also type on when necessary.
Regardless, the current broadcasting model will change. I believe that instead of broadcasting shows, we will be receive Internet access. Maybe not from the broadcasters, but wireless nonetheless. Gone will be the days of tethered Internet. Take your notebook or cellphone anywhere and access the web just as if you were at home. Your computer attached to your TV will use that same wireless connection. This way, the sets of eyes on your content isn’t restricted to the home, those eyes can be anywhere. Able to reach anyone, anywhere, whenever they want. Having access to all eyes all the time is a broadcaster’s dream.
Once we break down the current broadcasting model and broadcasters stop looking at the Internet as a rival, but rather a resource for distribution, we may see a Media Revolution that will take the bubble off Web 2.0 and move us past into waters unknown.
Are we mired in the current broadcast model forever, will there be a change, or will something completely different happen?
