Future of TV (curated by Jeremy Toeman)

SECOND SCREENS AND SOCIAL TV - Making waves in the broadcast world

jtoeman — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:47:28 +0000

Second screening is the new way to consume broadcast content, with companies beginning to look at ways to control the way consumers second screen - and how to make money out of it. George Cole provides an overview of this 21st century viewing trend.

Cisco: We Aren't Trying To Dump Our TV Set-Top Business

jtoeman — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:13:41 +0000

Cisco wants you to know that it loves its television set top business and isn't thinking of selling it off.

Will YouTube Kill Cable?

jtoeman — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:47:23 +0000

Editor's Note: That the Internet is providing new avenues of expression for filmmakers is not new. Now, YouTube is beginning to challenge traditional mass media outlets by funding original programming. This post is directed to "brands". Substitute "filmmakers" for brands and you will see why indies need to pay attention to this transformation as well.

Over-the-Air TV Catches Second Wind, Aided by Web

jtoeman — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:47:46 +0000

It's cool to have rabbit ears again. Largely relegated to obscurity decades ago, old-fashioned television broadcasts—over the airwaves and not via cable or satellite—are enjoying an unexpected revival in the digital era.

Analysts: Google to Enter Pay TV Market in Midwest ‘Very Soon’

jtoeman — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:46:34 +0000

Bernstein’s Carlos Kirjner and Craig Moffett say the Web giant, which owns online video giant YouTube, is looking to test traditional pay TV in an admission that a “broadband-only business model is not economically viable."

Can social TV survive without appointment TV? [reprint]

jtoeman — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:46:05 +0000

So the Grammy's unsurprisingly (I will explain why I say it that way in a moment) set all sorts of records for social TV. Just like the Superbowl did a few weeks ago. I call this a big yawner, but first, some definitions

Back To The Future of TV

jtoeman — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:45:47 +0000

Years ago, you had to have an antenna on your TV to get any kind of broadcast signal. A set of rabbit ears could make the difference between a snowy picture and a crystal clear (standard definition) image. An antenna on your roof meant you had even better access to whatever VHF and UHF signals were available. Cable and satellite soon arrived with promises of a better, more consistent connection and expanded programming. After VHS and BetaMax sorted out their little spat, consumers were treated to LaserDiscs, DVDs and DVRs.

Google Developing Siri-Like User Interface for Google TV

jtoeman — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:09:36 +0000

Just six days prior to Apple officially launching iCloud and Siri, Google was rushing their patent application to the US Patent and Trademark Office covering a new Google TV remote and/or application. The new remote will use voice controls associated with Google's own cloud services. The user will be able to use their Android Phone as the remote to make inquiries about TV shows and the TV will list what's available as illustrated in our cover graphic. Apple has had a similar feature under Remote for several years now, but it doesn't relate to live TV as Google's will. Google's real competitor on this particular front will come from Samsung who just announced their latest TV remote with voice controls and a touch pad. The race to bring the best next generation TV Remote to market is officially on.

Study: 63% Who Watch Video on Tablet Did So With TV Available

jtoeman — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:05:37 +0000

The study of more than 1,400 consumers showed more than half (54%) have tried alternatives to pay-TV (Netflix, Apple TV, etc.), with 16% of those studied saying they’re likely to reduce their level of pay-TV in the next year. And TV is not just losing out in the pay-service sense — 63% of people who recently watched TV on a tablet said they used a tablet even when they had access to a TV with similar content available, according to the study.

One device to rule them all: smart TV

jtoeman — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:05:12 +0000

Almost in the blink of an eye (or the time it takes to type 140 characters) it seems that we are very close to reaching a tipping point in the convergence of media and technology with the growing global adoption of smart TV.