The future of television is heading in a very different direction then it currently is in.With interactive TV on the rise, improved technology, time and setting that people watch TV, advertising on TV, and the continued fragmentation of TV, there are many things that are slowly transitioning.In the near future, TV will be a totally different experience than it is now.
The feeling in many homes is that there is not enough quality, choice, or customization in television. As the internet advances however, these trends will begin to change. With voice commands, rating systems, social networks, and micropayments, the possibilities are endless when it comes to customization. When a viewer wants to watch a certain premium program, a phone call was usually necessary to order it. With the new times, a viewer can simply click one button on a remote to have the program charged to the bill. The future of TV can take this more in-depth, such as showing us what our friends have bought in the past few days. A live ratings system could be implemented, meaning that to the right of a TV screen, live ratings are shown so viewers can see what interests a person the most about a particular program or political debate. As the ideas get bigger, the system gets smaller.
That idea comes to the eye of every American that owns a TV. The screens are getting bigger, and the size of the TV is getting smaller. The “box” TV’s are nearly-extinct, and the flat screens that used to be rare are now found in nearly every household. These TV’s make them more mobile, and easier for people to carry. This could really boost the sales of TV’s alone, because having a ton of new features and keeping up with technology all while not having to worry about where to put it and how to put it there is a plus.
When looking at the most popular time to watch TV, this could change the future. As it stands today, 8 PM – 11 PM is the ultimate time to watch TV, and that is when most of the hit shows air. Could that change in the future? It looks like TV will always be popular at this time, because it is darker and colder at this time. The 3 hour space leaves slim room for advertisers who want the viewers to see their products. In turn this will affect the way that people see the quantity of shows. When a show has many advertisers looking for that 30 second space, the show itself will be shortened so the show can make more money and fit in more advertisers. However, even though the show is making more money, it is losing time and quality, which will decrease the viewership. It will be very hard for a show to balance these two out.
Many people feel that TV is slowly dying, and the future of TV is not looking bright. This could very well be a false assumption however. TV being live on the Web or Phone is not necessarily a positive thing for all viewers. Many people do not have internet at home, or a data plan to stream on a phone. It can even be cheaper to watch programs on a TV due to the bigger variety of shows available. Could the TV and computer be combines into one big super device? It will probably not happen. There is just too much that go into each, it would be very expensive to make meaning it would be even more expensive to buy. TV will continue to grow in the future.
Fragmentation of online TV allows piracy to keep its biggest advantage. Netflix is always coming out with exclusive content, which will force other providers such as HBO to eventually offer an online only subscription. All these exclusive deals are serving to fragment a market that doesn't yet have clearly defined rules for delivery. Exclusivity is a great thing for creators to sell, and a great thing for businesses to leverage, but in this transitional phase for distribution models, it's harming everyone involved by making sure piracy retains its biggest advantage: comprehensive access. Convenience, selection, and availability all give online TV an advantage. The future of TV could very well be unpredictable.
The future of TV is a topic that is debated between people. Is it slowly declining, or slowly beginning to increase. Interactive TV, improved technology, when people watch TV, media convergences, and fragmentation all give good reasons for each side. They also each give bad reasons for each side. The future of TV is in loom, and the only way we can really find out, is to sit and watch.
