Tv is dead: long live web tv


by MarkeD - Date: 2007-12-02 - Word Count: 486 Share This!

Yep, the net.

Indeed, you probably already have. Like millions of others, you've likely followed links on alluc.org, say, installed and used a bit-torrent client, or searched the likes of veoh, Stage6, or Dailymotion for the latest episode of your favourite programmes. And chances are you also realised that in doing so you were entering the legal equivalent of Luton (i.e the kind of grey area that might best be avoided). Even if that didn't leave you feeling slightly uneasy, you more than likely found that it was less than ideal.

For one thing, when you're faced with so much choice, how do you know what programmes are worth watching? Well, you could try signing up to TIOTI, essentially a social network for TV fans with a wiki type encyclopaedia of TV programmes and links to downloads. Or there are applications like Miro that allow you to view programmes from anywhere on the net and create and share your own channels.

While TIOTI, say, makes every effort to direct you to legal downloads, you can still find yourself in Luton, though. So, what definitely entirely legal options exist? Thankfully, plenty. And they seem to be increasing.

In an effort to retain both ad revenue and control of their own content, traditional broadcasters are beginning to adapt to the demands of the internet viewer. For instance, the BBC iPlayer now offers its programmes as time-limited downloads. Channel 4 has it's 4oD on-demand service. And in the US NBC and FOX offer their content on Hulu. You can also find plenty of programmes on iTunes, if you don't mind paying.

Programme makers and broadcasters are also beginning to offer content to the likes of Joost, a free site, supported by ads, with a few social media type features.

But there are also places where you can find new programming of a professional quality made especially for the web.

Thanks to the rise of Facebook, other social networking sites are trying to find new ways to attract and retain users. One way they seem to have hit on is to offer exclusive TV programmes. Bebo now has its own soap, KateModern, which received over 3 million hits within its first three weeks. And now MySpaceTV has Quarterlife, another soap, originally a pilot for TV made by the creators of My So-Called Life.

However, there are also services offering something much closer to traditional TV channel experience, i.e. programming with a consistency of style, content and quality, aimed at a certain niche or demographic. In Britain, the latest launch is CNETTV, offering programmes about games, gadgets, TV, film and music. If you fancy a bit of Al Gore backed bite-sized citizen journalism, there's Current TV. And if you fancy being "rescued from TV's deathlike grip" there's Vice magazine offshoot VBS.tv.

Legal or otherwise, chances are your TV fix is out there somewhere. And thankfully not all of it's in Luton.
--
Tim, writing for CNET TV

Related Tags: uk, online tv, cnet

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