Posted on 10/24/2010 9:05:07 AM PDT by epithermal
LOS ANGELES -- The three major broadcast networks, uneasy about viewers bypassing cable and satellite providers -- and the networks' own websites -- to watch their TV shows, have begun blocking a new service from Google Inc. that is designed to make it easy for people to watch programming online.
ABC, CBS and NBC confirmed that this week they began blocking Google TV from accessing full-length episodes of prime-time shows such as "NCIS: Los Angeles," "Dancing With the Stars" and "Parks and Recreation," a move aimed at forestalling the technology giant's entry into the living room.
Google TV seeks to marry the Internet with television by allowing viewers to search the Web for shows and then watch them on their TV sets. The technology is designed to make it easier for people to watch TV shows when they want, rather than be at the mercy of network schedules or sift through the Web to find shows on the networks' own websites.
(Excerpt) Read more at journalstar.com ...
Can any of you techies out there tell me what he means by this?
Plug in the laptop, switch your TV over to the desired input, surf to your favorite station and enjoy the show.
You would have to download the programs via bitorrent or where the networks have the programs on their site, just go to their site and play it. There are sites like Hulu that do streaming of shows also. You then hook the laptop up to the tv using your external port for a monitor and switch the selected monitor to the external one on your laptop.
I don’t deny them their prerogative in exerting the ultimate control over their product (and in not wanting Gargoyle to profit from their products!) but they need to recognize the inevitability of this evolution in viewer acquisition of programming.
OK, if I understand this right, while the networks may block Google from streaming their shows, a local TV station may still allow access. I knew I had a port on my TV to connect a PC, but have never used it.
You would be correct.
I suppose Google is getting a lesson in how the liberal MSM deals with competition.
I think that Google TV is incorporated directly into the television. SONY is coming out with a new line of “Internet TVs” which will allow you to watch tv and surf the web while sitting in your easy chair, using your remote control. Since Google TV allows you to choose a network show that is available on the internet, the major networks are afraid this would destroy their 60 year-old advertising paradigm. That is, a show was broadcast at a specific time, and people watched it, while being forced to view the commercials which sponsor the show.
By blocking the availability of doing this directly on your tv, the networks are trying to hold back the inevitable. The article states that people can get around the block by hooking up their computer, which has the content, to their television set.
The world is changing, and changing quickly. Redbox kiosks outside of McDonalds and gas stations coupled with Netflix have obliterated both Blockbuster and Hollywood video. Next on the chopping block is Comcast, Dishnetwork and Direct TV.
With either the iTV from Apple or Google TV it will soon be possible to watch only the channels you want, watch any tv episode from any season, and cut your tv bill dramatically by using the Internet and free over-the-air tv for local stations. Comcast will only serve as a pipeline to the Internet.
The market is changing, and dinosaur management think they can prevent this change by refusing to participate. We all know how well this approach worked for the music industry.
Networks, including cable networks, are slowing cutting their own throats. Just recently, they increased the advertising from about 18 minutes per hour (leaving about 42 minutes of content) to about 21 minutes per hour (leaving about 39 minutes of content).
Two decades ago, a typical one-hour program had about 48 minutes of content.
Yes, the networks get more money for advertising, but they are losing viewers in droves. Those viewers are finding other sources and outlets that are not saturated with advertising.
On paper, the paradigm looks good: More ads = more $.
The paradigm, however, ignores the loss in vewers:
More ads = fewer viewers = lesser $$.
Netflix has no ads and unlimited streaming for $10, and they are making profits hand-over-fist. Of course, their catalog is about a month behind. But many are more than willing to wait a month to view some movies and programs.
The networks need some fresh minds operating them. They don’t seem to understand modern technology.
Hulu was an interesting idea, until the networks decided to add more ads. They are effectively killing their own creation.
I signed up for Netflix via Roku box about 5 months ago. Hardly a day goes by that I don’t watch something, and many times I watch the Netflix streaming more than regular TV.
The main draw is NO DAMN ADS.
I get so sick of trying to watch something on regular/cable TV and have it constantly interrupted by the advertising breaks. Some of those breaks are up to 8 minutes now.
The big question for me is what bandwidth will be required to watch TV? By that, I mean what speed does my connection have to be? I am on fiber with a 3 mB connection, but for extra $ I can upgrade to 6 mB.
I found this re:bandwidth for Netflix:
* Basic: 500 kbps
* Good: 1.0 Mbps
* High: 1.6 – 2.2+ Mbps
Funny to hear them referred to as “broadcast networks” because I can no longer pick up broadcast television without a satellite dish. And all the old broadcast TVs are gone from my house. (I don’t think any made into the garbage — they’ve all been reused by others.)
I hate the on screen over content advertising. I will generally avoid FX because of their over-use and abuse of it.
It bothered me so much, it turned me off from the advertised products as well. I’ll go with the reasonable alternative/competitor.
Then, the “count down clocks” to whatever it quite the annoyance as well, especially if I have no interest in the launch of whatever.
If I did, then it would still be an annoyance since I already know about it, and don’t need it in my face.
And let’s not forget the ads over the subtitles, or the important part of a scene...
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