The PC is becoming the new TV, survey shows (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

Los Angeles Times ^ | September 9, 2009 | David Colker

[abb]

If you're watching more TV on your computer these days -- and less on an actual TV -- you're not alone.

A survey by the nonprofit Conference Board released Tuesday showed that nearly a quarter of households in the U.S. now view television programs online. That's up from 20% last year.

The quarterly Consumer Internet Barometer survey found that news shows were watched by 43% of online viewers, followed by sitcoms, comedies and dramas, watched by 35%. Slightly less than 20% viewed reality shows online, and 18% took in sports.

Viewership of the Hulu online service -- which offers shows from NBC, ABC, Fox and others -- nearly quadrupled from last year, but that's not a big surprise because Hulu didn't debut until March 2007.

The survey found that 90% of online viewers watch at home. The remaining 10% watch at the office.

[abb]

"By the end of this decade or shortly thereafter, television networks as we know them today will cease to exist. They will be just another url on the world wide web competing against millions of others."

"Network evening newscasts will go dark after the '08 elections and their news divisions disbanded."

Walter Abbott, (b. 1950), Media observer, blogger and commentator

[abb]

ping

[ThunderSleeps]

Only thing I use my TV for is playing Halo 3 and NFL football.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Say Goodnight, Katie....

[Dallas59]

Watching shows in gloriously flv with huge pixels is the way to go!

[ryan71]

TV? What is TV?

[capt. norm]

I bought a little receiver USB module (Blaze DTV) for about $30 (from WOOT) that allows me to see and record HDTV on my PC.

Works great. I can shrink the TV window up into a corner of my screen while surfing the net.

[unixfox]

TV? What is TV?

It's what gets stolen during a hurricane.

[abb]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2009/sep/08/internet-manifesto-future-journalism
The ‘Internet Manifesto’ bucks a trend and gets mainstream media attention

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/09/has-it-been-ten-years-already-a-look-back-at-the-viacomcbs-vows.html
Has it been 10 years already? A look back at the Viacom-CBS vows and a case for renewal

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/339942-GE_Outlines_Options_If_Vivendi_Opts_Out_Of_NBCU.php
GE Outlines Options If Vivendi Opts Out Of NBCU

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content_display/news/digital-downloads/metrics/e3ia3f2289d03ed22164079a902da614a6e
Nielsen: Web TV-Audience Metric in the Works

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i087771e1f6660364d1b9f0e642dd2517
How can media firms keep pace?

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090907-706684.html
Reed Elsevier Plans Unit Cost Cuts As Targets Pft Growth

http://www.suntimes.com/business/1758407,sun-times-media-bid-tyree-investors.article
Chicago investor group bids to buy Sun-Times Media

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=113045
Internet Grows 37.5%, Traditional Media Declines 30%, 2006-2009

[InterceptPoint]

Here is some info, a prediction and a question:

Google is about to start selling movies via YouTube. This was inevitable IMHO.

HDTV manufacturers are going to start incorporating the hardware (that's been going on for some time) and, more importantly, the software to allow YouTube and other streaming services to look like just another channel on your TV. If so, this is going to generate huge bucks for Google.

The question: Is Sony et al going to just sit by the wayside and watch Google collect all this loot? I don't think so but am curious how this will all play out. Big players. Big stakes. And DirecTV is probably getting very nervous.

[shorty_harris]

I’d watch Hulu a lot more, but they’ve made it near impossible to watch it on your big tv screen. Because of that, I rarely watch it anymore (got tired of trying to position my laptop screen comfortably). What are they thinking?

[Uncle Ike]

Not gonna happen, until content providers get on board with reliable (servers mostly unavailable), high-quality(choppy, freezing), live-streaming content...

For a variety of reasons, the only TV I have available is via Internet, and I’m constantly frustrated by this...

[Steamburg]

This weekend the talking heads featured the Tom Brokkkaw’s of the world flailing wildly at the Internet over Van Jones. Their pathetic attack is a clear example of the serious, and probably fatal wounds they have suffered through their failure to maintain an information monopoly.

[abb]

http://newsosaur.blogspot.com/2009/09/can-latest-savior-save-sun-times.html
Can latest savior save the Sun-Times?

http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2009/sep/08/ut-arlington-student-congress-may-end-print-versio/
UT Arlington student congress may end print version of campus newspaper

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/339937-Digital_Chiefs_Envision_Freemium_Future_Online.php
Digital Chiefs Envision “Freemium” Future Online

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/339907-Nielsen_TV_Everywhere_Views_Could_Be_Added_To_Total_TV_Ratings.php
Nielsen: ‘TV Everywhere’ Views Could Be Added To Total TV Ratings. Research firm expects full implementation of Internet-video tracking in 2011

[Will88]

I bought a little receiver USB module (Blaze DTV) for about $30 (from WOOT) that allows me to see and record HDTV on my PC.

Is that a device or is it software?

http://www.blazevideo.com/hdtv-player/

And is it something that converts a cable or dish provided signal, or is it picking up stations strictly online?

[capt. norm]

And is it something that converts a cable or dish provided signal, or is it picking up stations strictly online?

It's a true receiver and will work with over-the-air signal or cable. Has a little cheapy antenna that comes with it but I replaced it with a simple set of rabbit ears.

The module plugs into a USB port and has a 75 ohm RF connector (same as cable uses).

The accompanying software does all the heavy lifting for display, recording, etc.

I didn't really think it would amount to much due to the cheap price, but now I really like it.

It also does DVDs.

[10mm]

I no longer subscribe to cable or satellite. All my video entertainment in downloaded in hi-def, sans commercials. Sometimes, I can even get pre-releases of popular TV shows. I already watched the premiere of the upcoming season of “Dexter”.

[GOPJ]

The PC is becoming the new TV...

That's great news for conservatives - more people will be able to by-pass liberal MSM gatekeepers...

[GOPJ]

Never underestimate the power of very stupid people in large groups.

Great tag.

[Clay Moore]