4 ms·

TV lost? While I agree with many of the points PG brings up, I feel something is missing. According to Nielson, TV viewership is at an all time high (http://bl

by jonmc12 18y ago

TV lost? While I agree with many of the points PG brings up, I feel something is missing. According to Nielson, TV viewership is at an all time high (http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/tag/total-us-television-viewers/ http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/tag/total-us-television-...). Also, Oscars had a 13% increase from last year with 36.3M viewers. 50+M viewers watched Obama's inauguration on TV.. not on their computers. And of course, we know that those teenagers who are using social apps still cast more votes for their favorite american idol contestant than the sum of adults cast for president. (btw, if anyone knows where to get an annual histogram of viewership in US, that is what I was really looking for). TV viewership may indeed plummet in the future, but as of right now its at an all time high. Then, I can't help but notice that I still procure my internet from my cable provider. And that same cable provider is not only actively fighting against network neutrality, but they are also blocking my ability to download anything from Torrent. They are far from beaten. Lastly, what is the real difference between watching shows on my TV verse Computer. They are both using digital pipes, they both have microprocessors, memory and HDs - one has a bigger screen than the other (usually). The only real difference, and increasingly so, is that one is proprietary, and one is open. TV has not lost.. their content is (unfortunately) as relevant and abundant to the average American as ever. All TV has lost is utter dominance - much like MS windows lost its utter dominance with the adoption of Linux and the rise of OSX (but they are still #1 by a lot). However, whether its piped through a monitor or an HD flatscreen, the US consumer will continue to glue their eyeballs to the content we call TV today for some time before open content can even begin to realize the same advertising dollars as the proprietary networks do.

abstractbill 18y ago
All TV has lost is utter dominance - much like MS windows lost its utter dominance with the adoption of Linux and the rise of OSX (but they are still #1 by a lot). Both TV and Microsoft lost. They just aren't quite dead yet - it takes time for giants to fall.
- madh 18y ago
  So losing 'utter dominance' is the same as 'lost'? I agree that it takes time for giants to fall, but I don't really believe the race is anywhere near over. That said I would bet on Netflix or Amazon (or even Microsoft) to give us the next generation of TV before any of the networks do.
  - kd5bjo 18y ago
    Yes, losing 'utter dominance' is the same as 'lost' when it's a game of monopolies. The internet has become a viable competitor to the TV networks, which makes this an entirely different game than a few years ago.
- bitwize 18y ago
  When the final boss of your favorite RPG has only 500 HP left out of his total 25000 HP, that's when he dishes out the most devastating attacks -- the ones which could flatten your cocksure party just before the coup de grace.
- seshagiric 18y ago
  Microsoft has not lost. Don't be surprised if your great-grand kids will use MS products.
  - rythie 18y ago
    My dad's generation used IBM and I don't even use their stuff, let alone future generations.
    - s3graham 18y ago
      PS3, 360, Wii? You're using IBM pretty much directly. Microsoft ain't going anywhere.
      - rythie 18y ago
        Interesting. Though what that implies is that Microsoft might end up doing something other than what they started on, leaving someone else to dominate a market they once dominated. Like how people don't buy mainframes anymore. IBM is just another player in the server market and they sold their desktop unit and Macs switched to Intel. Now they make CPUs for consoles where taking over from Intel and MIPs chips. Similarly I could see Microsoft losing dominance in Operating Systems as more things become web-based. They move more towards web services and Xbox - which is already happening to an extent.
yason 18y ago
I think PG refers to the way that the bleeding edge is now adopting. It is now that these folks determine how most people will watch "TV" in 10-20 years. It doesn't really matter how TV tries to keep its wheel rolling until then, they'll stay rolling anyway thanks to sheer momentum. Also, watching stuff on internet is only beginning the change at this time. It's often even more inconvenient than tv if it's only tv that you're watching. But this will change in time as the "internet power users" is slowly growing into a majority. Although, it might not take more than a few years when you stream or download tv shows to your cellphone over broadband wifi, then simply plug your phone into a dumb HD television screen terminal and start watching whatever you have on your phone.
r7000 18y ago
Exactly TV "lost" in the same way Microsoft is "dead". Hyperbole used for emphasis and style. The discussions are about trends that have passed a tipping point (or arguably seem to be about to) and can now be called (even in advance) so new thought can be encouraged.

by jonmc12 18y ago

abstractbill 18y ago

All TV has lost is utter dominance - much like MS windows lost its utter dominance with the adoption of Linux and the rise of OSX (but they are still #1 by a lot). Both TV and Microsoft lost. They just aren't quite dead yet - it takes time for giants to fall.

madh 18y ago
So losing 'utter dominance' is the same as 'lost'? I agree that it takes time for giants to fall, but I don't really believe the race is anywhere near over. That said I would bet on Netflix or Amazon (or even Microsoft) to give us the next generation of TV before any of the networks do.
- kd5bjo 18y ago
  Yes, losing 'utter dominance' is the same as 'lost' when it's a game of monopolies. The internet has become a viable competitor to the TV networks, which makes this an entirely different game than a few years ago.
bitwize 18y ago
When the final boss of your favorite RPG has only 500 HP left out of his total 25000 HP, that's when he dishes out the most devastating attacks -- the ones which could flatten your cocksure party just before the coup de grace.
seshagiric 18y ago
Microsoft has not lost. Don't be surprised if your great-grand kids will use MS products.
- rythie 18y ago
  My dad's generation used IBM and I don't even use their stuff, let alone future generations.
  - s3graham 18y ago
    PS3, 360, Wii? You're using IBM pretty much directly. Microsoft ain't going anywhere.
    - rythie 18y ago
      Interesting. Though what that implies is that Microsoft might end up doing something other than what they started on, leaving someone else to dominate a market they once dominated. Like how people don't buy mainframes anymore. IBM is just another player in the server market and they sold their desktop unit and Macs switched to Intel. Now they make CPUs for consoles where taking over from Intel and MIPs chips. Similarly I could see Microsoft losing dominance in Operating Systems as more things become web-based. They move more towards web services and Xbox - which is already happening to an extent.

yason 18y ago

I think PG refers to the way that the bleeding edge is now adopting. It is now that these folks determine how most people will watch "TV" in 10-20 years. It doesn't really matter how TV tries to keep its wheel rolling until then, they'll stay rolling anyway thanks to sheer momentum. Also, watching stuff on internet is only beginning the change at this time. It's often even more inconvenient than tv if it's only tv that you're watching. But this will change in time as the "internet power users" is slowly growing into a majority. Although, it might not take more than a few years when you stream or download tv shows to your cellphone over broadband wifi, then simply plug your phone into a dumb HD television screen terminal and start watching whatever you have on your phone.

r7000 18y ago

Exactly TV "lost" in the same way Microsoft is "dead". Hyperbole used for emphasis and style. The discussions are about trends that have passed a tipping point (or arguably seem to be about to) and can now be called (even in advance) so new thought can be encouraged.