Internet TV: Now and Tomorrow

The world is a witness to the massive growth on Internet television’s popularity. Comparing what it is now to when it was just a budding technology in 1995, many people would agree that this innovation is now globally embraced. Conventional TV is believed to give way to this new technology since it will not be able to compete with the services that it can offer. But TV executives such Alan Wurtzel of NBC Universal and Leslie Moonves from CBS Corporation actually welcome the development. As opposed to what’s believed to be the possible demise of regular TV programming, they actually look forward to the future where the web is incorporated in TV viewing.

Gone were those days when you would miss an episode on your favorite news program or talk show. Also, there are roughly 3,000 channels to choose from and some of these even come from remote countries. With a single click on a button, you are served sports news, infomercials, educational topics, religion, and just about any topic under the sun.

The Basics

Users of online TV have the power to pick a program from program archives or the so-called channel directories. (HULU, Fancast, etc.) They can watch using a computer monitor, cell phone, HDTV, iPad, iPhone or iPod. A viewer has the option to download the program to his computer or he can just stream the contents to any media player. On demand TV is currently in demand with audience share growing by the day. Most service providers have felt the pressures of demand that’s why they have responded by supplying plentiful formats that can be played in various devices. Simply put, video and audio are delivered with the use of an Internet connection.

A major feature of Internet TV is archiving. Programs that were aired on broadcast TV and were missed by some viewers could be easily accessed. Some providers could store months or even years of past programs, though this could be costly to maintain, what with the need for mass storage and sufficient bandwidth to think of.

Pros and Cons

When it comes to stream quality, your good ol’ TV needs about 500-1500 kbps in order to deliver a good picture. The requirement for high definition streaming for Internet TV is more than doubled at 3500 kbps. BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) invested much money to improve stream quality. As an end user, it’s up to you to improve your gadgets in order to accommodate high definition streaming.

One other major obstacle for most service providers is how to control or sift some programs on the Internet. They came up with an answer which was parental control system—a method that would require a password before content is accessed. BBC’s iPlayer has managed to use this method while others simply rely on honor system where the user is simply asked his birth date to prove his age.

When it comes to advantages, the most basic is that, with Internet television there is an absence of decoder, dish, wire, or antenna in your home. For as long as the internet connection is up and running, then you can even watch outdoors! Also, viewing online channels is often free of charge. Just pay for the monthly connectivity fee and you’re up for free entertainment. This is, of course, made possible by ads and commercials online.

Internet TV Components (In Home Systems)

Currently there are sixteen companies developing proprietary methods of delivering Internet TV to consumers. The Notables; Google TV, a component rumored built on the Android OS is due out in the next eighteen months. Apple TV, a closed OS that allows you to purchase content, but does not provide for access to any free licensed content. Sony has released an internet ready television, Netgear is also releasing a router sized unit developed for internet television. Last is WhiteHatt, according to their literature; "The WhiteHatt system allows for complete control of all that internet tv has to offer with none of the cost of cable tv."

The future holds much more innovations when it comes to TV programming. We have yet to see them unfold; nonetheless, this generation is obviously hungry for more. As new and innovative ideas come to market we should all expect to take advantage of the substantial savings that internet TV provides over cable.