Online Television - The Best of Both Worlds

With so many totally different digital mediums available to us at the instant, it was solely a matter of time before someone began to merge and mix two of them together. It already happened with mobile phones and online social media, as the recognition of iPhones demonstrates to us. Then there's the web and tv - two totally different mediums; one you use for all your communication and data wants, the opposite is maybe a lot of for entertainment use - something to sit down down in front of when a long arduous day, allowing you to mentally 'switch off'. Yet considering how abundant time in a day we tend to tend to spend in front of a laptop these days, it's no surprise that online gurus are making the most of the popularity of tv and have created Internet websites that enable you to decide on that TV show or program you wish to watch - on demand.

What's the deal?

In 2006, a new episode of the TV series Lost was aired online - around 11 million viewers it. Additionally in 2006, market analysts Jupiter Research reported that around eleven per cent of pc users frequently watch videos on the internet. A year later, this figure had jumped to twenty-eight per cent, and it kept on jumping as each year went along - presumably due a lot to YouTube and its straightforward accessibility and free videos. Yet even the websites that are charging for their TV shows to be viewed are increasing in popularity as additional individuals spend additional time on-line.

In terms of value, almost all on-line television is free, using the ancient concept of advertisements and banner ads to make their cash. The US ABC recently announced they can build their shows offered to view on-line the day once they have aired on tv, for free. The sole catch is that the commercials scattered amongst the shows can be unable to be paused. These commercials will conjointly be limited in range - probably solely three, being one minute in length each - and can be all from the same advertiser, little doubt maximizing their effect on the audience watching. You can see how this concept is increasingly appealing to businesses which will afford this type of major bulk advertising.


The buzz of 2010: Social TV

However the development hasn't stopped there. 'Social tv' is the newest child on the block, merging the concept of on-line television with the net phenomenon that is social media. In a very nutshell, it's TV services that involve viewers' communication. We have a tendency to will currently watch our favorite television programs on-line, while interacting with others doing the same - creating recommendations, critiquing, chatting, and blogging with each different. It's adding one more factor to the long list of 'togetherness' that the internet is creating. Obviously we tend to have invariably 'socialized' round the concept of TV, even with the best type of discussing shows with friends - however the new plan here is television will currently be an active observe rather than a passive one. You will comment on shows, review your favourites - basically interact with the globe around you whilst enjoying your TV expertise. And in a very world that looks to be enjoying on-line and social media with gusto, this would seem to be a concept that's prepared to take off.


WineLibrary TV may be a great example of how internet tv can assist in boosting a business whole - or even be the complete brand in itself. Gary Vaynerchuk took his multi-million wine selling business to the web world as a way of training his viewers about wine in an exceedingly 'non-stuffy' manner. Such successful, WLTV has become a cult favorite, with self-named 'Vayniacs' interacting regularly with each alternative on its online forums. They even organize offline cluster gatherings within the tradition of die-onerous fan clubs. This is social tv at its best - viewers have found something they're fascinated by, can read and study it on-line, and participate in interactive communities.

The big players

There's a massive range of on-line television websites, besides actual channels' own sites - the foremost well-known perhaps being Hulu, that ABC, FOX and NBC together created so as to bring tv shows to their viewers - with no profit. Obtainable solely to US viewers, its popularity probably stems from its availability of hit TV shows the morning once they have aired on traditional television. Hulu airs commercials in traditional industrial breaks - the only distinction is that you're watching them through the internet. Another net television station was 18 Doughty Street, well-known in the online TV world because it claims to be the first British Net-based tv station. Interestingly, although solely running for a little over a year, the TV station closed down within the midst of making an attempt to create a 'citizen journalism' part to its site, permitting the public to submit videos to be aired. Maybe if this had succeeded, it might have been one in all the first endeavors into the currently additional commonly accepted concept of social television.

Where to from here

Thus where will the longer term lie with this clever combination of two widespread mediums? Maybe soon we tend to will see the demise of the ancient television because it becomes easier and cheaper to watch our favorite shows online. Though some dismiss this idea of net television, thanks to the association of our PCs with work and stress, as opposed to the TV as an area to 'switch off' and relax whilst watching our favourite shows. However during a world where we tend to need things here and currently, and with a generation on the rise that was multi-tasking digital technology while still in nappies, it would create sense that people can soon expect quicker and easier-to-use mixtures of the world's best mediums. Plus if this can mix with the 'social' aspect of the web world that individuals so love, then even higher.

Channel surf from your... computer chair?

Take Diggnation for example. This may be a weekly net tv show that was created by the founder of Digg.com (a web site where anyone can submit articles, pictures and videos) and a fan in 2005, that primarily consists of the two friends drinking beer, chatting and discussing the top stories that created Digg.com that week. Sometimes referred to as 'the Wayne's World for Geeks', the show has increased its viewer numbers through the years. Its popularity deemed principally to be its interesting content and 'I'd be friends with that guy in real life' hosts. It has become thus standard that advertisers began approaching them for space on their show to plug. Forums show that people love diggnation because it's relevant, relaxed and really entertaining. Fans of Digg.com (and there's a ton of them) watch it as a result of that's what it is about - digg.com.

That causes you to wonder - is that this where the future of on-line TV is going? Countless range of smaller, topic-specific online TV shows that will cause the common lament 'I watched it as a result of there is nothing else on' to be a thing of the past. If more and additional tv shows pop up online as a lot of and more 'average Joes' use free Web house to create them, then surely we have a tendency to can all find our favourite shows there as we have a tendency to rummage around for topics that actually genuinely interest us. Or will you and I actually have our own channels? Will your business? Now there is an attention-grabbing thought...

iQuantum has developed a proprietary analysis process to on-line benchmark consumer websites against the sites of market-leading competitors and against best apply. Our on-line analysis is both quantitative and qualitative, and also the results are presented in easy, digestible terms as part of a personalised strategy workshop. We have a tendency to are marketers at the roots, so we have a tendency to perceive the importance of laying-out strategy in a bang-for-buck manner, and thus we continually gift the business case for or against any online initiative with a quantifiable justification.

Following our analysis and strategy workshop your on-line benchmark is established and you may know how way behind or prior to the competition you are. With this info we tend to will then work with you to determine what to try to to regarding your market position and website plans. Although we have a tendency to have had some useful tools developed to help within the analysis process, iQuantum is not a internet development company. We do not use programmers or designers. Our scope is broader than that. We website between our shoppers and internet vendors and ensure the shopper gets price from their online promoting investment.

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