So internet TV has been around a while now in the form of things such as Apple TV and streaming video from broadcasters such as CNN (here in New Zealand we have it in the form of TVNZ ondemand).
Though we have certainly not reached tipping point in terms of popularity, I predict 2009 will be the year that internet TV will really start to become a viable option for many more households.
And it makes sense, especially when you compare the cost of using internet TV vs a satellite or cable subscription.
For example, in New Zealand we get our digital television through Sky TV and they pretty much have a monopoly in the market. I was thinking lately about how much real value I get for the $80 a month I pay for a subscription to Sky. The answer, bugger all. I watch maybe four channels out of the 40 or so available on a regular basis. I’m getting ripped off.
And this is where internet TV will change things because I no longer have to pay for what I don’t watch – I only pay for what I do watch - and I watch it when I want to.
There’s also some exciting stuff coming around the corner in terms of aggregation of internet TV channels. I was listening to the Internet Marketing Weekly podcast recently and it mentioned a new business called Boxee. Boxee looks to be leading the way in terms of providing a programme that not only aggregates a number of online streaming TV channels, but also aggregates all the media on your computer including music and photos. AND it provides information on what your friends are viewing at the same time, allowing you to jump in and watch the shows their watching as well.
I think this is pretty exciting as it takes the ‘home media centre’ idea and connects it with the social networking space. Boxee is only in Alpha right now but if all goes well it could make a big splash in 09 in a similar way to that of Twitter in 2008.
