Television is dead, not because of its lack of distribution but because of its deplorable content.
More is not better
You would think that the invention of the Digital Video Recorder by Tivo would have brought new light to the TV as a valuable information medium. Until you find yourself programming your DVR for new episodes of TV shows. Notice how your DVR has a hard time locating new content (not just because the guide content is not always in sync with the actual broadcast). TV broadcasters’ purchasing schedule of new material needs a fundamental makeover if it wants to compete in a new world.
But even if there are new broadcasts, such as CNN news, most of those shows are not covering new news but merely regurgitating the same “news bits” by different reporters, offering supposedly new perspectives. Or worse reporters are now inviting panels of reporters to comment, or worse reporters are now blaming other reporters from not reporting on reports correctly. A massive world of derivatives is served up to its viewers because talk is cheap.
Content Matters
Guess what guys, it is not about you. No wonder people are sitting in front of their TVs with an iPad or laptop, searching the planet for original and authentic content.
We are close to the tipping point of losing interest, not in the distribution medium of TV but its deplorable content. Those who provide compelling content will survive whatever distribution medium serves it up. What keeps TV alive today is the scattered and unstructured composition of the alternative material. Wait until a new content provider arises agnostic to distribution, a new world is ready to open up for all of us.
I see a grand new future for the company that understands the value of content.
