Death To The Established Media
More and more recently I’ve become to realize that the entertainment industry as it stands is a stagnant old dinosaur that needs to die. They continue to charge us more and more for Movies, Cable, Music, while delivering us less and less actual content… not to mention the ever increasing number of ads. The industry needs to wake up and see that the times are changing (for the better, at least for the consumer).
Everyday we are provided more and more options for our entertainment dollar. Music, TV, Movies, Video Games, specialized web content and more have begun to completely invade our society. Where does the problem lie? All of the tradition mediums force you around their schedule for when you are allowed to view their content. Case in point, I’ve recently just gotten into the show Supernatural. Really up my alley, and quite enjoyable. I like the whole mystery horror genre thing they have going, was a huge fan of Gabriel Knight on the PC back in the day. Such a shame that series was dropped. There is a problem with Supernatural, and that being it is on Tuesday nights. Well guess what, I’m not available Tuesday nights to watch it. So there in lies the problem… how am I supposed to watch the show since I am given no viable options to watch the show. Currently my answer lies in Bittorrent. Do I feel a little bad downloading it, yeah, I truly enjoy the show, but they don’t really give me another option.
What they really need to begin doing is offering HD quality downloads from the internet that you can own forever. Cause let’s face it, if I’m going to pay to watch a TV show I want HD quality, with no ads, and it’s mine forever. No DRM would be nice, but I know that is asking entirely too much from the entertainment industry. Apple’s steps with the new version of iTunes is nice, but not good enough. The price is not overly obsurd, as a DVD box set of something like 24 when it first comes out runs for somewhere in the neighborhood of $50, but I really think we need something a little bit different than what Apple is offering us. In other words, give me the TV Show in HD for download to my computer so I can watch it whenever I have time, not when you tell me I should make time to watch your show (ads included).
In the end do I really have an answer for any of this, not really. It’s more for me to add my voice to those saying “Wake up and smell the revolution”. Your traditional methods of distribution are dying… embrace the technology that is available to you and give your customers what you really want. Who knows, it just might save your industry. In the mean time, indie programs such as those from Revision3, From The Shadows, TWiT, The Scene, and others are getting more and more of my “TV Time” as they continue to show more and more promise with each passing release. Hollywood, be afraid.