Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Rarely use itv player mate last time i used it was back in October last year, there was no hd then.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

It's not about being stuck in my ways, I can't see how the scenario you're outlining is better. I, and everybody, would need a stable unlimited broadband connection, to know that there weren't capacity issues in my area and that we'd always have speeds capable of delivering hd telly. We would have no choice to access tv but to pay the licence fee AND a broadband subscription, and that's before you take into account that literally everybody else in the country would be doing the same. You think evening is peak time for broadband now?

Not only is it a long long way off, we already have a system that works, backed up well by internet based solutions. Wanting to keep it isn't a case of being stuck in our ways! It's an acknowledgement that things are already pretty good.

If your question is what's wrong with moving to the system you've outlined then I think your question is wrong. It should be what's right with it? And I think part of the answer is that we are simply nowhere near the infrastructure, or the desire, or even the necessity, required.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Well, I would say that the situation I have described is better because you don't have to be a slave to the decisions of the programme schedulers - you can see the programme whenever you want to - and you don't have to put up with all those advertisements.

I appreciate that there are things that need to be sorted out first, such as giving everyone access to broadband at an appropriate speed, but I do think that this is about 10 years + away. I'm sure it will come, though.

Incidentally, don't most people pay a broadband subscription already? And if there has to be a TV licence, it is only fair that anyone with access to BBC programmes should pay it.

That's not to say that I necessarily agree with the TV licence, by the way!

---------- Post added at 12:43 ---------- Previous post was at 12:41 ----------

Yes Harry, but there's nothing to prevent you from leaving a week between viewing from a list of programmes on the schedule.

I have watched House of Cards, Breaking Bad and Orange is the New Black on Netflix, but I didn't 'binge watch' them just because the whole series was on there. I watched a programme every week.

That's me set in my ways!

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Pvr's offer the solution to "being a slave" to the schedules and having to put up with adverts. Adverts, of course, would be unavoidable on a wholly streaming based system.

And I don't know if "most" people pay a broadband susbscription already, but I know my grandmother doesn't, and I'm struggling to see why she should suddenly have to in order to continue watching tv.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Slight :bump:

Colin Callender, the former president of HBO and executive producer of BBC2's Wolf Hall, says linear TV has plenty of life left in it yet:

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-...ormer-hbo-boss

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Well I suppose he would say that, wouldn't he?

I expect everything will look so different in 2025.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

You are again vastly overplaying the demise of linear TV OB and whether you like it or not and l get the impression you don't linear TV is here to stay for a extremely long period well into the future.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

So how different from 2005 does today look?

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Well, there has been a huge take up in video on demand viewing, and streaming is rapidly becoming the norm.

A more relevant date to compare with is 15 years ago in 2,000 when all viewing was via broadcast TV and videotape. However, things are speeding up considerably now in the digital age, and I maintain that things will look very different in another ten years time.

Incidentally, I have nothing against linear TV at all as long as I have the choice to view things as I do now. I am simply pointing out that the days of linear TV are numbered in my view.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Is streaming rapidly becoming the norm? It is being used more, but it is far from becoming the norm. Again, you must take into account the many millions of families who either can't afford such luxuries or don't care about streaming services.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

Sorry, but they are both very much minority activities. Go and have a look at Figure 1.38 in
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/bin...014_UK_CMR.pdf

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

The difference is that Cord Cutting was not possible then, but it is now (irrespective of the take up percentage). In fact cord cutting has only become a practical option in the last few years.

I still think OTA broadcast will not disappear anytime soon for the basic Freeview channels. And I see no reason for it do so, as it provides an inexpensive and efficient way for the consumer to time shift and advert skip when combined with a PVR.

It is the realms of Pay TV, which will be most affected in the future. Why get tied into a minimum 12 month contract with VM or Sky when you can cherry pick the shows you want from those only available pay channels using various internet services that have only 30 day subscriptions?

To be fair, it's not so easy for sports fans to Cord Cut; I'm just glad that I don't watch sports!

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

On demand viewing is growing, but it is still a fraction of the actual figures..

Take Sherlock. According to the BBC, 3.3 million people requested the first episode on iPlayer. Total number of viewers: 11.38 million. So, 1/3rd..

Eastenders: averaged about 1.3 million requests during January 2014. Number of viewers: Averaged about 8m..

Sources: iPlayer http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/mediacent...ance-jan14.pdf
Total viewers: http://www.barb.co.uk/whats-new/weekly-top-30 (you will have to select the dates)

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

To be fair, 3.3 million is a pretty large number and 1/3rd is a decent sized fraction.

Re: The future for linear TV channels
 

To be accurate, 3.3 million is about a quarter of the BARB total, not a third. Also, seeing as iPlayer figures are not incorporated in BARB statistics, 3.3 million is, at best, a fifth of a potential total audience of around 15 million, assuming that all of the iPlayer requests were from new viewers, and not from people who wanted to watch again, having previously seen the episode on TV. BARB does not currently monitor its panel members' use of catch up services like iPlayer so we have no way of knowing for sure.