Is Television (as we know it) Dead?

Will we continue to watch network television as we do now for much longer? Our society has become more and more used to "on demand" services. Network television doesn't necessarily fill this need. Podcasting and video sharing sites like YouTube started a huge shift in how we take-in our visual (and audio) media. Now services like Joost, Hulu and Fancast are taking this to a new level.

Step one was taken recently as Warner Brothers' closed down network, "The WB" re-opens online as TheWB.com and KidsWB.com as reported in the New York Times. Many of the major networks already offer viewing of shows online, but WB is taking their network completely online. How long will it take for all television to be network-based? Will it continue to be done similarly to how it is done today?

We live in truly exciting times. A couple of weeks ago at our school's career fair Bill Green, from WCSH NBC TV, mentioned to our students during his keynote that he did not feel network television would exist as it does today within their lifetimes. I don't think it will be all too long from now that we'll see this change. Even Netflix is working with LG Electronics to develop a television that could pull movie rentals over the Internet. What implications will this have for education when all media (yes, books too) will be available to us from our laptops and other mobile devices?

tag: television, future, worthsharing

Image Attribution:
Image: 'one less tv'
www.flickr.com/photos/92518741@N00/24771587