Searching for information on internet television on any search engine can bring up some interesting topics. The one thing that the topics have in common, however, is that each different site is offering to the consumer, television access on the internet, whether it be to all new channels, exclusive to the internet, or to watch television channels, delayed or live from the satellite. Many of these sites are pay per view, though the price is still relatively cheap. Some of the major television stations in the US, such as CBS and NBC, however, allow viewing by the general public.
In Australia, there is yet another way in which to access internet television, and that is through subscription to utilities such as Telstra, who offer special coverage for their customers, for special sporting events such as the AFL Grand Final. This relatively new concept may be broadcast from a different medium, yet it still has some things in common with the traditional television sets throughout the world. Internet television still employs the use of interactivity, perhaps on an even wider level, seeing as the consumer is searching for what they want, and they can be as picky and choosy as they want in selecting what to watch. It is much like Foxtel Digital, in that the subscriber can have “what they want, when they want, all at the touch of a button� (Foxtel digital homepage), though in this case, it is at the click of a mouse! Internet television employs the use of streaming media to download programs of desire to the viewer.
Further, the use of the internet to broadcast television shows it not limited to countries such as Australia and America, there are websites that link to live television broadcasts from countries such as Ireland, Italy and even Germany.
Finally, Livingstone (2004, p 75) argues that, due to the introduction and proliferation of the internet, it is becoming increasingly important for online businesses, channels and so on, to recognise the need for a more personalised approach. She contends that there is a move away from the mass communication approach, whereby communication occurred from "one to many", and onto a more interactive environment, where people have the choice of what they want to see, when they want to see it. The development and implementation of internet television as another form of interactivity in cyber space, has obviously resulted in a recognition and extension of the previous idea that people know what they want, and when they want it, and the producers of these websites have been able to develop a medium that suits many consumers.
Other Related Topics: Personal Video Recorders (PVR), TiVo, Big Brother, Idol, Reality TV and its use of SMS, Reality TV and its use of the Internet, Foxtel Digital, Mobile Video Phones, Daily Broadcasting, Streaming Media
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Lauren Barton 14:10, 28 Oct 2004 (EST)
