Internet television

I am a television addict since I was very young. I still remember those days when I need to rush home from school in time so that I could catch my favorite Hong Kong dramas. Now, I no longer have my freedom and time to watch the television like how I did during my schooling period, due to the busy working lifestyle. So I turned to internet television, which I can watch free television shows online, anytime and anywhere to fulfill my cravings for watching television programmers.

Unlike conventional broadcast television which the viewers are bound to watch the programmers that are scheduled to be broadcasted to the viewers; internet television allows viewers to choose the shows they wish to watch from a list of programmers it offers. John Naughton mentioned that 'Broadcast TV is a 'push' medium: a select band of producers (broadcasters) decide what content is to be created, create it and then push it down analogue or digital channels at audiences which are assumed to consist of essentially passive recipients', wheres the web is a 'pull' medium. 'Nothing comes to you unless you choose it and click on it to pull it down on to your computer. You're in charge.' (Naughton, 2006)

Internet TV is not something new, but the usage of it has been improved by the existence of broadband connections. The technology of streaming TV content on the Net is still very much in its infancy (Tan, 12 July 2007). Reviewing an article by Tan Kit Hoong, entitled ‘Watching TV on the Web’ published in the July 2007 The Star newspaper, which has introduced a few internet television websites, such as AZUREUS VUZE, Joost, MiTV, World IP TV, Astro Broadband and Veoh TV.

Source: www.vuze.com

Source: www.joost.com

Source: www.worldip.tv

Source: http://video.astro.com.my/

Source: Veoh Tv Beta

The rapid growth of Internet television usage also provide an alternative medium for corporate companies to place their advertisements. Internet television is much easier and cheaper alternative to publish content. The article 'Charting the Future of Internet TV' by Adam Gerber will further elaborate the future and prospect of advertisement in internet television channels.


Reference:

Astro broadband tv, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://video.astro.com.my/>

Gerber, A. 2006, iMedia Connection: Connecting the Marketing Community, ‘Charting the Future of Internet TV’, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/8035.asp>

Joost, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://www.joost.com/>

Naughton, J 2006, guardian.co.uk: The Observer, ‘The age of permanent net revolution’, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2006/mar/05/newmedia.broadcasting>

Tan, KH 12 July 2007, the Star online: Tech Central, ‘Watching TV on the Web’, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2007/7/12/prodit/18236970&sec=prodit>

Vuze beta, viewed on 12 June 2008, <http://www.vuze.com/app>

WorldIP.tv: World of interactive tv online, viewed on 12 June 2008, <https://secure.worldip.tv/en/>