ecohen

TV Week reported that Solutions Research Group found that 20% of Internet users watched a TV show online each week compared to 14% who watched a TV show on video-on-demand.  The conclusion?  TV online must be leaving TV video-on-demand in the dust implying that we'll all be watching through our computers.  Whoa.  Not so simple.  We will, but only because our TVs will have PC like capabilities with Internet connections (yes, IPTV).

I have a tough time believing 2 out of day people watch a full length show at least once a week on their PC (which is what online still means).  I would believe the are watching clips.  But TV is still all about the full show.  Even if it's true, it doesn't mean online on a PC is superior, it may simply reflect the fact that VoD is a pain to use, has a small library and, perhaps most important, does not sit in front of many consumers all day.  Many Internet users are always online at work, at school etc so have more opportunity to watch with a click.  All this may be a temporary matter as TVs get online (would you rather watch a show on your couch or in your desk chair) and the world realizes that we (TV viewing and PC viewing) can in fact all get along.

Key points to keep in mind are as follows:

1. TVs will all end up online (check out all those network connections in the latest TVs at CES 2008)
2. TV viewing and PC based viewing will be complimentary not competitive.  TV is for leisurely (which can include interactivity) full length viewing.  PC is great for quick clip or mobile viewing. 
3. It's all just about what size screen you want.We are shifting television to be the large screen of a computer based entertainment system (e.g., a set top IPTV box, an LG/Netflix box, an Xbox etc).
4. So if the above study reflects anything, it reflects that TVs are behind in getting online and the media world is behind in treating this not as a fight between watching videos online on a PC vs. a TV, but as a changing media ecosystem where people will get their content in a variety of formats (clip, show) on a variety of fixed and mobile screens.   That's the future...and for those getting some decent IPTV service (not me), it's probably already closing in.