Media Merging

Whilst we are all discussing the future of films and television, in one format or another, in one forum or another, I am connecting my laptop to the screen to watch Casualty on the big screen ( OK not that big a screen by today’s standards )

Research is indicating that the most common way of watching programs on a television screen is via gaming consoles, as this is a common format which is already set up and connecting both the screen and the internet. It seems that this viewing of programs is an additional byproduct of the gaming set up, and probably the reason that the wii console is allowed in many a front room as opposed to a play room.

Hang on a second – sorry a rush of blood to the brain there……it’s probably only the moms that want the wii / xbox / PS3 hidden away in a back room!

Back as far as 2009 the connection of pcs to television 9.4 m growing to 10.9 in 2010, whilst viewing over game consoles grew from 8.1m  in 2009 to 14.2 m in 2010.

Figs from Forrester research   

If viewers are moving to watching programs over the internet where does that leave the positionning of advertising revenue to fund the program making? We are in a transitional phase where the content is still being paid for in the existing format, print media is still paid for and thus created, films for cinema are holding steady as the cinema experience is still holding a value.

How will the balance pan out? We are creating channels on a daily basis sharing You Tube videos, watching Hula, Netflix and Amazon.

Today I have been also looking at Ooyala – love the ability to carry films over different handsets/screens – and my current favourite Squrl  – personal ‘channels’