It seems as though with each passing day we are coming closer and closer to the internet being woven into the very fabric of our being. Television is no exception. Products like Google TV, Apple TV, Roku, and Boxee have all brought the internet into our living rooms, not to mention content provided through gaming consoles like Nintendo Wii, X-Box 360, and Play Station 3.
Two of the biggest players in streaming media are Netflix and YouTube, both of which have been itching to make the leap from your computer to your television screens. The two companies have been aggressively expanding their current catalogue of content. Netflix has recently announced it has extended its license agreement with ABC Television Group, a division of Disney, now you will be able to stream even more content from ABC and Disney channel. YouTube has taken a different, but none the less, more aggressive route. It is planning a site overhaul to become more “channel-centric,” by partnering with Madonna, Ashton Kutcher, Amy Poehler, The Onion, Slate, and others to launch 100 new online “channels” with exclusive original programming — a deal reportedly worth $100 million.
However despite these moves, cable and satellite providers need not worry. Netflix expanded catalogue will only included previous seasons of content and streaming live broadcasts still appears to be years away. Not to mention Netflix reporting that it recently lost 800,000 paid subscribers in its most-recent quarter. YouTube as well is facing its critics of its original content plan, According to Mack Rawden at Cinema Blend, “It’s hard to imagine YouTube becoming ‘a viable alternative for television.’ It just doesn’t have enough substance, and it still won’t even with these new channels.”
Still, many invested in online content streaming are pushing for the idea of “cutting the cord,” cancelling cable or satellite subscriptions in favor of digital content. However, even with the possibility of streaming live content, local news and programming will be hesitant to adapt to online streaming.
As these products and services advance, it is unlikely they will replace the current television model anytime soon. They will however continue to be a nice supplement to offering viewers a chance to catch up on previous seasons of their favorite show or lazily browse the web from the comfort of their living room. That does not stop companies like Google, Apple, Netflix, and YouTube from trying though.
