Online Television : The most effective regarding Equally Mobile phone industry’s

With many digital mediums offered to us right now, it was only a matter of time before someone begun to merge and combine two of them together. It already happened with mobile phones and online social media marketing, whilst the popularity of iPhones demonstrates to us. Then there’s the Internet and television – two different mediums; one you utilize for your entire communication and information needs, another is maybe more for entertainment use – something to sit down facing following a long hard day, enabling you to mentally ‘switch off’ ;.Yet considering just how much time in one day we tend to invest facing some type of computer nowadays, it’s no surprise that online gurus are taking advantage of the popularity of television and have created Internet websites that enable you to choose which TV show or program you intend to watch – on demand.

What’s the deal?

In 2006, a brand new bout of the TV series Lost was aired online – around 11 million viewers it. Also in 2006, market analysts Jupiter Research reported that around 11 per cent of computer users regularly watch videos on the internet. Annually later, this figure had jumped to 28 per cent, and it continued jumping as annually went by – presumably due too much to YouTube and its easy accessibility and free videos. Yet even web sites that are charging for their TV shows to be viewed are increasing in popularity as more people take more time online.

With regards to cost, almost all online television is free, using the traditional concept of advertisements and banner ads to make their money. The US ABC recently announced they will make their shows available to view online the afternoon after they’ve aired on television, for free. The only catch is that the commercials scattered between the shows will struggle to be paused. These commercials is likewise limited in number – probably only three, being 1 minute long each – and will undoubtedly be all from the same advertiser, undoubtedly maximizing their impact on the audience watching. You can see how this idea is increasingly appealing to businesses that can afford this kind of major bulk advertising.

The buzz of 2010: Social TV

Nevertheless the development hasn’t stopped there. ‘Social television’ is the most recent kid on the block, merging the idea of online television with the online phenomenon that’s social media. In a nutshell, it’s TV services that involve viewers’ communication. We can now watch our favourite television programs online, whilst reaching others doing the same – making recommendations, critiquing, chatting, and blogging with each other. It’s adding yet another thing to the long listing of ‘togetherness’ that the Internet is creating. Obviously we’ve always ‘socialized’ around the idea of TV, despite the simplest romania iptv  type of discussing shows with friends – but the brand new idea listed here is television will now be an active practice rather than a passive one. You are able to discuss shows, review your favourites – basically talk with the world around you whilst enjoying your TV experience. And in some sort of that appears to be enjoying online and social media marketing with gusto, this would appear to be always a concept that is able to take off.

WineLibrary TV is a superb exemplory instance of how internet television can assist in boosting a business brand – as well as be the entire brand in itself. Gary Vaynerchuk took his multi-million wine selling business to the online world as a means of educating his viewers about wine in a ‘non-stuffy’ way. This kind of hit, WLTV has become a cult favourite, with self-named ‘Vayniacs’ interacting regularly with each other on its online forums. They even organize offline group gatherings in the tradition of die-hard fan clubs. This really is social television at its best – viewers have discovered something they are interested in, can view and find out about it online, and be involved in interactive communities.

The big players

There’s a sizable array of online television websites, besides actual channels’ own sites – probably the most well-known perhaps being Hulu, which ABC, FOX and NBC together created in order to bring television shows to their viewers – with no profit. Available simply to US viewers, its popularity probably stems from its option of hit TV shows the morning after they’ve aired on normal television. Hulu airs commercials in normal commercial breaks – the only real difference is that you’re watching them through the Internet. Another internet television station was 18 Doughty Street, well-known in the online TV world since it claims to be the first British Internet-based television station. Interestingly, although only running for a little over a year, the TV station closed down in the midst of attempting to create a ‘citizen journalism’ element to its site, allowing the general public to submit videos to be aired. Perhaps if this had succeeded, it could have been one of many first endeavors into the now more commonly accepted concept of social television.

Where to from here

So where does the near future lie with this particular clever combination of two popular mediums? Perhaps soon we will have the demise of the traditional television since it becomes easier and cheaper to view our favourite shows online. Although some dismiss this concept of internet television, because of the association of our PCs with work and stress, in place of the TV as a destination for a ‘switch off’ and relax whilst watching our favourite shows. In some sort of where we want things here and now, and with a generation on the rise that was multi-tasking digital technology whilst still in nappies, it would make sense that individuals will be expecting quicker and easier-to-use combinations of the world’s best mediums. Plus if this can combine with the ‘social’ aspect of the online world that individuals so love, then even better.

Channel surf from your… computer chair?

Take Diggnation as an example. This is a weekly internet tv program that was created by the founder of Digg.com (a website where everyone can submit articles, images and videos) and a buddy in 2005, which basically includes the two friends drinking beer, chatting and discussing the most effective stories that made Digg.com that week. Sometimes known as ‘the Wayne’s World for Geeks’, the show has increased its viewer numbers through the years. Its popularity deemed mostly to be its interesting content and ‘I’d be friends with that guy in real life’ hosts. It is becoming so popular that advertisers began approaching them for space on the show to market. Forums show that individuals love diggnation because it’s relevant, relaxed and actually entertaining. Fans of Digg.com (and there’s plenty of them) watch it because that’s what it is approximately – digg.com.

Making you wonder – is this where the ongoing future of online TV goes? Countless number of smaller, topic-specific online TV shows that’ll cause the normal lament ‘I watched it because there’s nothing else on’ to be always a thing of the past. If more and more television shows appear online as more and more ‘average Joes’ use free Internet space to produce them, then surely we shall all find our favourite shows there as we seek out topics which actually genuinely interest us. Or can you and I have our personal channels? Will your business? Now there’s an appealing thought…

iQuantum has created an amazing analysis process to online benchmark client websites against the sites of market-leading competitors and against best practice. Our online analysis is both quantitative and qualitative, and the answers are presented in simple, digestible terms within a personalised strategy workshop. We’re marketers at the roots, so we understand the importance of laying-out strategy in a bang-for-buck manner, and so we always present the company case for or against any online initiative with a quantifiable justification.