Gator Mike wrote:As for other reasons not to switch, DirecTV still doesn't offer any sort of reasonable Video On Demand offering. And again later this year, Comcast is also going to adopt a technology dubbed "Start Over" where customers without DVRs are going to be able to join a show in progress and then decide to start it from the beginning.
IMO, cable will have a huge advantage in the future over satellite because they'll be able to implement two-way communications much easier, and they'll be able to tie multiple services together without having to rely on a phone line or an internet connection.
Who needs VOD if you've got a TiVo or DVR? "start over" isn't a new technology its just a new integration of VOD.
Anyways, IMO, in the future its all going to shift to streaming media over internet protocol, so in that sense I agree with you. I am curious to see exactly what happens with "internet broadcasting" though. The only thing that really has held it back has been blackout type restrictions. THe drawback is that there is no reliable way of verifying a computer's location.
As mobile i.e. cellular internet access becomes faster and faster though, this changes everything - because the connecting device is GPS enabled and pings off cell towers anyway. Data feeds can be sent solely to cellular devices which can govern what can and can't be viewed thru communications with a cell tower. I have for awhile envisioned cable being offered through portable cellular devices, that have a/v and component outputs and what not, and possibly have screens as well. I believe that becomes the way cable/satellite tv is distributed 10 years from now, and in this event services designed for communication over physical wire, will become useless (in the mean time, DirecTv has been working on its VOD offerings anyway, even if it remains behind in that area).
I'm not sure if FCC regulations allow for certain content to be broadcast via IP protocol in any situation, but if thats the case I'm sure it will change. Sprint/Verizon/AT&T have developed mobile television services, but those companies still treat it as a simple add on to cellular services, and they refrain from really branding the services separately. DirecTv has taken some steps I believe to make its satellite signal more portable, but I have been surprised that they haven't tried to form a partnership with any of the major wireles carriers (assuming they haven't). Cox has a partnership with Sprint, but it has nothing to do with offerng Cox services over Sprint's network, nor is it advertised.
There's a large market opprtunity there IMO looking 5-10+ years down the line, and I'm surprised these companies haven't done more to help try and secure a first mover advantage
