The future of television

Dont you need a licence to watch streaming services now ?

Originally Posted by Paul

Dont you need a licence to watch streaming services now ?

Only iPlayer so far, whether it’s live or catch up. Though I imagine the background lobbying to incorporate all streaming TV is already underway.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by Chris

Only iPlayer so far, whether it’s live or catch up. Though I imagine the background lobbying to incorporate all streaming TV is already underway.

Also Amazon if it is one of the live channels and Likely Netflix when they launch live events soon. Or if watching something like BBC news live on YouTube.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by jfman

So we've now pinned down that linear television - broadcast schedules running for (the majority of) 24 hours a day, every day where actual people in different locations watch the exact same moment at the exact same time is here to stay.

You just think they'll be over IP based services, not DTT, satellite or cable?

I think a lot depends on what the government dictates. I think that without that interference the big channels will become on demand and the only linear channels will be the new FAST channels.

That’s not to say we won’t have live TV, it’s just that it will be streamed. Just like the PPV boxing, for example.

---------- Post added at 23:41 ---------- Previous post was at 23:37 ----------

Originally Posted by Paul

Dont you need a licence to watch streaming services now ?

You do, but in future it could be used for social broadband instead for those who cannot afford or choose not to have higher speeds.

The Beeb is likely to be funded by a combination of subscriptions and advertising, although, again, the government could choose the copout route and fund it from general taxation.

[jfman]

What’s the difference between a linear channel and a FAST one?

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by jfman

What’s the difference between a linear channel and a FAST one?

They are both linear, of course, but my 2035 prediction did not refer to them as they didn't exist at the time to the best of my knowledge. I was referring to our more conventional broadcast channels.

[spiderplant]

Originally Posted by jfman

What’s the difference between a linear channel and a FAST one?

FAST ones are slower.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

They are both linear, of course, but my 2035 prediction did not refer to them as they didn't exist at the time to the best of my knowledge. I was referring to our more conventional broadcast channels.

That’s not what I asked - I asked what the difference was?

---------- Post added at 11:41 ---------- Previous post was at 11:41 ----------

Originally Posted by spiderplant

FAST ones are slower.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

They are both linear, of course, but my 2035 prediction did not refer to them as they didn't exist at the time to the best of my knowledge. I was referring to our more conventional broadcast channels.

FAST simply stands for Free Ad-Supported Television, which is what ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and many others already do, broadcasting over cable, terrestrial or satellite. The only reason the acronym has come into use is because operators have started broadcasting over IP, in a space previously occupied only by on-demand content, and in order to discuss developments it is useful to have terms that distinguish between them.

But don’t let that obscure an important point in this long-running debate: ‘FAST channels’ are simply linear broadcast TV. Moreover, some of them are even operated by broadcasters who are new to the market, because the cost of running a broadcast channel over IP are lower than broadcast over established methods.

The fact that they exist is hard proof that your predictions are extremely shaky. The technology that has enabled streaming has also further enabled broadcast, such that *new* broadcast channels are now starting up.

[1andrew1]

And conventional TV channels are becoming more like FAST channels. Channels like the forthcoming Rewind TV and Talking Pictures are pretty indistinguishable from FAST channels with no announcers and old content. The only difference is they're delivered over satellite and transmitters and not broadband.

I'm also sure that FAST channels are not a new thing and pre-date Old Boy's predictions. Pluto TV is ten years old and my Samsung had them on it back in 2017.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by jfman

That’s not what I asked - I asked what the difference was?

---------- Post added at 11:41 ---------- Previous post was at 11:41 ----------

They tend to be one programme channels (eg the Generation Game channel), they are streamed and you cannot record the programmes. They are generally low quality channels containing programmes that have seen better days.

I must say, they do make you appreciate our traditional channels, despite the fact that they’ve dumbed down in recent years.

---------- Post added at 19:51 ---------- Previous post was at 19:45 ----------

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

And conventional TV channels are becoming more like FAST channels. Channels like the forthcoming Rewind TV and Talking Pictures are pretty indistinguishable from FAST channels with no announcers and old content. The only difference is they're delivered over satellite and transmitters and not broadband.

I'm also sure that FAST channels are not a new thing and pre-date Old Boy's predictions. Pluto TV is ten years old and my Samsung had them on it back in 2017.

That seems to be the way our channels are heading because more of the decent stuff is being routed towards the streamers as time goes on.

I doubt that I was aware of Pluto back in 2015 and I don’t think that many of us were. However, these are not the channels I had in mind when I said everything would be on demand in all likelihood by 2035.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I doubt that I was aware of Pluto back in 2015 and I don’t think that many of us were. However, these are not the channels I had in mind when I said everything would be on demand in all likelihood by 2035.

So everything will be on demand by 2035, apart from the stuff that won’t. Got it.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Chris

So everything will be on demand by 2035, apart from the stuff that won’t. Got it.

I said our conventional broadcast linear channels. How in a million years did you think FAST channels fitted that description?

[jfman]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I said our conventional broadcast linear channels. How in a million years did you think FAST channels fitted that description?

What was all the schtick about schedulers not being required and criticising lazy viewers just putting up whatever they are being fed if indeed they are a part of the future over IP?

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I said our conventional broadcast linear channels. How in a million years did you think FAST channels fitted that description?

This, folks, is the sound goalposts make when they’re being forcibly uprooted, dragged down the tunnel and jammed underneath the team bus.