The Impact of the Internet on Television

Years ago, people would look forward to specific shows on television.  People had schedules.  Tonight is this show and that one, and tomorrow, etc.

Before the Internet one had a few ways to amuse themselves.   They could read, they could listen to music, they could listen to the radio, they could watch television, or they could go out.   Some people had hobbies, painting, writing, etc.

When television was invented, people would soon develop a practice of sitting around the television set like a campfire.

Daddy sat there, Mommy sat there, the kids were often on the floor in front of the box.  Eventually it stopped being so ‘formal’ and people had T.V. in their rooms and would watch from bed.

When the Internet first became commercially available, in some places in 1990 in others, 1995 and onward, it became a kind of adjunct.   People would still watch television for the Internet was like a book you could read at any time.

When one was able to see movies on the Internet, then television programs, things changed.

Today, many people watch television programs on the Internet.

In some cases, the shows are not available in their country save through cable T.V.  and why pay for Cable if what you want is available on the Internet?

In some cases, people don’t have time to watch a program when it is aired; some have places to go, things to do and can’t race home to see the next episode of ….

Then there is the selection.   It is all in the hand of the viewer.   One can watch what they please, not what the station gives them.

No commercial breaks, no bleeping out of words, no censoring of presentation.    One stops and starts at their choosing.  The phone rings, the show is paused, the conversation takes place, the conversation ends, the show is resumed.

There is no dislocation.   And if something is missed, it can be reshown.

One might go back to view an episode they had seen before for they missed something.

Often one character dominates a scene and the eye is distracted, and a few episodes later, what one ‘didn’t see’ is central, so one can review.

Many television stations complain they are losing revenue.  Advertisers are dropping off because people are not watching the show on television but on the Internet, where there are no ads.

Yes, the show has to be shown on television first, then you get it on the Internet, but beyond a sports event, it doesn’t really matter if one watches Grey’s Anatomy on Thursday night or Friday morning.