Viewing Habits Online Changing (or, I think it’s time to cancel my cable) : SplashCast Blog

Viewing Habits Online Changing (or, I think it’s time to cancel my cable)

Posted on October 14, 2008
Posted by Tom Turnbull

Hulu, Joost, Tidal.tv, and others are changing the way people consume television programming (how’s that for a meaningless understatement?)

To date, most online video has been in short form.  Longer form programming has remained primarily offline (at least the legal flavor).  However, this is rapidly changing.

Some interesting data:

James McQuivey, a media technology analyst at Forrester Research, estimates that by the end of the year, between 45 percent and 50 percent of the roughly 117 million people over 13 who watch videos online will watch full-length shows. At the beginning of the year, about 24 percent did.

In other words, the audience for full length video content online has doubled and is north of 50 million people.  That’s far from a niche.

There are pros and cons to long form online video content.  From a pure viewing perspective, that it’s far nicer to watch a show on that big ol’ living room screen.

However, there are some great reasons to consume long form video online: (1) your cable bill goes away (well, at least part of it); (2) your laptop-TV is quite portable; and (3) you can view within the context of a social network, making it easy to share, comment, etc.

I’m thinking that it’s time to cancel the cable.

Comments

5 Responses to “Viewing Habits Online Changing (or, I think it’s time to cancel my cable)”

  1. Graydon on October 14th, 2008 4:06 pm

    Any data that shows the effect of game consoles that can get online and be the avenue for this long form programming?

    I’d be more than happy to cancel my cable as well if…
    1 - the combo price for cable / phone / net wasn’t cheaper than paying piece-by-piece
    2 - I could just pay for the stuff I wanted to watch and not 200+ channels I gave a squat less about.

  2. Tom Turnbull on October 14th, 2008 7:39 pm

    I haven’t seen data on game consoles.
    You make a good point. The ability to watch content a la carte is another benefit of online.

  3. Silicon Florist’s links arrangement for October 27 » Silicon Florist on October 27th, 2008 11:02 pm

    […] Viewing Habits Online Changing (or, I think it’s time to cancel my cable) Tom Turnbull writes “In other words, the audience for full length video content online has doubled and is north of 50 million people. That’s far from a niche.” […]

  4. Silicon Florist’s links arrangement for October 27 : Oregon Startup Blog on November 3rd, 2008 1:12 pm

    […] Viewing Habits Online Changing (or, I think it’s time to cancel my cable) Tom Turnbull writes “In other words, the audience for full length video content online has doubled and is north of 50 million people. That’s far from a niche.” […]

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