Options for TV content Apr04 '08

When it comes to TV content, let's face it, your options are plentiful.

You could be traditional, and flip on standard cable, following shows as they air, and absorbing the commercials in between. Or, you can follow your favorite shows or movies in other formats.

Here's my current order of preference:

Optical media: DVD's
Streaming: Hulu, Netflix, etc
Regular television
Set-top: Apple TV, Comcast, TiVo, etc

This is partially incomplete, because although I own an Apple TV (and have watched podcasts and listened to music through it), I have yet to watch a movie or TV show through it. So, #3 could easily become #4, but maybe not...

Television's up-side

Regular television, to me, is good for two things: instant and random programming.

When I say "instant," I mean you push "On," and something starts. There is no finding the DVD, loading it into the DVD player, waiting for the main menu, clicking ten more times to start the first episode, etc. Meanwhile, my food is getting cold.

When I say "random," I mean you never know what to expect. Sometimes I am indecisive, and want the TV to decide for me. Let's say I've had a long day at work, and I just grabbed a beer. TV, please entertain me.

Commercial interruptions

However, regular television fails to immerse me for longer than 20 minutes. It's more of a passive, casual experience - a quick fix. With constant commercial interruptions, I don't know how anyone can become immersed in a show.

Sure, there are commercials on Hulu, but I can live with those because they are less "in your face." For example, since you have to watch Hulu on a computer, I can flip to my RSS reader or email program during commercials.

Optical wins

In most cases, optical media is still the most flexible, portable, and commercial-free way of watching TV or movies.

Categories: Content , Movies , Television , Video

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matthom is published and produced by Matt Thommes - an independent publishing enthusiast, mobile blogger, content creator, informative writer, web developer from a suburb of Chicago. Never one to conform, Matt intends to promote the effect the web has on our lives, in an effort to intensify, instruct, and clarify all that is happening around us.