Today I saw an article about MySpace launching a show about politics. I reflected on how much TV or video I actually watch on the Internet today. The answer: not much at all.
Sure, I watch the occasional YouTube video of something funny or cute, especially if someone sends it to me. But those are usually 1-3 minutes long, and not an episode-length sitcom or drama by any stretch of the imagination.
However, more and more production of video for the Internet is being planned. And I don't think I'll watch much of it at all, unless it's really good. Why? Because the Internet isn't integrated into my living room. I want to watch those shows on my TV, while sitting on my couch. It's a pain to watch long stretches of video elsewhere.
"But George," you may say, "you can do that! You can get a Media PC, or get MythTV going". Yeah, but I perceive it as a hassle to setup, and I would be entering a world where there woudl be lots of extra software and hardware that I have to deal with and manage. Despite the lack of streaming and immediacy, it's pretty easy for me to NetFlix over some DVDs, put them in my player, and watch them.
Am I asking for the impossible? I don't know. I guess what I want is an easy delivery mechanism of Internet-published TV shows, with the ease of flipping on my TV and watching them. To that end, I'm intrigued by the video possibilities of the XBox 360 and the Wii, for streaming video and browsing the 'Net. If the content is good, and I don't feel constricted to only certain types of content that someone is pushing to me, then networked consoles may be my golden ticket.
Anyone have an ideal setup for watching whatever video content they wish on their TVs?
1 comment:
I'm totally with you. I don't want to have to deal with networking a media PC to my xbox and my tv so i can watch streaming videos. Netflix is so much easier!
ddv
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