[Dailyssimo] Internet As TV Platform

Media changing is something that will always happen along with development in technology. Some of you may remember how we followed the way the Compact Disc replaced cassette tapes in the audio world, Laser Disc technology replaced the VHS and soon after replaced by DVD in the video world. Arguably, CD and DVD (and its derivatives) are the pillars of the revolution in their own industries, just like with radio and television in the broadcast world. The question is what would happen if those pillars merge, in a new media.

Although many had said that this opinion is debatable, since I fell in love with the internet world for the first time when my computer got connected in 1995, almost everything is predictable because slowly, the internet has become a platform along with the increasing quality of the connection. The idea of a connected world has become the realization of every internet user’s dream, then.

One of the predictions that already happened is the internet being the replacement for media distribution. TV, which is a long time platform of programs and movies broadcasted from TV relay stations, has started showing signs that it will go down since the appearance of video-sharing platform providers which enables everybody to create a video program then distribute it through those provider websites. YouTube and Vimeo already be the option for many individual producers.

Cable TV is also preparing to face the change of platform. For example, a TV serial which only broadcasted on YouTube, H+, which will be aired starting August 8, 2012. Although it’s not something new, this digital movie serial broadcast will give a solid example which strengthen the prediction that the internet will be the new platform of the distribution for TV serials which usually use cable or regular TVs.

Some TV producers has also provided a TV set with the ability to integrate with the internet, i.e. Samsung with the technology that they called Smart TV which utilize the internet as platform.

Everything will lead there, what do you think?

Abang Edwin is a practitioner of online community management since 1998 long before the term social media/social networks become popular. He began his journey by experimenting with several online communities which eventually successful at that, to this day he still gives consultations about knowing character and foster online communities for brands / agencies and individuals.

He was at Yahoo! for over 4 years as a community manager and also a former Country Manager – Indonesia for Thoughtbuzz, a social media monitoring company. Currently he is the social media manager for The Jakarta Post Digital.

Keep up with him on Twitter @bangwinissimo or his blog on bangwin.net.