The great thing about modern technology is there’s a lot of different ways of getting TV and radio to you. If one technology doesn’t work, then there’s another more suitable platform just around the corner.
I want to use FM on my iPhone because my internet signal won’t be very good when walking down the street, and I use the internet when I’m at a desk. I can use DAB for the “xtra” type channels it provides when I’m not at my desk. In short, I care about the content. I don’t particularly care how I get it as long as I get it, and I get it conveniently.
But the problem with Internet TV (and to a lesser extent, Internet Radio) is there’s too many different solutions to the same platform — too many brands and too many set-top boxes. The platform shouldn’t be the brand — the platform should contain the brand. Why do I have to go to iPlayer to get BBC content and 4oD to get Channel 4 content? And why on earth is there the added complexity with Channel 4 content also being on YouTube? It’s the same platform, it’s pointless.
There’s too many TVs and set-top boxes out there giving you bits of the platform. You can have this channel but not that one. You want this brand for live streaming and that one for catch-up. Why I can’t I just turn on my TV, select “Internet” (or the appropriate brand name), and get a choice of “channels” (your traditional TV channels, plus any internet only channels who want to be on there and the likes of YouTube) both streaming and on catch up?
The whole industry is awash with brands, and it’s starting to confuse even the biggest geek. I want to watch Doctor Who so I go to iPlayer… or do I choose BT Vision? Oh wait, is See Saw better? Should I buy Apple TV? But is it on YouTube? YouView? What the hell is YouView?? Is that some cheap YouTube knockoff??
Someone needs to bash together the heads of all the big TV content providers, and tell them to stop arguing with each other and stop threatening to get the competition commission involved. They need to work together for a change and come up with a solution to make Internet TV simpler. Because right now, it’s just getting more and more confusing, because more and more companies are coming up with their own separate solutions.
