Hulu, Netflix and the Content Wars

[DanaC]

Just read a really interesting (well, i think ;p) article about the current wranglings over content delivery between the streaming services and the major cable channels.

I've been following this story for a while now, as content delivery in the internet age, and its impact on entertainment culture is a concept that fascinates me. But this is probably one of the best opinion pieces I've read about it.

http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=CBF...451A50A4795859

Obviously, as a Brit, I am watching this unfold at a distance. But, also as a Brit, I find I am often in the position of hearing about great American tv shows months before they ever get to these shores, and as such I can attest to the ready availability of unorthodox online access. I can also attest to the fact that most of the shows I view in such a nefarious way are the US shows I cannot access in a paid form. Where purchase and instant access are available, I see little reason to pirate.

I'm not quite sure when this absolute impatience regarding entertainment first developed. But I find I have an expectation of instant access now. If the programme exists and people in that country have watched it, why is it not available to me? Well, obviousl there are a lot of reasons, but none of them particularly matter to me. I want access, when I want it, how I want it, and with the least number of mouseclicks, icon presses, or sign-up screens.

I rarely watch my television. Most of the programmes I watch I watch online. Via legitimate sites like BBC Iplayer and Itunes. And via less legitimate avenues, such as Youtube and VideoBB. It's all one to me. UK/US, its all going on at the same time. I've ceased to see tv in terms of national borders, so it feels completely arbitrary and, frankly, a boring inconvenience to have to wait for different license agreements to catch up with where I want to be.

Read the article. I'd be interested in any thoughts.