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.

[Undertoad]

It just makes me irate to read articles like that. We killed the music business because they took too long to learn how the new way is going to work. We can kill the TV and movie businesses too. They must realize that we are in charge.

There is no delivery system more convenient than piracy. If I pirate something I can watch it where I want, when I want and how I want, with no interference. I refuse to wage war with my devices, my entertainment and my government. Life is too short to bother saving your phony-baloney jobs.

If I can't get what I want because you stand in the way, I will merely steal it. I feel no remorse because I remember how your business was built: on ill will, thievery, lawyers, accounting trickery, the ownership of politicians, and the shitting-upon of actual art.

Really, all businesses better figure it out fast. Forget it being about the entertainment businesses, it's about all businesses. We are quickly forging new ways of working and the only thing that's important is providing real value. All must be nimble and answer to peoples' actual demands and needs. All must embrace change or be steamrollered by it... or worse, routed around.