Given the wide deployment of broadband Internet access and the advanced state of streaming video technology, something I don’t understand is why are TV channels only available through a cable or satellite TV operator? Just about every AM and FM radio station features a “Listen Live” link on their web site home page. Why is there not a corresponding “Watch Live” link on the home page of every TV station’s web site?
Radio stations must see many benefits to feeding their signal through an Internet connection. For starters, a web page is interactive–while folks are listening to the stream, they can also read and click on ads, which is an additional revenue source for the broadcaster.
Sponsors must love this too, since their ads can appear on a different rotation through the web page than on-air.
With streaming over the Internet, listeners can tune-in to their favourite stations from back home, even while on vacation or business trips. Wouldn’t the same apply to favourite TV channels from home?
So I don’t get it. Why don’t TV stations support this? How can the cable and satellite TV operators have this stranglehold over the feed?
For further insight into the cable stanglehold, read Will FIOS kill cable? (formerly at Electronichouse.com).