UKNM: Convergence.... what will they think of next?

[John Braithwaite]

I think that the exciting idea of convergence is that Digital TV becomes

a direct channel for the Internet.


Rather than assuming that it is going to 'take over' and all our

investment in the net is going to be fruitless, let's assume that all

Digital TVs allow Internet access (which is quite likely). With the

advent of broadband, suddenly an Internet site can deliver exactly what

a TV channel can - the advantage being that there is no middle man

(broadcaster) and that everyone in the future will scrabble for decimal

points of market share.


You will be able to access your favourite site / programme from any

digital TV in the world and the viewing figures for most programmes /

services will be fragmented over thousands of different 'channels'. The

'Channels' will be niche-based - news, fishing, stamp collecting, etc.

as people will visit them for particular information (like the Internet

surfer of today).


You can be sure that this is the reason that clubs such as Manure (sorry

- Man Utd) are eager to start broadcasting their own matches is that

content such as live football or high prize interactive game shows or

straight to the web 'pay per view' movies will be the only way to get

good viewing figures and revenue.


Why do you think that the BBC is investing so heavily in the Internet?

It's covering all eventualities. 

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