The Future of Media Consumption

The Internet has made it easier and simpler for web users to access content conveniently and cheaply. Rupert Murdoch should be sh***ing his pants right now because of the plethora of video and interactive media content that exists on the Internet for free. Content is no longer complex or expensive to create. According to Clay Shirky, the fact that 174 million viewers and counting have watched the “Charlie Bit My Finger” video is enough to conclude that video doesn’t have to be professional to be successful. Rupert Murdoch is wrong in saying that web users will have to pay for what they watch and use. Complex and costly content, such as Cable, is dying. Murdoch has lost the knack for re-invention and the ability to adapt to a society that no longer awards complexity, but simplicity.

That being said, web users will be able to consume their media by streaming through the Internet. Cable will no longer exist (hopefully soon!). Just as Brian Norgard mentioned in his talk on entrepreneurialism and the future of media, the TV will serve as just another screen or frame in one’s house. All media in a household, including music, movies, programs, podcasts, etc. will be accessed through one browser. Black boxes in each room and satellite dishes will no longer exist; all media will collaborate and be retrieved through one network: the Internet.

Media consumption will become easier and more fun, as it will cater to each individual and his or her preferences. Users won’t have to sit through advertisements (or fast forward through them), but will instead interact with them based on their specific interests. It’s common sense, really. You'd think Cable would have changed its user interface by now. We’ve become so used to it, that we can’t even notice its obsolete design and format and its drawn-out loading time. Sooner or later, though, the appearance of a TV screen will become much like that of an Internet screen--with streaming capabilities of various real-time content the user wants and with ads that correspond to each user. It’s quite logical, really: the entertainment experience should be enjoyable and this looks more than possible in the prospective future. For Murdoch and the other old lords of media, if they don’t embrace this change and fail to pioneer this next movement, their empires will fall behind.