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Video game producer Chris Codding of Venice has a 52-inch Sony television that he uses only for playing video games and viewing DVDs. (Christina House / For The Times / October 16, 2009) |
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Jazz musician Bill Cunliffe loves television -- but he doesn't watch it on a TV set.
"I can watch anything I want, any time I want," he said, "on my bottom-of-the-line Mac PowerBook."
Cunliffe, 53, is one of a growing number of TV viewers who get all their programs via the Internet.
For reasons that include saving money, convenience, personal choice and a hatred of commercials, these viewers are cutting the cord from cable, satellite and telephone suppliers of TV service, and even throwing away the rabbit ears and other antennas that brought in over-the-air broadcasts.
"The idea that you come home and your entertainment choices are dictated on what some entertainment channel decides is not for me," said video game producer Chris Codding, whose Venice apartment has a 52-inch Sony television that's used only for video games and viewing DVDs.
"I really like the concept of having something in your mind that you want to watch," Codding said, "and then going to the computer and watching it."
There have been no mainstream studies on just how many people have cut the cord to established TV program suppliers, and the percentage of viewers who have done it is probably small. But there's plenty of evidence that the number of people who are watching TV shows online is growing.
According to a survey released last month by the nonprofit Conference Board, nearly 1 in 4 households in the U.S. have watched television online. Meanwhile, about 20% of responders said they were watching less TV delivered through traditional broadcast or paid cable-type providers.
A study by Frank N. Magid Associates in April found that among people who have watched video online, 25% viewed a full-length TV show in that manner. That's up from 15% in 2007.
As for cutting out traditional means of watching TV altogether, a recent survey by the Consumer Electronics Assn. found that 15% of viewers would consider it.
This could put TV on course for a fundamental change similar to that of another industry altered by the Internet -- recorded music.
"The one reason the iPod was so successful was that it was much more than a playback device," said Steve Koenig, director of industry analysis at the Consumer Electronics Assn., a trade group."When Apple added iTunes as a music procurement and discovery service, then it really took off.
"Finally, this kind of sensibility is coming to the king category of consumer electronics -- television."
Viewers who watch on their computers (or a computer hooked to TVs) have vastly more choices. According to the Fancast website, which provides links to online video, there are more than 1,000 former and current TV series with full episodes on the Web.
Common among many who have cut the cord is a sense of rebellion, not against TV but against service providers. They believe their way of watching represents the future of TV -- online and on demand.
"The No. 1 factor of why people watch online is convenience," said Lynn Franco, director of the Conference Board consumer research center.
The cable industry knows it could be in for a fight.
"Clearly this is a growing trend," said Alex Dudley, spokesman for Time Warner Cable, which has 14.6 million subscribers nationwide.
The company, like several other providers, is countering with its own on-demand services. It offers subscribers repeats of TV shows that can be accessed by pressing a few buttons on the remote.
Time Warner is also participating in a test of the TV Anywhere service that would enable subscribers to watch their channels on computers or mobile devices via the Internet.
"I can watch anything I want, any time I want," he said, "on my bottom-of-the-line Mac PowerBook."
Cunliffe, 53, is one of a growing number of TV viewers who get all their programs via the Internet.
For reasons that include saving money, convenience, personal choice and a hatred of commercials, these viewers are cutting the cord from cable, satellite and telephone suppliers of TV service, and even throwing away the rabbit ears and other antennas that brought in over-the-air broadcasts.
"The idea that you come home and your entertainment choices are dictated on what some entertainment channel decides is not for me," said video game producer Chris Codding, whose Venice apartment has a 52-inch Sony television that's used only for video games and viewing DVDs.
"I really like the concept of having something in your mind that you want to watch," Codding said, "and then going to the computer and watching it."
There have been no mainstream studies on just how many people have cut the cord to established TV program suppliers, and the percentage of viewers who have done it is probably small. But there's plenty of evidence that the number of people who are watching TV shows online is growing.
According to a survey released last month by the nonprofit Conference Board, nearly 1 in 4 households in the U.S. have watched television online. Meanwhile, about 20% of responders said they were watching less TV delivered through traditional broadcast or paid cable-type providers.
A study by Frank N. Magid Associates in April found that among people who have watched video online, 25% viewed a full-length TV show in that manner. That's up from 15% in 2007.
As for cutting out traditional means of watching TV altogether, a recent survey by the Consumer Electronics Assn. found that 15% of viewers would consider it.
This could put TV on course for a fundamental change similar to that of another industry altered by the Internet -- recorded music.
"The one reason the iPod was so successful was that it was much more than a playback device," said Steve Koenig, director of industry analysis at the Consumer Electronics Assn., a trade group."When Apple added iTunes as a music procurement and discovery service, then it really took off.
"Finally, this kind of sensibility is coming to the king category of consumer electronics -- television."
Viewers who watch on their computers (or a computer hooked to TVs) have vastly more choices. According to the Fancast website, which provides links to online video, there are more than 1,000 former and current TV series with full episodes on the Web.
Common among many who have cut the cord is a sense of rebellion, not against TV but against service providers. They believe their way of watching represents the future of TV -- online and on demand.
"The No. 1 factor of why people watch online is convenience," said Lynn Franco, director of the Conference Board consumer research center.
The cable industry knows it could be in for a fight.
"Clearly this is a growing trend," said Alex Dudley, spokesman for Time Warner Cable, which has 14.6 million subscribers nationwide.
The company, like several other providers, is countering with its own on-demand services. It offers subscribers repeats of TV shows that can be accessed by pressing a few buttons on the remote.
Time Warner is also participating in a test of the TV Anywhere service that would enable subscribers to watch their channels on computers or mobile devices via the Internet.
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