Revolution!
However you look at it the revolution is happening! We’re seeing amazing numbers of people tuning in to watch their television on-line.
The figures around the US Presidential elections are truly amazing. Just look at the viewing figures for Super Tuesday. CNN’s video portal provided 2.7 million video streams along with 600,000 live feeds of the election day. Similarly, to date, MTV’s sites ChooseorLose.com and MTVNews.com had their busiest days for online video.
Where is this all coming from? I see two large factors influencing the increased online viewership this year: first and foremost is the updated technology has allowed more simultaneous viewers to watch smooth streams. Secondly, I think people are finding video online for their search for relevant content.
This is an incredibly tight presidential nomination race which has an impressive amount of the US public attached to it. A large portion of the voters are tuning in to follow the overall campaign coverage and specifically to hone in on their top candidate. Ultimately, this is where standard TV fails and IPTV succeeds- traditional TV is designed for everyone, catering to the interests of all the public where as online video is specific and tailored to a specific audience.
Online video allows viewers a more personal look at topics and content that addresses their targeted interests. If you are watching a single channel on traditional TV you are stuck with the topic the channel is covering at that moment. If you want more information on a subject the process to go about getting more information can be cumbersome and there is no telling if you will get it.
With the uptake in adoption to online video, everything changes. Your viewing habits become more targeted, you can engage with the subjects being discussed and ultimately - you select videos to watch about specific topics (or regions, in the case of the primary elections) that are relevant to you. If you want more on a topic, many sites provide the option to view similar videos.
We are at a major turning point regarding online video and the 2008 election will play a large role in influence and shaping the way we utilize online video. The rules and methods of broadcasting are changing with online video and viewer’s want to share their thoughts and ask questions about what they are viewing but more importantly they want answers too — the 2008 election will continue to serve as a great example of how this new medium of viewing content is evolving the way we communicate not only a government level, but with the communities we build on shared topics of interest.
Tags: 2008 Election, IPTV, Video