Thread: VOD The future for linear TV channels
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Old 28-06-2026, 19:37   #1184
OLD BOY
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Re: The future for linear TV channels
Quote:
Originally Posted by gunner45 View Post
Just because something is said repeatedly does not make it right. Traditionally linear referred to everything that was broadcast, and you could look up the programme schedules to find out what was coming. But now we have live programmes, some by choice (like BBC iPlayer news) and some scheduled (like FAST channels). And on Virgin Media's EPG I counted 39 FAST channels, all scheduled: I say these are linear as they are scheduled and on the EPG, and the fact that they are delivered by IP is of no interest to the viewer.

And just to be clear: under this definition which is user-centric, live is only linear when it is scheduled and live can also be non‑linear when it is user‑initiated (on-demand). It's only when you disentangle live from linear can you see how IPTV is changing how we consume content.
Well, quite. But there has been far too much pedantry over the term ‘linear’. My question throughout has been whether TV channels such as BBC1 and ITV1 will survive in that form when TV becomes IP only.

I have no doubt that FAST channels will continue as long as they remain popular, but I deduced over 10 years ago now that our traditional broadcasters would not want to go to the bother of running their channels as well as their streaming services.

So unless the government applies pressure to keep them going, or provides the necessary funding to make it worthwhile, I think the lifespan of the traditional TV channels is very limited now.

---------- Post added at 20:37 ---------- Previous post was at 20:33 ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris View Post
Unfortunately you’re trying to jump into the middle of a very long running and very specific argument over the nature of user OLD BOY’s predictions about the future of TV.

Unless you’re going to trouble yourself to follow that thread right through and understand the point I’m actually making, specifically in reply to OB, you’re liable to get the wrong end of the stick (as you have in fact done here).

Though I can’t blame you for not wanting to read all of this. It’s relentless.

---------- Post added at 20:37 ---------- Previous post was at 20:37 ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugh View Post
FYI (and as Chris had said, this is a very long ongoing discussion), one of our esteemed CF’ers (who believes Live TV will be extinct by 2035, and "StReaMinG is the FutUrE!!!") defined Linear TV as
Still in denial, I see.
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