The internet and television: which way will it go?

[Mateo]

conventional wisdom (and bill gates) says that the internet is going to become a competitor with over the air television, and that companies will look to use the internet to deliver television programming more.

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2088263,00.asp

Mark Cuban argues that it should be the other way. Television companies should be creating services that delivers internet programs through the normal television cable services.

http://www.blogmaverick.com/2007/01/19/computer-to-tv-shouldnt-it-be-the-other-way/

Which way do you think it should go? Which way will it go?

[marcus2004]

I think if you talked to most of these companies they will talk about convergence. TV, Internet, Phone coming together. We are just at the start of it which makes for interesting times.

I live in Regina Saskatchewan Canada and the local Telco Sasktel has a huge set up for IPTV which people can watch television through (with a set top box) or surf the web over their highspeed network.

It won't be long until we see WiMax phones that connect to wireless internet, either in the home or through cell towers and therefore being a portable Voip option.

[Mateo]

i'm not talking about portable technology.

[marcus2004]

That is just a example. What I am saying is that there will be no clear cut winner where television wins or internet wins. It will be a convergence of technology, but of course the internet will play a huge part.