The following is a guest post from Mark Ely, Founder and CEO of Simple.TV, a next-generation DVR for over-the-air broadcast television that recently took home CNET's Best of Show award at CES.
Years ago, you had to have an antenna on your TV to get any kind of broadcast signal. A set of rabbit ears could make the difference between a snowy picture and a crystal clear (standard definition) image. An antenna on your roof meant you had even better access to whatever VHF and UHF signals were available. Cable and satellite soon arrived with promises of a better, more consistent connection and expanded programming. After VHS and BetaMax sorted out their little spat, consumers were treated to LaserDiscs, DVDs and DVRs.
Fast forward to today, where TV technology is advancing at break-neck speeds. Streaming videos, second screens, and “transmedia” storytelling are all going mainstream. Cord cutting is on the rise, and viewers have an unbelievable amount of choice in how they consume their favorite movies and TV shows.
Major media and technology companies are competing with smaller start-ups to attract new viewers and stake their claim in the new online video frontier. Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google are ramping up connected TV efforts along with smaller firms like Boxee and Simple.TV. Cable operators and broadcasters are also seeking to entertain their viewers while also profiting from new TV technologies.
When I started Simple.TV, my goal was to build a bridge between the old and the new. If all of these smart phones, tablets and second screens were so smart, how come I couldn’t just watch TV on them? That was my inspiration: to combine the TV antenna and the rapidly expanding universe of connected screens.
To be clear, the antenna isn’t stuck in a time warp. In fact, just a few years ago, the federal government upgraded the television experience by decreeing that all full power stations move to an all-digital broadcast. This allows for more options like HDTV and multicasting and means that all four of the most watched networks (ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX) are free, over the air, in glorious HD. If you haven’t watched an HD broadcast over antenna, you are missing out. The picture looks amazing.
The future of TV is an extrapolation of this trend. More screens. More content. More choice. Want to watch live events? In Budapest? On your iPad? TV will deliver. Expect a continuation of the “wild west” atmosphere in the coming years with established companies and upstart visionaries innovating as fast as they can.
That’s our vision of the future of television. TV on your terms powered by new school technology and old school antennas. Pretty Simple!
Mark Ely is Founder & CEO of Simple.TV, a next generation DVR for over-the-air broadcast television. Mark was formerly President of Sonic Solutions where he was responsible for the strategic direction of the company and its brands, including Roxio, DivX and Main Concept.
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