I am somewhat a tech junkie for those who don’t know.  Although I may not always have the newest coolest gadgets, I’m simply fascinated by advancements, innovations, and breakthroughs in technology.  Right now Netflix is of interest to me as they continue against the grain of good ol’ fashioned cable.  Among the leaders of the internet TV movement, they are spearheading the campaign to unlimited, on-demand content availability via the web.  Needless to say, I like it!  I’ve been impressed with companies like redbox and their business model for simple, cost-effective dvd availability but as with much of today, these other concepts are simply side roads on the path to our new cloud reality.  In Wired magazine’s latest issue, they highlight Netflix’ bold moves and risks here.

Hastings [CEO] planned to one day deliver the entire recorded output of Hollywood, instantly and in high definition, to any screen, anywhere…

Netflix has taken the boldest step yet toward a world in which consumers, not programmers, determine not only what they watch but when, where, and how. The dream of routing around cable companies just may be in sight…

It is odd, in an era when the Internet seems able to worm its way into every part of life, that nearly all of us still watch television the old-fashioned way, piped over cable or beamed in by satellite and available only in bloated packages of channels programmed by network executives…

That’s not to say there are not obstacles, even substantial ones. Cable companies are beginning to make attempts with various web-based offerings attempting to route out not only Netflix but the internet TV movement, especially the “free” side of that movement.  Netflix may not be principally on that free side but they come pretty close at $8.99/month! (a lot cheaper than the $70/mo. I pay for crying out loud!)

As Hastings chips away at Hollywood, he’s also moving as fast as possible to cement Netflix’s presence in the next generation of home entertainment devices. He knows he has limited time before the rest of the movie-distribution industry realizes what has hit it. “We had DVD by mail mostly to ourselves for five years before Blockbuster attacked,” he says. “And then they gave us hell for five years. So, as great as things are going now, I’m like, remember, hell will return.”

It could come from anywhere. Maybe one day the studios decide they don’t need Netflix and start dealing directly with device manufacturers. Or they could just jack up the fees they charge Netflix. Amazon or Apple could emerge as a tough competitor. Cable behemoths could use their power to block Netflix’s access to content, or they could try to put together their own Netflix-like services. (“There is no reason why this isn’t something we can compete with,” says Peter Stern, chief strategy officer of Time Warner Cable.)

There are a million different ways for Netflix to fail. But that has always been the case. Netflix should have failed already, taken down by Blockbuster or Wal-Mart, kneecapped by Hollywood, made irrelevant by BitTorrent or iTunes. Yet time and again, the company has not only survived but quietly thrived—on the strength of its unique algorithms and its relentless focus on getting customers content they didn’t even know they wanted.

What other tech is simply a side road and not the main way?

All of this web-movement stuff makes me question other new technologies.  For example, in speaking about entertainment companies like netflix, what about the Bluray disc?  I think it is toast, writing on the wall, too little too late.  Not to say it will be gone anytime real soon but I don’t think bluray will obtain the mainstream longer term marketshare of say the DVD.  This does not mean BluRay “quality” movies will die, simply that they will move to streamed, or downloaded content offerings, not the ol’ disc and player setup.  As long as Redbox’s (and other DVD vending machine companies) costs stay down, they will stick around filling a niche for those who just don’t get the whole internet deal or lack broadband.

Innovation in Entertainment TV offerings

Internet TV will continue to grow and new companies will crop up offering their taste and texture to the experience as popularity increases.  I look forward to many new improvements and innovations to the concept.  It is young still and I expect much more from it.  Speaking of it, I think it’s about time I got on board!  Just a matter of convincing the wife…

So what services, other than netflix, have you found wicked sweet for internet TV?  I need some ideas for my own future setup!