Stephen Crooks Experience Economy Blog » Television http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog Building Better Brand Experiences Fri, 15 Oct 2010 05:11:20 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 Here’s what will get you to watch the Internet on your TV http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/03/23/heres-why-youll-watch-the-internet-on-your-tv/ http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/03/23/heres-why-youll-watch-the-internet-on-your-tv/#comments Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:58:05 +0000 Stephen Crooks http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/03/23/heres-why-youll-watch-the-internet-on-your-tv/ So the current state of television is that vast majority of homes have a cable box, and a small minority now have a secondary cable-like box that allows users to pull in video from either their computer or the web.

But what will it take to get consumers to make the leap and switch [...]]]>

YouTube for television (beta)
YouTube on your TV

So the current state of television is that vast majority of homes have a cable box, and a small minority now have a secondary cable-like box that allows users to pull in video from either their computer or the web.

But what will it take to get consumers to make the leap and switch from picking and choosing programming from the web first before switching on their cable/satellite box?

Intelligent programming. Right now I have to dictate to the receiver what I like, and flip accordingly to hunt out new shows that follow my interesting or time of day needs (like when you like to watch news – maybe after supper).

So web video programming on your TV will really begin to take flight when intelligence is designed into the site features. It already occurs with YouTube with their suggested video features. But we need this to entail all programming – including knowing who’s in the room – is it just you? friends are over? your kids with you? etc.

Smart, dynamic, programming. So the user never has to flip again. Other features like knowing your mood, day of the week, etc. This intelligence will get people off of cable.

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]]> http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/03/23/heres-why-youll-watch-the-internet-on-your-tv/feed/ 0 A peak at the Ad Agency of the near Future (and it’s Scary) http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/03/18/a-peak-at-the-ad-agency-of-the-near-future-and-its-scary/ http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/03/18/a-peak-at-the-ad-agency-of-the-near-future-and-its-scary/#comments Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:37:10 +0000 Stephen Crooks http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/?p=213 9:30 AM.  Man walks into the office.  He’s greeted by an executive.  Offered a glass of water and is lead to a screening room.  The guest positions himself comfortably on a chesterfield in a simulation of home living room.  Once sat down the visitor is asked to put [...]]]>
The ideal television of the future. The realis...
Don’t tell us what you think, we’ll tell you.

9:30 AM.  Man walks into the office.  He’s greeted by an executive.  Offered a glass of water and is lead to a screening room.  The guest positions himself comfortably on a chesterfield in a simulation of home living room.  Once sat down the visitor is asked to put on their head a device that looks like a bike helmet.

The room is darkened and and a Television commercial is played.  As quick as takes to play the 30 second spot, the meeting is over and our guest is free to leave with a 10$ cheque in hand.   That’s it.  And in those 30 seconds more is learned about the performance of a television commercial than 20 hours worth of group panel discussions.
Welcome to the future, welcome to the neuromarketing age.  An era where all commercials will be hyper-optimized to generate some of the most manipulative consumption propaganda the world has ever seen.

For those who don’t know what neuromarketing is, it basically is analyzing brainwaves to see what areas of the human brain responds well to various sensory elements.  For get what people say (as they often mislead or don’t truthfully express their likes and desires), by pass the bias of communication and go straight to source.

Ad agencies will in record time be able to get feedback on whether their targeted demographics like or dislike a campaign.  Think of the power, think of the abuse of such a system.

Advertising to the reptilian brain.  I have a lot to say on this subject – so watch for more posts.

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]]> http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/03/18/a-peak-at-the-ad-agency-of-the-near-future-and-its-scary/feed/ 0 Canadian Television Networks need to build a YouTube http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/03/18/canadian-television-networks-need-to-build-a-youtube/ http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/03/18/canadian-television-networks-need-to-build-a-youtube/#comments Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:17:21 +0000 Stephen Crooks http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/?p=210 If Canadian Television networks have any desire to survive the next decade they have to do something very radical – join together.

If CTV, CBC and Global want to survive they need to create one website Canadians can visit to watch anything they can normally get on cable – or [...]]]>

Amazing Race Yield clue.
What Canadian Television Networks need to do online.

If Canadian Television networks have any desire to survive the next decade they have to do something very radical – join together.

If CTV, CBC and Global want to survive they need to create one website Canadians can visit to watch anything they can normally get on cable – or else sites like YouTube will bury them alive.

Why?

Because I, joe consumer have zero patients to learn 5 different url’s, interfaces, etc.  I want all video content from all television networks laid you 100% the same from site to site to site.

I want to visit one site, and be able to view, search and browse content regardless of network host as equally easy as I can on YouTube.  I don’t want to visit micro-site after micro-site to chase down (try to remember) what shows I want to watch.  Don’t make me visit Comedy Network to watch John Stewart, CBC.ca to watch the National or CTV to see an episode of the Amazing Race.

And if I don’t want to do it, I’m not going to do it.  I’m going to exclude and bypass Canadian networks outright finding the path of least resistance.

Oh the networks won’t go for this.  But all it takes is to set up a Beer Store style consortium where all parties are represented.  Revenue sharing models are created.  And in show commercials are still owned and managed by the host network.

Now go to various Canadian network sites and see how easy it is to quickly find and watch TV shows you’d watch on TV.

Here go try to watch:  John Stewart,  Survivor, The National, CTV Toronto local news.  GO!

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]]> http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/03/18/canadian-television-networks-need-to-build-a-youtube/feed/ 0 Why Apple should buy Nintendo http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/03/18/why-apple-should-buy-nintendo/ http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/03/18/why-apple-should-buy-nintendo/#comments Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:42:41 +0000 Stephen Crooks http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/?p=207 It’s no secret that Apple is cash rich, currently sitting on 40 billion in reserves and in the past few months they’ve been publicly stating that they have some desire to begin spending it.  Well I have an idea: buy Nintendo (or a large stake in the company).  Why?  Well read [...]]]>
Image representing Apple TV as depicted in Cru...
Image via CrunchBase

It’s no secret that Apple is cash rich, currently sitting on 40 billion in reserves and in the past few months they’ve been publicly stating that they have some desire to begin spending it.  Well I have an idea: buy Nintendo (or a large stake in the company).  Why?  Well read on. 

The race to control your TV has been going on for years, all the major players of the computer industry have some product or service designed to web enable your television.  In many ways he who controls the tv set will become the next cable provider.  Clearly a lot of money is at stake, what’s been lacking is a simple mainstream system that your grandma would understand and be able to use.  A web enabled TV would allow distributors to sell movies or other content straight off the internet to be watch somewhere other than behind your desk. 

This brings me to Apple.  A few years ago Apple released their foray into the living room with AppleTV.  A small little box that connects the web to your TV.  As with all things Apple the interface is simple, easy to use.  Users connect with iTunes and are able to rent or buy digital versions of top shows and movies.  The more units in the marketplace, the more content Apple could make money with.  But the problem?  Well they don’t sell.   People cannot be convinced to pay several hundred dollars for a device that really from a layman’s point of view an expensive indulgence that on it’s own provides little value.  Are you going to convince someone with a home computer to pay good money so they can watch YouTube on their TV?  Nope.  Apple’s little box is also limited in what content they can play.  Due to patent restrictions, desire for format control, etc. Apple really only plays Apple format material preventing you from watching your video collection that may be encoded in other file types.

The Sollution. Buy Nintendo, and package AppleTV as part of the Wii console.  The value is in the gaming device – popular with women, families and the less geeky crowd.  The AppleTV becomes an additional feature as opposed to the reason for purchase.  Or alternatively those who are seeking out an AppleTV will have an additional reason to purchase the device.

Wii ownership would allow Apple to exploit it’s built in audience base.  The new device would be backwards compatible allowing for easy upgrade.   You suddenly take a device that in the eyes of the mainstream consumer is complex, unwanted and expensive into a must have device.  Existing iPhone/iPod device users will also welcome the device and it’s easy integration with their existing products.

In addition to the Wii, Nintendo has many patents and hand held gaming devices that could further expand with reach.  Porting games over to the iPad and iPhone platform. 

Could be a smart move for Apple.  

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]]> http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/03/18/why-apple-should-buy-nintendo/feed/ 0 Canadian Television Networks: Bound to Fail http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/01/25/canadian-television-networs-bound-to-fail/ http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/2010/01/25/canadian-television-networs-bound-to-fail/#comments Mon, 25 Jan 2010 06:32:50 +0000 Stephen Crooks http://www.stephencrooks.com/blog/?p=137 If Canadian television networks have any hope of surviving into the next decade, they need to drastically alter their business model.

The concept that you can survive and thrive by being nothing more than a re-broadcaster of internationally produced (read American) content is comical.

The media world is now officially flat. Cultural protective barriers are [...]]]>

Image representing hulu as depicted in CrunchBase
Image via CrunchBase

If Canadian television networks have any hope of surviving into the next decade, they need to drastically alter their business model.

The concept that you can survive and thrive by being nothing more than a re-broadcaster of internationally produced (read American) content is comical.

The media world is now officially flat. Cultural protective barriers are bound to fail. Technology allows the consumer to easily circumvent any regulatory barrier.

I presume we’ll see that broadcast web channels will become a profitable proposition. That more revenue will be generated by an online website vs. selling the re-broadcast rights to broadcasters in various countries. If that happens, why would a content producer bother re-selling their content if a global audience comes to their website?

Further that, what’s the point of a broadcaster if the content producer can obtain a large enough audience? What’s the value of NBC, CBS in an online world? Broadcasters have long thrived in a monopolistic world where technology and costs were massive barriers to entry and provided great controls over competition.

In the new world of reliable high-speed – it’s not the broadcaster that matters but rather the content.

CTV has slowly begun experimenting with an online parallel channel. Yet, it’s purpose is to be a re-broadcaster of American content. Taking advantage of restrictions on the web – they think they can survive with a cable industry model in an online world. Well good luck with that one.

Hulu – NBC’s broadcast network currently is limited to American only audiences. But for how long. Why would NBC (or the content producers) work with international broadcasters for replay rights if they can attract enough audiences in the homes of Canadians?

Why not circumvent a Canadian broadcaster and earn advertising revenue directly. Why wouldn’t a company not want 100% of the profits?

I’ve said this for years – content is king – who creates and owns the content will thrive in an online world.

The days of earning great sums of money simply by slapping your logo on someone’s else’s content is going to die. If Canadian networks want to grow – they need to become the makers of content. Look at the BBC who disproportionately export large sums of content in comparison to it’s domestic television market.

There’s an appetite for Canadian television – it’s just lacks the investment by our own broadcasters.

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