Choice Between Live-streaming and Watching Live Television

It is estimated the number of internet users in the world has grown by approximately 82 percent over five years. Faster internet speeds and more people online has attracted video streaming websites such as Netflix and Ustream. Unlike Netflix, most individuals started live-streaming television shows via Ustream. This application enabled consumers to view their programs online; however, it failed to capitalize on the mission, which resulted in its fall as soon as it started. Its myopic view made it impossible to venture and dominate the live streaming industry. For one to understand the difference between live-streaming and watching live TV, to determine the future of each, it is important to look at the incentive and motive of each.

The founder of Ustream viewed live streaming as a utility service and assuming that the consumer will only need to live stream a video or program from the phone. As such, the service was not competitive enough to prompt people to prefer watching television online. The Ustream service is accused of lacking education and awareness that needed to be passed to the customer (Guest).

When people are using their mobile phone, they can view anything at any time; power is shifted to their hands. However, this could only be for a short while since the enticement for the regular person to watch online frequently does not add up and explain the full perspective of this expertise. On the other hand, watching TV is meant to create a connection. People want to feel that they can make sense of the programs and connect with the companys service. However, the greatest challenge in the entertainment world is encouraging people to watch television online rather than through conventional means. First, the broadcasters could consider key factors that make watching the online videos as an opportunity to earn more money. As such, broadcasters can monetize their work by tapping into the vast online market for more revenue.

On the other contrary, watching television is the other side of online viewing; it is active and draws great success on real broadcasters. Therefore, real broadcasting can be viewed as a form of saving the live broadcasting industry since the presenters get to connect with the audience thereby providing real-time entertainment. Over the past, news anchors used another individual in translation unlike today where they use their phones to show a comic-con board; the latter kills the spirit of live broadcasting entertainment.

It is believed that live streaming and broadcasting originate from a multifaceted side. Majority of the advertisers currently prefer to run their ads live rather than on screen. The reason behind this is that it is easier to determine the number of online viewers rather than knowing how many people were present when a similar advert was aired on TV.

Although both types of transmission have a complicated process, live streaming is much more complex since it employs the use of IP addresses, which originate from servers and are different to each viewer and the type of program being viewed. This procedure is a much cumbersome process as compared to broadcasting, which only requires receiving easily available HD streams once a consumer installs her antennas. The streams are usually encoded via MPEG4 and then sent out at different bitrates making the view instant and as clear as possible (Guest).

For the future of live broadcasting and continued support by the advertising agent, it is only prudent to bring the commercials before and during a given major program (such as news). This way, it will be certain that the advert has reached a big audience. According to the programming manager of Netflix, a significant number of persons have diverted their attention to online streaming rather than watching television. He states that the only thing that can save television is the many individuals who take time off to watch award shows and live sports, which would otherwise not be entertaining if streamed online. These types of shows become enjoyable when viewed by a group. Therefore, it is challenging and tedious to look at a streamed game via a phone whose vision is not even clear. For that reason, Ted Sarandos states that looking at a scheduled program would become more linear and watching television would be for specific purposes such as sports shows and award-giving events.

Watching television is not a routine for most Americans. However, a significant number of persons watched the fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. America is one among many that prove that television has been left to entertain during events only (STenovec). Apart from entertainment, watching TV bonds and bring the family together. When a family of say four people is streaming online, it becomes difficult to communicate since everybody is on their page. Conversely, it is easier to communicate and discuss information being passed across when watching television together. They can see each others expressions because their attention is directed to one item hence understanding each other better.

On an interview, Mark Cuban disagrees that the future of television is dead. He mentioned competition as the key element that will keep TV sustainable. Television will keep on producing some episodes of shows such as The Walking Dead whose quality on Netflix will already have been defined in the TV.

Susan Kalla in her contribution stated that majority of people prefer watching their movies on their small size phone screen. Teenager prefers their phones and laptops, but the advertisers have not upgraded their game to be able to post adequately online due to the challenge of transmitting information through the web.

In 2015, some researchers did a survey to establish the most preferred method of receiving entertainment. At that time, the internet had already taken the entertainment industry by storm, which proofs that the internet is the most preferred method of receiving both entertaining and educative information.

Live television broadcasting might become outdated, but the TV remains useful. This is because half of the Americans are connecting their TV sets to broadband links, which enables them to receive direct information from the internet (STenovec). When one is not able to pay for the bandwidth, he will opt to subscribe to some channels on the TV. Therefore, the future of live broadcasting is still promising.

The definition of entertainment has broadened unlike in the past where it only included movies, music, and sports. Nowadays, people source entertainment from various media such us games and social media. TV organizers now have to think ahead and invent a media, where individuals will get wholesome entertainment on large screens together with family rather than sole entertainment on mobile devices (STenovec).

Works Cited

Guest. Live streaming vs. Live Broadcasting: A Necessary Introduction. Adweek, Adweek, 20 Dec. 2016, www.adweek.com/digital/khudor-annous-live-me-guest-post-livestreaming-vs-live-broadcasting.

Stenovec, Tim. This is what will save TV, according to Netflix. Business Insider, Business Insider, 13 May 2015, www.businessinsider.com/netflix-on-the-future-of-tv-2015-5.