Broadband TV
The options for watching video programming have never been more diverse. The advent of cable television opened the doors to greatly expanded program choices beyond just the “Big Three” television broadcasting networks of NBC, ABC, and CBS. The era of specialized programming had dawned with the roll out of cable television. Instead of relying on the major networks for everything from soap operas, variety shows, news, and sports entertainment, networks dedicated to just one kind of programming had emerged. It was now possible to watch news 24/7, all sports channels, or programming all in Spanish.
The emergence of direct broadcast satellite services such as DISH Network and DirecTV, has definitely given cable TV a run for its money. Digital programming over both satellite and cable, has opened up an entirely new array of features for television, such as on-demand programming and DVR recorders.
High Definition (HD) TV has lifted the veil of fuzziness from standard television resolution so we can now watch HD programming in eye-popping clarity.
Perhaps the biggest innovation today is the ability to watch videos as well as live TV over the Internet.
The proliferation of high-speed Internet services using technologies such as DSL, cable broadband, satellite Internet, and now FiOS, has brought down the barriers to offering high-bandwidth content on personal computers.
However, navigating this dizzying array of video and television options can be a daunting task.
That’s why we endeavor to discuss all these options and present them in a way that allows you to make an informed decision that best meets your own personal needs. It’s also important to mention that though free is always nice, it’s not always the best value when it comes to your time and the quality of the entertainment experience.
Spending your time watching bad programs or programs with poor video and sound quality is hardly a wise investment!
So, spend some time reading the articles here and also checking out the recommended links and we’ll do our best to bring you the latest information on broadband and satellite television viewing options.
Online Radio
There has been a huge explosion is the number of online radio stations available on the Internet. Every conceivable musical genre has a presence online - progressive, blues, jazz, country western, rap, hip hop, classical, not to mention tons of talk and news stations. There are even multiple sub-categories under each of these major categories. Factor in the wealth of online radio stations from around the world and you will never run dry for entertainment possibilities!
This trend, combined with downloadable mp3 files from services such as Real Networks, Apple iTunes, and others has put a serious competitive squeeze on traditional radio companies who are feeling economic pressures. Many of these large broadcasters have completely abandoned top-40 formats and instead have opted for “classic rock” and “oldies” formats where the royalties are much cheaper. As a result, listeners are voting with their ears and looking elsewhere for quality entertainment.
So it’s no wonder that many listeners and music fans are looking online for music, news, and talk programming. They can choose between consuming this audio content either directly on their computers using streaming technologies or via downloads for consumption on portable media players such as the wildly popular Apple iPod.
It seems that the last bastion for broadcast radio is in the automobile. However, even here broadcasters are facing competitive threats from satellite radio and there’s nothing stopping people from bringing their downloaded audio content with them in the car!