Will it ever become the norm to watch TV via an internet-enabled device rather than on a TV set?

[AY1975]

In the thread on things you don't see outside anymore someone suggested that it would only be a matter of time before most TV channels would be delivered via the internet. I was wondering if watching TV programmes online via an internet enabled device such as a laptop or tablet, rather than on a TV set, could eventually become the norm, meaning that TV sets would become largely redundant and would die out.

I know a few people who have a TV licence but don't have a TV because they watch TV shows online, for example on their laptop.

I have a TV but I rarely watch TV programmes on it these days: I rarely use it at all, and I mostly use it to watch videos and DVDs. Instead I usually watch TV shows on catch-up on my laptop, and I rarely watch any programmes live.

In fact, I don't think I can watch TV shows on my TV at the moment, as my YouView box (which has several years worth of programmes on it that I've recorded but never got round to watching) seems to have given up the ghost maybe through lack of use.

I mostly tend to watch TV programmes while I'm eating, and watching them on my laptop means I can still eat off the kitchen table instead of having to eat off a tray on my lap in front of the TV. I know that some people don't like eating and watching TV at the same time, though: we're all different.

Obviously watching TV via the internet isn't an option for people who don't use the internet or if you live in an area with a poor or non-existent internet signal but the number of such people and such areas is gradually diminishing. It will probably take many years to eliminate all internet blackspots, though, especially in remote rural areas.

 

[Iskra]

It's already the norm for me and a lot of the youngsters I discuss this with at work. I watch more Youtube than real TV.

 

[GusB]

I couldn't bear watching programmes on anything smaller than a laptop screen, so my telly isn't going anywhere! I do still watch some broadcast TV, but I watch a lot of stuff online too. I've got Chromecast devices which allow me to play stuff on my phone or tablet, but watch it on a bigger screen. Having just gone from having a 17" telly in my bedroom to a 32", I'm certainly not going back.

 

[Ediswan]

Can't see me giving up the full size TV screen any time soon. However, the content may well move more towards internet streaming rather than broadcast.

 

[GB]

Can't see TV's disappearing. Even without broadcast TV there is still gaming, streaming and home theatre.

 

[Mogster]

When everyone has access to satellite based multi gigabit mega internet, probably.

For now I find regular Sky TV and their DVR much more user friendly than streaming TV. Like most people probably, I use both but regular TV mostly.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I stream all the TV I watch but it is mostly on a TV set.

 

[david1212]

What I see is internet-enabled TV becoming normal rather than individual viewing on a laptop or tablet. The demise of the BBC licence and however it is replaced may hasten this. Freeview will continue but can be internet only delivered. Further with so much online e.g. banking internet really is essential so how much longer before for those on the lowest incomes that state has to provide it? TV transmitters could then be closed.
Against this is rural locations that currently do not have adequate internet speed by either a fixed connection or 4G never mind 5G.

 

[najaB]

In the thread on things you don't see outside anymore someone suggested that it would only be a matter of time before most TV channels would be delivered via the internet. I was wondering if watching TV programmes online via an internet enabled device such as a laptop or tablet, rather than on a TV set, could eventually become the norm, meaning that TV sets would become largely redundant and would die out.

I don't see TV sets disappearing completely, as long as people want to share the viewing experience. While you can have more than one person watching on a tablet/laptop it's just not as comfortable as being able to spread out and watch on a large screen. Watching on a portable device is ideal when you want to multitask - e.g. watching while eating as in your example.

 

[Busaholic]

My TV didn't react well to the analogue to digital switchover (bit like me ) which happened very early on in Cornwall, so I've never really watched it since, and now rarely enter the room where it is housed. Now I watch TV programmes on iplayer or equivalents on my laptop, when I can be bothered to do so. I hate large screen TVs, which are only for pubs etc as far as I'm concerned. Size is not everything!

 

[87 027]

Yes, I think it is highly likely that over the next ten years what is called "linear TV" (i.e. programmes broadcast over the airwaves so you have to watch according to a fixed schedule) will disappear in favour of on-demand TV over the internet. Clearly the likes of Disney+, Amazon Video, Netflix, Apple TV etc. etc. are not saddled with the costs of maintaining their own broadcast infrastructure such as transmitters and satellites. TVs in my opinion will become glorified internet-enabled display devices. It will be tough s**t for luddite holdouts who expect to continue to receive their TV signal for free through an aerial or satellite dish rather than a broadband connection.

 

[johncrossley]

You have Sky Glass now where all your linear channels come via the internet and you don't need a dish or aerial. Shame they don't give it to you without buying an expensive TV at the same time.

 

[87 027]

I have heard fairly negative things about Sky Glass on more specialist tech review channels. Basically pass-through of 3rd party streaming feeds without the rights to watch later.

 

[JamesT]

Sky Glass is basically a smart TV similar to those sold by many other manufacturers. Though from my brief use of a Sky Q box they do seem to do a slicker job of integrating various feeds rather than them being individual apps.
I think pretty much all the Sky content is available through NowTV, so getting everything though the internet doesn’t need Sky Glass.

The Government have renewed the licences for digital terrestrial broadcasts into the 2030s, so it’s not going to disappear immediately. https://rxtvinfo.com/2021/bt-and-sky-fail-in-bid-to-shorten-lifespan-of-freeview
But given we went from the launch of ONdigital in 1998 to analogue being turned off in 2012, it’s plausible that by 2034 there’s been sufficient swing towards delivery over the internet that it’s better to dismantle the expensive transmission system and reuse the spectrum for mobile communications.

 

[87 027]

Yes, agreed, I would not be surprised if Freeview and Satellite were both wound down in the mid to late 2030s in favour of internet delivery. Besides, with the current proposal to end the licence fee in 2027, the logical conclusion is that free-to-air TV can't continue past that date in the same form as now as there are questions on how you restrict content from those who haven't paid

 

[johncrossley]

Sky Glass is basically a smart TV similar to those sold by many other manufacturers. Though from my brief use of a Sky Q box they do seem to do a slicker job of integrating various feeds rather than them being individual apps.
I think pretty much all the Sky content is available through NowTV, so getting everything though the internet doesn’t need Sky Glass.

However you also get free channels (BBC One, ITV etc) through the same programme guide. As far as I can tell, it isn't possible in any other (legal) way when watching exclusively via the internet. Even BTTV (which is primarily delivered through your broadband) still relies on the terrestrial aerial for Freeview channels. Of course you can get them through the relevant apps (BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub etc) but that's not the same as browsing channels in a programme guide.

 

[PeterY]

It's already the norm for me and a lot of the youngsters I discuss this with at work. I watch more Youtube than real TV.

I'm far from being a youngster (senior rail card holder) I watch more youtube on my laptop than watching real TV . There is some great content on youtube especially railway related stuff. I love the way youtube always finds me something to watch

 

[Iskra]

I'm far from being a youngster (senior rail card holder) I watch more youtube on my laptop than watching real TV . There is some great content on youtube especially railway related stuff. I love the way youtube always finds me something to watch

Yes, me too. It's an excellent platform for history, travel and railway content.

 

[GB]

You have Sky Glass now where all your linear channels come via the internet and you don't need a dish or aerial. Shame they don't give it to you without buying an expensive TV at the same time.

Sky glass is a money grab. There is no reason their Sky Go app couldn't have been developed to work on smart TVs.

 

[Richardr]

In theory, Sky will release Sky Glass without needing the TV later this year. Virgin Media have just launched something similar. In addition, most recent TVs have the apps that allow live viewing of at least the main channels, and on demand as well from the main apps. Xbox, Roku, Chromecast, Amazon Fire and others are similar, and no doubt there are others.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Sky glass is a money grab. There is no reason their Sky Go app couldn't have been developed to work on smart TVs.

I have a feeling they were using it as a "lead in" to ensure their infrastructure is up to a wider switch from satellite delivery. You can already go for a cut down streaming Sky service via Now TV. Clearly it is in part about more revenue, but I don't think it is anywhere near as simple as a money grab.

 

[PeterC]

I have given up watching things on the laptop. With Chromecast I now use the TV for all my viewing from the comfort of my armchair.

The change is casting catchup services from my phone rather than using the laptop.

 

[AM9]

I regularly view youtube video on the TV, many of which are UHD. Except when travelling or when the full size TV is in use I rarely use the phone for video, - it's a) not very comfortable and b) rubbish picture quality.

 

[CharlieSpotted]

The question itself is somewhat faulty... the TV increasingly is just another internet-enabled device so the question is not one-or-the-other. The aforementioned Sky Glass is little more than an expensive TV with a pre-loaded Sky streaming app.

I can't see the large screen "Living Room TV" as a form-factor going anywhere soon, and I do think the ability to watch on phones/tablets/computers is a convenience in addition to the TV rather than replacing it. Younger people do indeed watch more content on smaller screens and the quality of those screens (and of the streaming experience) is rapidly improving, but I think it will always be secondary.

The question of whether linear, broadcast TV will survive is a more difficult one. I believe it will for at least a while yet but "live" viewership will continue to decline, and clever design will increasingly blur the line between linear and on-demand. I expect it will die with a whimper rather than a bang over the next couple of decades.

 

[LethalDrizzle]

The large form factor screen is here to stay, that's for sure. Whilst it's lost the utterly dominant position it had, a big screen in front of a sofa is still the idea environment to consume longer format content from various sources. My tween stepkids would riot if forced to watch streamed films on tiny screens, and quite right too.

The question of whether linear, broadcast TV will survive is a more difficult one.

This is the big question.

IMHO linear pre-recorded TV doesn't have long left as a highly relevant medium. Based on that highly reliable dataset known as "friends and family", I'd say pre-recorded broadcast TV is heading for irrelevance in households without under-60s and completely dead for those under 40. In fact, I'd go so far as to say the only area where broadcast TV is clinging on is sports broadcasting (either live, or as the sole source of replays), and even that's very much under threat from streaming services.

 

[ac6000cw]

I can't see the large screen "Living Room TV" as a form-factor going anywhere soon, and I do think the ability to watch on phones/tablets/computers is a convenience in addition to the TV rather than replacing it. Younger people do indeed watch more content on smaller screens and the quality of those screens (and of the streaming experience) is rapidly improving, but I think it will always be secondary.

I agree - and in fact the size of large screen TVs has increased during the growth of mobile phone and tablet viewing. It's a much more immersive experience watching a good drama or nature programme on a large screen e.g. the recent BBC 'Vigil' drama was streamed in 4K/UHD HDR on iPlayer, and it looked stunning on my 55" smart TV.

The question of whether linear, broadcast TV will survive is a more difficult one. I believe it will for at least a while yet but "live" viewership will continue to decline, and clever design will increasingly blur the line between linear and on-demand. I expect it will die with a whimper rather than a bang over the next couple of decades.

I think if you have a smart TV the line is already very blurred - since getting one we mostly watch TV on-demand via the streaming services - it's just so much more convenient (and watching ITV programmes via BritBox means you avoid the adverts - it's almost worth the £5.99 per month subscription for that alone...)

 

[scarby]

As other posters have mentioned, we have a smart TV at home (in Sweden). We almost never watch the few conventional TV channels we have. I frequently use YouTube to "watch TV" - anything from documentaries to feature films, to live cricket to various rail vloggers and webcams.

I never watch these on my computer, or other films such as via Netflix, they are all watched on the TV. So my TV certainly isn't going anywhere. I can't imagine in our household to settle down on an evening to watch a film on a laptop!

 

[Pete_uk]

The TV will still be king, but one day all TV will be delivered over fibre.

 

[najaB]

The TV will still be king, but one day all TV will be delivered over fibre.

That day isn't far off, to be honest. I was back home recently and the phone network is now all-fibre and a large percentage of people get their TV that way as well.

 

[Kite159]

The TV will still be around, but I suspect by 2030 most people will receive their TV channels via the internet. I reckon by 2030 Sky would have stopped doing new installs of Dishes, or only having them available at a higher premium.