Don’t know how many of you remember the great TV show “That Was The Week That Was” (also known as “TW3”). Born on the BBC more than 40 years ago on November 24, 1962 (see www.bbc.co.uk for the whole story), the U.S. version ran from January 10, 1964, to May 1965. David Frost arrived from England as host in late 1964, and the regular cast included such other not-yet-famous people as Alan Alda, Buck Henry, Phyllis Newman and Henry Morgan.
I Want My TV
What does this have to do with this blog? Well, while TV viewing options have changed since then, a flock of business deals announced this week promise to offer viewers even more options for watching their favorite shows – all based on the pay model. This week CBS and NBC announced that many of their prime time shows will be available for anytime viewing, such as “Lost,” for 99 cents each. Last week, Sprint Nextel, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications and Advance/Newhouse Communications announced their own deal that would enable viewers to access unique content like streaming television programming, music, video clips, games and pre-recorded DVR programs on their wireless phones. And earlier this month, Apple and Walt Disney announced that Apple’s new video iPod would be able to download episodes of such popular shows as “Desperate Housewives” and “That’s So Raven,” for $1.99 each.
The key benefit for us viewers? The opportunity to watch any show we want, at anytime we want to watch it, instead of only at their scheduled times. To get a great overview of how this all breaks down for video on demand, DVRs, cell phones, iPods and other personal entertainment products, check out “How to Watch TV” in Wednesday’s Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com). It’ll be interesting to see what comes next …
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