Tv self service, television of the future

Today, 90% of people in the U.S. receive television signals into their homes via cable or satellite transmission*. These media distribution services and, to a large extent, the content they distribute, are owned by a small and shrinking number of very large companies.

Therefore, these companies are in a position to control much of the media that the population consumes. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is currently considering revisions to various sets of rules that could further ease restrictions on ownership.

However, as broadband access to the Internet becomes commonplace in the home and the cost of computing devices drops, there is potential for a new type of network to emerge that provides people with access to entertainment, information, and personal connections that could replace and improve upon some of the functions of television, while increasing connections to external communities.

By utilizing design innovations that provide advantages over the entrenched providers and by keeping the desires of consumers in mind, this technology could become a compelling complement or alternative to the portfolios of services provided by traditional media distributors.